Trump Threatens Bombardier Sales Ban

Poll Puts Hamilton, Marshall Neck and Neck

Sedgwick Extends Data Center Pause; Hutchinson Plans Town Hall

Data Center Demand Drives Evergy Expansion Request

K-State, KU Roll to Season-Opening Wins

Trump Threatens Bombardier Sales Ban

WICHITA, Kan. — President Donald Trump said Sept. 7 that Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier would be barred from U.S. sales unless it begins manufacturing in the United States. The White House has not explained how it would enforce the threat, which comes amid a growing trade dispute with Canada. Bombardier Defense, headquartered in Wichita, prepares aircraft for special missions, and the company says its planes use American-made engines, avionics and other systems. Bombardier says its operations and supply chain support tens of thousands of American jobs, with about 2,800 suppliers across 47 states and annual supplier spending exceeding $2.5 billion. Sen. Jerry Moran said Bombardier supports more than 1,000 Wichita employees and that he contacted the administration to emphasize the company's importance to Kansas workers. Rep. Ron Estes, whose district includes Wichita, said he is working with the administration to protect and expand Kansas manufacturing and reiterated his support for exempting aircraft and aviation parts from tariffs.

KWCH

Poll Puts Hamilton, Marshall Neck and Neck

TOPEKA, Kan. — A new poll puts Democrat Adam Hamilton and Republican Sen. Roger Marshall neck and neck in Kansas' U.S. Senate race, with Hamilton at 44%, Marshall at 43% and Libertarian David Graham at 5%. Global Strategy Group surveyed 800 likely voters Aug. 12-16, and Hamilton's 1-point edge falls within the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. The Democratic polling firm conducted the survey for the People Over Politics Action Fund, a group opposing Marshall. The sample was 52% registered Republicans and 28% registered Democrats, and respondents recalled favoring Trump by 13 points in the 2024 presidential election. RealClearPolitics shifted Kansas from “Likely GOP” to “Leans GOP,” signaling a more competitive Senate race while still favoring Republicans.

Global Strategy Group · The Downballot · RealClearPolitics

Sedgwick Extends Data Center Pause; Hutchinson Plans Town Hall

WICHITA, Kan. — Sedgwick County commissioners voted Sept. 2 to extend their pause on new data center applications through Dec. 24, the third extension since January, giving planners more time to develop zoning rules before the hold was due to end after Sept. 10. Chairman Jeff Blubaugh said the extension would keep the issue a county priority; commissioners plan a Dec. 2 review, and the revised pause exempts projects where data centers are a secondary business function. In Hutchinson, a community town hall is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the Shears Technology Center at Hutchinson Community College, with short expert presentations and anonymous live polling. Organizer Jason Probst said the aim is to give residents a voice in the debate, and organizers plan to share the results directly with local policymakers, including the Hutchinson City Council. The poll will provide nonbinding public input, with no results available as of the morning of Sept. 8 because the meeting had not yet occurred. Reno County commissioners rejected proposed bans in June on battery energy storage systems and data centers larger than one acre in zoned, unincorporated areas, leaving the existing permit process to address residents' concerns about water use, electricity demand, land use and noise.

Wichita-Sedgwick County Planning · Wichita Eagle · KMUW · Ad Astra Radio · Hutch Post

Data Center Demand Drives Evergy Expansion Request

TOPEKA, Kan. — Rising electricity demand, driven largely by data centers according to Evergy, is behind the utility's request for advance approval of five generating and storage assets at three sites, including permission to charge Kansas customers for a Missouri gas plant before it produces power. Supporting filings arrived Aug. 31 and the Kansas Corporation Commission opened the docket Sept. 1; the proposed Buchanan Bluffs Energy Center Unit 1 in Buchanan County, Missouri, would be a combined-cycle natural gas plant owned entirely by Evergy Kansas Central, placing its cost recovery with that utility's Kansas customers. The other assets are the Iron Horse Energy Center solar farm and Iron Horse Storage battery system near Parsons in Labette County, plus Pixley II Hybrid solar and Pixley Energy Storage in Barber County. Evergy estimates its proposed construction work in progress rider, known as CWIP, would increase bills between 1.22% and 4.85% during construction, with an overall bill increase of about 8.93% when the gas plant enters service. The commission approved construction-cost recovery for two other 710-megawatt Kansas gas plants in July 2025 alongside the estimated $228.1 million Kansas Sky solar project; the latest request comes amid county moratoriums and Nov. 3 data-center ballot questions in El Dorado and Emporia. As of Sept. 8, the new case remained open with no commission orders listed, and the Citizens' Utility Ratepayer Board and other organizations had requested to intervene in proceedings that will determine how project costs reach customers' bills.

OK Energy Today · KCC · KWCH · City of El Dorado · KVOE

K-State, KU Roll to Season-Opening Wins

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State beat Nicholls 71-3 on Saturday, Sept. 5, in Collin Klein's debut as head coach, reaching 70 points for the first time since 2000 against a Football Championship Subdivision opponent, one level below the Wildcats. Klein, 36, a former K-State quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist, returned from his job as Texas A&M's offensive coordinator on a five-year contract after Chris Klieman's retirement following last season, taking over a program with a returning starting quarterback. Quarterback Avery Johnson accounted for four touchdowns as K-State outgained Nicholls 559-122. Six Wildcats scored rushing touchdowns, a school first that tied a Big 12 record. In Lawrence, Kansas opened its season with a 51-6 win over Long Island on Friday, Sept. 4, gaining 613 yards and allowing 146. KU quarterback Isaiah Marshall completed 14 of 19 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns and added 49 rushing yards; the Jayhawks host Missouri on Sept. 11.

K-State Athletics · WIBW · KU Athletics

Sources

1. KWCH
2. Global Strategy Group poll memo via Max Cohen / The Downballot / RealClearPolitics
3. Wichita-Sedgwick County Planning / Wichita Eagle via AOL / KMUW / Ad Astra Radio / Hutch Post
4. OK Energy Today / KCC docket 27-EKCE-0149-PRE / KCC July 2025 approval / KWCH / City of El Dorado / KVOE
5. K-State Athletics recap / K-State Athletics coaching announcement / WIBW / KU Athletics recap

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!)