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KS - July 22 2025

Severe Kansas Storms; Kansas Governor's Race; KC Drug Indictments; Food Bank Meal Boxes; K-State Player's Emergency

Greg Loving

22 Jul 2025 • 4 min read

Severe Evening Storms Sweep Across Central Kansas

State Sen. Corson Joins 2026 Governor's Race; Lt. Gov. Toland Won't Seek Election in 2026

14 Kansas City Residents Indicted on Drug Trafficking Charges

Food Bank Steps In as Wichita Summer Meal Program Ends

K-State Player Suffers Medical Emergency During Practice

1. Severe Evening Storms Sweep Across Central Kansas

Severe thunderstorms swept across central Kansas Monday evening, July 21, prompting the National Weather Service office in Wichita to issue a Severe Thunderstorm Warning as dangerous winds and heavy rainfall impacted the region. The storms produced significant wind damage across Sedgwick County, with measured winds of 65 mph reported 2 NW of East Wichita at 10:25 PM CDT and 62 mph winds measured 3 N of Wichita Eisenhower Airport at 10:19 PM CDT, along with reports of blown transformers, snapped tree limbs, and uprooted trees throughout the Wichita metropolitan area. The storm system also brought substantial rainfall, with 2.61 inches recorded at Turkey Creek in McPherson, KS.

2. State Sen. Corson Joins 2026 Governor's Race; Lt. Gov. Toland Won't Seek Election in 2026

Kansas State Sen. Ethan Corson of Prairie Village announced Tuesday he is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2026, promising to deliver "opportunity, affordability, and common-sense leadership" statewide. Corson, the first Democrat ever elected from his Johnson County Senate district, said he's running to create opportunities for the next generation of Kansans by ensuring the state has America's best schools and becomes the most affordable place to live.

Lt. Gov. David Toland announced Tuesday he will not run for governor or any other elected office in 2026, choosing instead to focus on economic development projects as commerce secretary under Gov. Laura Kelly. Toland said his highest service to Kansas is remaining focused on the economy rather than politics, citing critically important economic development projects currently in progress.

KWCH, CJOnline

3. 14 Kansas City Residents Indicted on Drug Trafficking Charges

A federal grand jury indicted 14 Kansas City residents on 80 charges related to an alleged drug-trafficking conspiracy, according to a Department of Justice announcement following the July 17 unsealing of the multi-count indictment. Undercover ATF agents purchased methamphetamine and fentanyl from three of the defendants between December 2024 and June 2025, with the conspiracy involving suspects ranging in age from 30 to 69 years old.

Kansas City Star

4. Food Bank Steps In as Wichita Summer Meal Program Ends

The Kansas Food Bank will distribute five-day meal boxes to children after Wichita Public Schools' free summer meal program ends July 25, ensuring continued food access before the new school year begins. The meal boxes will contain five breakfasts and five lunches plus shelf-stable milk for children under 18, available at multiple city locations to bridge the gap between the summer program and school resumption.

KWCH

5. K-State Player Suffers Medical Emergency During Practice

K-State offensive lineman George Fitzpatrick experienced a medical emergency during summer football practice July 16, prompting response from Riley County Emergency Medical Services at 4:36 p.m. at the team's practice facility. Fitzpatrick was initially hospitalized in Manhattan before being transferred to a Topeka hospital, with K-State officials reporting he is "improving every day" and thanking those supporting his recovery.

KWCH

Sources

Hutchinson

Salina

McPherson / Lindsborg