hcj

Top 5 Kansas news stories

October 28, 2025

Teri Hansen

28 Oct 2025 • 4 min read

Kansas Delegation Forfeits Paychecks During Federal Shutdown

Wichita Hosts Regional AI Prompt Championship

Kansas City Blood Center Urges Donations as Rare Fall Shortage Continues

Food Banks Brace for Surge as SNAP Benefits Suspended During Shutdown

Kelce's Season-Best Performance Powers Chiefs Over Commanders

Kansas delegation forfeits paychecks during federal shutdown

All six members of Kansas's congressional delegation have voluntarily declined their federal paychecks during the ongoing government shutdown. Democratic Representative Sharice Davids of the 3rd District joined her five Republican colleagues—Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, and Representatives Tracey Mann, Derek Schmidt, and Ron Estes—in requesting their $14,500 monthly salaries be withheld until Congress reaches a bipartisan resolution. The House passed a continuing resolution to fund the government into November, but the Senate has yet to approve funding measures. The shutdown threatens critical aid programs for approximately 187,000 Kansans receiving SNAP benefits and about 50,000 receiving WIC services. Over 25,000 federal employees and 21,000 active-duty military members in Kansas have been affected by the impasse.

KAKE

Wichita hosts regional AI prompt championship

Wichita hosted the inaugural Regional AI Prompt Championship at Groover Labs on Saturday, bringing together tech enthusiasts and entrepreneurs to compete in artificial intelligence challenges. The competition, organized by the tech startup Unified, featured challenges ranging from creating software and video games with AI assistance to developing a project for the Kansas Department of Commerce focused on career placement. Winners earned a dinner with state commerce officials to discuss expanding their project statewide. Local entrepreneur Miguel Johns, founder of Milton AI, highlighted Wichita's untapped tech talent, emphasizing how AI paired with human support systems can improve healthcare outcomes across Kansas.

KWCH

Kansas blood center urges donations as rare fall shortage continues

The Community Blood Center is calling on the public to donate blood as Kansas City faces an unusual shortage for autumn. Despite historically strong fall donations, collections have remained critically low while hospital demand stays high, creating one of the most serious shortages in years, according CBC officials. A single traumatic case can require 30 to 50 units of blood—representing 7-10% of the region's daily supply—making donor participation crucial as the holiday season approaches and demand is expected to increase further.

FOX4

Food banks brace for surge as SNAP benefits suspended during shutdown

As the federal government shutdown enters its second month, approximately 188,000 Kansans face the loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, prompting a dramatic surge in demand at local food pantries across the state. Benefits processing scheduled for Tuesday and distribution for Saturday have been indefinitely delayed, causing residents to seek emergency assistance from food banks already stretched thin ahead of Thanksgiving. Simple House Food Pantry in Delano served 30 families on a recent Monday—nearly double its typical 18 families—with volunteers describing it as "one of the busiest days" they can remember. The Salvation Army of South Central Kansas and Derby Food Pantry are also experiencing increased inquiries and preparing for significant upticks in traffic as families worry about affording both food and other bills during the crisis.

KSN

Kelce's season-best performance powers Chiefs over Commanders

Travis Kelce delivered his best performance of the season with six receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown as the Kansas City Chiefs dominated the Washington Commanders 28-7 on Monday night. Kelce's 10-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter marked his 83rd career score, tying him with former running back Priest Holmes for the most touchdowns in Chiefs franchise history. The victory showcased Kansas City's dominance with a pivotal fourth-down conversion that led to a touchdown and demonstrated the team's 87.5 percent success rate on fourth-down plays this season, the best in the NFL among teams with 10 or more attempts.

ESPN

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