State News - The Morning Sun

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

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

Textron Aviation Valencia Service Center, NATA Recertification (Photo: Business Wire)

Textron Aviation’s Company-Owned Service Centers Receive Recertification as a Green Aviation Business from NATA

WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 15, 2024--Textron Aviation's commitment to sustainability has been recognized once again as its global service network received recertification as a Green Aviation … more

4/15/24

CrossFirst: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

LEAWOOD, Kan. (AP) — LEAWOOD, Kan. (AP) — CrossFirst Bankshares Inc. (CFB) on Monday reported first-quarter earnings of $18.2 million. The bank, based in Leawood, Kansas, said it had earnings … more

4/15/24

FILE - Lightning strikes in the distance as a thunderstorm passes over downtown Kansas City, Mo., July 30, 2023. Tens of millions of Americans stretching from Lincoln, Neb., to Baltimore could face strong thunderstorms Monday night, April 15, 2024, through Wednesday, April 17, with tornadoes possible in some states. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

Much of central US faces severe thunderstorm threat and possible tornadoes

Tens of millions of Americans stretching from Lincoln, Nebraska, to Baltimore could face strong thunderstorms Monday night through Wednesday, with tornadoes possible in a few states. The National … more

Associated Press | 4/15/24

Netsmart Launches the Netsmart Marketplace Advancing Interoperability and Integration Offerings for Community-Based Care Providers

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 15, 2024--Netsmart, an industry-leading provider of healthcare technology solutions and services for community-based providers, unveils the Netsmart … more

4/15/24

2 bodies found in a rural Oklahoma county as authorities searched for missing Kansas women

Authorities say two bodies have been recovered in a rural Oklahoma county, a day after four people were charged there with murder and kidnapping in connection with the March disappearance of two … more

4/15/24

Four people charged in the case of 2 women missing from Oklahoma

Four people are under arrest in the March disappearances of two women in Oklahoma. Veronica Butler, 27; and Jilian Kelley, 39, of Hugoton, Kansas, were driving through the Oklahoma panhandle to pick … more

4/14/24

FILE - A line of Holstein dairy cows feed through a fence at a dairy farm in Idaho on March 11, 2009. As of April 11, 2024, a strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, that has killed millions of wild birds in recent years has been found in at least 24 dairy cow herds in eight U.S. states: Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Idaho, Michigan and North Carolina and South Dakota. (AP Photo/Charlie Litchfield, File)

Bird flu is spreading to more farm animals. Are milk and eggs safe?

A bird flu outbreak in U.S. dairy cows has spread to more than two dozen herds in eight states. That comes weeks after the nation’s largest egg producer found the virus in its chickens. Health … more

By JONEL ALECCIA | 4/13/24

FILE - Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly speaks about the necessity to expand medicaid in Kansas during a rally, March 6, 2024, in Topeka, Kan. Gov. Kelly on Friday, April 12, 2024, vetoed a proposed ban on gender-affirming care for minors, a measure to require more reporting from abortion providers and what she called a “vague” bill making it a crime to coerce someone into having an abortion. (Evert Nelson/The Topeka Capital-Journal via AP, File)/The Topeka Capital-Journal via AP)

Kansas governor vetoes ban on gender-affirming care for minors and 2 anti-abortion bills

The governor of Kansas has vetoed a proposed ban on gender-affirming care for minors, a measure to require more reporting from abortion providers and what she says is a vague bill making it a crime … more

By JOHN HANNA | 4/12/24

President Joe Biden speaks during a trilateral meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Biden administration announces another round of loan cancellation under new repayment plan

The Biden administration is canceling student loans for another 206,000 borrowers as part of a new repayment plan that offers a faster route to forgiveness. The Education Department announced the … more

By COLLIN BINKLEY | 4/12/24

FILE - Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly speaks about the necessity to expand medicaid in Kansas during a rally, March 6, 2024, in Topeka, Kan. Kansas will increase what have been among the lowest benefits in the U.S. for workers who are injured or killed on the job under bipartisan legislation that Kelly signed into law Thursday, April 11. (Evert Nelson/The Topeka Capital-Journal via AP, File)

Kansas has some of the nation's lowest benefits for injured workers. They'll increase in July

Kansas will increase what have been among the lowest benefits in the U.S. for workers who are injured or killed on the job. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly signed bipartisan workers' compensation into … more

By JOHN HANNA | 4/11/24

Black & Veatch Receives Full Notice to Proceed for Canada’s First FLNG Project

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 11, 2024--Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure solutions leader Black & Veatch, in partnership with high-tech shipbuilder Samsung Heavy … more

4/11/24