Ranger Road Fire Burns 283,000 Acres Across Oklahoma and Kansas, Killing Hundreds of Cattle

State Officials Confront Vague Language as Kansas Bathroom Law Nears Implementation

Kansas Agriculture Programs Expand Despite Persistent Teacher Shortage

KU, K-State and Wichita State Athletic Directors Seek State Funding to Offset Rising College Sports Costs

Kansas Legislature Hits Turnaround Deadline, Recesses Until Tuesday

Ranger Road Fire Burns 283,000 Acres Across Oklahoma and Kansas, Killing Hundreds of Cattle

The Ranger Road Fire, which ignited Tuesday in Beaver County, Oklahoma, has burned an estimated 283,283 acres and spread into Clark and Comanche counties in Kansas. The blaze forced evacuations in Ashland and Englewood and killed hundreds of cattle in one of the state's most significant ranching regions. As of Sunday, the fire was 55% contained, according to Oklahoma Forestry Services. Two Clark County volunteer firefighters were hospitalized in Wichita for burns and smoke inhalation. High winds gusting over 65 mph initially grounded aerial firefighting resources. Calmer conditions later in the week allowed planes to assist ground crews from counties across the state, including Saline, Shawnee and Marion. Additional fires compounded the outbreak: the Stevens Fire in Seward County burned 12,428 acres and was 90% contained, while the Side Road Fire in Texas County, Oklahoma, burned 3,680 acres and was fully contained. Separate fires also prompted evacuations in Finney County near Garden City and in Rawlins County near Herndon. A veterinarian from Ashland reported euthanizing more than 100 cattle too badly burned to survive. Residents described formerly green fields turned to charred desert.

KSN

State Officials Confront Vague Language as Kansas Bathroom Law Nears Implementation

The Kansas Department of Administration has issued initial guidance to state agencies on implementing Senate Bill 244, which requires individuals to use multi-occupancy restrooms matching their sex at birth in government buildings. The guidance follows the Legislature's override of Gov. Laura Kelly's veto. The law is expected to take effect within two weeks upon publication in the Kansas Register and also requires driver's licenses and birth certificates to reflect biological sex at birth. A spokesperson for Kelly said additional guidance would be needed due to the bill's vague language, which has complicated compliance planning. Noncompliant governing bodies face penalties of $25,000 to $125,000. Individuals face escalating penalties up to misdemeanor charges, and the law also creates a private right of action for damages.

Kansas Reflector

Kansas Agriculture Programs Expand Despite Persistent Teacher Shortage

Kansas has added 46 agriculture education programs since 2020, a 5% increase statewide. Still, schools continue to struggle to hire and retain qualified instructors due to the demanding nature of the work, which spans animal science, horticulture, welding and agribusiness — often for lower pay than industry positions. At Fairfield High School near Langdon, agriculture teacher Mary Beth Fulk told KWCH the breadth of the curriculum sets the job apart, noting that an educator may teach animal science one period and wood shop the next. Fulk said the programs build career readiness and confidence, particularly for students in rural areas with limited exposure to opportunities beyond their communities. The school partners with Hutchinson Career and Technical Academy to offer trade certifications. Give FFA Day, a national fundraising effort, is set for Thursday.

KWCH

KU, K-State and Wichita State Athletic Directors Seek State Funding to Offset Rising College Sports Costs

The athletic directors at the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and Wichita State University have jointly approached state lawmakers in Topeka seeking financial relief. The cost of operating Division I athletics programs continues to escalate, driven by a new era in which revenue is now being shared directly with athletes, along with roster spending and other rising expenses. KSU athletic director Gene Taylor told KWCH the challenge is nationwide and said the three schools began coordinating roughly a year ago on potential legislative strategies. The directors have pointed to models in other states, most notably North Carolina, where legalized sports betting revenue generated more than $41 million over 18 months for 13 public university athletic programs. Other states have pursued income tax exemptions on Name, Image and Likeness earnings. No specific Kansas legislation has been introduced, and it remains unclear what mechanism the athletic directors are formally proposing.

KWCH

Kansas Legislature Hits Turnaround Deadline, Recesses Until Tuesday

Kansas legislators took Friday off after reaching the turnaround deadline Thursday. The deadline marked the cutoff for non-exempt bills to be considered in their chamber of origin, effectively ending committee work on hundreds of the 779 House bills and 509 Senate bills introduced this session. Both chambers adjourned until Tuesday, when the session shifts to floor debate.

Kansas Legislature Takes Long Weekend After Hitting Turnaround Deadline

Lawmakers return Tuesday as session shifts from committee work to floor debate

citizen journalGreg Loving

Sources

1. KSN — https://www.ksn.com/weather/weather-stories/heres-where-major-oklahoma-kansas-wildfires-stand/
2. Kansas Reflector — https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/22/kansas-state-officials-begin-process-of-interpreting-poorly-drafted-bathroom-law/
3. KWCH — https://www.kwch.com/2026/02/23/kansas-agriculture-programs-grow-despite-teacher-shortage-challenges/
4. KWCH — https://www.kwch.com/2026/02/23/ku-ksu-wsu-athletic-directors-hope-state-funding-help-dollar-driven-era/

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