KS - May 12 2025
Colyer political comeback; Audit questions Commerce Dept COVID fund handling; Wichita eyes water recycling; Measles confirmed Reno County; Chiefs on Christmas, Missouri meeting
Former Kansas Governor Colyer Poised for Political Comeback
State Audit Questions Commerce Department's Handling of $99M in Federal Relief Funds
Wichita Eyes Wastewater Recycling as Cheney Lake Levels Drop Amid Drought
Measles Case Confirmed in Reno County Resident
Chiefs Slated for Third Straight Christmas Game; Missouri Governor, Top Lawmakers to Meet on State Efforts to Retain Chiefs, Royals
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1. Former Kansas Governor Colyer Poised for Political Comeback
Former Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer is poised to run again for governor, naming a treasurer on Monday and signaling a coming campaign.1 Colyer, a Johnson County-based surgeon, has remained involved in Kansas politics since spending nearly a year as governor in 2018 after Gov. Sam Brownback resigned. Most recently, he chaired President Donald Trump’s campaign operation in Kansas.
Wichita Eagle
2. State Audit Questions Commerce Department's Handling of $99M in Federal Relief Funds
TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature’s auditors reported Monday the state Department of Commerce didn’t consistently adhere to internal evaluation processes and maintain transparency in selecting recipients of $99 million in federal infrastructure and economic development funding.2 Kristen Rottinghaus, deputy auditor of the Kansas Division of Post Audit, said the review raised questions about the commerce department’s compliance in early 2022 with its method of scoring the 250 qualifying applications and the authority wielded by Secretary David Toland to include his personal analysis of applications in wake of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic.3
kansasreflector.com
3. Wichita Eyes Wastewater Recycling as Cheney Lake Levels Drop Amid Drought
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - The City of Wichita is considering wastewater recycling as an option to conserve water amid the ongoing drought. As of Monday, Wichita’s main water source, Cheney Lake, is 57.54% full, or 7.87 feet below normal. Wichita remains under Stage 2 drought restrictions. In Stage 2, voluntary conservation efforts become mandatory. One restriction would limit lawn and garden watering to once a week. Wichita Water customers who don’t comply could be fined. The City of Wichita enacted the water restrictions last August.4 The city explained that Stage 2 of its drought response plan is “triggered when the 12-month moving average of Cheney Reservoir’s conservation pool level is between 50% and 69%.
kwch.com
4. Measles Case Confirmed in Reno County Resident
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Reno County Health Department confirmed a case of the measles in a Reno County resident on May 10.5 While the case is being monitored, no further patient information can be released in order to protect patient privacy.
hutchinson citizen journal
5. Chiefs Slated for Third Straight Christmas Game; Missouri Governor, Top Lawmakers to Meet on State Efforts to Retain Chiefs, Royals
A. The Kansas City Chiefs have had their hand up for Christmas Day games, and they’re being called upon once again.6 The Chiefs will meet their AFC West rivals, the Denver Broncos, on Dec.7 25 at home. The game will be broadcast on Prime Video, the streaming service announced. This will mark a third straight year the Chiefs have played on Christmas, but the first one at night. The game will have a 7:15 p.m. kickoff time.
B. Top Missouri lawmakers are set to discuss the state’s most ambitious action yet to retain the Chiefs and Royals. The conversation will include the governor himself. Two Republican lawmakers confirmed to The Star that Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe and House Republicans plan to meet Tuesday behind closed doors. The anticipated gathering at the state Capitol comes as the House is poised to debate a bill to potentially lure the Kansas City Royals to Clay County.
KC Star
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Sources
- https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article306246366.html#storylink=cpy
- https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/12/kansas-legislatures-auditors-point-to-inconsistency-in-awarding-economic-relief-funds/
- https://www.kwch.com/2025/05/12/city-wichita-considering-wastewater-recycling-long-term-conservation-option/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=organicclicks&tbref=hp
- https://www.adastraperaspera.us/hutch/measles-confirmed-in-reno-county/
- https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article306267841.html#storylink=cpy
- https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article306266101.html#storylink=cpy