> ## 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-7/
- Published: 2026-01-02T12:18:36.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-04T02:34:14.000Z
- Description: Kansas and US news for busy people - Jan 2, 2026 edition
- Author: Greg Loving
- Tags: hcj, email, #brief

## 🌾Kansas

- **NWS Wichita documented 2025 weather**: Temperatures ranged from -14°F to 105°F across the region, with 314 severe thunderstorm warnings issued and a 102 mph wind gust recorded on June 17.
- **100+ new Kansas laws take effect January 1**: Major changes include ending the 3-day grace period for mail ballots (now due by 7pm Election Day) and increased fees for electric vehicles.
- **Wichita votes March 3 on $850M sales tax**: The 1% tax would fund public safety, homelessness programs, and a new performing arts center, but opponents say the city lacks sufficient project details and community trust.
- **Western Kansas ranch models conservation grazing amid crisis**: Smoky Valley Ranch uses cattle and prescribed burns to combat drought (6.5 inches rain in 2022) and invasive cedar encroachment threatening native prairie.
- **Kelly and Kobach battle over federal lawsuit authority**: The Governor and Attorney General clash before the Kansas Supreme Court over who can initiate federal litigation on behalf of the state, with oral arguments set for January 16.

[Top 5 Kansas news storiesJanuary 2 2025![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/e6/f7e66a8b-8f27-493f-8b7e-664ecefd4c3d/content/images/icon/favicon-3970.ico)citizen journalGreg Loving![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/e6/f7e66a8b-8f27-493f-8b7e-664ecefd4c3d/content/images/thumbnail/Image-132.jpeg)](https://www.citizenjournal.us/top-5-kansas-news-stories-92/)

---

## 🇺🇸 US

- **Swiss Alps Fire:** A New Year's fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana killed 40 people and injured 100+, with the Swiss President calling it one of the country's worst tragedies.
- **Musk-Trump Alliance:** VP JD Vance spent months persuading Elon Musk to abandon third-party plans after DOGE backlash threatened GOP unity, succeeding but leaving the Trump-Musk relationship fragile.
- **California Billionaire Tax:** A proposed 5% one-time tax on billionaire assets drove tech investors to flee California before year-end, with $500 billion in collective wealth reportedly leaving the state.
- **Jakarta Tops Tokyo:** The UN's new methodology counting metropolitan areas crowned Jakarta the world's largest city at 42 million residents, surpassing Tokyo by including sprawling satellite towns.
- **Iran Protests:** Economic crisis-driven protests in Iran entered their fifth day with at least one dead in clashes, prompting the president to acknowledge urgent need to address public concerns amid 30 arrests.

[Top 5 US news storiesJanuary 2 2026![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/e6/f7e66a8b-8f27-493f-8b7e-664ecefd4c3d/content/images/icon/favicon-3971.ico)citizen journalGreg Loving![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/e6/f7e66a8b-8f27-493f-8b7e-664ecefd4c3d/content/images/thumbnail/Image-129.jpeg)](https://www.citizenjournal.us/top-5-us-news-stories-88/)

---

## Weather

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/e6/f7e66a8b-8f27-493f-8b7e-664ecefd4c3d/content/images/2026/01/Image-131.jpeg)

---

## January 2 1974: President Nixon signs national speed limit into law

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/e6/f7e66a8b-8f27-493f-8b7e-664ecefd4c3d/content/images/2026/01/Image-128-1.jpeg)