hcj

KS - July 23 2025

Measles cases; Evergy rate increase; Permanent water restrictions?; Kidnapping suspect arrested; Grant audits criticized

Greg Loving

23 Jul 2025 • 3 min read

Kansas Measles Cases Reach 90 Across 13 Counties

Evergy Accepts $128M Rate Increase After Regulators Question Initial Request

Wichita May Make Water Conservation Permanent Despite Drought Recovery

Topeka Kidnapping Suspect Arrested, 2-Year-Old Found Safe

Commerce Secretary Criticizes Repeated Audits of COVID Grant Programs

1. Kansas Measles Cases Reach 90 Across 13 Counties

Kansas health officials have confirmed 90 measles cases across 13 counties this year, representing a rate of 3.09 per 100,000 people. Gray County leads with 29 cases, followed by Haskell County with 19 and Stevens County with 10, while ten other counties reported between one and five cases each. Most cases stem from an ongoing outbreak in southwest Kansas.

KSN

2. Evergy Accepts $128M Rate Increase After Regulators Question Initial Request

Kansas Corporation Commission regulators questioned Evergy officials Monday about the utility's decision to accept a $128 million rate increase instead of its original $197 million request. The settlement will raise residential base rates by 9.6%, adding approximately $9 per month to the average homeowner's electric bill after negotiations with KCC staff and consumer advocates.

Kansas Reflector

3. Wichita May Make Water Conservation Permanent Despite Drought Recovery

Wichita residents could face permanent water restrictions even after current drought conditions improve, as city officials propose allowing outdoor watering only on alternate days. The City Council will consider the plan August 19, which would replace the current once-weekly watering limit that has been in effect for a year under phase two drought restrictions. Public Works Director Gary Janzen acknowledged the current restrictions are "painful" but effective in conserving water.

Kansas.com

4. Topeka Kidnapping Suspect Arrested, 2-Year-Old Found Safe

A 2-year-old Topeka boy abducted Friday was found safe Tuesday when suspect Christopher Barnshaw, 42, was arrested in Illinois. Zabe Mendez was forcibly taken from his mother in the 500 block of NE Wabash, where two people were later found dead. Neighbors expressed relief at the child's safe recovery while mourning the tragedy that befell the family they knew well.

KWCH

5. Commerce Secretary Criticizes Repeated Audits of COVID Grant Programs

Kansas Commerce Secretary David Toland declined to attend Monday's legislative meeting on the third audit of the state's federal infrastructure grant program, expressing frustration over repeated examinations that have produced no agency recommendations. Toland cited "thousands of staff hours" spent responding to audits at taxpayer expense, prompting Republican legislators to threaten a fourth audit or subpoena powers to compel agency cooperation on the COVID-19 economic recovery grants.

Kansas Reflector

Sources

Hutchinson

Salina

McPherson / Lindsborg