AGP Executive Report

Disaster Recovery: Kansas lawmakers extended a Wyandotte County disaster declaration through Oct. 4 after the Aug. storm, with crews still clearing debris and reconnecting services. Local Government & Data Centers: A judge cleared the way for a citizen petition to ban high-impact data centers in Edgerton, rejecting the city’s attempt to stop it under Kansas public speech protections. State Finances: Kansas property tax collections jumped to $599 million in Q1, while overall tax revenue rose to $3.3 billion. Agriculture & Research: K-State began moving agronomy operations into a new research complex, and wheat harvest reports point to steady quality across major classes. Cost of Living: Diesel hit a record $5.85 a gallon, a pressure point for transportation and farm equipment heading into midterms. Education Policy: The House passed a bill barring universities from federal funding if they boycott Israel, sending it to the Senate. Sports Business: Ripple signed a multi-year deal to place its XRP logo on University of Florida’s football field, reportedly worth about $5M a year.

Workforce & Industry: The Trump administration’s new “Foundry School” initiative will involve eight universities, including the University of Kansas, to train 3.8 million skilled workers by 2033 for semiconductors, defense and energy. Local Roads & Business: A $12 million Johnson Drive rebuild in Mission, Kansas, has closed lanes and detoured traffic, with business owners saying customer counts are down as much as 40% while the city targets completion by spring 2027. State Agriculture: Kansas Dept. of Agriculture Secretary Mike Beam appointed four Kansans—including an Ellsworth teacher—to its Marketing Advisory Board, starting Sept. 18. Consumer Pressure: AAA reports gas prices in Kansas at about $3.78 as Labor Day nears, with travel expected to stay busy despite higher costs. Kansas Courts & Public Safety: A moving-fraud investigation is expanding across Missouri and Kansas, with new leads tied to a Leavenworth warehouse and customers reporting missing items. Community & Culture: Dolly Parton’s literacy legacy continues in Kansas through the Imagination Library, with state expansion efforts highlighted by Rep. Troy Waymaster.

Kansas Politics & Economy: Kansas tax collections ran 10% above estimates in the first two months of the new fiscal year, with individual income tax receipts up while corporate taxes lagged. Agriculture & Trade: Republicans say Trump’s move to lift tariffs on foreign ground beef is backfiring with ranch-heavy voters in states like Kansas, framing it as a political “gut punch” to supporters. Labor & Elections: Teamsters President Sean O’Brien is backing Sen. Roger Marshall, signaling union-friendly legislation as Republicans try to hold the Senate. Kansas Sports: KU named Isaiah Marshall its starting quarterback for the opener vs. LIU, while Kansas State begins a new era under Collin Klein against Nicholls. Business & Growth: Northmarq brokered Wichita’s record-setting sale of a 301-unit luxury multifamily property, and Tyson Foods cut its 2026 outlook as beef pressures intensify. Community & Education: A Kansas 4-H fossil discovery is still drawing national attention, and Tractor Supply awarded FFA scholarships to 146 students.

SNAP Backlog in Wichita: Kansans say they’re waiting hours for SNAP benefits as the Department for Children and Families cites new state eligibility verification rules and staffing shortfalls. Federal Product Safety: Two separate CPSC recalls hit Kansas-made mower LED light kits that can overheat or catch fire and headphone amplifiers that can become electrified. Boeing Accountability: Boeing paid a $3.1 million FAA fine tied to safety violations, including concerns raised after the 2024 Alaska Airlines MAX 9 incident. Kansas Schools Under Pressure: USD 253 Emporia’s board moved toward a final vote on closing Logan Avenue Elementary, while Emporia also accepted $1.2 million for Safe Routes to School pedestrian upgrades. Heat Strains Metro Services: HVAC crews report nonstop demand as a prolonged triple-digit heat wave pushes systems beyond typical design limits. Kansas Death Penalty Push: Former corrections professionals urged Gov. Laura Kelly to commute death sentences, citing cost and the risk of wrongful executions. Local Government & Public Comment: Lawrence crews are reopening Ninth Street after stormwater work, and Emporia’s commission brought back in-person public comment. Kansas Politics & Elections: Clarke Sanders withdrew from the Kansas House District 69 race for health reasons, setting up a GOP convention to pick a replacement. Kansas Courts & Rights: A DOJ-Kansas settlement resolves a guard deployment bias lawsuit for $35,000. Disaster Relief: FEMA announced federal assistance for Kansas counties hit by June 2026 storms and flooding.

KDOT Funding, Local Pushback: Olathe accepted $18.7 million from KDOT for a bypass road but reiterated opposition to the K-10/Lone Elm interchange, saying the interchange is a “dumb idea” that raises safety concerns for students; construction is expected to start in 2028 with the interchange opening in 2030. Public Comment Returns: Emporia city commissioners will bring public comment back to the meeting slate after threats tied to the city’s possible data center inquiries, with police investigating. Kansas Death Penalty Debate: A former Kansas corrections secretary urged Gov. Laura Kelly to commute all death sentences, arguing the penalty serves no public safety purpose and Kansas hasn’t executed anyone since 1965. Kansas Tech Expansion: Nex-Tech marked its Salina expansion by opening “The Sunflower Center,” a refurbished facility now serving as a corporate office, network operations center, and data center. Retirement & Housing Watch: New reporting finds U.S. mortgage delinquencies remain near historic lows but serious delinquencies are rising in more metro areas, while a separate study highlights how pension coverage is shrinking for younger workers.

Modernization in Topeka: Kansas is using AI and data to speed up constituent services, with nearly 90% of users handling requests online and faster staff training after a massive records migration. Local Tax Fight: Lawrence city commissioners voted to exceed the revenue-neutral property tax rate for 2027 and raise stormwater rates over the next three years, with details still shifting. Courts & Planning: A Douglas County judge ordered planning commissioners to produce documents within 30 days in a solar farm dispute. Public Safety & Justice: A man convicted in a Lawrence shooting into a step-grandfather’s home received three years of probation, with the victim supporting the sentence. Health & Rights: The DOJ settled with KDHE over a National Guard member’s job loss tied to deployment, requiring policy updates and training. Food Assistance Crunch: Wichita residents say SNAP benefits are still delayed by months as the state Department for Children and Families struggles with staffing and new rules. Energy Watch: Evergy asked Kansas regulators to approve a new mix of gas, solar, and battery storage projects, citing rising demand from data centers. Community Changes: Hays’ Wild West Festival committee voted to dissolve the nonprofit ending the long-running summer event.

Kansas football opener: Isaiah Marshall is set to replace Jalon Daniels at QB as the Jayhawks host Long Island University Friday, with coach Lance Leipold pointing to Marshall’s speed and the return of offensive associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki. Heat safety for schools: Area athletic schedules are adjusting using wet-bulb temperatures, with Kansas training staff saying it’s a better measure of heat stress than heat index. Local housing: Friends of Johnson County Developmental Services broke ground on Floyd Street Apartments, an inclusive, affordable project for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Hays festival ends: The Wild West Festival in Hays is being discontinued after the nonprofit voted to dissolve amid rising costs and volunteer shortages. ICE health case: A cancer survivor and asylum seeker in ICE custody in Kansas faces a potentially life-threatening health crisis, according to court filings. Surveillance debate: Kansas has the second-most automated license plate readers per capita, raising fresh questions about privacy and access to data. Meta settlement: Kansas is set to receive $134 million from a Meta consumer protection settlement.

Local Budgets: Dickinson County approved a roughly $32.14 million 2027 budget, cutting spending by about $782,853, lowering its mill levy by 2.005 mills, and reducing the property tax burden by about $97,291. Public Safety & Services: Sedgwick County commissioners also signed off on a 2027 budget that trims the mill levy again while boosting “mission-critical” services, including more EMS staffing and ambulances. Data Centers & Local Power: Edgerton, El Dorado and Emporia are in court over citizen petitions that would restrict large data centers, turning a fight over electricity and water into a legal battle over voters’ authority. Healthcare Transparency: A Lawrence-area pharmacist says Kansas’ new PBM transparency law (SB 20) will squeeze pharmacy revenue as the industry adjusts. Higher Ed Rules: Kansas universities are navigating a state DEI-CRT course ban tied to funding conditions, with faculty warning about how the definition is applied. Sports: Kansas football released its 2026 depth chart and coach Lance Leipold flagged injuries for the LIU opener.

Surveillance & privacy: Kansas residents are pushing back on automated license plate readers and police camera use, with two communities ending Flock Safety contracts and a Wichita man suing over warrantless use, as candidates call for statewide privacy rules. Beef policy & farm politics: Trump’s move to expand duty-free imported beef trimmings and the broader beef-import plan is drawing anger from Kansas ranchers and is now being blamed for higher costs and political trouble for GOP Senate candidates in farm country. USDA ranch support: In response to the smaller domestic herd, USDA announced the Ranchers First initiative, including BRAND endorsement to help retain heifers and new support for regional processing. Local government & public safety: Ellis County commissioners will consider new signage at the fairgrounds after a room renaming, while Emporia’s fire department is using a Kansas Masonic Foundation grant to clear a backlog of smoke-alarm installs. Water bills: Kechi residents say water bills spiked without higher usage, prompting a city investigation. Education & campus governance: Wichita State’s student government changed how student agencies get funded after state-level rules, and the senate passed the new appropriations bills. Sports: Kansas opens its 2026 season Friday at home vs. LIU, with Isaiah Marshall named starting quarterback.

Local Courts: A Sedgwick County judge ruled prosecutors have enough to try Andrew Presley, accused in the 2025 Wichita killing of Kelly Black, and he’ll face a jury trial on charges including second-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Public Safety: Another Sedgwick County case ended in prison: Niklas Wiley was sentenced to 330 months for his role in the drug overdose death of 15-year-old Kennedy Herren. Health Policy Watch: New Medicaid spending snapshots show sharp local swings—Basehor’s Evaluation and Management claims jumped 523.7% in 2024, while Norton’s Pathology and Laboratory Procedures rose 15.2% and Leavenworth’s Evaluation and Management climbed 36.8%. Community & Infrastructure: KDHE issued a boil-water advisory for Ellis County’s RWD 1C after a waterline break caused a pressure loss. Workforce & Water: Kansas opened registration for the 2026 Governor’s Water Conference and announced rural apprenticeship grants to expand learn-and-earn programs.

College Football Tragedy: William Jewell RB MicahJo Barnett, 20, collapsed after scoring in the season opener and died after paramedics transported him to a hospital. Kansas Politics: An INSIGHT KANSAS explainer revisits how GOP leaders moved governor elections to midterms decades ago—and questions whether that strategy has actually helped Republicans. Data Centers & Transparency: In Emporia, residents say they’re still waiting on answers after paying for an open-records search tied to a proposed hyperscale data center and annexation plans. Local Government: Derby approved its 2027 budget and voted to exceed the revenue-neutral property tax rate, as valuation growth raised concerns from residents. Health Care Watch: A Kansas “Feeding Solutions” report highlights food insecurity in Hamilton County, where a small town with limited services faces major hunger needs. Medicaid Billing Snapshots: New figures show sharp local swings in Medicaid spending categories across Kansas communities, including big jumps in evaluation/management and medical supplies. Sports Business: Kansas athletics leaders estimate KU stadium capacity during renovations at about 32,000 this fall. Arts & Culture: Lindsborg artist Mike Hartung’s September exhibit “Political Porn” opens at the Smoky Valley Arts and Folklife Center.

Immigration & Dairy Labor: Kansas’ dairy boom is increasingly tied to immigrant workers, with ag leaders warning rural growth can’t happen without that labor. Beef Prices & Imports: Kansas ranchers push back on Trump’s duty-free plan for 300,000 tons of foreign beef, arguing it won’t fix the real issue—record-low cattle herd size and high land costs. Local Government vs Data Centers: Kansas cities are suing residents over citizen petitions aimed at blocking large data centers, testing how Kansas petition rules apply. KU Transgender Custodian: Supporters in Lawrence rallied for KU custodian Siobhan Kirchstein after she was warned for using bathrooms under a new state law, raising funds for possible legal costs. Public Safety: A boil-water advisory in rural Kansas was lifted after tests found no bacterial contamination. Courts & Crime: A Wichita man, Joshua Orlando, was sentenced to life with parole limits after pleading guilty to killing his wife. Sports Tragedy: William Jewell running back MicahJo Barnett died after a medical emergency during the season opener in Missouri.

Beef Prices and Trade: President Trump signed a 90-day waiver letting 300,000 metric tons of beef enter duty-free, with the goal of selling ground beef at “25 percent below” market price—but Kansas State meat economist Glynn Tonsor says the impact at the register may be overstated, since the volume is about 2% of U.S. consumption and applies to trimmings blended into ground beef. Local Economy and Taxes: Kansas ranks ninth for combined state and local sales tax, and Hutchinson’s rate is set to rise to 9% Oct. 1, with some areas reaching 11% via community districts—while a Great Bend town hall is drawing debate over a proposed three-quarter-cent sales tax to fund water treatment upgrades and other projects. State Politics and Power: A Kansas voter backlash against a legislature-backed Supreme Court selection change is fueling renewed calls for petition initiative power, with the argument that Kansans need different lawmakers before they can change the constitution. Public Safety: Kansas e-bike and scooter injuries are spiking, with advocates pushing for statewide rules after a Leawood child’s death and a bill that stalled last session. Water Rights: Hays and Russell asked a water transfer panel to schedule a final R9 Ranch hearing, arguing it’s been 930 days since approval and that state law requires action within 90 days. Kansas Business Spotlight: Bucklin’s Pickle Cottage says it shipped product to 38 states, building on family recipes and long-running Kansas agriculture promotion. Kansas Sports: Kansas football’s season opener is set against a backdrop of broader college football expansion abroad, with Kansas named in a London matchup next month.

Transportation & Growth: KDOT will give Olathe $18.7 million for a bypass around the K-10/Lone Elm interchange to cut heavy-truck traffic near schools, with design later this year and construction targeted for 2028. Public Safety: Police arrested a 51-year-old Augusta man, Terrell D. Cummings, on alleged sex crimes involving a child under 14; he’s held on $500,000 bond. Health & Food Safety: A lettuce-linked cyclosporiasis outbreak has expanded, with new cases reported in three more states; Kansas is among the earlier states named. Local Government: Brown County commissioners discussed a zoning amendment for data centers and battery energy storage facilities, including a proposed maximum threshold for data centers. Education & Philanthropy: Fort Hays State received a $200,000 gift from the Curtis and Oliverius families to renovate Stroup Hall and expand healthcare education space. Sports: Kansas football camp notes highlight the Jayhawks’ defensive backs, while KU basketball looks ahead to new seasons with key returners and recruiting momentum.

Kansas Politics: Republican staffers are jumping ship to help Democrats in two Senate races, including Kansas Democrat Adam Hamilton hiring former GOP operative Austin Gilpin. Beef & Ag Policy: Kansas ranchers and lawmakers are pushing back on President Trump’s plan to lower beef prices with more duty-free imported beef, saying it adds uncertainty for producers as the national herd hits multi-decade lows; Kansas Second District Rep. Derek Schmidt also signals openness to mandatory country-of-origin labeling. Biofuels Uncertainty: Farmers in Kansas and nearby states are questioning the Trump administration’s biofuels policy after EPA moves that could reshape Renewable Volume Obligations and small refinery exemptions, making it harder to plan crops and fuel production. Local Government & Taxes: Sedgwick County approved a lower mill levy while still boosting spending, including an 18.5% EMS increase with new ambulances and 15 staffing positions. Tech in Agriculture: Kansas Department of Agriculture partners with Thales and Kelly Hills to launch a beyond-visual-line-of-sight drone network for crop spraying, scouting, fertilizing and seeding. Public Safety: A Kansas mail carrier was hospitalized after a dog attack in Lawrence; police say the owner was cited and the dog will be quarantined. Weather: Hays saw early Friday rain around 0.8 inches, while drought remains widespread across Kansas.

Meta Settlement for Kansas Kids: Kansas will receive $134 million from Meta’s landmark $17.1 billion multistate settlement over alleged harms to children on Instagram and Facebook, with required safety changes like daily limits, nighttime blocks, school-hour restrictions, age verification, tighter content controls, and limits on beauty filters and like counts. Food Safety: Federal health officials say cyclospora cases tied to recalled Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce have now been confirmed in 20 states, with 11,458 reported illnesses and two deaths in Michigan. Local Tech + Surveillance Debate: In Lawrence, a sustainability advisory board wrestled with how to use AI and city cameras to track progress, drawing fresh concerns about surveillance oversight. Higher Ed + Federal Lawsuit: The U.S. Justice Department sued New Mexico (and also Arizona, Oregon, and Washington) over in-state tuition rules for undocumented students, arguing they conflict with federal law. Kansas Economy/Business: Topeka jumped nine spots on a Midwest startups ranking, crediting Omni Circle’s entrepreneur programs and support network. KU Athletics Budget: KU Athletics approved a $13.2 million deficit budget for fiscal year 2027 as it navigates revenue pressures and stadium renovations.