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An Overland Park animal control officer sprung into action Wednesday after a caller reported an unusual situation in their backyard. When officers arrived, they found a red-tailed hawk with unknown injuries. According to a police spokesman, Officer Jillian Sundberg was able to safely contain the hawk and transport it to Operation Wildlife for further care. Operation Wildlife, located in Linwood, Kansas, provides rehabilitation and veterinary services to injured and orphaned wild animals in the Kansas City metro and surrounding area. Overland Park police was notified Thursday that, after receiving some treatment, the hawk died from complications of avian influenza. Read more: [...]

A year after residents filed a petition to halt construction of the Hope Ridge Wind Farm, a Fifth District judge has upheld the Dickinson County Commission’s 2–1 decision allowing the project to move forward. Ten plaintiffs sued the County Commission in December, claiming the Conditional Use Permit approved for the wind farm was “unreasonable and unlawful.” Their suit alleged the application did not meet zoning requirements, lacked agreements from all affected landowners, and that the County mishandled an Oct. 31 protest petition by miscalculating the percentage of property needed to validate it. In his ruling, Judge Lee Fowler found no errors [...]

The musicians scattered around the former elementary school gymnasium didn’t look like an ordinary orchestra, nor did they sound like one. A woman in plaid and high-top Converse sneakers played her banjo with a brush while the warm sounds of cellos and violins intermingled with the sharper tones of an accordion and melodica to create a polyphonic drone. Joining forces, a small chorus sang a traditional folk tune, the words changed to reference Kansas and the tallgrass prairie. The performance, which took place on a recent Saturday in the small town of Matfield Green, was led by Clay Gonzalez, a young, [...]

Two Kansas cities were recognized by True West magazine as 2026 Top 10 True Western Towns, with one receiving the honor for the second year in a row. Because of its rich heritage, Abilene returned to True West Magazine’s Top 10 True Western Towns list, claiming second place after finishing in seventh last year. Dodge City came in at No. 6. Read more: KSN-TV

City leaders made adjustments to a controversial utility bill Tuesday night. At the city council meeting on the night of Dec. 2, city leaders agreed to change the name of what you’re paying for retail water services and sanitary sewer services. Currently people in Topeka pay a “readiness to serve” charge. Now, after a vote from the governing body, people will be paying a “base charge.” The readiness to serve charge is a monthly fee for people on all water meters whether it’s used or not. While causing confusion from people in the community, and some even saying it’s not fair, [...]

World Cup in the Flint Hills? Well, not for games — but Wabaunsee County is developing a marketing campaign to attract spectators with the help of the Kansas Department of Commerce. The state is disbursing over $177,000 in tourism marketing grants to 20 entities. On the list is Wabaunsee County Economic Development, which is set to begin a targeted campaign aimed at FIFA World Cup travelers to inform them about the Flint Hills, both in general terms and when it comes to specific attractions. Wabaunsee County is using a better-than-$7,400 grant for this purpose with the World Cup coming to Kansas [...]

Deep Fission says it plans to install a nuclear reactor underground at an industrial park in southeast Kansas. Parsons, Kansas, will be the site of a California startup’s first ever 1-mile-deep nuclear reactor — with support from county commissioners, both Republican Kansas U.S. senators and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration. Deep Fission will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking on Tuesday at Great Plains Industrial Park. Company leaders hope to receive U.S. Department of Energy authorization and get its nuclear reactor up and running by next Fourth of July. Read more: The Lawrence Times

Super Pass pool program holders in northeastern Johnson County will have access to another municipal pool for the 2026 swim season. After dropping out in 2024, Roeland Park will rejoin the Super Pass program next summer. The Roeland Park City Council unanimously approved the move at its meeting on Nov. 17. The program allows pass holders access to any participating city pool, which in 2025 included Fairway, Mission and Prairie Village. Those three cities are set to remain in the program next year, and Roeland Park will be added back. In previous years, Leawood and Merriam also participated in the program [...]

One by one at a city council meeting last month, Olathe residents — most of them retired city employees — came forward to voice concerns about rising health insurance premiums. Nine speakers in all addressed the council at its Nov. 4th meeting. “Ever since we received this information about the 2026 cost increase, we’re trying to figure out how we can afford it,” retired Olathe police officer Damon Bell said. “And to be honest, this is scary.” Health insurance premiums are going up across the U.S., and a high-profile battle over subsidies for those on the federal ACA marketplace led to [...]

A two-story house, pointy at the top and painted red like a child’s drawing, is in the spotlight in Leavenworth. It stands out for its warm color, popping against the foliage wrapping it. Just under its peak, a large yellow butterfly hangs from a shingle. Matching the black, barnesque door are dark holes where windows used to be. The siding and shutters are peeling. Boards cover upper-floor windows and have been up long enough to grow mold. The vegetation surrounding the building threatens to swallow it whole. The nicknamed “Butterfly House” isn’t known today for its storybook facade; it’s an example of [...]