Larned News

Has “Tornado Alley” Moved East?

Wednesday, April 12

UNDATED (HPM) - This year has already been an active one for tornadoes, with multiple outbreaks across the Midwest and South at the end of March. But recent weather patterns seem to have shifted many of the twisters to the east of the Great... Read More.

Kansas to Raise State Age for Buying Tobacco to 21 Starting July 1

Tuesday, April 11

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Governor Laura Kelly signed a bill Tuesday that will require Kansans to be 21 or older to legally buy tobacco products, starting July 1. The current age to buy cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and tobacco products is 18. The bill received bipartisan... Read More.

Favorite Funny Man Rob Schneider to Perform at Kansas State Fair

Monday, April 10

HUTCHINSON, Kan. - Accomplished actor, comedian, three-time Emmy-nominated screenwriter and director Rob Schneider will perform at the Kansas State Fair, Sunday, September 10 with special guest Byron Kennedy. As a stand-up comic and veteran of the award-winning NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, Schneider has gone... Read More.

Kansas Legislature Packages new Flat Tax Rate with Quicker End to Food Tax

Friday, April 7

By Sherman Smith, Kansas Reflector TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas lawmakers passed a tax cut package in the early Friday morning hours that fuses a flat tax rate for individual income with an accelerated reduction in the state sales tax on food, corporate tax breaks and... Read More.

Kansas Legislature Ditches Voucher Plan that Extended to Unregulated Private Schools

Friday, April 7

By Rachel Mipro, Kansas Reflector TOPEKA, Kan. — The Legislature canned a much-debated voucher program that would allow unregulated private schools to receive state dollars and put federal COVID-19 relief funds toward special education. The measure narrowly passed the House by 65-58 Thursday and failed in... Read More.

Kansas OKs Bill on Opting Kids out of LGBTQ-Themed Lessons

Friday, April 7

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers approved a bill Thursday aimed at helping parents opt their children out of public school lessons with LGBTQ-themed materials, as a Democratic lawmaker whose vote was crucial to banning transgender female athletes from girls' and women's sports faced... Read More.

Dillon Lecture Series Continues April 18th, Will Feature Hall of Fame Basketball Coach Bill Self

Friday, April 7

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The next installment of the Dillon Lecture Series on Tuesday, April 18th, will feature Kansas Head Men’s Basketball Coach Bill Self. Self has guided his teams to 23-win seasons in 23 of the last 24 seasons dating back to 1998-99. For his... Read More.

Kansas House Reverses Vote, Approves State-Run Presidential Primaries

Wednesday, April 5

By Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector TOPEKA, Kan. — Dozens of the Kansas House members flip-flopped Tuesday to salvage a bill that was easily passed by the Kansas Senate and would authorize expenditure of as much as $5 million to stage a presidential preference primary next... Read More.

Kansas Bans Transgender Athletes from Women’s and Girls’ Sports

Wednesday, April 5

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is banning transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports from kindergarten through college, the first of several possible new laws restricting the rights of transgender people pushed through by Republican legislators over the wishes of the Democratic governor. The Legislature... Read More.

Gov. Kelly Signs Four Bills, Including Tweak to First-Time Homebuyer Savings Program

Tuesday, April 4

By Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector TOPEKA, Kan. — Gov. Laura Kelly signed legislation Friday adjusting a 2021 state law allowing for creation of first-time homebuyer savings accounts to make it easier for financial institutions to distribute money to a beneficiary when an account holder passed... Read More.

Parental Rights Bill Passes Kansas Senate

Tuesday, April 4

TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) — Kansas lawmakers have advanced a bill that allows parents to remove their child from any classroom lesson or activity the parents view as inappropriate. The Kansas Senate voted 23-17 to pass the bill, which is a weaker version of the... Read More.

Barton County Authorities Searching for Suspect who Allegedly Fire Shots at a Sheriff’s Deputy

Tuesday, April 4

HOISINGTON, Kan. - Barton County authorities are looking for a man who allegedly fired a shot at a Hoisington police vehicle during a pursuit early Saturday morning. The chase began when a vehicle being investigated by an officer for suspicious activity took off and fled... Read More.