Top 5 Kansas news stories
April 20 2026
Kansas' First 3D-Printed Home Nears Completion
Wichita Mourns 'Rosie the Riveter' Connie Palacioz, 101
Buttigieg Rallies Kansas Democrats in Wichita
Audit: $1.2M in Kansas SNAP Went Out of State
Ed Dept. Finds Four Kansas Districts Violated Title IX
Kansas' First 3D-Printed Home Nears Completion
TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas's first 3D-printed home is taking shape in Topeka, with walls now complete as Trident Homes advances its proprietary concrete-printing build. Construction began Feb. 24, and the 12-day wall-printing process produced a structure with two bedrooms, a bathroom, a utility closet, and a shared kitchen and living area. Founder Chris Stemler said the home costs about $170 per square foot compared with $225 or more for traditional builds, making it an option for downsizers, first-time buyers, and people with disabilities. Stemler said 3D printing also streamlines plumbing and electrical trades because layouts are precise and waste is reduced. The home is expected to be ready for move-in by June, with Trident pursuing additional projects in Topeka and statewide and aiming to deliver homes in 90 days or less.
WIBW
Wichita Mourns 'Rosie the Riveter' Connie Palacioz, 101
WICHITA, Kan. — Connie Palacioz, a World War II-era "Rosie the Riveter" who helped build B-29 Superfortresses in Wichita, died Sunday at 101, and friends and family gathered to honor her legacy. Palacioz was born in Peabody and grew up in Newton, joining Boeing at 17 and working on B-29s from 1943 to 1945 alongside a workforce that was 80% to 90% women and produced 4.5 of the bombers a day. Her daughter, Tish Nielsen, described her as a faith-filled, determined woman who faced racism as a Mexican American but refused to be held back. Palacioz returned to the B-29 DOC restoration project in 2000, volunteering during its 16-year rebuild and later traveling with the crew to share the plane's history. B-29 DOC Executive Director Josh Wells called her a trailblazer whose story represented a generation of women who reshaped American aviation. Nielsen said her mother passed peacefully at home Sunday.
KAKE
Buttigieg Rallies Kansas Democrats in Wichita
WICHITA, Kan. — The Kansas Democratic Party hosted former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at Century II in Wichita on Friday evening as part of a Blue Kansas Club event aimed at building momentum ahead of the 2026 midterms. Buttigieg focused his remarks on affordability and criticized the Trump administration, while urging national Democrats to pay closer attention to Kansas voters. He said the state is full of people who think for themselves and do not automatically align with either party, and that connecting with rural voters is vital for Democratic success. The event ran from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., with tickets available by donation to support the state party's year-round organizing efforts. Buttigieg served as the 19th secretary of transportation under President Joe Biden.
KSN
Audit: $1.2M in Kansas SNAP Went Out of State
TOPEKA, Kan. — A Legislative Post Audit review found that an estimated $700,000 to $1.2 million in federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits may have been paid to recipients living outside Kansas during fiscal years 2023 and 2024, less than 1% of state SNAP spending. Auditors reviewed 43 million transactions totaling about $1 billion and sampled 10,500 of nearly 290,000 EBT cards, excluding border-area residents, identifying 51 recipients who appeared to have moved but continued receiving benefits averaging $650. Federal rules prevent the Kansas Department for Children and Families from requiring SNAP recipients to report address changes within 10 days because Kansas is a "simplified reporting state." DCF said Kansas participates in a national cross-state benefits check and joined the National Accuracy Clearinghouse in February 2026 to prevent duplicate participation. House Speaker Dan Hawkins cited the findings to defend House Bill 2004, which was passed over Gov. Laura Kelly's veto and requires DCF to share benefits data with federal agencies. Auditors said the actual total could be higher because border states and a narrow time window were excluded from the sample.
Kansas Reflector
Ed Dept. Finds Four Kansas Districts Violated Title IX
TOPEKA, Kan. — The U.S. Department of Education on Friday determined that four Kansas school districts — Kansas City, Kan.; Olathe; Shawnee Mission; and Topeka — violated Title IX and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act through their gender-inclusive policies. The department's Office for Civil Rights said Kansas City and Topeka allowed male students to use female restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms, and to participate in single-sex athletics, while Olathe and Shawnee Mission permitted facility use based on gender identity. Its Student Privacy Policy Office also concluded that all four districts had policies likely to prevent schools from notifying parents about a student's gender transition, violating FERPA. The department is demanding that districts base sports participation on sex, restrict facility use accordingly, and make gender-related records available to parents, and it warned that federal funding could be terminated if agreements are not reached. The investigations followed a complaint from the conservative Defense of Freedom Institute and a letter of support from Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. Topeka's USD 501 said its practices align with Title IX and recently enacted Kansas law and that it is continuing to work with the agency.
Kansas Reflector
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