State News - The Morning Sun

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

FILE - U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, R-Kan., speaks to Republican volunteers during a campaign stop with other GOP candidates, Nov. 7. 2022, in Topeka, Kan. LaTurner announced Thursday, April 18, 2024, that he is not running for reelection this year in his GOP-leaning eastern Kansas district so that he can spend more time with his four young children. (AP Photo/John Hanna, File)

Kansas GOP congressman Jake LaTurner is not running again, citing family reasons

Two-term Republican U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner is not running for reelection this year in his GOP-leaning eastern Kansas district. LaTurner announced Thursday that he wants to spend more time with his … more

By JOHN HANNA | 4/18/24

FILE - The Old Well on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is seen among the spring foliage, April 20, 2015, in Chapel Hill, N.C. The future of diversity, equity and inclusion staff jobs in North Carolina's public university system could be at stake as a series of votes loom on a key policy's potential repeal. The Committee on University Governance within the University of North Carolina Board of Governors that oversees 17 schools, was poised to vote Wednesday, April 17, 2024, on a possible reversal and replacement of a policy related to DEI. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)

North Carolina university committee swiftly passes policy change that could cut diversity staff

Diversity, equity and inclusion staff members' jobs in North Carolina's public university system could be at risk. The University of North Carolina Board of Governors committee quickly voted to … more

By MAKIYA SEMINERA | 4/17/24

This combination of booking photo provided by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation shows Tad Bert Cullum, top left, Cora Twombly, top right, Tifany Machel Adams, bottom left, and Cole Earl Twombly, bottom right. On Saturday, April 13, 2024, Oklahoma authorities said they arrested and charged these four people with murder and kidnapping over the weekend in connection with the disappearances of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley. (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation via AP)

Bond denied for 4 'God's Misfits' defendants in the killing of 2 Kansas women

An Oklahoma judge has denied bond for the four people charged with kidnapping and killing two Kansas women. Tifany Adams, her boyfriend Tad Cullum and Cole and Cora Twombly made their first … more

4/17/24

Kansas Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Rick Billinger, left, R-Goodland, confers with Sen. Kristen O'Shea, right, R-Topeka, during a break in the Senate's session, Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Republicans are likely to pass a proposed state budget that includes provisions designed to force Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to restrict diversity initiatives on college campuses and help Texas in its fight over border security with the Biden administration. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

Kansas' higher ed board is considering an anti-DEI policy as legislators press for a law

The board overseeing higher education in Kansas is considering banning state universities from requiring prospective students, potential hires and staffers seeking promotion to disclose their views … more

By JOHN HANNA | 4/17/24

Black & Veatch Names Chief People Officer Andrea Bernica to Company’s Board of Directors

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 17, 2024--Andrea Bernica, Black & Veatch’s chief people officer, has been named to the board of directors of the global leader in sustainable … more

4/17/24

Bel Aire Recovery Center Expands Services for Military & Veteran Treatment

WICHITA, Kan., April 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bel Aire Recovery Center (Bel Aire), a 45-bed facility providing substance use detox, residential treatment, partial hospitalization, and outpatient … more

4/17/24

FILE - This combination photo shows Veronica Butler, left, and Jilian Kelley, right. On Saturday, April 13, 2024, Oklahoma authorities said they arrested and charged four people with murder and kidnapping over the weekend in connection with the disappearances of the two Oklahoma women. (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation via AP, File)

How Kansas women's disappearance on a drive to pick up kids led to 4 arrests in Oklahoma

The search for two missing Kansas women came to a fatal end last weekend when Oklahoma authorities confirmed the two women were dead. Now four people are behind bars in Texas County in the Oklahoma … more

By SEAN MURPHY and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH | 4/16/24

Equity Bancshares, Inc. First Quarter Results Highlighted by Record Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin Expansion

WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 16, 2024--Equity Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE: EQBK), (“Equity”, “the Company”, “we,” “us,” “our”), the Wichita-based holding company of Equity Bank, … more

4/16/24

Equity Bancshares: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Equity Bancshares Inc. (EQBK) on Tuesday reported net income of $14.1 million in its first quarter. The Wichita, Kansas-based bank said it had … more

4/16/24

Parts of central US hit by severe storms, while tornadoes strike in Kansas and Iowa

Strong storms have caused damage in parts of the middle U.S. and spawned tornadoes in Kansas and Iowa, including one that left two people hurt. The National Weather Service says an EF-1 tornado … more

By JIM SALTER | 4/16/24

Netsmart Welcomes Vandoit to the Netsmart Marketplace

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 16, 2024--Netsmart, a leading provider of population health technology and workforce management solutions, announces its collaboration with Vandoit®, a … more

4/16/24