McPherson

• McPherson will celebrate the rule of law on May 1, 2026, with community events, student projects, and panel discussions as part of the nation's 250th anniversary. →
• McPherson College will host a public forum titled "Write to Know: Law and a Free Press" on April 14, featuring a panel of professional and student journalists discussing the role of law in protecting the press. →
• Since its establishment in 2004, the Children's Health Fund has awarded more than $866,000 to local projects, including recent support for STARBASE Kansas, childcare expansions, and playground improvements in Galva and Inman. →
• Officials approved spending up to $198,000 for property easements to facilitate the Tulip Alley Drainage Project, which will require relocating some residential fences and sheds. →
• The City of McPherson approved updated regulations requiring permits and strict construction standards in flood-prone areas to protect infrastructure and maintain National Flood Insurance Program eligibility. →
• The multi-phase Northview Avenue sidewalk project is reaching its final stages, extending a 10-foot path to the Meadowlark Trail and adding drainage upgrades and ADA-compliant sections funded by KDOT and Disability Supports of the Great Plains. →
• The City Commission authorized $15,955 for the purchase of the police department's 2026 ammunition supply, noting significant savings compared to retail prices. →
• Kansas Wesleyan Baseball extended its winning streak to seven games with a dominant 13-2 road victory over McPherson. The Coyotes capitalized on 12 walks and home runs from Blake Dale and Carter Allen to secure the blowout win in seven innings. →
• Realtor Kristi Fowler's 'House 2 Home' feature highlights affordable residential properties in McPherson, including a three-bedroom home on Prairie Road for $28,000 and a property on Quail Run for $21,500. →
• Lindsborg officials approved an $8,309 quote for specialized rental equipment and materials to perform mastic sealing on wider pavement gaps throughout the city. →
• Shelly from Prescott Performance Lab shares a quick video tutorial on how to easily repurpose leftover chicken breasts into new meals. →
• It’s going to be a gorgeous, sunny day in McPherson with a high near 86 and just a light breeze out of the west.

🌾 Kansas

• Gov. Laura Kelly signed legislation Thursday banning cell phone and personal electronic device use during school hours at Kansas public and accredited private schools, requiring students to turn off and securely store devices with exceptions for medical needs. →

• The Kansas Senate voted 31-9 Thursday to send legislation to the governor prohibiting handheld mobile phone use while driving in school and construction zones, drawing opposition over concerns about pretextual stops and discriminatory enforcement. →

• The Kansas Senate passed legislation 31-9 requiring county sheriffs to enforce ICE detainers and barring sanctuary policies, with the state covering legal costs, sending the substitute bill back to the House. →

• Nearly 80% of roughly 2,000 respondents in a University of Kansas straw poll voted no confidence in Chancellor Doug Girod and CFO Jeff DeWitt amid concerns over finances, transparency and using general funds to cover a projected $15 million athletics deficit. →

• No. 4-seeded Kansas opens NCAA tournament play Friday night against No. 13-seeded California Baptist at 8:45 p.m. Central on CBS in San Diego. →

🇺🇸 US

• The Pentagon has sent the White House a request for $200 billion in additional funding for the war with Iran, a figure certain to draw scrutiny from Congress. →

• The U.S. and its allies have escalated operations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, deploying A-10 Warthog attack jets and Apache helicopters to strike Iranian naval vessels and shoot down drones threatening the waterway. →

• A record 7.7 million borrowers had defaulted on $181 billion in federal student loans by the end of last year, with another three million at least three months behind on payments, according to recently released Education Department data. →

• Tesla plans to begin shipping mass-produced Semi trucks from its Nevada Gigafactory this summer after years of delays, with analysts projecting 5,000 to 15,000 deliveries in 2026. →

• The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday approved Nexstar's $6.2 billion purchase of rival local broadcaster Tegna, saying the deal will help counter the growing leverage of national programmers. →

Weather

March 20 1854: Republican Party founded

In Ripon, Wisconsin, former members of the Whig Party meet to establish a new party to oppose the spread of slavery into the western territories. The Whig Party, which was formed in 1834 to oppose the “tyranny” of President Andrew Jackson, had shown itself incapable of coping with the national crisis over slavery.

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