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Fitch Ratings Upgrades Kansas Credit Outlook to Positive, Citing Governor Kelly's Fiscal Management

Fitch Ratings Upgrades Kansas Credit Outlook to Positive, Citing Governor Kelly's Fiscal Management

Fitch Ratings, a global credit rating agency, has upgraded Kansas' credit outlook from 'Stable' to 'Positive' while affirming its 'AA' rating status. This decision follows a similar upgrade by Moody's Investors Service in May 2026, making Fitch the second major agency to recognize the state's improved financial standing. Governor Laura Kelly highlighted that Kansas is in its best financial position in over a decade, attributing this to responsible fiscal leadership. Key factors cited by Fitch include increased fiscal resilience, improved budget practices, the establishment of a $2 billion Rainy Day Fund, debt reduction, and the use of one-time funds for one-time projects. Adam Proffitt, Director of the Budget for the State of Kansas, emphasized that this positive revision is a direct result of the administration's focus on restoring fiscal sanity to the state's budget. The upgrades contrast sharply with the state's financial difficulties under the previous administration, which saw multiple downgrades and ...
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Kansas Department of Agriculture Offers Grants for Crop and Livestock Research Focused on Water Conservation

Kansas Department of Agriculture Offers Grants for Crop and Livestock Research Focused on Water Conservation

The Kansas Department of Agriculture is offering the Crop & Livestock Research Grant Program for 2026, providing up to $100,000 per project, with a total program funding of $450,000 for Fiscal Year 2027. The application deadline for this competitive, reimbursement-based grant is October 23, 2026. This program funds innovative research aimed at improving water conservation, drought resilience, and sustainable crop and livestock practices within Kansas, particularly focusing on the High Plains aquifer region. Projects must align with the guiding principles of the Kansas State Water Plan and demonstrate measurable benefits to Kansas agriculture or the public. The research areas include drought-tolerant crops, livestock feed and forage, nutrient management, and water-use efficiency. All field studies funded by this program must be conducted within Kansas.
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Kansas Food Publications Identify Top Grocery Stores in the State

Kansas Food Publications Identify Top Grocery Stores in the State

Kansas Food Publications Identify Top Grocery Stores in the State
Nashville TennesseanNashville Tennessean
NASCAR Truck Series Kansas lineup, TV schedule for Saturday's race

NASCAR Truck Series Kansas lineup, TV schedule for Saturday's race

The 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season continues with the Race to Stop Suicide 200 at Kansas on Saturday. See the starting lineup here.
ReutersReuters
US immigration crackdown hits Kansas, disrupts beef processing

US immigration crackdown hits Kansas, disrupts beef processing

By Tom Polansek CHICAGO, Sept 25 (Reuters) - US immigration agents fanned out across southwest Kansas, home to a large concentration of feedlots and slaughterhouses, this week in an operation that had immediate effects on the beef industry, community organizers and local officials said.
1Weather1Weather
Plains Rain Boosts Wheat Planting Conditions

Plains Rain Boosts Wheat Planting Conditions

Rainfall across the Plains is expected to significantly improve planting conditions for hard red winter wheat early next week. Forecasts predict 1.75 to 2.5 inches of rain along the Nebraska-Kansas border and western Oklahoma, with broader coverage across Kansas, Oklahoma, eastern Colorado, and New Mexico receiving 0.75 to 1.5 inches. Some areas in Kansas could see five-day totals of 3 to 4 inches, with seven-day amounts reaching 3 to 5 inches. This rainfall could provide much-needed moisture for wheat planting, especially in areas facing exceptional drought conditions. However, heavy rainfall may also pose risks such as ponding, erosion, and soil crusting. Source time: September 25, 2026.
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Mid-America Regional Council Awards $1.2 Million for Sustainable Places Planning in Kansas and Missouri

Mid-America Regional Council Awards $1.2 Million for Sustainable Places Planning in Kansas and Missouri

The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Board of Directors and Total Transportation Policy Committee have approved $1,202,500 in grant funds for 11 local Planning Sustainable Places (PSP) studies. These studies are distributed across five projects in Kansas, four in Missouri, and two bi-state initiatives. The grants were awarded through a competitive process that received 28 submissions. The PSP program aims to support community efforts in creating vibrant, connected, and green places, aligning with the region’s long-range transportation plan, Connected KC 2050, and various city and county comprehensive plans. Projects include the 87th Street Corridor Study in Overland Park, Kansas, and the Leavenworth Development Regulations Update in Leavenworth, Kansas.
ReutersReuters
Rush of money, campaign stops show Republicans feel vulnerable in Iowa, Kansas

Rush of money, campaign stops show Republicans feel vulnerable in Iowa, Kansas

By Renee Hickman and Dawn Kopecki Sept 25 (Reuters) - With midterm elections just over a month away, Republican heavyweights have been jetting across the country to campaign and outside groups have been pouring money into races in what is normally the party’s safest territory -- Farm Belt states
The Columbus DispatchThe Columbus Dispatch
Are groceries taxed in Ohio? Most food isn't, but you have to pay for these

Are groceries taxed in Ohio? Most food isn't, but you have to pay for these

Buying groceries in Ohio? You may not owe sales tax on most foods. Here's what'stax free.
ReutersReuters
US Senate rejects Democratic-led resolution to curb Trump's Iran war powers

US Senate rejects Democratic-led resolution to curb Trump's Iran war powers

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - The US Senate on Thursday narrowly rejected a resolution demanding President Donald Trump end the war in Iran or seek congressional authorization, as Democrats sought to put Republicans on the defensive over the unpopular conflict before
USA TodayUSA Today
USA TODAY Sports/AVCA Super 25 girls national volleyball rankings, late-September

USA TODAY Sports/AVCA Super 25 girls national volleyball rankings, late-September

A new team takes the top spot in the latest 2026 USA TODAY Sports/AVCA Super 25 girls volleyball rankings.
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Northwest Missouri State Rises to No. 22 Among Midwest Public Regional Universities in U.S. News Rankings

Northwest Missouri State Rises to No. 22 Among Midwest Public Regional Universities in U.S. News Rankings

Northwest Missouri State University has once again been listed among the top regional universities in the Midwest by U.S. News and World Report. For the third time in four years, the institution secured a spot in the top 25 public regional universities, climbing to No. 22 from No. 30 the previous year. Overall, among all regional universities in the Midwest, Northwest Missouri State University is ranked No. 78. The university also earned recognition as No. 35 among regional universities in the Midwest and third among Missouri public institutions on U.S. News’s list of 'Best Colleges for Veterans.' U.S. News evaluated nearly 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, assessing academic quality and graduate outcomes, with rankings based on overall scores derived from weighted indicators. Regional universities are defined as those offering a broad scope of undergraduate and some master’s degree programs, with few to no doctoral programs. The Midwest region encompasses public and private universities across Illinoi...