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KS - May 29 2025

Tariff Ruling Paused; KC Data Center Advanced; RFK Offers KS Measles Support; Stadium Decision Urged; Thunder Reach Finals

Greg Loving

29 May 2025 • 4 min read

Breaking: Federal Court Pauses Ruling Against Trump Tariffs as Kansas Agricultural Exporters Await Decision

KCK Planning Commission Advances $12.6 Billion Data Center Project

RFK Jr. Offers Federal Support for Kansas Measles Outbreak

House Speaker Hawkins: Chiefs, Royals Must Act Soon on Kansas Stadium Offer

Thunder Eliminate Timberwolves, Advance to NBA Finals

1. Breaking: Federal Court Pauses Ruling Against Trump Tariffs as Kansas Agricultural Exporters Await Decision

A federal appeals court has temporarily halted a ruling that voided President Trump's tariffs, granting the administration time to challenge the lower court's decision that could significantly impact Kansas agricultural exporters. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued an administrative stay Thursday, directing companies challenging the tariffs to file briefs by June 5 and the Justice Department to respond by June 9, with Kansas farmers and agribusinesses closely watching the proceedings as they could affect grain, beef, and other agricultural exports from the state.

WSJ

2. KCK Planning Commission Advances $12.6 Billion Data Center Project

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County planning commission voted 4-2 Wednesday to recommend approval of a massive 550-acre, $12.6 billion data center project in Kansas City, Kansas, that would include six buildings totaling 1.8 million square feet. The hyperscale facility, which would straddle Parallel Parkway west of Kansas Speedway, is expected to house operations for a major tech company such as Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, or Alphabet, though no corporate tenant has been publicly identified for what would become a critical piece of internet infrastructure.

Kansas Reflector

3. RFK Jr. Offers Federal Support for Kansas Measles Outbreak

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has offered to deploy a federal team to Kansas to help contain the state's measles outbreak, stating his department has already sent Epidemic Intelligence Service teams to other states experiencing outbreaks. Speaking at a Senate appropriations subcommittee hearing on May 20 in response to questions from Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Kennedy encouraged vaccination efforts and said federal assistance would be available immediately if Governor Laura Kelly requests help to curtail the outbreak's spread in Kansas communities.

Capital-Journal

4. House Speaker Hawkins: Chiefs, Royals Must Act Soon on Kansas Stadium Offer

Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins said Wednesday that the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals should make a decision soon if they want to take advantage of the state's enhanced stadium-funding incentives, emphasizing he doesn't plan to extend the program beyond its June 30 expiration date. The Wichita Republican, who helped pass the stadium-funding bill during a special session last June, told The Kansas City Star that while legislative leaders have the option to extend the offer for another year, he believes the teams have had sufficient time to evaluate Kansas as a potential home for new stadiums.

Kansas City Star

5. Thunder Eliminate Timberwolves, Advance to NBA Finals

The Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94 Wednesday night at Paycom Center, clinching the Western Conference championship in Game 5 and advancing to their first NBA Finals since 2012. With an average age of just 25.6 years old, the Thunder became the second-youngest team in NBA history to reach the Finals, celebrating with a raucous sellout crowd as they await the winner of the Eastern Conference finals between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks, with the Pacers leading 3-1 and Game 5 scheduled for Thursday, May 29th at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.

ESPN

Hutchinson

Salina

McPherson / Lindsborg

Many more cities coming soon!