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KS - July 28, 2025

Wyandotte County shooting; Task Force One returns, Cheney Reservoir up, Kansas Governor race grows, Leavenworth Detention Center sparks controversy

Teri Hansen

28 Jul 2025 • 5 min read

Kansas Deputy Killed During Civil Standby
Kansas Task Force Returns from Texas Flood Response
Cheney Reservoir Reaches Full Capacity
Field Grows for 2026 Kansas Governor's Race
CoreCivic Detention Center Sparks Leavenworth Debate

1. Wyandotte County Deputy Shot, Killed During Civil Standby Call

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Wyandotte County sheriff's deputy was shot and killed Saturday while responding to a civil standby call, prompting tributes from law enforcement agencies across Kansas and Missouri.
Deputy Elijah Ming, who served the county for nine years, was fatally wounded around 3:30 p.m. when he and a Kansas City, Kansas, police officer responded to South 30th Street and Shawnee Drive. A woman had requested police accompaniment while moving from her home due to safety concerns.
When the officers approached the front door, 38-year-old Shawn Harris opened fire from inside the house, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The KCKPD officer was uninjured, but Ming was struck and later died at a hospital.
Harris barricaded himself inside for several hours before surrendering. He was shot during the standoff and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Sheriff Daniel Soptic called Ming "a loved member of the agency" who "gave his life serving Wyandotte County." Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran and Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas were among officials offering condolences.
No charges against Harris have been announced. Memorial arrangements for Ming have not been released.

Associated Press

2. Kansas Task Force Returns from Texas Flood Response

WICHITA, Kan. — Kansas Task Force One returned home Sunday after a two-week deployment to Texas supporting search efforts in flood-damaged areas.
The team arrived in the Kerrville region July 13 and assisted Texas Task Force One with intensive search operations. Crews focused on areas where human remains detection dogs had alerted, including a creek with silt-heavy waters up to five feet deep.
Swiftwater technicians conducted manual searches before Texas deployed an amphibious excavator with a 42-foot boom to dig through submerged debris. After 15 hours of searching and examining debris, no human remains were found.
On their final day, crews used heavy equipment to remove a tree trunk at a second site where dogs had alerted, but again found no remains.
The Kansas team departed Texas on Saturday, stopped overnight in Oklahoma, and returned home Sunday afternoon following the catastrophic flooding response mission.

KWCH

3. Cheney Reservoir Reaches Full Capacity

CHENEY, Kan. (AP) — Cheney Reservoir reached full capacity Friday for the first time in three years following recent rainfall.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported the reservoir rose 3.6 inches between Friday and Sunday, bringing the conservation pool to 1,421.6 feet. The lake is now 100% full and at normal levels.
The last time Cheney Reservoir was full was July 13, 2022.
Despite the increased water levels, Wichita officials said last month there are no plans to amend water restrictions for city customers, as a 12-month average is used to determine drought stage

KAKE

4. Field Grows for 2026 Kansas Governor's Race

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Candidates are lining up for the 2026 election to replace Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, whose second term ends in 2027.
Republicans have a full slate including former Gov. Jeff Colyer, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, Senate President Ty Masterson and Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt. Other GOP candidates include Doug Billings, Joy Eakins, Charlotte O'Hara and Stacy Rogers.
Democrats include state senators Cindy Holscher and Ethan Corson, plus author and personal trainer Marty Tuley. Lt. Gov. David Toland indicated he would not seek office in 2026.
After gaining seats in 2024, Republicans control more than two-thirds of both legislative chambers, giving them supermajorities to override many of Kelly's vetoes. For eight years, Kelly's veto pen has been the greatest obstacle for Republicans in blocking their priorities on tax policy and social issues.
Primary elections are scheduled for Aug. 6, 2026, with the general election on Nov. 3, 2026.

Kansas News Service

5. CoreCivic Detention Center Sparks Leavenworth Debate

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A private prison company's plan to open an immigrant detention center in Leavenworth has sparked a legal battle with the city over permits and prompted broader debates about immigration enforcement.
CoreCivic signed a no-bid federal contract worth $4.2 million monthly to house immigrants at the former federal prison site, which closed in December 2021. A Kansas district court judge last week upheld a temporary injunction prohibiting CoreCivic from housing detainees while legal arguments continue.
The city argues CoreCivic needs a special use permit to operate the facility, citing concerns about the company's "past record of mismanagement and burden on core city services." CoreCivic maintains it doesn't need a new permit because it never abandoned the site.
The company has offered Leavenworth financial incentives including a $1 million impact fee, $250,000 annual fee and $150,000 yearly police department payment, plus over $1 million in annual property taxes. CoreCivic has hired more than one-third of its planned workforce and spent $500,000 locally this year.
The facility would be part of the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts, backed by $45 billion in federal funding for detention centers.

Kansas News Service

Sources

Hutchinson

Salina

McPherson / Lindsborg