Three Democrats Debate for Governor Before Aug. 4 Primary

Jenkins Files to Challenge Davids in 3rd District

Regents Adopt DEI, CRT Definitions Under Funding Mandate

Emporia Petition Clears Signature Threshold for Data-Center Ban

New Evidence Revives 2009 Mitchell County Cold Case

Three Democrats Debate for Governor Before Aug. 4 Primary

TOPEKA, Kan. — State Sens. Cindy Holscher and Ethan Corson and Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog met July 21 in a televised gubernatorial debate in Topeka, two weeks before Democratic voters choose their nominee in the Aug. 4 primary. The candidates fielded questions on data centers, taxes, school funding, rural hospitals, marijuana policy and economic incentives. Holscher enters the final stretch as the polling front-runner: a June 11-15 Change Research survey of likely Democratic primary voters put her at 37%, with Corson at 10%, Skoog at 7% and 44% undecided. Corson holds the endorsement of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who cannot seek a third consecutive term. Advance voting is already underway in the primary, in which the three Democrats and a crowded Republican field are seeking the governorship.

WIBW · Kansas Reflector

Jenkins Files to Challenge Davids in 3rd District

TOPEKA, Kan. — Former Shawnee City Council President Eric Jenkins is running as a Republican in Kansas' 3rd Congressional District, seeking to unseat Democratic incumbent Rep. Sharice Davids. Jenkins, a retired Army colonel who served two terms on the council, filed with the Kansas secretary of state's office in late May ahead of the state's June 1 deadline, setting up an Aug. 4 primary against Mission Republican Chase LaPorte. The Johnson County-anchored 3rd is the only congressional district in Kansas held by a Democrat. Republican legislators redrew the seat in 2022, splitting heavily Democratic Wyandotte County and moving Lawrence into the sprawling 1st District, a map critics described as a gerrymander aimed at Davids. Davids has held the seat under the new lines anyway, defeating Republican Amanda Adkins 55% to 43% in 2022 and Republican Prasanth Reddy 53% to 43% in 2024. The winner of the GOP primary will face Davids in November as Republicans again target the seat.

Kansas Secretary of State

Regents Adopt DEI, CRT Definitions Under Funding Mandate

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Board of Regents on July 21 adopted formal definitions of diversity, equity and inclusion and critical race theory in response to a legislative mandate requiring each of the state's six public universities to police both in classrooms or forfeit $2 million apiece in state appropriations. The certification requirement stems from 2026 House Bill 2513, which sets a compliance deadline of July 31. Skeptics, including some at Pittsburg State University, described the adopted definitions as vague and imprecise. The regents' vote gives the universities 10 days to certify compliance and preserve their full state funding.

High Plains Public Radio

Emporia Petition Clears Signature Threshold for Data-Center Ban

EMPORIA, Kan. — Lyon County Election Officer Amie Jones on July 21 certified 806 valid signatures on a citizen petition seeking a citywide prohibition on high-impact data centers, one more than the 805 required to force action. The petition, organized by Emporia Neighbors United, grew out of opposition to the proposed Flint Hills Digital Campus, a hyperscale data center planned for roughly 1,000 acres annexed on the city's west edge in early June. The group first submitted nearly 1,400 signatures July 7, but that filing was rejected for a lack of verifiable signatures. Under Kansas law, the city now has 20 days to enact the proposed ordinance as written or place it on the November 2026 general-election ballot. The certification comes as city commissioners were expected to take up Planning Commission recommendations on the project at their July 22 meeting, amid debate weighing promised economic development against concerns over water use, infrastructure strain and environmental impact.

WIBW

New Evidence Revives 2009 Mitchell County Cold Case

BELOIT, Kan. — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Mitchell County Sheriff's Office announced July 20 that newly obtained evidence has produced "significant findings" in the unsolved killing of Gary L. Nelson, who was shot to death inside his rural Beloit home in the early morning of Dec. 18, 2009. Investigators said they resubmitted evidence from the original case file for modern forensic testing, which generated the new leads, and they renewed their appeal to the public for information. Authorities declined to release specifics, saying they want to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, and no arrest has been announced. The development comes nearly 17 years after Nelson's death and reflects how advances in DNA and forensic technology have allowed investigators nationwide to revive decades-old cases, offering renewed hope of accountability to the families of cold-case victims.

KWCH · WIBW · KSN

Sources

1. WIBW / Kansas Reflector (poll) / Kansas Reflector (endorsement)
2. Kansas Secretary of State
3. High Plains Public Radio
4. WIBW
5. KWCH / WIBW / KSN

This article was written using our proprietary AI system, Cronkite. The final decision to publish this article was made by a human. For more info, read our AI policy.

Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:

citizen journal offers three flagship products: a daily national news summary, a daily Kansas news summary, and local news and school board summaries from 20 cities across Kansas. Each issue contains 5 paragraph-length stories that are made to be read in 5 minutes. Use the links in the header to navigate to national, kansas, and local coverage. Subscribe to each, some, or all to get an email when new issues are published for FREE!

Brought to you by (click me!)