KS - April 30 2025

Kansas Measles Cases Climb to 46; Gray County Sees Surge to 15

New State Law May Complicate Response as Measles Spreads in Southwest Kansas

Look Up! Amazon Takes Steps to Bring Drone Delivery Service to KC

Federal Funding Restored for K-State's Multi-Million Dollar Ag Research Lab

Tragedy at Piper High: 15-Year-Old Dies Following Medical Emergency in Classroom

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Kansas Measles Cases Climb to 46; Gray County Sees Surge to 15

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced nine additional measles cases in its weekly update, bringing the state to 46. A majority of the cases (38) are among children, ages 17 and under, who are not vaccinated. The cases remain in eight counties: Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, Haskell, Kiowa, Morton and Stevens. Gray County saw the greatest increase in cases from 1-5 last week to 15 this week.KWCH

New State Law May Complicate Response as Measles Spreads in Southwest Kansas

New legislation may make it more difficult for public health officials to manage a measles outbreak, which has increased by nine cases. Measles cases in Kansas jumped from 37 to 46 over the past week, with all cases located in southwest counties, according to Kansas Department of Health and Environment data released Wednesday morning. KDHE spokeswoman Jill Bronaugh said the state agency is working with local health departments to communicate about measles and to educate the public. But the Legislature’s passage of Senate Bill 29 may complicate the ability of local health officials to react to the increasing number of measles cases. This bill removed the ability of local health officials to ban public gatherings during infectious disease outbreaks and added the expectation that health officials show probable cause if they quarantine or isolate individuals during an outbreak. The bill says those who are quarantined can file a civil lawsuit that must be heard within 72 hours if they believe the decision was unjust. Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the bill, but the Republican-led Legislature overturned her veto.Kansas Reflector

Look Up! Amazon Takes Steps to Bring Drone Delivery Service to KC

Drone deliveries from Amazon could be on the horizon for Kansas City residents as the retail giant pushes to begin offering a service currently available in only two smaller U.S. cities. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed to The Star on Tuesday that the company, founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is considering bringing the drone delivery service to Kansas City. The service, launched in 2022 as Prime Air, uses delivery drones to fly packages to customers. “We’re reviewing options and working with local officials to possibly bring Prime Air to Kansas City - which would support our efforts to provide fast delivery and great service to local customers,” spokesperson Andy DiOrio said in a statement. The Star reached out to Amazon after hearing rumblings of the plans inside the Missouri Capitol. However, the company was short on specifics. DiOrio cautioned that the service was still in its early planning stages and the company would need to take additional steps. Amazon has received permitting approval in the past two weeks from the City Plan Commission and the Board of Zoning Adjustment. If all goes to plan, Amazon is hoping to build a drone delivery center at its same-day delivery facility, located south of Missouri 150, at the corner of Botts Road and 149th Street.Kansas City Star

Federal Funding Restored for K-State's Multi-Million Dollar Ag Research Lab

President Donald Trump's administration has restored federal funding for an agricultural research grant to Kansas State University worth between $22 million and $37 million. K-State officials announced April 30 that the university is in the process of restarting work at the Climate Resilient Cereals Innovation Lab after its federal funding resumed earlier in the month. The university previously suspended operations at the lab after receiving a stop-work order as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) paused funding and dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development, which had awarded the agricultural research funding to K-State.CJOnline

Tragedy at Piper High: 15-Year-Old Dies Following Medical Emergency in Classroom

A 15-year-old Kansas high school student who lost her mother to cancer eight years ago has has died following a medical emergency in class last week. Asia Green's family told WDAF that the teen was in class at Piper High School last Thursday when she told her teacher she couldn't breathe. Her inhaler did not help, and she collapsed and hit her head. A staff member performed CPR until Kansas City, Kansas paramedics arrived minutes later and took over. Asia died at a local hospital on Sunday. Green’s family told the local Fox affiliate that she had no history of heart issues, but doctors told them she died of cardiac arrest.KAKE

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Sources

1. https://www.kwch.com/app/2025/04/30/kansas-up-46-measles-cases-15-gray-county/
2. https://kansasreflector.com/2025/04/30/measles-cases-jump-to-46-in-eight-southwest-counties-as-new-kansas-law-restricts-health-officials-1/
3. https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article305322081.html#storylink=cpy
4. https://www.cjonline.com/story/business/agricultural/2025/04/30/funding-for-k-state-innovation-lab-restored-after-doge-cut-ag-research/83344503007/
5. https://www.kake.com/home/kansas-high-school-student-dies-after-suffering-medical-emergency-in-class/article_60981f22-02ff-4ddd-95c5-63638b6fd7d5.html