Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab announced a new system to update state regulations is now working across Kansas. The change is part of a major effort to improve how state rules are created and managed. In 2025, the Secretary of State’s office hired a company called Esper, which builds software to modernize government processes. According to the release, the goal was to replace an old paper-based system that had been used for decades. Officials say the old process was slow and outdated. It relied heavily on paper, which led to problems like missing pages, wasted materials, and human errors. It [...]

As crews across southwest Kansas fight to contain wildfires, departments in the Sunflower State aren’t the only ones volunteering their time and equipment. Fire departments from Texas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Montana and Colorado were just some of those that answered the call for help. Several fire departments in Major County, Oklahoma, are on a list that Kansas can call in times of crisis. Read more: KSN-TV

The Sunflower Foundation said Wednesday that it’s awarding $355,000 in grants to 25 Kansas communities to support the creation and improvement of trails. The Paving the Way grant program offers funding, customized support and virtual learning opportunities to support communities in different stages of trail development. “We’re incredibly excited to work alongside our Paving the Way communities, whether they are just beginning their trail journeys or taking the next step in implementing the Trail Town model,” Kelli Mark, the foundation’s director of healthy communities, said in a news release. Read more: KSN-TV

The two biggest wildfires in southwest Kansas are mostly contained. According to the Meade Fire Department, the Meade Lake Complex wildfire is now 100% contained as of Thursday morning. The Kansas Forest Service reported Wednesday that the Herman Ranch Complex wildfire is now 80% contained. “While there has been no true end to the fire season in southwest Kansas, this battle is finally coming to a close,” KFS said on Facebook. Read more: KSN-TV

Sedgwick County commissioners voted Wednesday to terminate aid agreements with several small-town fire departments. Cheney, Clearwater, Mount Hope and Valley Center will have 90 days to work with commissioners to make new automatic and mutual aid agreements. Commissioner Jim Howell said a lot has changed since the agreements were established, adding that they no longer reflect the current state of operations. Read more: KSN-TV

A police chief said a large influx of storm chasers into the Blue Rapids area could have created a dangerous situation for emergency workers and others on Monday. Multiple tornadoes touched down in north-central and northeast Kansas, drawing in large numbers of people to the region. Many vehicles belonging to locals, storm spotters and chasers were caught up in traffic near the community of Blue Rapids. The Blue Rapids Police Department estimated that as many as 500 vehicles were in the area when a tornado touched down just east of the town. Read more: KSN-TV

Hours of public comment hold back a solar project proposal in Sedgwick County. The Branch Line Project, submitted by the energy system developer TED Renewables, is one of several projects being considered in Sedgwick County. It would take over nearly 1,400 acres of land north and northeast of Clearwater for solar farms. Read more: KSN-TV

Weaker winds and cooler temperatures proved to be a blessing for firefighters Tuesday as they started to get flames in Meade and Clark Counties under control. Though the fires are a long way from being out, progress has been hard to come by in previous days. “Our guys are hungry, and they are tired, and they are worn out,” said Valerie Heston, an Ashland resident helping in the recovery efforts. As firefighters man the frontlines, numerous volunteers in rural communities have been giving them the support they need to keep going, cooking meals and taking donations for first responders. Read more: [...]

Hays will soon implement its annual restrictions on summer water use. On Tuesday, the Kansas Department of Agriculture issued an order requested by the city that prohibits residents with private wells from watering their lawns or other vegetation between noon and 7 p.m. from June 1 to Sept. 30. Other residents are already prohibited from outdoor water use during that time under city ordinance. The city has had the same summer water restrictions since the early 1990s. Read more: KSN-TV

The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that Kansas is receiving funding to help address “forever chemicals” in drinking water. More than $9.4 million in grant funding is now available to eligible communities Kansas to reduce PFAS and other chemical contaminants that are linked to cancers. PFAS stands for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are found in a variety of household products and are also used in some manufacturing processes. Read more: KSN-TV