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McPherson daily brief

McPherson, Kansas and US news for busy people - Feb 10, 2026 edition

Greg Loving

10 Feb 2026 • 4 min read

Students in Curt Kornhaus' MHS robotics class

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McPherson

Officials are reviewing a safety study for the Arrowhead Road and Old 81 Highway intersection following an emotional meeting with relatives of fatal accident victims. →
The board is considering the PRIME program for McPherson High School, which would provide robotics and CAD equipment and curriculum at no cost to the district. →
District officials are hosting community meetings on Feb. 10 and 11 to gather feedback on proposed elementary school reconfiguration and boundary planning. →
A statewide drop of approximately 9,000 students has left over $100 million in unspent funds that district officials argue should be redirected to cover special education shortfalls. →
Superintendent Shiloh Vincent warned that a significant gap between the governor's and the House's proposed special education funding could force the district to divert general funds from employee compensation. →
A grand opening and dedication for a new minerals exhibit will be held Feb. 21, honoring former curator Brett Whitenack with free admission for the afternoon. →
McPherson County will host a public meeting on Feb. 12 to discuss potential regulations for battery energy storage, hydrogen, and nuclear power technologies. →
Lindsborg experienced its fourth consecutive year of growth in transient guest tax revenue while maintaining compliance with state regulations for tourism-specific fund usage. →
The Moundridge USD 423 Board of Education elected Michael Beasley to serve as president for the 2026-27 school year in a 6-0 vote. →
The ECS Eagles girls basketball team secured a dominant victory over Herington, led by 16-point performances from both Joy Pyle and Grace Prescott. →
Expect a beautiful, clear day with a high of 53°F and breezy conditions before temperatures drop tonight.

🌾Kansas

School Phone Ban Softened: Kansas House Education Committee voted to change a statewide school cellphone ban from mandatory to optional after superintendents argued local boards should control device policy, while adding liability protections and banning two-way communication between staff and students.
Child Safety Laws Advance: After parents testified their teenage sons died by suicide within minutes of sextortion threats, Kansas lawmakers advanced multiple bills strengthening online child protection, including increased penalties for sextortion and liability for chatbot providers—with no opposition.
Noncitizen License Check: Kansas House Elections Committee approved a bill requiring voters who present driver's licenses marked "noncitizen" to cast provisional ballots while officials verify citizenship status.
Charlie Kirk Resolution Passes: Kansas House Republicans defeated Democratic amendments (including one honoring Malcolm X) and passed a resolution designating a day honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk along party lines.
Kansas Upsets #1 Arizona: Kansas defeated top-ranked, undefeated Arizona 82-78 at Allen Fieldhouse despite losing star freshman Darryn Peterson to illness, with Flory Bidunga scoring 23 points.

🇺🇸 US

Cuba's Fuel Crisis: Sanctions triggered severe fuel shortages, forcing Air Canada and Russian carriers to cancel flights and dispatch empty planes to evacuate thousands of stranded tourists from the island.
Climate Endangerment Repeal: The Trump administration plans to overturn the 2009 finding that greenhouse gases threaten public health, eliminating the legal foundation for federal vehicle emission standards in what officials call the largest deregulation act in U.S. history.
Capital vs. Labor: Nvidia is now 20x more valuable than 1985's IBM but employs only a tenth of the workers, illustrating how soaring profits increasingly benefit shareholders while average workers see marginal gains.
Obesity Infection Risk: A new Lancet study reveals obesity increases the risk of hospitalization and death from common infections like flu and pneumonia by 70%, expanding understanding of obesity's health dangers beyond diabetes and heart disease.
Shale Goes Global: With the Permian Basin maturing, U.S. shale producers are expanding internationally for the first time in a decade, acquiring acreage in Argentina, Turkey, and the Middle East in a new "Global Shale 2.0" era.

Weather

February 10 1996: World chess champion Garry Kasparov loses game to computer

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