Kansas

Gov. Laura Kelly originally refused to hand over the data, leading the federal government to threaten withholding SNAP funds. The governor said she received additional privacy guarantees for how the data will be used.

Many Midwest residents distrust their tap water. Some purchase water and ice from standalone kiosks. University of Iowa researchers found at least trace levels of lead in most of these kiosks.

The proposal would allow renters to pay their monthly rent in multiple payments so long as all is paid in full and on time.

Multiple Kansas law enforcement organizations came out against the bill. They want stiff penalties for crimes using weapons like short-barreled shotguns and guns with suppressors.

Two transgender men from Lawrence filed a lawsuit last week to stop the new Kansas law from taking effect. Hundreds of transgender residents were told their IDs are immediately invalid and must be replaced.

Kansas lawmakers are more optimistic about the chances of passing property tax relief this session. One proposal is a constitutional amendment that would cap property tax valuation changes at 3% for most properties, while another would cap spending by local governments.

The lesser prairie chicken, known for its flamboyant courtship dances and bulging neck pouches, has lost a majority of its population in the grasslands and brush of southwestern Kansas. But Republican lawmakers have long fought against its habitat protections.

Many Americans struggle with medical debt, and those expenses can cause families to give up non-essential costs like extracurricular sports. The Finish Strong Foundation helps pay sports fees so kids can finish their season.

Some legislators were unclear if Kansas law already requires the use of turn signals in a roundabout. "As much as I hate them stupid things," Berryton Republican Sen. Rick Kloos said, "I like the bill."

Proponents are worried that soccer fans in Johnson and Wyandotte counties will cross the border to bars and stores in Missouri, which already passed legislation to extend liquor sales to 23 hours of the day.

Kansas this week invalidated the IDs of transgender Kansans who changed the gender marker on their driver’s licenses or birth certificates. The ACLU is suing to stop the law, which also restricts bathroom use, saying it violates the constitutional rights of residents.

Some transgender Kansans received letters urging them to request new IDs that conflict with their gender identity and presentation, because their current ones are "invalid immediately." It’s the result of a new law that also regulates which bathrooms transgender people are allowed to use.