State News - The Morning Sun

Twin Valley Expands to Abilene with 8 Gigabit Fiber Network

Twin Valley is Kansas' largest family-owned broadband and communications company with more than 80 years of experience serving rural communities.ABILENE, Kan., April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Twin … more

4/25/24

Jerron Lightfoot, of Tonganoxie, Kan., is led away in handcuffs Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo., after Jackson County Judge Sarah A. Castle sentenced him to 10 years in prison for recklessly causing the February 2023 crash that killed Kansas City police officer James Muhlbauer and Jesse Eckes, a bystander caught up in the wreckage. Muhlbauer's police dog, Champ, was also killed in the crash. (Robert A. Cronkleton/The Kansas City Star via AP)

Kansas man sentenced to 10 years for crash that killed officer, pedestrian and K-9 last February

A man who sped through a red light in Kansas City and crashed into a patrol car has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of an officer and a bystander. … more

4/25/24

FILE - Texas National Guard watch migrants after beaching barriers set up on the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas, March 21, 2024. A Texas grand jury on Tuesday, April 23, indicted more than 140 migrants on misdemeanor rioting charges over an alleged mass attempt to breach the U.S.-Mexico border, a day after a judge threw out the cases. (Omar Ornelas/El Paso Times via AP, File)

GOP mulls next move after Kansas governor vetoes effort to help Texas in border security fight

The governor of Kansas is blocking an attempt by Republican legislators to help Texas in the partisan national fight with the Biden administration over illegal immigration. Top Republicans in the … more

By JOHN HANNA | 4/25/24

Prime Capital Investment Advisors Announces Transition of National Retirement Practice Leader Matthew Eickman

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 25, 2024--Prime Capital Investment Advisors (PCIA) recognizes the achievements of Matthew Eickman, who is transitioning from his role as National Retirement … more

4/25/24

FILE - This combination photo shows Veronica Butler, left, and Jilian Kelley, right. Oklahoma prosecutors charged a fifth member of an anti-government group, Paul Jeremiah Grice, on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, with killing and kidnapping the two Kansas women. (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation via AP, File)

Oklahoma prosecutors charge fifth member of anti-government group in Kansas women's killings

Oklahoma prosecutors have charged a fifth member of an anti-government group with killing and kidnapping two Kansas women. Thirty-one-year-old Paul Jeremiah Grice was charged Wednesday in Texas … more

4/24/24

Kansas House Taxation Committee Chair Adam Smith, R-Weskan, explains a plan to cut taxes by $1.5 billion over three years to fellow Republicans in the House during a meeting, Friday, April 5, 2024, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Kansas lawmakers have approved the plan but some of them expect Gov. Laura Kelly to veto it. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

Kansas' governor vetoed tax cuts again over their costs. Some fellow Democrats backed it

The Democratic governor in Kansas has vetoed a broad package of tax cuts for the second time in three months. Gov. Laura Kelly described the tax plan Wednesday as too expensive despite the bipartisan … more

By JOHN HANNA | 4/24/24

Kansas Proving Grounds Partners with SkyScoutAI Innovations Inc. to Deploy AI-Powered Drones for Wildfire Solution at America's First Carbon Neutral Industrial Park

PARSONS, Kan., April 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kansas Proving Grounds at Great Plains Industrial Park, a leading facility for testing and innovation, is proud to announce its partnership with … more

4/24/24

FILE - The sign above the door to the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging inside the main administration building on the main University of Kansas campus is seen on Friday, April 12, 2024, in Lawrence, Kan. A conservative quest to limit diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives is gaining momentum in state capitals and college governing boards, with officials in about one-third of the states now taking some sort of action against it. (AP Photo/John Hanna, File)

A conservative quest to limit diversity programs gains momentum in states

An effort to limit diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives is gaining momentum in state capitals and college campuses. Tennessee became the latest state to act this week as the Republican … more

By DAVID A. LIEB | 4/24/24

General Indemnity Group Releases Strong FY 2023 Financial Results Showing Growth, Adds New Management to the Team

Appoints CFO to Help Drive Further Growth; Expands Business OperationsBOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2024 / General Indemnity Group ("GIG"), a company that focuses on the surety insurance … more

4/23/24

Editorial Roundup: Kansas

Kansas City Star. April 22, 2024. Editorial: These Missouri and Kansas Republicans in Congress finally did right by Ukraine We don’t get that many chances to say, “Well done, House … more

By The Associated Press | 4/23/24

Imagine IT Launches Redesigned Website and Brand Identity to empower Midwest Businesses with Next Generation IT support

- Imagine IT is a pioneer in providing AI consulting alongside its IT services - BLOOMINGTON, Minn., April 23, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NDWSWIRE) — Imagine IT, a leading provider of managed IT services … more

Imagine IT | 4/23/24

Equity Bancshares, Inc. Expands Footprint Within Home State of Kansas

WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 22, 2024--Equity Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE: EQBK) (“Equity” or the “Company”), the Wichita-based holding company of Equity Bank, announced today its entry … more

4/22/24

This image provided by the Topeka Zoo shows Karen, an ostrich at the Topeka Zoo in Topeka, Kan. The 5-year-old ostrich was euthanized on Thursday, April 18, 2024, after grabbing and swallowing a zoo staff member's keys. Zoo staff sought help from experts around the U.S. but were unsuccessful in saving the ostrich, according to a social media post from the zoo. (Brea Schmidt/Topeka Zoo via AP)

An adored ostrich at a Kansas zoo has died after swallowing a staff member's keys

A beloved zoo ostrich named Karen has died after swallowing a staff member's keys. The Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center announced the bird's death in a social media post on Friday. The zoo said the … more

4/22/24

Ainstein's Flagship US-D1 Radar Altimeter Celebrates 20,000 Production Unit Milestone with Price Reduction

LAWRENCE, Kan., April 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ainstein, a trusted leader in radar sensing solutions since 2015, is excited to announce that the US-D1 Radar Altimeter has achieved a major high-volume … more

4/22/24

American Farmland Trust and Anheuser-Busch Support Kansas Farmers through New U.S. Farmed Certification

CERTIFICATION INCLUDES NEW PACKAGING SEAL FOR PRODUCTS MADE WITH INGREDIENTS GROWN BY AMERICAN FARMERSST. LOUIS, April 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Anheuser-Busch recently announced the national rollout … more

4/22/24

Beechcraft King Air 260 Multi-Engine Training System (METS) T-54A for the U.S. Navy (Photo: Business Wire)

Textron Aviation Special Missions begins deliveries of U.S. Navy Beechcraft King Air 260 Multi-Engine Training System (METS) Aircraft

WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 22, 2024--Textron Aviation today announced it delivered the first two of up to 64 Multi-Engine Training System (METS) Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft contracted … more

4/22/24

FILE - This combination of 2013 file photos provided by the Kansas Department of Corrections shows Reginald Carr, left, and Jonathan Carr. (Kansas Department of Corrections via AP, File)

2 brothers condemned to die for the 'Wichita massacre' want a new sentencing hearing

Attorneys for two brothers who were sentenced to die in a quadruple killing known as the “Wichita massacre” will argue for a formal resentencing hearing in the latest in a long series of appeals. … more

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH | 4/22/24

Kansas House Minority Leader Vic Miller, D-Topeka, praises a plan for cutting income, sales and property taxes by a total of more than $1.5 billion over three years during a meeting of House Democrats, Friday, April 5, 2024, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. House Democrats favor the plan, but Senate Democrats largely oppose it. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

A new, stable fiscal forecast for Kansas reinforces the dynamics of a debate over tax cuts

The picture for tax cuts in Kansas and the next state budget remains stable with the release of a new fiscal forecast. Projections for tax collections issued Friday reinforced the dynamics of a … more

By JOHN HANNA | 4/19/24

Students walk down Jayhawk Boulevard, the main street through the main University of Kansas campus, Friday, April 12, 2024, in Lawrence, Kan. The Kansas Board of Regents, which oversees higher education, has drafted a new policy against requiring diversity, equity and inclusion statements on applications for students, job seekers and staff promotions. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

Kansas has a new anti-DEI law, but the governor has vetoed bills on abortion and even police dogs

The Democratic governor in Kansas has vetoed proposed tax breaks for anti-abortion counseling centers while allowing restrictions on college diversity initiatives to become law without her signature. … more

By JOHN HANNA | 4/19/24

Students at PSU cross the campus on a blustery, rainy afternoon, Thursday.

PSU says new DEI policy won’t affect them

TOPEKA — State universities in Kansas are banned from requiring prospective students, potential hires and staffers seeking promotion to disclose their views on diversity initiatives under a … more

AP and Staff reports | 4/19/24