Top 5 Kansas news stories
September 26, 2025
KCC Approves $128 Million Evergy Rate Increase
Agriculture Secretary Announces $2 Billion in Emergency Aid as Farm Input Costs Remain Elevated
Kansas Legislators Eye Bigger Cut From Sports Betting Revenue
Kansas Democrats Plan New Strategy Against Republican Supermajority
Sunny Skies, Warm Temperatures Continue Across Kansas
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1. KCC Approves $128 Million Evergy Rate Increase
The Kansas Corporation Commission approved a $128 million rate increase for Evergy customers Thursday, allowing the utility to recover investments in aging equipment and grid reliability improvements. Residential customers using an average 900 kilowatt-hours monthly will see bills increase, with new rates taking effect in October billing cycles following extensive negotiations between KCC staff, the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board, Evergy and other stakeholders representing industrial, commercial and school district customers.
KAKE
2. Agriculture Secretary Announces $2 Billion in Emergency Aid as Farm Input Costs Remain Elevated
KANSAS CITY — Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins announced Thursday the release of $2 billion in remaining Emergency Commodity Assistance Program funds while detailing federal efforts to combat rising farm input costs that have squeezed Kansas producers. Speaking at the Agriculture Outlook Forum, Rollins said seed expenses have increased 18 percent, fuel costs jumped 32 percent, fertilizer rose 37 percent, and interest expenses soared 73 percent since 2020, prompting the USDA and Department of Justice to sign a new agreement targeting potential antitrust violations in agricultural supply chains. The secretary also announced $480 million in commodity purchases from American farmers for international food assistance programs, bringing total emergency aid delivered to producers to more than $8 billion since March across 560,000 farms. Labor costs have increased 47 percent largely due to the H-2A seasonal worker program's wage requirements, leading USDA to discontinue its Farm Labor Survey and work with other agencies to reform the program. The administration is launching the America First Trade Promotion Program with $285 million in October to expand overseas markets for U.S. agricultural products, while producers await Stage 2 disaster relief payments to be announced next month.
3. Kansas Legislators Eye Bigger Cut From Sports Betting Revenue
Kansas lawmakers are considering changes to the state's sports gambling taxation after collecting less than 1% of more than $2.7 billion in bets during the past fiscal year. Of the $2.7 billion wagered from July 2024 through June 2025, Kansas retained about $17 million or 0.6%, prompting legislators to explore new revenue formulas as operator contracts near expiration. The Legislature implemented a moratorium on contract renewals for online sportsbooks during the 2025 session, with Monday's hearing marking the first public discussion of potential changes to Kansas' sportsbook market since the state legalized sports betting in 2022.
Kansas Reflector
4. Kansas Democrats Plan New Strategy Against Republican Supermajority
House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard acknowledged Democrats lost ground in November 2024 as Republicans expanded their Kansas House majority to 88-37 and Senate control to 31-9, making veto overrides easier for the GOP. The Lenexa Democrat told more than 200 people at a Johnson County Democratic Party event that House Democrats were "outmuscled daily" during the 2025 legislative session, prompting a 14-city statewide tour to rebuild party strength in communities including Dodge City, Pittsburg, Newton, Emporia, Hays, Topeka, Wichita and Manhattan.
Kansas Reflector
5. Sunny Skies, Warm Temperatures Continue Across Kansas
Kansas will see another day of sunny skies and temperatures in the lower 80s Friday after morning wake-up temperatures in the 50s, with light southerly winds continuing across the state. Weekend weather remains dry and warm with highs in the low to middle 80s under mostly sunny skies, while western Kansas could see wind gusts of 25-30 mph Sunday and Monday as quiet conditions persist through most of next week with temperatures near or slightly above normal.
KWCH
Sources
- https://www.kake.com/home/kcc-approves-128-million-evergy-rate-increase/article_02975759-911e-4ee4-85c5-bc74823b3809.html
- https://kansasreflector.com/2025/09/25/kansas-legislators-look-for-bigger-payout-from-sportsbooks-with-contracts-set-to-expire/
- https://kansasreflector.com/2025/09/25/kansas-democrats-taking-aim-once-again-at-republicans-legislative-supermajority/
- https://www.kwch.com/2025/09/26/beautiful-weather-this-weekend-across-kansas/
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