Category Archives: Kansas

Area News, Government, Kansas

Extension Given to Wild Horse/Burro Program at Hutchinson Correctional Facility

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Kansas Department of Corrections and Bureau of Land Management Announce Extension of Wild Horse and Burro Program at Hutchinson Correctional Facility

~Temporary extension ensures the program remains active through May 31, 2026~

HUTCHINSON, Kansas. – The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have reached an agreement to extend the Wild Horse and Burro Program at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF). This extension ensures the program remains active through May 31, 2026, while both agencies work toward a long-term contract to secure the program’s future.

The decision directly prevents the immediate closure of a program that has been in operation for over 25 years. By extending the partnership, both agencies are prioritizing the following:

  • Animal Welfare: Approximately 300 wild horses and burros will remain at HCF under the care of experienced handlers, avoiding immediate relocation to long-term holding facilities.
  • Workforce Retention: The extension saves the specialized roles of resident horse handlers, allowing these individuals to continue gaining vocational skills in animal husbandry and training.
  • Program Continuity: The additional time allows both the BLM and KDOC to negotiate sustainable funding and operational model to keep this rehabilitative program active indefinitely.

Since its inception in 2001, the Wild Horse and Burro program at HCF has been a cornerstone of the BLM’s adoption efforts, providing halter and saddle training to wild horses to make them suitable for private ownership. The program also serves a critical role in the rehabilitation of residents, offering emotional growth and professional skills that aid in successful reentry into society.

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Government, Kansas

Community Arts Grant Program Announced

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KAC Grant Applications Now Open to Support Community Arts

TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced that applications are being accepted for three Kansas Arts Commission (KAC) grant programs that support a wide range of arts and cultural activities across the state.

The grant programs, which are designed to foster community pride, economic growth and cultural heritage, include:

  • General Operating Support Grant: Provides funding for day-to-day operations of established arts organizations
  • Arts Everywhere Grant: Supports specific projects and initiatives and is open to both arts and non-arts organizations
  • Public Art & MuralsGrant: Funds permanent and semi-permanent public art installations

“Communities across Kansas are experiencing the positive impacts that the arts provide — strengthening culture, vibrancy and economic vitality statewide,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The Kansas Arts Commission will continue to support organizations that are enriching communities, boosting local economies, and connecting Kansans with meaningful arts and cultural experiences.”

KAC has awarded more than 130 grants to organizations in 38 counties this fiscal year — distributing more than $1.25 million to support museums, arts education, music, dance, visual arts, theatre, murals, poetry and more. Award funding is made possible through appropriations by the Kansas Legislature, federal support from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA), and fees collected from the Kansas “State of the Arts” license plate program.

“The arts are prevalent across Kansas — across every county and every town, brilliant artists, dedicated organizations, leaders, educators and volunteers are actively bringing vibrancy and creativity to our state,” Kansas Arts Commission Director Curtis Young said. “We are excited to see what this next round of applications will bring to Kansas.”

Eligible applicants include Kansas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, units of local government (e.g., schools, universities, libraries, art agencies, etc.) and federally recognized tribal communities. All applicants must have at least one fiscal year of completed arts programming.

The deadline for all three KAC grant applications is 11:59 p.m. Monday, March 23. The grant period runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and all grants require a one-to-one match. For details, guidelines and eligibility, click here.

Applications must be submitted through the Kansas Commerce online application portal. To apply, click here.

About the Kansas Arts Commission (KAC):

The Kansas Arts Commission stewards the state’s investment in the arts by empowering creativity, fostering innovation, and strengthening the economy to enhance the vitality of every Kansas community. The Kansas Arts Commission is a division of the Kansas Department of Commerce. To learn more about KAC, click here or contact Ben Stanton at [email protected] or (785) 213-5959.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce:

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

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Government, Kansas

Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson

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February 27, 2026

 

The Property Tax Cap Assessment Protection (CAP) Amendment (SCR 1616) would limit annual assessment increases to 3% or less, a measure that cleared the Senate 30 to 10 and now moves to the House. Today there’s no cap, so rising county appraisals can dramatically raise tax bills even when mill levies stay flat.  Residential values have jumped over an average of 40% in four years, with Linn County up 91%.  The amendment would limit the assessment value used to calculate taxes to 3% or less growth, transfer that cap when a property changes owners, and year 2022 is the baseline because of the recent surge in values.

 

In 1989, the Kansas Constitution was amended to protect agriculture by moving to the current use-value system, instead of market value.  This helps ensure farmers aren’t taxed off their land.  SCR 1616 simply provides protection and predictability to homeowners, businesses, and agriculture.  If approved by the House, voters will decide if the CAP Amendment becomes law at the ballot box on August 4, 2026.  I voted yes.

 

Seniors In Need and Disabled Veterans property tax relief is expanded in SB 402.  It passed the Senate 39‑1.  I voted yes.  The bill consolidates the Homestead I and II (Property Tax Freeze for seniors and disabled vets) applications into a single form. It raises the maximum home value from $350,000 to $375,000 for both programs.  SB 402 updates the Homestead I household income definition to match Homestead II, Kansas Adjusted Gross Income (KAGI), which excludes Social Security so more people will qualify.  The bill also makes changes to the SAFESR program, another Kansas property tax refund program.  To qualify for SAFESR, taxpayers must have an income below $25,380 (adjusted each year for inflation) and be born before January 1, 1961.  The bill also ensures that once a taxpayer qualifies, they cannot be kicked off the program if the homes valuation should exceed the programs’ limit.

 

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.

Caryn

Government, Kansas

February Total Tax Collections at $506.3M; 10.3% Below Estimate

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TOPEKA – The State of Kansas ends February 2026 with total tax collections at $506.3 million. That is $58.4 million, or 10.3%, below the estimate. Total tax collections were down 7.6% from February 2025.

“February’s report reflects that revenues collected were down nearly $59 million, at the same time the Legislature is building their budget,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The Legislature should keep in mind the structural imbalance their past budget created and look to my budget for a path to rectify the unsustainable imbalance over time.”

Individual income tax collections were $205.7 million. That is $44.3 million, or 17.7% below the estimate. Individual income tax collections were down 14.1% from February 2025. Corporate income tax collections were negative $349,104. That is $15.3 million, or 102.3% below the estimate, and down 102.1% from February 2025.

Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $253.4 million, which is $433,844, or 0.2% above the estimate, and up 2.6% from February 2025.

Click here to view the February 2026 revenue numbers.

Government, Kansas

National Consumer Protection Week March 1-7

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Kobach advises consumers to ‘spot, avoid, and report’ scams during National Consumer Protection Week

TOPEKA – (March 2, 2026) – In observance of National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), March 1–7, 2026, Kansas Attorney General Kobach is joining consumer advocates nationwide to educate and empower citizens to recognize, report, and avoid scams and deceptive business practices.

Scammers are evolving their tactics to utilize artificial intelligence, deep fakes, and sophisticated phishing techniques. Attorney General Kobach is urging the community to remain vigilant. U.S. consumers reported billions in fraud losses last year. Accordingly, consumer protection week serves as a crucial reminder to be aware and practice smart consumer habits.

“Scammers are getting more sophisticated every day, but there are basic steps we can all take to spot fraud and protect ourselves,” Kobach said.

“Consumer protection is an important function of an attorney general’s office, and this week is a great opportunity to learn about the latest scam trends and share tips with family and friends,” said Joseph Sciarrotta, Chief Deputy Attorney General, said.

The Attorney General’s Public Protection Division resolved 4,039 consumer complaints, filed 3,952 new ones, and secured $3,241,320 in settlements for Kansas in 2025. Their efforts protect Kansans from fraud and scams. In his first three years in office, Attorney General Kobach has held businesses large and small to account.

Scams to watch for:

  •  Imposter Scams: Callers posing as government agents or bank fraud departments claiming your account is compromised.
  • Job Scams: Fake job solicitations promising high pay for little work designed to steal personal information or money.
  • -Investment & Romance Scams: Long-term groomingscams, like “pig butchering” where scammers build trust online before luring victims into, often times, fake cryptocurrency investments.
  • Online Shopping & Subscription Traps: Deceptive websites offer “free trials” that become difficult to cancel and lead to unauthorized recurring monthly charges.

Protect yourself:

  • Stop and Think. If a call, text, or email pressures you to act immediately, it’s a scam. Legitimate organizations will not threaten you on the spot.
  • Verify the Source. Never trust caller ID or an incoming text or email alone. Hang up on the caller and contact the company or agency directly using a number you look up yourself, not the one provided in the message. Do the same for an email or text. Go to the legitimate website on your own initiative to verify the inquiry, never click a link in an email or text.
  • Use Secure Payment Methods. Never pay with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Legitimate government or business organizations will not request payment by gift cards, wire transfer, or crypto. Never pay for “free” gifts, prizes, or services either.
  • Guard your Personal Information. Do not share sensitive information like Social Security numbers or bank information in response to an unexpected request.

If you suspect a scam or have been targeted, you can contact the Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection section at [email protected] or (800) 432-3699. Complaints may also be filed online at www.ag.ks.gov.

 

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Kansas Attorney General’s Office | 120 SW 10th Ave. | Topeka, KS 66612 US
Kansas, Schools, Youth

Kansas Thespians Theatre in Our Schools Advocacy Day Topeka, KS

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— On March 11, 2026 Kansas Thespians host a Theatre in Our Schools Advocacy Day at the Kansas State Capitol. Over 200 Students, educators, and advocates come to the Capitol from across the state to advocate for positive arts legislation and theatre programming in our schools.

As dedicated supporters of theatre, Senator Cindy Holscher, and Representative Kirk Haskins have partnered with Kansas Thespians for this day to highlight the economic impact of the arts in our communities and the importance of strong arts education in our schools. Kansas Thespians promote lifelong learning through theatre in over 100 high school and junior high Thespian troupes across the state, with over 3000 inducted students.

Their hard work has been honored numerous times at the International Thespian Festival with schools, individual students, and educators from our state being recognized for their remarkable work.

The impact of arts programming and theatre can be felt in communities across Kansas. It is estimated by the Thespians that high school theatre brings in around a million dollars in community monies which is significant to our state. Theatre students will visit with their legislators, observe legislators in action on the floor of the senate, and have a possible photo op with the Governor.

### For more information on the advocacy day, contact the Kansas Thespians Advocacy Chair, Contact: Katie Murphy Advocacy Chair Email: [email protected]

Representatives are available for interviews to speak on this issue and bring awareness to the cause.

To schedule an interview with Thespian Representatives, please contact Katie Murphy

 

DRAFT Schedule for Theatre in Our Schools Advocacy Day FROM 2025

 

8:30- Begin arriving. Enter through North Entrance at ground level to pass through security. Proceed to first floor to check in.

 

9:00- Check on first floor. Tables will be visible.

 

9:30 – Large group photo

 

10:00-12:00 – Meetings with Reps

 

12:00 – Go to singing positions in Rotunda ground floor. Warm up etc.

 

12:15- Sing in the Rotunda

 

12:30- 12:50- Press Conference with Senator Cindy Holscher, Representative Haskins and Advocacy Steering Committee committee member

 

12:50- Lunch, additional legislative appointments

 

2:15 Assigned schools enter the Senate Gallery.

 

2:30  Senator Cindy Holscher’s Point of Privilege and Proclamation.

DID YOU KNOW KANSAS THESPIANS … 

 

  • Maintains 98 active Thespian or Junior Thespian troupes.
  • Has over 2900 active high school or junior high Thespian members in Kansas.
  • Has numerous Thespian troupes attend The International Thespian Festival.
  • Maintains 6 Student Thespian Officers who work together on the Kansas Thespian State Board.
  • Holds a Kansas Thespians Festival each year with over 2300 students, teachers, and college representatives in attendance. During this time Kansas Thespians rent the entire Century II Convention Center and  The Wichita Hyatt Regency, Wichita, Kansas for this three day event.
  • Had an administrator recognized as Theatre Administrator of the Year by the Educational Theatre Association 2023 and 2024.
  • Has an Olathe Director of Theatre selected to serve on the national Educational Theatre Association Board of Directors.
  • Is recognized as a Gold Honor Chapter by The Educational Theatre Association.
  • Olathe South High School chosen as Outstanding Theatre School 2020  by The Educational Theatre Association.
  • Leavenworth High School garnered first place in the nation 2020 for the Theatre in Our Schools Impact Award.
  • Topeka West High School chosen as Outstanding Theatre School 2022  by The Educational Theatre Association.
  • Topeka West High School garnered first place in the nation 2022 and 2023 for the Theatre in Our Schools Impact Award.
  • Topeka High School chosen as Outstanding Theatre School 2023  by The Educational Theatre Association.

 

Overall, Kansas has over 20,000 students involved in theatre each year with each Kansas Thespian School producing an average of five productions a year. This equates into an average of 15 performances a year per school with an average attendance of 150 people or more per show. When the math is figured,and you add the total number of performances across Kansas, we have at least a quarter of a million people watching high school musicals and plays across our great state with a box office impact of at least $1,300,000  spent on attending high school productions, not to mention spending impact on local businesses for production supplies estimated at another half a million or more.

Government, Kansas

Governor Kelly Announces Data Protection Victory in USDA SNAP Data Request

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~~USDA’s New Agreement Protects Kansans’ Personal Information from Foreign Entities, Addresses Concerns with Scope of Data Request~~

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that her administration has secured an agreement from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that protects Kansans’ personal private data from being shared with foreign governments and complies with state and federal privacy laws related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The agreement also ensures that after the data is shared, USDA will cancel its disallowance letter, ending USDA’s efforts to disallow Kansas’ SNAP funds.

“The USDA’s decision to adhere to the DCF’s terms ensures that Kansans’ private, personal information, including full social security numbers, will not be shared with foreign governments,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Kansas has complied with federal and state laws throughout this entire process and all we have wanted is for the USDA to do the same. In reaching this agreement, we have successfully preserved Kansans’ privacy against the threat posed by the USDA’s initial request that amounted to federal overreach and violation of data protection laws.”

From the onset of the USDA’s far-reaching data request, Governor Kelly and her administration have remained consistent that until concerns about data protection were addressed, Kansas could not legally turn over the data. Now that these concerns have been addressed, data sharing is possible.

The USDA initially demanded that DCF turn over the private, legally protected, personal information of all Kansans and members of their households who have received, or applied for, SNAP benefits in the last 5 years. The USDA’s request included provisions allowing for Kansans’ personal information—which includes full Social Security numbers and dates of birth—to be shared with foreign governments.

After the USDA rejected DCF’s Corrective Action Proposal in response to the data request in September 2025, DCF swiftly filed an appeal with the USDA. The filing of that appeal immediately prevented the USDA from withholding $10.4 million in administrative funding for SNAP. The State of Kansas has not lost any SNAP administrative funding, and the program continues to operate as usual.

DCF has complied with state and federal law at every stage of this process and has maintained the confidentiality of thousands of Kansans whose personal information would be at risk. Protection of this personally identifiable information is legally required by both the Food Nutrition Act (FNA) and the Kansas Cybersecurity Act (KCA).

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Government, Kansas

KS Wildfire Response Efforts

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Governor Kelly Signs Executive Order to
Allow Relief from Transportation Restrictions
for Wildfire Response Efforts


TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly has signed Executive Order 26-01 to waive certain requirements for commercial motor vehicle carriers and drivers that are assisting in providing relief from the wildfires impacting parts of Kansas.

“As Kansas communities grapple with the impacts of these damaging wildfires, it’s essential that they have access to additional resources for response and recovery efforts,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “In signing this executive order, we’re taking a critical step to facilitate the delivery of hay and other supplies that our farmers and ranchers need for fire suppression and emergency recovery.”

On February 15, 2026, Governor Kelly issued a verbal state of disaster declaration in response to the wildland fires, followed by a written state of disaster declaration signed on February 24. Several large fires have caused extensive damage to Kansans’ property, including agricultural land. The February 15 emergency proclamation waives certain hours of service requirements for commercial motor vehicle carriers and drivers under the conditions of providing direct assistance during an emergency for up to 14 days from the date of Governor Kelly’s verbal state of disaster declaration. Executive Order 26-01 waives certain dimension restrictions and permit fees for motor carriers participating in restoration and relief efforts.

Motor carriers participating in restoration and relief efforts must still obtain the requisite over-dimension permits as required by the Kansas Department of Transportation, but fees associated with these permits have been temporarily waived. Permits may be obtained here.

Additional information on Executive Order 26-01, including requirements and exemptions for carriers and drivers, can be found here. A copy of the written state of disaster declaration is available here.

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Government, Kansas

Governor Kelly Urges Congressional Action on Year-Round E15

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TOPEKA – As the agricultural trade landscape continues to be unpredictable and everyday costs high, Governor Laura Kelly urges Congress to take action to authorize year-round E15 sales nationwide. Authorization of year-round E15 sales will create increased domestic demand for Kansas corn and grain sorghum while lowering gas costs for Kansans. Currently eight states have received EPA approval to opt out of the 1-psi Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver for E10, effectively allowing E15 sales year-round in those states. Governor Kelly released the below statement regarding year-round E15 sales.

“While I have resisted opting out of the EPA waiver for the State of Kansas in favor of following the nationwide emergency waiver for the years of 2022 through 2025, the reliance on the granting of this emergency waiver continues to cause stress on our fuel retailers and agricultural industry.

“Congress can eliminate this patchwork of regulatory relief by implementing a nation-wide solution to this issue and providing regulatory certainty for industry and lower gas prices for Americans. Failure to do so will continue to harm demand for Kansas corn and grain sorghum at a time when supplies are at record levels and prices are depressed.

“Further delay of a national solution to this issue by Congress will cause me to give strong consideration to submitting a request to join the eight other states who have received EPA approval to sell E15 year-round. The deadline to submit this waiver request is April 1, 2026.”

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Government, Kansas

KS Supreme Court, Court of Appeals now give advance notice of decisions to be released

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Supreme Court, Court of Appeals now give advance notice of decisions to be released

TOPEKA—The Kansas judicial branch website has a new feature that gives visitors advance notice of decisions to be released by appellate courts.

 

The search decisions page at https://searchdro.kscourts.gov/ has two new options: buttons titled Anticipated Decisions and Released Decisions.

 

Selecting Anticipated Decisions produces a list of case numbers with simple captions and county of origin for both published and unpublished decisions the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals anticipate they will release Friday morning. The anticipated decisions list will be available after 2 p.m. on Wednesdays.

 

Selecting Released Decisions produces a list of case numbers with simple captions, county of origin, and disposition from both appellate courts. The list will be available after 9:30 a.m. on Friday.

 

“We’ve heard from lawyers, news reporters, and others how helpful it is to know beforehand when we plan to release a decision,” said Chief Justice Eric Rosen. “These new features are to give notice and make it easier for people to find decisions of interest.”

 

Rosen clarified it’s always possible a decision will not be released as anticipated and added it should be rare.

 

The search decisions page allows searching by keyword, date, court, and published or unpublished. Its default display is a list of recent case decisions in chronological order from newest to oldest. It also has a link to another page that lists decisions by court and release date.

Kansas Judicial Branch

Office of Judicial Administration

301 SW 10th Avenue

Topeka, KS 66612-1507

785-296-2256

www.kscourts.gov

 
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Government, Kansas

Newsletter From KS State Representative Ken Collins

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Thoughts From Under the Dome

Ken Collins

Kansas State Representative-Second District

 

I have been waiting to write an update until I had some progress to report on Benny’s Bill (HB 2412) which as many of you know is legislation that I am sponsoring to strengthen penalties for child endangerment to a child under the age of six years old. The bill passed final action in the house with a vote of 124-0 which was unanimous of all representatives present. The bill now goes to the Senate where it has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee to repeat the same process that it did in the House of Representatives then hopefully to Governor Kelly.

 

Another bill that I feel is of interest is HB 2736 which deals with hospitals who offer financial assistance programs to patients in need. The bill calls for unnecessary reporting of a patient’s financial situation even if that patient isn’t interested in receiving assistance. I voted against the bill because of that and other reasons. Apparently many of my colleagues agreed with me because it was voted down 102-20.

 

HB 2368 which provided for the licensure of anesthesiologist assistants is another bill that was voted down. Kansas currently does not have people of that occupation working in the state but we currently have CRNAs (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) who operate with more autonomy than their AA counterparts and are a better fit for the more rural areas. I have received much feedback from both sides of that debate but most of what I have heard from our district has been in opposition to HB 2368.

 

I keep hearing from constituents about property tax relief and there are a number of proposals out there to address that topic. When any of them come to the House floor in the form of a bill I will take them into consideration and decide on their merits.

 

That’s it for now but as I always say, feel free to reach out with concerns and if you are ever in Topeka during the session I would love to have you drop by the Capitol. Ad Astra Per Aspera.

 

 

Government, Housing, Kansas

KS Senate Works To Cut Red Tape For Building Single Family Homes

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The Kansas Senate has passed historic reform to cut through red tape and make building single-family homes faster and easier across our state, unlocking the potential of the American dream in Kansas.

At its core, SB 418 requires local governments to approve single-family homes, speeding up new construction to help ease housing shortages and make homes more affordable. It also allows more practical and affordable building options and treats all residentially-zoned land in cities as suitable for single-family use.

Senator TJ Rose, who carried the bill on the floor, said, “Kansas families have been asking us to help revive the American dream of homeownership, and this bill advances that effort by reducing red tape, allowing more practical and affordable building options, and opening more land for single-family homes. This bill particularly gives younger Kansans hope for the future, knowing that owning a home is now more attainable in our state.”

President Ty Masterson thanked Senator Rose for his work on the historic bill.

“Senator Rose worked for months with cities, builders, realtors, and key advocacy groups to craft this bill and ensure it would pass this session, as evidenced by the bi-partisan vote for the bill. As the father of six and the grandfather of seven, I want young Kansans to know that homeownership is possible. This bill helps fortify single-family homes as the bedrock of the American dream.”

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Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson | 300 SW 10th St. 332-E | Topeka, KS 66612 US