KS - January 17 2025

1. Kansas GOP Seeks 7.5% Budget Cut Across All State Agencies
2. KC Violence Mixed in 2024: Homicides Down, Shootings Up
3. Colorado Farmers Retire 17,000 Acres to Meet River Compact
4. Across Kansas: From PowerSchool Breach to Escaped Heifer
5. Sports: Chiefs Host Texans in AFC Divisional Playoff

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1. Kansas GOP Seeks 7.5% Budget Cut Across All State Agencies

Kansas Republicans are asking agencies to report on what they would cut if they had to reduce their budgets by 7.5% in the upcoming fiscal year. The Kansas House Appropriations Committee reported that it would distribute the request to state agencies at its meeting on Wednesday. The request comes after the committee submitted its own budget for the first time in decades, rather than tweaking the budget provided by the governor.

Article Source: Topeka Capitol-Journal

2. KC Violence Mixed in 2024: Homicides Down, Shootings Up

High-profile mass shootings at the Crown Center shopping center and the Chiefs Super Bowl victory rally at Union Station heralded a violent start to the year for Kansas City in 2024, shocking the public with their brazen nature and widespread impact. Indeed, the latter shooting captured national attention, bred community outcries for change and impelled discussions among leaders about ways to make the murky path of preventing violent crime more clear. Homicides in Kansas City, in fact, declined in 2024 from a record high the year prior, a fact which city leaders and law enforcement widely touted. But nonfatal shootings still soared, making 2024 the second most violent year for nonfatal shootings in Kansas City’s history, and violent crime overall remained at consistently high levels. There were 147 people killed in Kansas City last year, according to data maintained by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings. Most murders were by gunfire, and the number of people who were hit by bullets — and survived — rose 12% over the previous year, according to police data.

Article Source: KC Star

3. Colorado Farmers Retire 17,000 Acres to Meet River Compact

Farm communities on the Eastern Plains, under the gun to deliver water to Kansas and Nebraska, are poised to permanently retire 17,000 acres of land, with the help of $30 million in state and federal funding. From Wray, to Yuma to Burlington, growers are being paid to permanently shut off irrigation wells linked to the Republican River to ensure the vital waterway can deliver enough water to neighbors to the east, as required under the Republican River Compact of 1943. As of this month, ranchers had already retired 10,000 acres under the program, and the rest will be set aside in coming months.  

The Republican River Compact 

Following the drought of the 1930’s and a devastating flood in the basin in 1935, the Republican River Compact (1943) was negotiated during the early 1940s to pave the way for a system of federal dams and irrigation districts. The Compact was ratified by the states of Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska and federally in 1943. Principally, the Compact provided an apportionment of the basin’s water supply between the three states. To accomplish this, the negotiators of the compact determined the virgin water supply (the water supply within the basin un-depleted by the activities of man ) within the basin by major tributary (sub-basin) and allocated those supplies based on anticipated development. The compact includes provisions for adjustments to the virgin water supply and allocations based on future records and/or changing conditions.

Article Source: Colorado Sun, RepublicanRiver.org

4. Across Kansas: From PowerSchool Breach to Escaped Heifer

 ARKANSAS CITY Local school districts, including Winfield USD 465 and Arkansas City USD 470, have been affected by a data breach through PowerSchool, their student information systems provider. Source: CT News Online

EMPORIA Construction of Emporia State University's new 32,000-square-foot Nursing/Student Wellness building has faced delays due to soil issues. The facility is now projected to open in 2026. Source: Emporia Gazette

HAYS Judge Glenn Braun has concluded his service on the bench in the 23rd judicial district after more than a decade. Braun, who served as chief judge since 2016, was first appointed as district judge in 2012. Source: Hays Post

HUTCHINSON The Reno County Planning Commission is set to discuss potential action on new solar regulations at their January 16 meeting, according to County Planner Mark Vonachen. Source: Hutch Post

JUNCTION CITY The Geary County Childcare Coalition has received a Child Care Community Partnership grant, which will fund a part-time coordinator position for 2025. Source: JC Post

LAWRENCE The city is hosting Lawrence Restaurant Week from January 16-26, 2025, featuring special offerings from restaurants across town. Source: Explore Lawrence

LIBERAL Air Products is moving forward with a new industrial project that will create 45 new jobs in Liberal. The city commission recently discussed a purchase and sale agreement with the company. Source: Liberal First

MANHATTAN A K-State Veterinary Health Center heifer escaped and led authorities on a chase through town, making stops at the Manhattan Country Club, Bluemont Hill, and K-State campus. The incident required drone surveillance and road closures before the cow was recaptured. Source: Manhattan Mercury

MCPHERSON The Pawnee District of Quivira Council Boy Scouts of America celebrated a successful year, recognizing seven new Eagle Scouts and reporting over 1,400 Cub Scout ranks earned and more than 9,400 BSA rank advancements in 2024. Source: McPherson Citizen Journal

SALINA The Salina Police Department's SWAT team conducted an operation in the 100 block of South Chicago Street as part of an ongoing investigation. Witnesses reported seeing officers approaching a residence with rifles drawn, though no arrests have been made. Source: Salina Post

5. Sports: Chiefs Host Texans in AFC Divisional Playoff

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to host the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The game is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN and ABC.  The Chiefs, aiming for a historic third consecutive Super Bowl appearance, secured the AFC's No. 1 seed with a 15-2 regular-season record, granting them a bye during Wild Card Weekend. Their opponent, the No. 4 seed Texans, advanced after a decisive 32-12 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.  This matchup marks the third playoff meeting between the two teams, with the Chiefs winning the previous encounters, including a memorable 51-31 comeback victory in the 2019 Divisional Round.  Weather forecasts predict clear skies with temperatures around 30°F at kickoff, minimizing weather-related challenges for both teams.  In team news, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been utilizing Invisalign aligners, addressing speculations about his mouthguard. Additionally, Mahomes and his wife Brittany recently welcomed their third child, Golden Raye.  The winner will advance to the AFC Championship Game, moving one step closer to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

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Sources

1. https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/state/2025/01/16/kansas-republicans-to-agencies-what-would-you-lose-if-budget-cut-7-5/77748141007/

2. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article297640608.html

3. https://coloradosun.com/2025/01/17/republican-river-compact-colorado-farmland-wells-retired/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202025-01-17%20Agriculture%20Dive%20%5Bissue:69629%5D&utm_term=Agriculture%20Dive
https://republicanriver.org/overview/#:~:text=The%20Republican%20River%20Compact&text=The%20Compact%20was%20ratified%20by,supply%20between%20the%20three%20states.