TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly on Monday vetoed Senate Bill 4.

TOPEKA – The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission will hold its next public meeting on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the Topeka & Shawnee County Library in Topeka. The meeting will begin at noon and continue until all agenda items are addressed.

The meeting will open with a report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, during which commissioners will hear about regulations currently in promulgation. Following the department report, commissioners will take comments on non-agenda items and listen to remarks from KDWP Secretary Christopher Kennedy.

A discussion on the night vision coyote hunting season will then take place, followed by workshop session items – topics that may be voted on in the future – including:

• 2025-26 Waterfowl Season Date, Bag and Possession Limits
• Kansas Duck Zones
• K.A.R. 115-25-8 – Elk; open season, bag limit, and permits
• K.A.R. 115-25-9 – Big Game Regulations
• 2025 Deer Permit Quotas

The meeting will conclude with an additional opportunity for public comment on non-agenda items. The complete agenda can be viewed HERE.

Attendees can participate in the meetings in person or virtually. Instructions for joining via Zoom, phone, or live streaming are available HERE under “Instructions to Participate in Virtual Meeting.” Those who wish to provide input but cannot attend may fill out the “Contact All Commissioners” form HERE.

An interpreter for the hearing impaired can be requested by calling the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Individuals with disabilities may request other accommodations by contacting the Commission secretary at (620) 672-0702.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 24, 2025, at the Flint Oak Hunting Resort in Fall River.

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TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Stevens County Health Department have reported a positive case of measles in a resident of Stevens County. It is currently unknown whether this case is linked to any ongoing measles outbreaks in the United States. KDHE, along with the Stevens County Health Department, are notifying individuals who may have been exposed to this case of measles. This incident marks the first measles case in Kansas since 2018.

Early symptoms of measles are a fever of more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes. Usually, one to four days after these early symptoms, a red rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Measles symptoms typically develop 10-14 days after exposure. Symptoms can develop as soon as seven days and as long as 21 days after exposure.

Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus. Measles is spread through the air by breathing, coughing or sneezing. Measles can be spread from an infected person to others from four days before, to four days after the rash appears.

Because measles is a highly infectious disease, it is very important for anyone exposed and experiencing symptoms to isolate from others with the exception of visiting a health care provider.

The best way to prevent measles is to get the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends children get their first dose at 12 to 15 months of age, and a second dose at age 4 to 6 years. Infants ages 6 through 11 months old should get the MMR vaccination if traveling outside the United States. Adults are protected from measles if they have had at least one dose of the MMR vaccine, were born before 1957, or have evidence of immunity from a blood test.

If an individual has known exposure to someone with measles and they are not immune through vaccination or prior infection, they are recommended to:

• Consult with a health care provider to determine if post-exposure prophylaxis is recommended.
• Exclude themselves from public settings for 21 days from the last time they were exposed unless symptoms develop.
• If symptoms develop, individuals should notify their local health department and stay away from public areas until four days after the rash appeared.
• Individuals seeking health care are advised to call ahead to their health care provider and let them know their symptoms and exposure concerns. This will help limit exposure within the healthcare setting.

Per K.A.R. 28-1-2, measles is a four-hour reportable disease. If a health care provider, laboratory or hospital suspects, tests, or diagnoses an individual with measles, KDHE should be notified immediately. KDHE will work with the health care provider on testing recommendations. Teachers and school administrators are also required by law to report suspected cases to KDHE.

Measles cases rarely occur in Kansas and are usually associated with international travel.

For questions, call the Stevens County Health Department at 620-544-7177 or KDHE Epidemiology Hotline at 877-427-7317 (option 5).

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to Host Public Meetings on Night Vision Coyote Hunting Season

PRATT – The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) will host three public meetings in March to gather feedback on the night vision coyote hunting season. These open forum meetings will provide an opportunity for the public to share their thoughts with KDWP staff, which KDWP will use to assess season dates.

Meeting Schedule:

• March 10 | 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  El Dorado State Park Shooting Facility
  2980 NE Shady Creek Access Rd, El Dorado, KS 67042
• March 24 | 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  Sportsman’s Acres
  3922 Highway K-244 Spur, Junction City, KS 66441
• March 25 | 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  Brief Space
  219 W 10th St, Hays, KS 67601

“Coyotes are classified as a nongame species in Kansas,” says Dr. Jon Beckmann, assistant director of the wildlife division at KDWP, “but they are regulated and managed like a furbearer species. They range throughout Kansas in both rural and urban landscapes, and approximately 30,000 people hunt coyotes each year.”

The night vision coyote hunting season, introduced in 2021, runs annually from Jan. 1 through March 31. During this season, hunters may use artificial light, night vision, and thermal-imaging equipment to hunt coyotes with a $2.50 Night Vision Equipment Permit and the appropriate hunting license. In addition to the night vision season, Kansas maintains a year-round coyote hunting and furharvesting season with no limit on the number of coyotes that can be taken.

“We have not proposed any changes to the coyote night vision season,” explained KDWP Acting Secretary Christopher Kennedy. “We have heard from many members of the public with varying opinions and scheduled these meetings to ensure we are listening and considering the views of all Kansans.”

The night vision coyote season will also be discussed at upcoming Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission meetings, including the next meeting on March 27 at the Topeka & Shawnee County Library. Members of the public are welcome to attend and voice their opinions during the meeting’s two public comment sessions.

Those unable to attend a meeting can provide input by filling out the “Contact All Commissioners” form at ksoutdoors.com/commission.

For more information on coyote hunting in Kansas, visit ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Coyote.

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The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) is dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of Kansas’s natural resources for the benefit of both current and future generations. KDWP manages 29 state parks, 177 lakes and wildlife areas, more than 300 public waterbodies, and 5 nature centers. Other services include management of threatened, endangered, and at-risk species, law enforcement, and wildlife habitat programs. For more information about KDWP, visit ksoutdoors.com.