September 05 2024

FLASH NFL season starts tonight, Chiefs game at 720 CST on NBC
1. Kansas Ranks 42nd in Nation for Pro-Worker Policies, Oxfam Report Reveals
2. Mattel Adventure Park Kansas City Proposed in Bonner Springs, Aiming for 2026 Opening
3. Fall Armyworms Return to Kansas, Threatening Lawns Across the State
4. Benedictine College Ranks Among Top 10 Most Recommended U.S. Colleges in 2025 WSJ Report
5. Post-global future of agriculture discussion on YouTube

FLASH NFL season starts tonight, Chiefs game at 720 CST on NBC

1. Kansas Ranks 42nd in Nation for Pro-Worker Policies, Oxfam Report Reveals

The anti-poverty nonprofit Oxfam has released new rankings measuring which states are the best for workers in the U.S. — and Kansas didn’t fare well. Kansas ranks 42nd in the nation for pro-worker policies in the report. The rankings combine scores on state-level wage policies, worker protections and the right to organize. 

Article Source: Wichita Eagle

2. Mattel Adventure Park Kansas City Proposed in Bonner Springs, Aiming for 2026 Opening

Kansas lawmakers heard an update on a theme park being developed by Mattel, the toy company behind Barbie and Hot Wheels, in Bonner Springs. The park is working with the city and state to secure Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bonds to help pay for the project. Mattel Adventure Park Kansas City would be the manufacturer’s second theme park, with a location near Phoenix, Arizona, expected to open later this year. The theme park in Kansas, which is developed in partnership with Epic Resort Destinations, is slated to have a Hot Wheels-themed roller coaster, Thomas the Tank Engine attractions and a Barbie Beach House-themed retail experience. The 180-acre tourist destination is proposed at the intersection of 118th Street and State Avenue west of the Kansas Speedway. Mattel said the destination could start construction by the end of the year and open by 2026. The estimated project cost is $490 million, but no commitments have been made regarding how much will be funded by STAR Bonds. The ordinance approving the district in Bonner Springs didn't “obligate the city to any financial commitments or incentives” at the time. The developer’s budget documents submitted to Bonner Springs say that up to $386 million of the project costs can be covered with private debt and equity, with the remaining $101 million financed through STAR Bonds. The state would cover most of the STAR Bond costs at $71 million, with Bonner Springs contributing $29 million.

Article Source: Topeka Capitol-Journal

3. Fall Armyworms Return to Kansas, Threatening Lawns Across the State

Insects that can destroy your lawn if not treated upon discovery are showing up in Kansas. It’s the time of year when armyworms return to the Sunflower State. For the past month, the K-State Extension Office in Sedgwick County said it’s been getting calls about fall armyworms. The insects show up every year but population numbers vary year by year. The extension office said the population this year isn’t nearly as bad as it was a few years ago when the insects wreaked havoc on yards throughout the Wichita area and beyond. To control fall armyworms, you should spray when they’re active in your lawn, experts advise. There is no preventative treatment, so you can only control the insects when they’re present. A wide variety of insecticides can be effective and it’s best to spray in the evening when armyworms are most active.

Article Source: KWCH

4. Benedictine College Ranks Among Top 10 Most Recommended U.S. Colleges in 2025 WSJ Report

In the recently released WSJ/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges rankings, Benedictine College, located in Atchison, Kansas, has been recognized among the top schools most highly recommended by surveyed students and recent alumni. Ranked sixth on the list, Benedictine College stands out for its strong community support and positive student experiences.  

Article Source: WSJ

5. Post-global future of agriculture discussion on YouTube

Ed note: this guy is a bit of a doomer…I’m more optimistic

Article Source: Peter Zeihan

Sources

2. https://www.kansas.com/news/state/article291963850.html

3. https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/state/2024/09/05/latest-on-anticipated-theme-park-in-kansas-by-barbie-manufacturer/75074873007/

4. https://www.kwch.com/2024/09/05/fall-armyworms-showing-up-kansas/?tbref=hp

5. https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/wsj-best-colleges-2025-princeton-babson-stanford-52443de8?st=e3jj9787wywycd4&reflink=article_copyURL_share

6. https://youtu.be/wPECLBd22Eo