Rice County News

AAA Kansas Warns About Leaving Children Inside Hot Cars

Tuesday, June 27

LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) — It's hot and getting hotter in Kansas. With recent rising temperatures, AAA Kansas is reminding motorists not to leave their children unattended in automobiles.Every year, children die because they were left inside a hot vehicle.AAA Kansas spokesman Shawn Steward said... Read More.

Attorney General: Kansas Will Stop Changing Genders on IDs

Tuesday, June 27

TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach says the state will stop allowing transgender people to change the gender on their driver's licenses and birth certificates. A new law set to take effect July 1st changes the rules.Trans Kansans have been able... Read More.

Kansas Officials Directing $451 million at Closing Gaps in State’s High-speed Internet

Tuesday, June 27

By Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector TOPEKA, Kan. — Injection of $451 million in federal funding offered Kansas a unique opportunity to improve access to high-speed internet essential to business, education, health care and communication services, state and federal officials said.The administration of Gov. Laura Kelly... Read More.

Kansas Governor Nominates Two, Reappoints One to Kansas Board of Regents

Tuesday, June 27

By Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector TOPEKA, Kan. — Gov. Laura Kelly nominated to the Kansas Board of Regents a former Fort Scott Community College president as well as the top executive of an information technology company, while reappointing the higher education board’s chairman to a... Read More.

Area Child Care Capacity Grant Awards Announced

Monday, June 26

KANSAS – Organizations in six mid-Kansas area counties will share in nearly $43.6 million in funding through Child Care Capacity Accelerator Grants approved Friday by the Kansas Children's Cabinet. Two of the recipients will also be receiving Innovative Community Grants through the process.The Reno... Read More.

Home Prices Keep Rising but Cloud County Homes Remain Affordable

Monday, June 26

KANSAS (KPR) — Home prices just seem to keep going up. Within the last two years, real incomes have fallen under the weight of historic inflation. At the same time, the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes have sent mortgage rates soaring.While the demand from... Read More.

AAA: What a Difference a Year Makes

Monday, June 26

By Andrew Gross, AAA News WASHINGTON, D.C. — The start of summer is nearly here, and drivers are finding prices far lower than last year. Lackluster demand and low oil costs are keeping gas prices relatively stable. The national average for a gallon of gas... Read More.

Kansas Medical Workforce in Crisis as Worker Shortage Persists

Friday, June 23

TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) – Kansas hospitals are experiencing the highest turnover and job vacancy rates in a decade. The Kansas Hospital Association compiled its annual report with data from 109 hospitals across the state. Some of the highest vacancy rates reported were for nurses,... Read More.

City of Lyons Addressing Tall Weed and Grass Issues

Thursday, June 22

LYONS, Kan. – The City of Lyons is preparing to take action on tall weed and grass issues. Interim City Administrator Howard Partington told the Lyons City Council this week that letters regarding those issues began to go out last week.Due to staffing issues... Read More.

Governor Kelly Appoints Calvin Reed as Secretary of Transportation

Thursday, June 22

TOPEKA, Kan. – Governor Laura Kelly Wednesday announced that she has appointed Calvin Reed as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). Reed has served as acting secretary since the departure of former Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz in December 2022.“Calvin Reed has... Read More.

New Report Estimates $1.3 Million Overpaid by Kansas Medicaid

Thursday, June 22

By Sam Bailey, Kansas Reflector TOPEKA, Kan. — A new Medicaid report finds more than $1.3 million may have been overpaid to managed care organizations due to slow information provision, causing Kansas Medicaid programs to pay members after they left the state.The attorney general’s office... Read More.

KDOT Launches Drive To Zero Crash Data Dashboard

Thursday, June 22

TOPEKA, Kan. – On behalf of the Drive To Zero Coalition, the Kansas Department of Transportation introduces the newest tool to empower transportation safety professionals, local agencies, and the public in making data-informed and safety-conscious decisions. The Drive To Zero Dashboard is an interactive... Read More.