Rice County News

Early Childhood Task Force Seeking Public Input During Statewide Community Engagement Tour

Monday, June 19

TOPEKA, Kan. (KASB) – School leaders, educators and advocates and other Kansans will be able to provide input on the future of childcare and early childhood development through public meetings during the last week of June.Gov. Laura Kelly’s Early Childhood Transition Task Force is... Read More.

Evergy Slashes Planned Renewable Energy Additions, Proposes More Natural Gas

Monday, June 19

By Allison Kite, Kansas Reflector TOPEKA, Kan. - Kansas’ largest electric utility has drastically scaled back its plans to add more clean energy over the next decade and will keep open its oldest coal plant for years longer.Two years ago, Evergy announced plans to... Read More.

UPDATE: Investigation of Letters with Suspicious White Powder

Monday, June 19

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with assistance from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and other partners, updated findings on the white powder found in letters sent to Kansas legislators and... Read More.

Kansas Unemployment Rate Unchanged in May, Up Slightly from a Year Ago

Friday, June 16

TOPEKA, Kan. – Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.9% in May. This is unchanged from... Read More.

KBOR Approves Tuition Hikes for Public Universities

Friday, June 16

TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) — The Kansas Board of Regents has approved tuition hikes for all six state public universities. Campus administrators say they need the increase to offset inflation and make up for tuition freezes imposed during the COVID pandemic.Tuition will go up 5%... Read More.

Letters Containing Suspicious White Powder Being Investigated Across Kansas

Friday, June 16

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP), and several local police departments and fire departments have responded Friday... Read More.

Kansas Law Enforcement Agencies Seize Thousands of Counterfeit Pills in Fentanyl Crackdown

Thursday, June 15

By Rachel Mipro, Kansas Reflector TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Kansas Highway Patrol seized thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl in the first large haul of a state team designed to combat the flow of the synthetic drug.The Joint Fentanyl Impact Team,... Read More.

Officials Welcome new K-14 Realignment in Reno, Rice Counties

Wednesday, June 14

NICKERSON, Kan. – Local officials and representatives of the Kansas Department of Transportation held a ribbon cutting today for the new K-14 realignment between Hutchinson and Sterling.The new highway opened this afternoon, after the ribbon cutting.The realigned K-14 provides a 15-mile asphalt freeway with... Read More.

Walmart’s $257 Million Beef Processing Facility Coming to Olathe

Wednesday, June 14

OLATHE, Kan. (KNS/KCUR) — Walmart is spending a quarter of a billion dollars on a beef packaging plant in Olathe. That will bring hundreds of jobs and signal a big change in the way beef gets to your shopping cart.Walmart’s Olathe packaging plant will... Read More.

Kansas Families Struggle to Find Child Care, According to Annual Kids Count Report

Wednesday, June 14

By Sam Bailey, Kansas Reflector TOPEKA, Kan. — Child care challenges have forced Kansas parents to give up or change jobs, while child care workers are paid worse than 98% of professions, according to a new report.Kansas Action for Children released information about Kansas child... Read More.

Wichita Woman Crowned Miss Kansas 2023

Tuesday, June 13

PRATT, Kan. - On Saturday, Courtney Wages of Wichita was crowned the 2023 Miss Kansas. Sixteen women from across the state competed in this year’s pageant in Pratt.Following Courtney was Sierra Marie Bonn as the first runner-up, Alexis Smith as the second runner-up, Lluvia... Read More.

2 Hospitalized After Helicopter Crash in Pratt County Wheat Field

Tuesday, June 13

PRATT COUNTY, Kan. – Two people were injured when their helicopter ran out of fuel and crashed into a Kansas wheat field. The Kansas Highway Patrol says the accident happened Sunday afternoon in Pratt County.According to authorities, the 1972 Bell Helicopter was piloted by... Read More.