News

An ethics hotline that has been available to Johnson County employees, vendors and contractors since 2012 has recently become open to the general public, and will be subject to future improvements to bring it in line with best practices. The reporting platform quietly became visible on the county website July 16, via a link on the maroon field at the bottom of the county website homepage. Clicking on “Ethics Hotline” leads to an outside webpage where anonymous complaints of possible ethical wrongdoing can be made. The site is run by Navex, a company that specializes in ethics and compliance management. The [...]

From a potential new headquarters for Lockton Cos. to an exclusive members-only club, Leawood's development pipeline is brimming with diverse and ambitious projects. Here’s a look at five real estate projects that could add corporate office space, luxury apartments and specialized housing for seniors in Leawood. Read more: Kansas City Business Journal

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation seized hundreds of pounds of marijuana and tens of thousands of pre-rolled joints, THC vapes and edibles during raids last week at 18 retail stores across Kansas. KBI director Tony Mattivi and Attorney General Kris Kobach announced the raids while the first wave were in progress during a news conference with reporters in Topeka. They said retailers for too long had gotten away with brazen violations of state law. Marijuana and THC products remain illegal in Kansas, an abstinent island in an ocean of other states that have given the green light to the substance. Mattivi [...]

Humboldt, located in southeast Kansas, will host the first Big Kansas Road Trip (BKRT) Pop Up site for 2026. Organized by the Kansas Sampler Foundation, the one-day event will be held Saturday, May 2, with some activities beginning the day before. Foundation Director Marci Penner announced the news during the opening “Stump” session in Hoxie on October 4, as part of the 2025 Pop Up across Sheridan County. The BKRT Pop Up offers a community open house atmosphere, highlighting local attractions, shops, and eats. Visitors can also enjoy mini-talks and tours featuring unique stories and lesser-known sites. Read more: KCLY Radio

Clay Center Parks & Recreation and Clay Counts Coalition have partnered together to bring a new program to Clay Center called Girls on the Run. Girls On the Run, a national program, combines physical activity with lessons focused on building confidence, friendships, and life skills to girls in 3rd-5th grade. Because both Parks & Rec and Clay Counts Coalition are committed to creating opportunities that support the health and well-being of kids and families in the community, the program seemed like the perfect partnership. Read more: KCLY Radio

What began as a friendly visit by Clay Center Fire Chief Johnny Ihnen to a Fire Chiefs meeting in Dickinson County has turned into a newly expanded mutual aid agreement among Clay County Fire Chiefs that will benefit Clay County as a whole. The agreement will help response times around the county in the case of a residential house fire throughout all districts. In many cases, CCFD is able to respond much quicker than the smaller departments, as the smaller stations are run by volunteers who are not at the station at all times. Read more: KCLY Radio

Wichita State University students earned a record-breaking $39.2 million through applied learning in the 2025 academic year, highlighting the university’s focus on hands-on experience and workforce development. The total marks an 11% increase from last year’s $35.3 million. More students are also participating in these opportunities, with 12,328 applied learning experiences — a 31% jump from last year — through paid work with area businesses, organizations, and on-campus employers, all while continuing their studies. Read more: KCLY Radio

A new housing initiative is set to launch soon across several counties in North Central Kansas aimed at addressing the issue of dilapidated residential structures. The “Demo to Dirt” program provides financial assistance to help property owners remove unsafe or blighted housing, contributing to safer neighborhoods and enhancing the overall appearance of communities. Read more: KCLY Radio

Clay County General Public Transportation (CCGPT) is pleased to announce that it has expanded its partnership with Clay County Medical Center (CCMC) to include not just Clay County patients, but patients in parts of the surrounding counties. This partnership will expand CCGPT’s outreach while greatly benefiting patients of CCMC and its area Family Physician Clinics. Don Wright, Public Transportation Director, spoke of this growing partnership.   “We have been working with CCMC about picking up patients and clients to transport to and from appointments. Recently, our surrounding community transportation agencies had asked us if we could expand a little bit to bring [...]

A company with a vision of installing “discreet, bespoke,” small, nuclear reactors 1 mile underground for data centers and other electricity-hungry industries plans to put its first reactors in Kansas, Texas and Utah. Deep Fission, which says its technology could meet the “explosive demand for power from artificial intelligence” has signed letters of intent with undisclosed partners in each of those states. In email exchanges, the company said it will not currently disclose the partner and location in Kansas, but would “share more information soon.” Read more: KCUR News