western Kansas

A few weeks ago, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents began descending on western Kansas. More than 100 people were detained, leaving communities and the massive local beef industry to deal with the aftermath.

Fort Hays State University President Tisa Mason told Ellis County leaders on Tuesday that new partnerships and donations could keep the natural history museum open into next year. The university said it could not afford to "subsidize it alone."

Immigration enforcement targeted western Kansas with sweeping actions over the last week, leaving people with and without legal status reeling. The beef industry that employs thousands in the area is working to get back on track.

Fort Hays State University President Tisa Mason said the Sternberg Museum of Natural History will close Dec. 18. Mason said the school faces a $2.4 million cut in state funding and needs to eliminate any programs that do not directly benefit students.

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 wind energy industry has slowed across the country, but some Kansas towns want to invest in it for economic growth. We’ll hear about the push for renewable energy in rural Kansas — and the obstacles it faces. Plus: Hear why support for 988, the national suicide and crisis hotline, is stronger in some states than in others.

Tumbleweeds have taken over the High Plains. The plant thrives so well in the western part of Kansas that sometimes they can shut down entire neighborhoods or highways. Plus: An inconspicuous insect is changing what survival looks like as climate change remains a threat.

The Center for Healthcare Quality & Payment Reform, a national policy organization, found 68 rural Kansas hospitals are at risk of closing, including 30 at immediate risk. Revenue isn’t keeping up with costs.

Tumbleweeds have taken over the High Plains. They thrive so well that they are part of the culture of the West. But this ample supply of blowing weeds can hurt farm yields, wreak havoc on neighborhoods and cause fire dangers.

Groundwater in western Kansas is a precious commodity. Hays and Russell are back in court to defend a plan to transfer water from a ranch in another county.

Based in Garden City, Kansas, High Plains Public Radio is the only public radio station serving the five-state, mostly rural High Plains region. After Congress cut $1 billion to public broadcasting, its founders say a grant to create a brand-new network for local news and information arrived with serendipitous timing.

Western Kansas has inserted itself into the corn belt, and even though there's better crop options for the climate, huge industries and government subsidies make it hard for farmers to switch. Plus: The average American eats more than 40 quarts of popcorn a year, but the snack isn't grown on that many farms.