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Top 5 Kansas news stories

November 14 2025

Greg Loving

14 Nov 2025 • 5 min read

Politics and cultural shifts could impact Medicaid spending and enrollment next year. Current trends show flattening enrollment rates and increased state spending, but the impacts of federal cuts are uncertain. (Getty Images)

Medicaid Spending Rises as Enrollment Drops in Kansas

DHS: Coldwater Mayor Faces Removal After Election Fraud Charges

Kansas Delegation Splits on Party Lines to End Government Shutdown

Fort Hays State Partners With Attorney General on Victim Advocacy

Kansas State Holds Off California Rally for 99-96 Win

1. Medicaid Spending Rises as Enrollment Drops in Kansas

Medicaid spending in Kansas is climbing even as enrollment declines, mirroring a national trend driven by higher health care costs and the end of pandemic-era continuous enrollment policies, according to reports released Thursday by KFF, a health policy research nonprofit. The organization attributed spending increases to greater health needs among remaining enrollees and overall rising medical costs, while enrollment drops stem largely from states eliminating coverage as they "unwind" emergency pandemic protections. Based on KFF's annual budget survey of Medicaid directors nationwide, officials forecast continued spending increases in fiscal year 2026, which began in July, despite expectations for flat enrollment. The reports describe a "tenuous fiscal climate" facing states as they balance program costs with shrinking participant numbers.

Kansas Reflector

2. DHS: Coldwater Mayor Faces Removal After Election Fraud Charges

The Department of Homeland Security released details Thursday showing Coldwater Mayor Jose "Joe" Ceballos-Armendariz, 54, allegedly committed multiple felonies by illegally voting in numerous U.S. elections despite not being a citizen. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announced charges last week including three counts of voting without being qualified and three counts of election perjury against Ceballos-Armendariz, who was re-elected as mayor last week. According to DHS, Ceballos-Armendariz received a green card in 1990 and applied for U.S. citizenship in February 2025, but allegedly committed felonies by falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on voter registration forms and then lying on his naturalization application about never having claimed citizenship. If convicted, DHS said Ceballos-Armendariz will be placed in removal proceedings from the United States.

Coldwater Mayor Joe Ceballos. (City of Coldwater)

KAKE

3. Kansas Delegation Splits on Party Lines to End Government Shutdown

Kansas' U.S. House delegation divided along partisan lines Wednesday in voting on legislation to end the nation's longest-ever federal government shutdown on its 43rd day, with Republican Reps. Derek Schmidt, Tracey Mann and Ron Estes supporting the 222-209 measure while Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids opposed it. The resolution, which cleared the Senate 60-40 Monday with backing from Kansas Republican Sens. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran, was signed by President Donald Trump and funds the government until Jan. 30, 2026.

Kansas Reflector

4. Fort Hays State Partners With Attorney General on Victim Advocacy

Fort Hays State University and the Kansas Attorney General's Office have formed a partnership to strengthen victim advocacy education and resources in rural Kansas, transforming how criminal justice is taught at the university. Associate Professor Ziwei Qi, founder of the Center for Empowering Victims of Gender-based Violence at Fort Hays, said the collaboration has enhanced her ability to teach students about Kansas legal statutes and victim rights while connecting them with criminal justice professionals. The year-old partnership produced the Nov. 4 System-Based Advocacy Summit bringing together professionals, students and community members for discussions on supporting crime victims across Kansas. Though the partners' joint application for a National Science Foundation CIVIC Innovation grant was unsuccessful, they continue collaborating on an OVW Campus Violence Prevention grant application and a student-led research project reviewing Kansas victim rights laws through the attorney general's Criminal Division – Victim Rights Coordination Unit.

CJOnline

5. Kansas State Holds Off California Rally for 99-96 Win

P.J. Haggerty scored 23 points, Khamari McGriff added 21 and Nate Johnson contributed 20 as Kansas State built a 24-point second-half lead before surviving a furious California comeback to win 99-96 Thursday night in Manhattan. The Wildcats (3-0) shot 64 percent overall and made nine 3-pointers, with David Castillo adding 16 points on four 3-pointers, though California nearly erased the deficit behind hot second-half shooting from Ames and Bell, who combined for 39 points after halftime and hit 10 3-pointers between them in the rally that fell just short.

KWCH

Sources

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