Kansas

A new lawsuit argues that Wichita's “dragnet surveillance program” of AI-powered license plate readers violates the Kansas Constitution. The city began deploying Flock Safety cameras in 2020, analyzing vehicle details and logging them into a nationwide database without a warrant.

In many Midwestern cities, even those without camping bans, officials are more aggressive with removing encampments from public spaces. People experiencing homelessness say they’re moving frequently and experiencing anxiety.

If voters approve the constitutional amendment, Kansas will move to a system of electing justices. If not, the state will continue with its current, merit-based appointment system. Critics say the amendment is an attempted power grab by Republican lawmakers.

The One Big Beautiful Bill requires states to pay for some food assistance under the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program based on error rates. Kansas had a rate of 9.4%, while Missouri’s error rate is 8.7%. Advocacy groups want the penalties delayed to avoid service cuts.

A new type of wheat dotting Kansas fields has a special use: making pasta. Wheat acres have continuously declined in Kansas. The noodle-focused wheat variety could change that.

The Department of Energy set the Independence Day deadline as part of the nuclear reactor pilot program. Deep Fission was one of the advanced nuclear projects. Officials now say they have other goals.

The Kansas City Chiefs' newly released renderings for the $3 billion stadium include a fully enclosed domed roof, 20,000 parking spots for tailgating and a space designed “to maximize crowd noise."

Of the 12 states counted as the Midwest by the U.S. Census Bureau, eight are seeing modest growth from domestic migration. Four are seeing a decline in the number of people moving in from other parts of the country.

The Cowtown Vintage Base Ball Club started in 2004. Volunteer players represent two 1879 Wichita teams, the Red Stockings and the Bull Dozers.

A new Kansas law bars students from attending a walkout protest without written parental permission, and threatens school districts that don't enforce it. Free speech advocates say the proposed complaint form could punish students for expression and violate their privacy.

A break-in at a Kansas farmhouse unearthed a trove of artifacts from Maud Wagner, one of the country’s first known female commercial tattoo artists. Wagner was born in Emporia and joined a sideshow act with her sister until a fateful meeting pushed her to pursue carnival stardom, inked from head to toe.

Republican Derek Schmidt is defending his congressional seat against a challenger within his own party and two other hopefuls. The 2nd District covers much of eastern Kansas outside the Kansas City suburbs.