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The De Soto battery plant is producing about 300,000 batteries a day and is up to 1,200 employees. At full capacity, it expects those numbers to be 500,000 and 4,000. Read more: Kansas City Business Journal - Local Kansas City News

The Kansas Corporation Commission has approved a new Large Load Power Service (LLPS) rate plan for customers who use more than 75 megawatts of electricity at peak demand. The agreement was reached through collaboration among utilities, major companies, consumer advocates, conservation groups, and school districts. It aims to meet the power needs of large users like data centers and manufacturers while ensuring regular customers don’t pay higher rates as a result. Read more: KCLY Radio

The mayor of a small south-central Kansas town has been charged with committing fraud by voting in elections since 2022 even though he is not a United States citizen, the state’s attorney general and secretary of state said Wednesday. Attorney General Kris Kobach said Joe Ceballos, who garnered nearly 83% of the vote Tuesday for a second term as Coldwater mayor, was charged with three counts of voting without being qualified and three counts of election perjury. Both are felony offenses. Read more: KLC Journal

Helicopters, footballs, friendship, space stuff – it’s all connected. Youth football teams from rural Reno County and metropolitan Wyandotte County met under the stadium lights on a chilly Saturday evening for more than just a couple of games. The Buhler Crusaders and the Wyandotte Panthers fifth- and sixth-grade teams faced off Nov. 1 at Buhler High School, 50 miles northwest of Wichita, in an inaugural fundraiser supporting childhood science education in central Kansas. More than 500 people attended the Cosmo Bowl, a college-gameday-style event intended to raise funds for a science-themed early childhood center in Hutchinson, and to bridge social divisions [...]

Night comes sooner and seems to stay longer this time of year. Wichita police are giving away free bicycle lights to keep riders safe on city streets. "It's more important than ever to be seen while you ride," police said in a social post promoting Light Up the Night, a free bike light giveaway. The event is set for 7-8 p.m. Friday at 803 N. Broadway, the corner of Broadway Avenue and Murdock Street. Bring a bike (it is required to be eligible), and you will receive a free bike light. Read more: KSN-TV

Sedgwick County will soon send out an online survey to get feedback from residents about public services and priorities, officials said Thursday. More than 100,000 randomly chosen residents will receive a link to the survey via mail, text, or email. It’s hosted by Qualtrics and will also be available on the county's website and social media later in November. The survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete and is intended for adult residents 18 years of age or older. Responses are confidential. Sedgwick County leaders are seeking input on service delivery and community priorities. Read more: KSN-TV

Across the state, Kansans voted on special ballot measures like school bonds and tax issues. Stanton County voters rejected a mill levy increase that would have helped fund its hospital. Stanton County Hospital is a medical hub for more than half a dozen other counties, including across the state line into Colorado. CEO Camille Davidson called the outcome "disappointing." She added that they aren't sure how to compete with rising costs and inflation without increased revenue. Read more: KSN-TV

The McPherson Police Department welcomed its newest mini officer to the force on Wednesday. Rhys recently finished treatment after being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2023. The department swore her in as an honorary officer for her optimism and strength. Read more: KSN-TV

School districts across the state are planning their next steps after Tuesday's bond issue votes. Some districts, like Goodland, Ark City, Mulvane, and Oakley, are moving forward with improvement plans after their bonds passed, while Wellington, Rock Hills, Hutchinson, Russell, Oberlin, and St. John-Hudson are trying to figure out how to address their ongoing issues after their ballot measures were defeated. Read more: KSN-TV

Coldwater Mayor Jose "Joe" Ceballos, who was reelected on Tuesday, was charged by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach the next day. In a news conference Wednesday, Kobach said Ceballos was facing criminal charges for three counts of voting without being qualified and three counts of election perjury. Both are non-person felonies. Read more: KSN-TV