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Top 5 Kansas news stories

September 4 2025

Greg Loving

04 Sep 2025 • 4 min read

Comanche County school board president Kelly Herd addresses board members during a meeting in which the district’s superintendent was placed on paid leave pending an investigation into his alleged sexual harassment of a student. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas Tax Revenues Beat Projections Despite Looming Budget Deficit

Kansas Politicians Debate Gerrymandering as 2026 Elections Approach

Parents Demand Action as Kansas School Superintendent Placed on Leave

Five Injured in Kansas City Midtown Shooting

Storm Damage Closes McPherson County School

1. Kansas Tax Revenues Beat Projections Despite Looming Budget Deficit

Kansas tax collections exceeded expectations by $249 million in fiscal year 2025, bringing in over $10 billion in total revenue, but the state still faces mounting budget pressures as spending outpaces income. The state spent $10.3 billion against its $10 billion in tax receipts, creating a $293 million gap that legislative budget staff warn will grow in coming years. Budget projections show the gap between receipts and expenditures is projected to grow to about $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2026. The projections show a $773 million deficit in 2027, a $769 million deficit in 2028 and a $720 million deficit in 2029. Kansas ended fiscal year 2025 with a surplus of more than $2.9 billion. That budget surplus is down from over $3.2 billion at the end of fiscal year 2024. As the state is currently spending more than it takes in, the budget surplus is projected to drop. By the end of fiscal year 2029, the state budget faces a shortfall of $406 million, according to current projections. Despite the projected shortfall, the state would still have a healthy rainy day fund. That Budget Stabilization Fund had roughly $1.9 billion at the end of fiscal year 2025 and is projected to grow via interest income to about $2.3 billion by the end of 2029.

CJOnline

2. Kansas Politicians Debate Gerrymandering as 2026 Elections Approach

The nationwide gerrymandering debate has reached Kansas as Republicans consider redistricting changes that could affect the 2026 congressional elections, potentially threatening the reelection chances of U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the state's only Democratic House member. Top Republican gubernatorial candidates for 2026 kicked off public discussions on August 29, drawing Labor Day weekend responses from leading Democrats as the GOP looks to strengthen its hold on three of Kansas' four House seats.

CJOnline

3. Parents Demand Action as Kansas School Superintendent Placed on Leave

More than 100 outraged parents packed a Comanche County school board meeting Wednesday night, forcing officials to place Superintendent Ty Theurer on paid administrative leave amid sexual harassment allegations involving a student. The rural southwest Kansas community erupted after learning that school board president Kelly Herd had known about the complaint for four months but resisted punishment beyond a warning in Theurer's personnel file. The allegations center on inappropriate conduct while Theurer served as golf coach and complaints of unwanted touching. Parents expressed anger over the board's initial response, with one county commissioner saying the situation had created a "hostile and toxic learning environment" where students don't feel safe.

Original story

Kansas Reflector

4. Five Injured in Kansas City Midtown Shooting

Five people were wounded in a shooting Wednesday night in Kansas City's Midtown area, with one victim suffering life-threatening injuries, according to police. Officers responding to reports of gunshots around 8:55 p.m. at Armour and Harrison boulevards found four men and one woman lying on a sidewalk, with paramedics transporting four victims to area hospitals.

Kansas City Star

5. Storm Damage Closes McPherson County School

Elyria Christian School in McPherson County canceled classes Thursday after sustaining significant damage during Wednesday night's severe thunderstorms, though no injuries were reported. While junior high soccer was postponed, other scheduled activities including cross-country meets and volleyball matches will continue as planned at alternate locations hosted by other schools.

KWCH

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