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Top 5 Kansas news stories

November 7 2025

Greg Loving

07 Nov 2025 • 4 min read

About 60% to 70% of the Kansas soybean crop has been harvested, and as farmers prepare to sell they are relieved to see trade with China reopening, says Kaleb Little, head of the Kansas Soybean Association. (Photo by Rob Levine for The Minnesota Reformer)

KCC Approves New Rules for Large Power Users, Targeting Data Centers

China's Renewed Soybean Purchases Bring Relief to Kansas Farmers

Trade Deal Ends Soybean Crisis Sparked by Argentina Loan

Davids Considers Senate Run

Cold Front Brings Frigid Monday Before Quick Warmup

KCC Approves New Rules for Large Power Users, Targeting Data Centers

Kansas regulators approved new requirements Thursday for businesses with massive electricity demands, protecting smaller customers from higher costs. The Kansas Corporation Commission unanimously passed Evergy's large-load tariff affecting new businesses using more than 75 megawatts of peak energy monthly, as well as existing operations that increase usage by that amount. The tariff requires large users to sign 12-year minimum contracts, pay for at least 80% of contracted electricity even in light-usage months, and post collateral covering two years of minimum bills. Environmental groups, data center representatives, and school districts all supported the final agreement.

Kansas Reflector

China's Renewed Soybean Purchases Bring Relief to Kansas Farmers

Kansas soybean producers welcomed news that China committed to major U.S. crop purchases following high-level trade talks in Washington last week. China, traditionally the largest buyer of American soybeans, had canceled all purchases earlier this year due to tariffs but has now pledged to buy 12 million metric tons this harvest season. "It was great to see that America's farmers, our soybean producers especially, were a priority in conversation last week with China," said Kaleb Little, CEO of the Kansas Soybean Association. The agreement includes commitments for China to purchase 25 million metric tons annually from 2026 through 2028. While China typically buys 20-25% of the U.S. soybean crop—about 25 to 30 million metric tons annually—Kansas farmers still face challenges making up lost sales from earlier in the year. Little said the industry is working to diversify and expand sales to other countries, with about half of U.S. soybeans sold domestically and half internationally.

Kansas Reflector

Trade Deal Ends Soybean Crisis Sparked by Argentina Loan

After years of getting whipsawed by global politics, Illinois farmer Dean Buchholz thought he had seen it all. But even he was shocked when his soybean crop got caught up in a South American financial crisis. Just days after the Trump administration pledged a $20 billion loan to backstop the finances of Argentina under libertarian President Javier Milei, China bought billions of dollars worth of soybeans from Argentina. The massive agriculture deal ricocheted through international markets, pressuring U.S. soybean prices and providing a bump to Argentina’s currency. In the middle of a Chinese trade war with Washington, Beijing and Buenos Aires had teamed up to show that the world could live without American soybeans. Some U.S. farmers saw this as a betrayal by Argentina. “We paid all our taxpayer money to help out a foreign country,” said Buchholz, and then “they basically cut our throats.” Last week, President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed to lower trade tensions after meeting in South Korea. Trump said he would cut tariffs on Chinese goods if Beijing curtailed exports of ingredients used to make the powerful opioid fentanyl.

WSJ

Davids Considers Senate Run

Rep. Sharice Davids said she's still weighing a challenge to U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall after special session Republican redistricting efforts targeting her Johnson County seat stalled in the Kansas Legislature. GOP leadership promised to revive partisan redistricting efforts in January following their failure to call a special session.

CJOnline

Cold Front Brings Frigid Monday Before Quick Warmup

Kansas will see pleasant weather today with highs in the upper 60s and sunny skies, but a strong weekend cold front will drop Sunday temperatures into the lower 40s with Monday morning lows tumbling to the lower 20s and wind chills feeling like 15-20 degrees. The cold snap will be brief, with temperatures rebounding to the 60s by Veterans Day and near 70 degrees Wednesday and Thursday before a storm system brings rain chances back to Kansas next weekend for the first time in two weeks.

KWCH

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