KS - January 24 2025

1. Kansas House weighs $800M tax cut despite school funding concerns
2. Kansas TB outbreak becomes largest in US history
3. State Reps scuffle during heated pub argument
4. Trump's USDA pick outlines priorities at confirmation hearing
5. Chiefs seek playoff revenge against Bills Sunday

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1. Kansas House weighs $800M tax cut despite school funding concerns

Public school advocates are asking lawmakers to proceed with caution as they consider slashing the statewide property tax that directly funds public education. Legislation in the House would lower the state rate from 20 to 18.5 mills in the next fiscal year, which starts June 1, and then freeze the annual tax collections at the current level for future years. The Kansas Department of Revenue estimates the impact would be $823.6 million over five years, assuming property values grow by 5% each year from 2026 to 2030. Debate Wednesday in the House Taxation Committee centered on concerns that the Legislature would return to a familiar pattern of lowering tax collections to the point that lawmakers eventually would cut public school funding and instigate another legal battle. The Kansas Supreme Court has repeatedly forced the Legislature to abide by a constitutional mandate to adequately and equitably fund public schools. Last year, the Supreme Court released jurisdiction over the most recent case, elevating fears by public schools that the Legislature could again pull the rug out from under them.

Article Source: KS Reflector

2. Kansas TB outbreak becomes largest in US history

An ongoing tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas has become the largest in recorded history in the United States. "Currently, Kansas has the largest outbreak that they've ever had in history," Ashley Goss, a deputy secretary at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, told the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee on Tuesday. As of Jan. 17, public health officials reported that they had documented 66 active cases and 79 latent infections in the Kansas City, Kansas, metro area since 2024. Most of the cases have been in Wyandotte County, with a handful in Johnson County.

Article Source: Topeka Capitol-Journal

3. State Reps scuffle during heated pub argument

An explosive argument between a state representative and a Wichita City Council member brought law enforcement to a Topeka pub Wednesday evening. Video of the heated exchange between Rep. Ford Carr, a Wichita Democrat, and council member Brandon Johnson shows another Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Henry Helgerson of Eastborough, trying to intervene and being shoved to the floor by Carr. The incident took place at the Celtic Fox pub across the street from the Capitol during a reception attended by council members, Sedgwick County officials and members of the South Central Delegation. The argument between Carr and Johnson stemmed from the management of state funds allocated to pay for cancer screenings for residents of the 29th and Grove groundwater contamination site.

Article Source: Wichita Eagle

4. Trump's USDA pick outlines priorities at confirmation hearing

Stanching the farming industry’s economic losses and addressing the spread of bird flu and other animal diseases are top of mind for Brooke Rollins, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Rollins, a former White House aide and CEO of the think tank America First Policy Institute, laid out her vision for the department in a Thursday confirmation hearing, including an outline of her top four priorities for “day one” at the USDA. Rollins said she would have four immediate priorities if confirmed as USDA secretary, [1] starting with “a fast and furious effort” to distribute the $10 billion in economic aid approved in December. [2] Rollins also said she will tackle the spread of animal diseases, including bird flu, which has roiled U.S. poultry flocks and significantly raised the price of eggs. Bird flu in dairy cows and the recent discovery of New World screwworm in Mexico are also top of mind, and Rollins said she would “immediately and comprehensively get a handle on the state of animal disease outbreaks.” [3] Rollins said she will also “immediately begin to modernize, realign, rethink the United States Department of Agriculture,” including the end of remote work for federal workers. Trump has already begun making deep cuts to the federal workforce, making repeated attacks on what he calls “rogue bureaucrats” and promising to “dismantle the deep state.” [4] Rollins said her final priority is ensuring the long-term success of rural communities and the agriculture industry at large, including through expanded trade markets and ensuring that the next generation of farmers can thrive.

Article Source: Agriculture Dive

5. Chiefs seek playoff revenge against Bills Sunday

The Bills and Chiefs have met seven times over roughly four years, building such an intense, competitive rivalry that Kansas City safety Justin Reid admitted that the Super Bowl champs just assume they’ll see Buffalo twice a year. Once in the regular season and once in the playoffs. So, the Chiefs begin working on them in the offseason, studying everything Buffalo does on offense and defense with their eyes on January. And it must be paying off, because while the Bills have won all four matchups in the regular season, and handed the Chiefs one of their two losses this season, Kansas City has won all three games played in the postseason. The Chiefs will try to do it again Sunday night as they pursue an unprecedented third straight Lombardi Trophy, while the Bills will try to end what is fast becoming a postseason curse by finally beating Kansas City for the AFC championship.

Article Source: KSN

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Sources

1. https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/24/kansas-house-looks-to-cut-property-tax-that-funds-public-schools-by-800m-over-five-years/

2. https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2025/01/24/kansas-tuberculosis-outbreak-is-largest-in-recorded-history-in-u-s/77881467007/

3. https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article299051505.html

4. https://www.agriculturedive.com/news/brooke-rollins-usda-confirmation-hearing-senate/738263/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202025-01-24%20Agriculture%20Dive%20%5Bissue:69816%5D&utm_term=Agriculture%20Dive

5. https://www.ksn.com/sports/chiefs/chiefs-back-in-7th-straight-afc-title-game/