Rice County News

La Fiera de Ojinaga Brings Norteño Sound to Kansas State Fair September 15

Monday, May 1

HUTCHINSON, Kan. - Get ready for a night of electrifying music and unforgettable performances as La Fiera de Ojinaga takes the stage at the Kansas State Fair on Friday, September 15 at 7:30 p.m.! The renowned Mexican regional music group, known for their unique blend... Read More.

Sens. Moran, Marshall Introduce Bill to Provide Reliable & Affordable Energy to Kansans

Friday, April 28

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.) introduced legislation to help provide stable energy rates and a reliable energy grid to states in the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA), including Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.The Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment... Read More.

Kansas Lawmakers Fail to Override Veto on Flat Tax Plan

Thursday, April 27

TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Kansas Republicans fell short on a veto override in their attempt to enact a flat tax on income. The plan would have set the income tax rate for all Kansans at 5.15%.The override attempt failed by just one vote.Democrat state... Read More.

Kansas Legislators Impose Sweeping Anti-Trans Bathroom Law

Thursday, April 27

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators in Kansas have enacted what may be the most sweeping transgender bathroom law in the U.S. on Thursday, overriding the Democratic governor's veto of the measure without having a clear idea of how their new law... Read More.

Kansas Lawmakers Override Governor’s Veto of “Born Alive” Bill

Thursday, April 27

TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Kansas lawmakers overrode a veto by Democratic governor Laura Kelly to enact their first anti-abortion bill of the year. The law will require doctors to provide lifesaving medical care to infants born alive after an attempted abortion.Critics say there’s little... Read More.

Kansas Lawmakers Polish Plan to Fully Fund Public Schools, Revive Voucher Program

Thursday, April 27

By Sherman Smith, Kansas Reflector TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas lawmakers have restored language in the public school finance plan to ensure K-12 schools continue to be fully funded beyond the upcoming academic year and revived a voucher program.Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a Louisburg Republican, lashed out... Read More.

Moran Wants to Alter College Financial Aid Law to Benefit Farm, Small Business Families

Monday, April 24

By Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector TOPEKA, Kan. — U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas endorsed legislation repealing a new federal formula for determining student financial aid that could lower college assistance to children of parents operating small businesses or family farms.The controversy arose with development of... Read More.

Kansas Wants to Make It Easier to Hire Out-of-State Teachers

Monday, April 24

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is joining a fledgling effort that could one day make it easier to hire teachers from other states. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that a bill that Governor Laura Kelly signed last week makes Kansas the latest member of the... Read More.

Kansas Releases March Jobs Numbers

Monday, April 24

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The state of Kansas has released its latest labor market report. The report for March shows a seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of 2.9%, which remains unchanged from February.The department says the state’s seasonally-adjusted total non-farm jobs have increased by 37,000 over... Read More.

Kansas Governor Vetoes Flat Tax Plan, Proposes One-time $800M Rebate

Monday, April 24

By Sherman Smith, Kansas Reflector TOPEKA, Kan. — Gov. Laura Kelly said Monday she was vetoing a flat tax package that predominantly favors the most wealthy Kansans and proposing instead a one-time rebate of $450 per taxpayer.The GOP-dominated Legislature passed a plan in... Read More.

Kansas Governor Signs Bipartisan Water Funding Plan

Friday, April 21

TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has signed into law a bipartisan funding plan to preserve water. The plan helps address a growing water crisis in the western part of the state.The new Kansas law adds $35 million this year for state... Read More.

Kansas Revenue Forecast Expects Surplus to Grow to $3 billion, Pending Tax Cuts

Friday, April 21

By Sherman Smith, Kansas Reflector TOPEKA, Kan. — Budget analysts and economists expect cooling inflation and modest growth to push state revenues slightly higher than expected over the next couple of years, preserving a surplus cushion of billions of dollars.The projection is expected to shape... Read More.