Top 5 Kansas news stories
August 14 2026
Hays Approves Lincoln School Housing Incentives
Kansas Communities Challenge Data Center Projects
Drought Spreads During Kansas Crop Development
Beef Prices Rise as Cattle Supplies Tighten
Black Sea Strikes Threaten Grain Trade
Hays Approves Lincoln School Housing Incentives
HAYS, Kan. — The Hays City Commission unanimously approved a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District for developer Michael D. Graham Rentals LLC's plan to convert the former Lincoln Elementary School into 26 market-rate apartments and build seven fourplexes on adjacent land. The pay-as-you-go district will capture an estimated $1.08 million in property tax increments for up to 25 years to reimburse the developer for about $4.3 million in eligible costs on the $6.35 million project. Commissioners also approved a resolution of intent to issue industrial revenue bonds that carry no taxpayer commitment or effect on the city's debt limit but are expected to save the developer about $96,000 in the city's portion of sales taxes on construction materials. The commission unanimously supported Graham's application for $840,000 in Kansas Housing Investor Tax Credits for the fourplexes; the state program reserves $8 million in credits for counties with populations above 25,000, and any award would go directly to the developer. Separately, commissioners established a special benefit district for an estimated $1.6 million in infrastructure serving 24 lots in Tallgrass First Addition Phase 6, with GK Real Estate Development LLC paying 30% upfront and property owners paying the remaining 70% through assessments over 20 years. Together, the approvals advance 54 housing units at the Lincoln School site and infrastructure for 24 additional residential lots in Hays.
Cronkite
Kansas Communities Challenge Data Center Projects
TOPEKA, Kan. — Shawnee County commissioners voted 2-1 Thursday to prevent final action on new data center applications until Feb. 17, 2027, after residents raised concerns about water use, noise and property values. Commissioner Kevin Cook made the motion, while Commissioner Bill Riphahn opposed it and argued that the county's review process and use of independent engineers made a formal pause unnecessary. Compass Datacenters may resubmit its July 24 conditional use permit application for a site near Southwest 85th Street in the Wakarusa area after county staff deemed it incomplete Aug. 4, and the next filing deadline is noon Aug. 28; the moratorium does not halt filings, staff work or the hiring of experts. The county action runs alongside Topeka's 12-month moratorium, which was amended to bar city water and wastewater service to data centers outside city limits and restart the 12-month clock. In Ottawa, a second amendment moved the approval deadline in the city's $5.3 million contract to sell Proximity Park to Lightfield Energy LLC from Aug. 1 to Oct. 30, even as commissioners questioned whether a development agreement that normally takes three to six months can be completed by then. The city also must decide whether to adopt or send to voters a proposed ordinance banning data centers that draw more than 25 megawatts after the Franklin County clerk verified 658 qualifying signatures from 1,031 submitted, giving two Kansas communities firm deadlines to define how they will review large water and power users.
WIBW · KSNT · Shawnee County Commission · City of Topeka · KOFO · KSHB
Drought Spreads During Kansas Crop Development
TOPEKA, Kan. — The U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday showed about 63% of Kansas in at least moderate drought, with severe to extreme drought extending into southwestern Kansas and all of Ellis County classified as abnormally dry. The map reflects a broader measure than the topsoil moisture figures released earlier in the week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and it showed some areas crossing from abnormally dry conditions into drought. The deterioration comes as corn, soybeans and grain sorghum move through reproductive stages that determine kernel and pod development, making August moisture especially important. Drying pastures also can force cattle producers to buy hay or sell animals earlier than planned while Kansas ranchers manage historically small herds. Because the weekly monitor combines rainfall, streamflow, soil moisture and expert analysis, conditions can change after a week of storms, but the current dryness adds pressure to one of the nation's leading grain and cattle states after a weather-damaged wheat harvest.
Hays Post · U.S. Drought Monitor · Coyote Gulch · RFD-TV
Beef Prices Rise as Cattle Supplies Tighten
DODGE CITY, Kan. — Cattle futures moved lower Thursday, with October live cattle closing at $220.05, down $3.75, and September feeder cattle at $337.20, down $2.15, even as the industry remains in a record-price year. Retail beef prices have risen about 12% during the past year as drought-driven herd reductions constrain the supply of cattle moving through feedlots, including Kansas operations that account for a large share of national capacity. The tight market benefits cow-calf producers selling calves at historically strong prices but raises costs for feedlot operators that must buy those animals before later selling them to meatpackers. Rebuilding takes years because ranchers must retain heifers for breeding instead of selling them, extending the supply squeeze even when high prices encourage expansion. The pace of rebuilding in Kansas will influence cattle-sector income, demand for the state's grass and grain, and the prices consumers pay for beef.
Brownfield Ag News · Fortune · High Plains Journal · USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
Black Sea Strikes Threaten Grain Trade
IZMAIL, Ukraine — Russian strikes on Ukraine's largest Danube grain port and Ukrainian attacks on Russian Black Sea terminals are putting wheat and corn export routes at risk, a development with potential consequences across global grain markets. Russian forces attacked Izmail early Thursday, setting fire to port infrastructure and cutting power in southeastern parts of the city. The Izmail attack followed Ukrainian sea-drone and Neptune missile strikes Wednesday on Novorossiysk, Russia's main Black Sea port, where local officials reported three deaths and at least 24 injuries and major grain terminals halted operations. Izmail helped sustain Ukrainian grain shipments during the blockade of deepwater ports, and attacks on both countries' infrastructure now compound record-low Danube water levels that already restrict shipping.
Al Arabiya · The Star · Euronews · Al Jazeera · The Moscow Times
Sources
- Shawnee County Commission / WIBW / KSNT / Topeka City Council / Topeka City Council / KOFO / KSHB / KOFO
- Hays Post / U.S. Drought Monitor / Coyote Gulch / RFD-TV
- Brownfield Ag News / Fortune / High Plains Journal / USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
- Al Arabiya / The Star / Euronews / Al Jazeera / The Moscow Times
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