> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.citizenjournal.us/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Kansas daily brief
- URL: https://www.citizenjournal.us/kansas-daily-brief-11/
- Published: 2026-01-07T14:10:33.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-04T02:34:16.000Z
- Description: Kansas and US news for busy people - Jan 7, 2026 edition
- Author: Greg Loving
- Tags: hcj, email, #brief

# 🌾Kansas

- [**Saline County Commission rejected a battery storage facility 4-1** ](https://www.citizenjournal.us/commission-rejects-battery-storage-facility-despite-planning-board-approval/)despite planner approval, citing safety concerns and overwhelming resident opposition to the Houston-based company's proposal.
- [**Kansas awarded a record $287.97 million contract to reconstruct U.S. 54 and K-96**](https://www.citizenjournal.us/kdot-awards-record-288m-contract-for-east-kellogg-reconstruction/) between Wichita and Andover, the state's largest transportation project ever, with construction starting early 2026.
- **Police identified Omar Dominguez Gavilan, 28, as the Minnesota man fatally shot by a court security officer** after he broke into Lawrence City Hall and physically confronted the officer.
- **Wichita's water treatment plant, already five years in construction, faces another year-long delay** due to design flaws, pushing costs to almost $600 million and completion to late 2026.
- **K-State removed DEI training requirements from student government** after an anonymous complaint triggered state scrutiny under 2025 legislation banning DEI programs at universities.

[Top 5 Kansas news storiesJanuary 7 2026![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/e6/f7e66a8b-8f27-493f-8b7e-664ecefd4c3d/content/images/icon/favicon-4047.ico)citizen journalGreg Loving![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/e6/f7e66a8b-8f27-493f-8b7e-664ecefd4c3d/content/images/thumbnail/Image-1-7-26-at-7.46---AM.png)](https://www.citizenjournal.us/top-5-kansas-news-stories-95/)

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# 🇺🇸 US

- **Trump announces deal for 30-50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil** as U.S. confirms 75 killed in weekend raid to capture Maduro, including dozens in a presidential compound firefight that only wounded six American troops.
- **Rep. Doug LaMalfa's death during emergency surgery shrinks House GOP majority to the minimum of 218**, leaving Speaker Johnson able to afford only two defections on party-line votes.
- **Rubio tells lawmakers Trump wants to buy Greenland, not invade it**, though White House continues refusing to rule out military force to acquire the Danish territory.
- **Ford can't fill 5,000 mechanic jobs despite top pay reaching $160,000** due to a skilled worker shortage.
- **Russia sends submarine to escort sanctioned oil tanker fleeing U.S. Coast Guard**, with the vessel hastily re-registering as Russian and painting flags on its hull to evade blockade.
- **Aldrich Ames, CIA officer who betrayed U.S. secrets to Soviets, dies at 84** while serving life sentence imposed in 1994 for his counterintelligence treason.

[Top 5 US news storiesJanuary 7 2026![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/e6/f7e66a8b-8f27-493f-8b7e-664ecefd4c3d/content/images/icon/favicon-4046.ico)citizen journalGreg Loving![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/e6/f7e66a8b-8f27-493f-8b7e-664ecefd4c3d/content/images/thumbnail/im-53531177.jpg)](https://www.citizenjournal.us/top-5-us-news-stories-91/)

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# Weather

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/e6/f7e66a8b-8f27-493f-8b7e-664ecefd4c3d/content/images/2026/01/Tab1FileL--1-.png)

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# January 7 1785 Two explorers cross the English Channel in a balloon

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/e6/f7e66a8b-8f27-493f-8b7e-664ecefd4c3d/content/images/2026/01/1416px-1785_ascension_of_air-balloon_at_noordeinde_palace_the_hague-1.webp)