Top 5 Kansas news stories
March 6 2026
Kansas Senate Passes School Cellphone Ban, Sends Bill to House for Final Action
Kansas House Expands County Sales Tax Authority, Approves Wyandotte Nation Gaming Compact
Six Flags Sells Worlds of Fun and Six Other Parks to EPR Properties in $342 Million Deal
Kansas City Confirms FBI Criminal Investigation as Officials Refuse to Answer Questions
Former Salina Wrestling Coach Faces Federal Child Pornography Charges for Recording Minors While Showering
Kansas Senate Passes School Cellphone Ban, Sends Bill to House for Final Action
TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Senate voted 32-4 on March 5 to ban cellphone use during school hours at all public schools and KSDE-accredited private schools, sending the legislation back to the House for final action. The bill requires students to power off personal devices and store them in a secure, inaccessible location from the start of the school day through dismissal, with exceptions for students with individualized education programs, 504 plans or documented medical needs. Schools must certify compliance to the Kansas State Board of Education by Sept. 1, 2026. The legislation distinguishes between private schools that have voluntarily sought KSDE accreditation — which are subject to the ban — and those accredited by independent third parties, which are exempt. The bill also prohibits school employees from communicating with students through social media platforms for official school purposes. Gov. Kelly has signaled she will sign the bill, and the House must now concur with Senate amendments before enrollment.
Greg Loving
Kansas House Expands County Sales Tax Authority, Approves Wyandotte Nation Gaming Compact
TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas House advanced two major measures Tuesday, giving final approval to HB 2712, which would increase county authority to levy local sales taxes while limiting special purpose sales taxes to 10 years, on a 108-11 vote. Supporters argued the bill gives local governments more flexibility to fund critical projects without relying on property tax increases, and the bill now heads to the Senate. In a separate action, the House adopted HR 6033, a resolution approving a gaming compact with the Wyandotte Nation, by a vote of 99-20. Proponents said the compact will bring jobs and economic benefits to the state. As a House resolution, the measure does not require Senate action and now moves to the U.S. Department of the Interior for federal review.
Greg Loving
Six Flags Sells Worlds of Fun and Six Other Parks to EPR Properties in $342 Million Deal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Six Flags announced this week the sale of seven theme parks — including Kansas City's Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun and Six Flags St. Louis — to EPR Properties and its affiliated Enchanted Parks division in a deal valued at $342 million. The company called the move part of a "thoughtful decision about where we focus our energy," allowing it to concentrate on parks with the greatest potential for innovation and expansion. EPR Properties is the third-largest privately held regional park operator in the United States, already operating sites including Diggerland in New Jersey and Enchanted Forest Water Safari in New York. The other parks included in the sale are Michigan's Adventure, Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston, Six Flags Great Escape, Six Flags La Ronde and Valleyfair. EPR has acquired use of the Six Flags brand through 2026, meaning little will change at the properties initially. The acquisition is EPR's largest since 2017.
KAKE
Kansas City Confirms FBI Criminal Investigation as Officials Refuse to Answer Questions
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City's legal department this week confirmed the existence of an ongoing federal criminal investigation in an email to The Kansas City Star, a striking acknowledgment as City Hall grapples with fallout from revelations of a federal probe. The confirmation came in response to The Star's request for copies of a federal grand jury subpoena the city received six months ago, which City Manager Mario Vasquez disclosed to a television station last week. The city denied the records request, citing state laws protecting records that could jeopardize a criminal investigation. Over the past week, top city officials — including Mayor Quinton Lucas, who expressed surprise at news of the investigation — have refused to answer basic questions about the probe. The Star reported that three former city employees, speaking on condition of anonymity, described being questioned by the FBI about government contracts and campaign donations. Sources indicated one focus of the probe centers on Mayor pro tem Ryana Parks-Shaw and her husband, Michael Shaw, the city's director of public works, and whether the couple used their authority for financial and professional gain.
Kansas City Star
Former Salina Wrestling Coach Faces Federal Child Pornography Charges for Recording Minors While Showering
SALINA, Kan. — A former Salina middle school teacher and high school wrestling coach faces federal child pornography charges after allegedly using a cellphone to record minors showering in a locker room during a wrestling tournament. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Kansas said 37-year-old Ryan Brungardt is charged with two counts of production of child pornography and one count of attempted production. U.S. Marshals arrested him Tuesday, and he is being held in the Sumner County Jail. Brungardt is a former social studies teacher at Lakewood Middle School and former wrestling coach for Salina Central High School. He is accused of recording three minors while they showered in a locker room during the Tournament of Champions at Newton High School in January 2024.
KAKE
Sources
- KAKE — Six Flags Park Sale
- Kansas City Star — Kansas City Federal Investigation
- KAKE — Former Wrestling Coach Charges
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