KS - April 28 2025

Kansas Governor Signs 11 Bipartisan Bills Covering Education Funding, Data Centers, and New AI Crime

Governor Kelly Vetoes Scholarship Expansion Bill, Citing Concerns Over Funding Private Institutions

Wichita Students Showcase Inventions in Innovative One-Room Schoolhouse 'Creative Minds' Project

Northland Woman Charged With First-Degree Murder in Fatal Stabbing of Kansas City Firefighter-Paramedic

Investigation Finds No Gun at Salina South High Following Lockdown; Misunderstanding Over Noise, Old Social Media Post Cited

Thunder Advance to West Semifinals, Sweeping Grizzlies After Close Game 4 Victory

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1. Kansas Governor Signs 11 Bipartisan Bills Covering Education Funding, Data Centers, and New AI Crime

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced Friday she had signed into law 11 bills, meeting a deadline and cementing public education funding, tax incentives for major data centers and a new crime for possessing, creating or distributing AI-generated child pornography. The bills were bipartisan, Kelly said, as she signed them before the end of the 10-day period she has to take action after the Legislature delivers them to her. 

Kansas Reflector

2. Governor Kelly Vetoes Scholarship Expansion Bill, Citing Concerns Over Funding Private Institutions 

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a bill Friday she feared would funnel more public money to private educational institutions. Senate Bill 24 broadened the scope of the Kansas Promise Scholarship, which offers financial aid to Kansans in community college or a technical training program, to include two private institutions — Wichita Technical Institute and the Heartland Welding Academy. Typically, the scholarship is reserved for not-for-profit schools. “I have serious concerns about the precedent that would be set by providing state funding to for-profit educational institutions that are not accountable to the state or taxpayers,” said Kelly, a Democrat, in an announcement. The bill also would have raised the maximum allocation that could be given to institutions across the state from $10 million to $15 million. The scholarship program covers the cost of tuition, books, fees and supplies for students in families below a certain income threshold who want to attend community college or technical school. 

Kansas Reflector

3. Wichita Students Showcase Inventions in Innovative One-Room Schoolhouse 'Creative Minds' Project

At the Learning Lab in Union Station, more than a dozen students showcased their inventions as part of the Wichita school district’s new Creative Minds project, a one-room classroom of kindergarten through sixth grade students. A self-watering device for indoor plants, a karaoke-like doll and a “robot” that could be a child’s new best friend were among the projects on display. Creative Minds features project-based learning, where a student picks what they want to do and then the teacher creates a curriculum based on that. “I have the freedom and flexibility to build based on what their interest is, and their engagement is just so high because of it,” teacher Olivia Sumner said. 

Kansas.com

4. Northland Woman Charged With First-Degree Murder in Fatal Stabbing of Kansas City Firefighter-Paramedic 

A Northland woman is facing a murder charge after she allegedly fatally stabbed a Kansas City firefighter-paramedic who was trying to help her, court records show. Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson has charged Shanetta Bossell with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, third-degree assault of a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest in the death of 29-year-old Graham Hoffman. Bossell appeared in court via video conference Monday afternoon where she shook her head as Clay County Circuit Judge Louis Angles read the charges to her. Bosswell entered a plea of not guilty. She also said she would need a public defender. Before the attack early Sunday, callers phoned police just after 12:30 a.m., asking officers to check the welfare of a woman who was walking on Missouri 152 near North Oak Trafficway, said Capt. Jake Becchina, a police spokesman. Officers found the woman, later identified as Bossell, on the side of the highway, and they eventually requested a medical crew to respond to provide further treatment, Becchina said. Hoffman and his partner responded to the medical call about 1 a.m. and were on the way to a hospital when Bossell allegedly stabbed Hoffman with an “edged weapon,” Becchina said. 

Kansas City Star

5. Investigation Finds No Gun at Salina South High Following Lockdown; Misunderstanding Over Noise, Old Social Media Post Cited 

UPDATED 12:40 p.m. - Salina Police have concluded their investigation at Salina South High School following reports of a possible gunman, determining there was no weapon present and no active threat. The incident began when a 911 call reported a possible armed person, prompting an immediate lockdown. Authorities discovered the situation stemmed from a social media post made by a student on April 3 showing the student with a gun, though no direct threats were made against the school. The post was shared in a student chat group, and concerns escalated when another student reported hearing what they believed was "a gun being racked" in a restroom. Police confirmed through surveillance footage that the student who made the original post was not in the restroom at the time, and the student who was present explained the sound came from crushing a water bottle. School operations have resumed while police continue investigating the April 3 social media post. "We appreciate the quick response from the Salina Police Department and first responders," district officials stated. "They have determined that there was no danger." 

KWCH

6. Thunder Advance to West Semifinals, Sweeping Grizzlies After Close Game 4 Victory 

The Oklahoma City Thunder became the league’s first team to advance to the conference semifinals on Saturday afternoon. The Thunder, who were pushed down to the wire in a potential closeout, put the finishing touches on the Memphis Grizzlies with a 117-115 victory in a Game 4 that came down to the wire. Shai-Gilgeous Alexander finally broke open in the playoffs, leading Oklahoma City with 38 points, five rebounds and six assists on 13-of-24 shooting. Jalen Williams added 23 points and five assists, while Iaiah Hartenstein added a 11-point, 12 rebound double-double and Chet Holmgren added 11 points. Scottie Pippen Jr. led the Grizzlies with 30 points and 11 rebounds while Santi Aldama and Desmond Bane poured in 23 points apiece. 

NYT Athletic

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Sources

1. https://kansasreflector.com/2025/04/28/kansas-governor-signs-11-bills-dealing-with-crime-industry-governing/
2. https://kansasreflector.com/2025/04/25/kansas-governor-vetoes-scholarship-bill-that-would-have-extended-public-funds-to-two-private-schools/
3. https://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article304964526.html
4. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article305221896.html
5. https://www.kwch.com/app/2025/04/28/police-scene-salina-south-high-school/
6. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6312928/2025/04/26/nba-playoffs-cavaliers-heat-thunder-grizzlies-nuggets-clippers-rockets-warriors/?source=user_shared_article