Manhattan

• The City of Manhattan issued a request for proposals to study the future of city-owned downtown properties, including parking lots. →
• The Riley County Commission approved a 15 percent funding cut for Downtown Manhattan, Inc. as part of efforts to balance the 2027 budget. →
• Riley County is seeking local business partnerships to help fund the MakeMyMove remote-worker incentive program in Manhattan. →
• A new donor-funded bison exhibit officially opened at the Flint Hills Discovery Center in downtown Manhattan. →
• Riley County Police Department Reports 9 Arrests Over June 26-July 7 →
• The Shawnee County Election Commissioner reminds residents that the voter registration deadline for the August 4 primary is July 14. →
• Expect early morning showers and thunderstorms to clear out for a partly sunny day with a high near 90°F and some gusty east winds.

🌾 Kansas

• State Sens. Cindy Holscher and Ethan Corson both endorsed legalizing recreational and medical marijuana Tuesday as they compete for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Kansas' Aug. 4 primary. →

• The USDA rated 67% of Kansas corn in good-to-excellent condition as of July 5, well above the five-year average, while only 26% of the winter wheat crop earned the same rating amid western drought. →

• A Legislative Division of Post Audit report released this week found property tax exemptions tied to industrial revenue bonds cost Kansas schools, cities and counties up to $1.1 billion between 2010 and 2024. →

• The Hamideh family acquired Wichita-based restaurant chain Spangles from founders Craig and Dale Steven, effective July 9, ending 48 years of Steven family ownership. →

• Emporia Neighbors United submitted nearly 1,400 signatures Wednesday seeking to halt or force a public vote on the proposed Flint Hills Digital Campus data center. →

🇺🇸 US

• U.S. and Iranian forces exchanged fresh strikes Thursday, with American jets hitting Iranian air defenses and coastal missile sites while Tehran fired missiles and drones at U.S. bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. →

• Vice President JD Vance touted a multi-agency crackdown on H-1B and PERM visa fraud Wednesday, revealing that investigators have subpoenaed dozens of companies, including Cognizant, over alleged wage-kickback schemes. →

• Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner dropped out of Maine's race Wednesday night amid a sexual assault allegation he denies, leaving state party officials to select a replacement to face Sen. Susan Collins. →

• The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed Texas to continue enforcing a law requiring app stores to verify users' ages and secure parental consent before minors can download apps. →

• President Trump announced Wednesday at a NATO summit in Ankara that the U.S. will grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air-defense interceptors domestically. →

Weather

JULY 9, 1877: WIMBLEDON TOURNAMENT BEGINS

The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club opened its first lawn tennis tournament at Wimbledon, with 22 amateurs entered in the Gentlemen’s Singles. The club’s new rectangular court, clock-face scoring system, and other formal rules laid the foundation for modern lawn tennis and helped launch what became the world’s premier grass-court championship.