Fitch Raises Kansas Credit Outlook to Positive

Riley Law Board Requires Approval for Flock Renewal

Riley County Jail Grant Raises Immigration Enforcement Questions

Former Western Plains Superintendent Faces 19 Charges

Kansas Leads Major Dairy States in Milk Growth

Fitch Raises Kansas Credit Outlook to Positive

TOPEKA, Kan. — Fitch Ratings revised Kansas’ credit outlook from stable to positive while affirming its AA rating, the governor’s office announced Sept. 23, marking an improved assessment of the state’s financial direction without changing its rating. According to the release, Fitch’s Sept. 22 announcement cited stronger fiscal resilience and budgeting practices, including a $2 billion rainy day fund, debt repayment, use of one-time revenue for one-time projects and an end to transfers from transportation funds. Moody’s also revised Kansas’ outlook to positive in May, citing governance, reserves, reduced debt and tax policy, following an improved S&P outlook in February 2023 and Fitch’s initial AA rating in January 2024. The earlier setbacks were tied in part to income tax cuts championed by then-Gov. Sam Brownback in 2012 and 2013, which lowered personal income tax rates and exempted many business owners’ income from state taxation. S&P lowered Kansas from AA+ to AA in August 2014, citing a mismatch between revenue and spending following the tax cuts, and from AA to AA- in July 2016 amid depleted reserves and reliance on one-time budget measures. Moody’s negative outlook in 2016 reflected difficulty balancing the budget after the tax cuts and chronic pension underfunding, while S&P placed Kansas on negative credit watch that year and revised its outlook to negative in 2017.

Kansas Governor’s Office · AP · Kansas Development Finance Authority · Kansas Department of Revenue

Riley Law Board Requires Approval for Flock Renewal

MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Riley County Law Enforcement Agency Board directed the police department to obtain its approval before renewing or expanding its Flock Safety license plate reader contract, according to a meeting report. The agreement costs about $30,000 annually and was signed without board review because it fell below the department’s $75,000 discretionary spending limit. The contract comes up for renewal in December, when updated data retention policies and residents’ privacy rights will be considered. Board members previously formally requested a copy of the contract from the department, according to a Sept. 22 brief cited in the report. The directive gives the board a say over continued use or expansion of a system that records vehicle movements. The report does not indicate whether the department’s spending limit will change for other purchases.

Riley County Law Board

Week of September 23, 2026

citizen journalGreg Loving

Local Meeting Reports

Riley County Jail Grant Raises Immigration Enforcement Questions

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Riley County’s bid for $31.7 million in federal jail funding faces renewed opposition over requirements to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. County commissioners approved applying July 13, and the Law Board voted 4-1 on July 20 to continue pursuing the grant despite public opposition. Those votes moved the application forward, while the Law Board kept the right to reject any eventual offer. Police Director Brian Peete said RCPD already holds people for federal agencies when legally required but would not operate an immigration detention facility or hold people solely because of their immigration status. The grant requires applicants to participate in or commit to an ICE partnership. Opponents later returned to the Law Board with a petition bearing more than 500 signatures, according to a meeting report. That meeting included requests to review the grant’s terms and the jail’s space needs before accepting any money. No grant award has been confirmed as of Sept. 24.

Riley County Law Board

Week of September 23, 2026

citizen journalGreg Loving

Local Meeting Reports · Riley County Law Board · KMAN · U.S. Department of Justice

Former Western Plains Superintendent Faces 19 Charges

RANSOM, Kan. — Former Western Plains Unified School District 106 Superintendent Jeff Michael Jones was charged Sept. 18 in Ness County District Court with nine felonies and 10 misdemeanors, including alleged theft of district property valued at $25,000 to $100,000. The charges, reported publicly Sept. 22 and 23, include misuse of public funds, prohibited contracts and two felonies involving a minor: aggravated intimidation of a witness or victim and contributing to a child’s misconduct or deprivation. Sheriff’s deputies began investigating after a tip in late July, and Jones was arrested Aug. 21 on 10 initial counts, booked into the county jail on $5,000 bond and released the same day. Jones, of Ransom, had led the district since July 2015 before the board placed him on administrative leave at a special meeting. The district, which serves Ransom, Bazine and other communities southwest of Hays, has appointed interim leadership as the case proceeds over allegations involving its money and contracts. The charges are accusations, and Jones is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

KWCH · KSN · Kansas Reflector · The Sentinel

Kansas Leads Major Dairy States in Milk Growth

TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas milk production rose 13.9% in August from a year earlier, the fastest growth among the 24 major dairy states tracked in USDA’s Sept. 22 report. National production increased 1.7% to 19.9 billion pounds, while Kansas produced 499 million pounds, about 2.5% of the U.S. total. The USDA totals place Kansas 11th among those 24 states for August production. For full-year 2025, Kansas ranked 15th nationally with 4.95 billion pounds. California led August production at 3.39 billion pounds, followed by Wisconsin at 2.83 billion. Kansas’ milk herd grew by 29,000 cows from a year earlier to 247,000, helping drive its production gains.

USDA

Sources

1. Kansas Governor’s Office, Sept. 23, 2026, press release / Release Republished by NCK Today / Governor’s Office: Moody’s Outlook / WIBW: Fitch’s Initial Rating / Kansas Reflector: S&P Outlook / AP via KMUW: 2014 Downgrade / AP via KSL: 2016 Downgrade / Kansas Development Finance Authority: 2016 Debt Study / Kansas Department of Revenue: Tax Changes.
2. Local Meeting Reports, Riley County Law Enforcement Agency Board (source file: 2b8fk7tv.txt; no public URL supplied).
3. Local Meeting Reports / Riley County Law Board: July 20 Minutes, Pages 5–6 / KMAN: Law Board Vote / KMAN: Grant Application / U.S. Department of Justice: Grant Requirements.
4. KWCH / KSN / Kansas Reflector: Charges / Kansas Reflector: Arrest / The Sentinel.
5. USDA: August 2026 Milk Production / USDA: 2025 Annual Milk Production Summary.

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!)