Top 5 Kansas news stories

Cold Front Brings Frigid Temperatures, Light Snow to Kansas

Thousands of Truck Driving Schools Face Closure Over Federal Compliance

Semi Carrying 34,000 Pounds of Hydrochloric Acid Overturns in McPherson

Four Nations Eye Lawrence as 2026 World Cup Base Camp

Coldwater Mayor Faces Voter Fraud Charges, Possible Deportation After Decades of Voting

1. Cold Front Brings Frigid Temperatures, Light Snow to Kansas

A cold front sweeping across Kansas Wednesday brought temperatures plummeting into the mid-to-upper 30s with gusty north winds between 15-25 mph making it feel like the 20s. Far western Kansas can expect scattered snow showers and up to an inch of accumulation along and west of the Colby to Dodge City line, while the Wichita area may see a flurry or two Wednesday evening. Thursday will be even colder with highs in the upper 20s and lower 30s before milder temperatures in the 40s return Friday and Saturday, followed by another cold front Sunday dropping temperatures back to the upper 30s and lower 40s with gusty winds but minimal precipitation risk.

KWCH

2. Thousands of Truck Driving Schools Face Closure Over Federal Compliance

A U.S. Department of Transportation review found nearly half of America's truck driving schools are not complying with federal regulations, with 44% facing potential closure if they don't meet requirements within 30 days. The review identified concerns including some schools accepting students in the country illegally, though Kansas Truck Driving School in Wichita says it strictly follows federal rules requiring proper documentation for students to obtain CDL permits. Annie Bauza, president of the Kansas Truck Driving School, emphasized the importance of compliance given truck drivers' critical role in the American economy. The school, which maintains federal certification, encourages prospective drivers to train during winter months, saying harsh weather conditions provide the best preparation for year-round road safety. Nearly 3,000 schools nationwide will have their certification revoked if they fail to comply with regulations.

KWCH

3. Semi Carrying 34,000 Pounds of Hydrochloric Acid Overturns in McPherson

A semi-truck hauling 34,000 pounds of hydrochloric acid overturned Tuesday morning at Kansas Avenue and Highway 81 Bypass in McPherson, prompting evacuations and road closures. The driver self-extricated and refused medical treatment while the McPherson Fire Department's Hazmat Team placed containment booms around storm drains to prevent the leaking acid from entering the sewer system. Multiple agencies responded including McPherson Fire,Police, EMS, Sheriff's Office, Emergency Management, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Department of Transportation,and the Salina Fire regional hazmat team, with an environmental remediation contractor en route for cleanup and a warming shelter established at The Cedars for evacuated residents.

Citizen Journal

Semi Hauling Hydrochloric Acid Overturns at Kansas Avenue and Highway 81 Bypass

Emergency crews establish warming shelter at The Cedars as area residents evacuated following hazmat incident.

citizen journalGreg Loving

4. Four Nations Eye Lawrence as 2026 World Cup Base Camp

At least four countries—England, Germany, Colombia and South Korea—are considering Lawrence as their base camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, having visited and explored Rock Chalk Park and University of Kansas facilities. South Korea most recently visited in early November, while all four nations have also explored two potential Kansas City base-camp sites: Compass Minerals Sporting Fields and the KC Women's Soccer Training Complex used by Sporting KC and the Kansas City Current. The World Cup draw is scheduled for Dec. 5 with matches, venues and kickoff times announced the following day. Teams will submit their final base camp selections after learning their group-stage geographic zones and considering their FIFA rankings to guide their decisions.

Kansas City Star

5. Coldwater Mayor Faces Voter Fraud Charges, Possible Deportation After Decades of Voting

Joe Ceballos, the twice-elected Republican mayor of Coldwater who has voted in every election since 1991, faces felony voter fraud charges filed by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and potential deportation after mistakenly believing his permanent resident green card allowed him to vote. The 54-year-old Mexican immigrant, who came to the U.S. at age four and hasn't seen Mexico since, says he registered to vote at age 20 during a high school field trip when he was in special education, thinking the "PERMANENT RESIDENT" designation on his green card made him a citizen. Ceballos, who won his November mayoral race 121-20, says he "probably" voted for Kobach all four times he ran for state office and three times for President Trump, though he admits to being so disinterested in politics he simply looked for the "R" beside candidates' names. Kobach announced the charges Nov. 5, saying Ceballos could face up to five and a half years in prison and a $200,000 fine for voter fraud and election perjury, while the Department of Homeland Security has threatened to begin deportation proceedings if he's convicted. Multiple friends in the southwest Kansas town of 693—where Ceballos is beloved for putting up Christmas lights, raising flags on holidays, and being the "go-to guy" to fix anything—say they share blame for not clarifying his immigration status, including rancher Dennis Swayze who drove young Ceballos to get his first green card and his former special education teacher Gail Boisseau who took students on the field trip where he registered. Ceballos's defense attorney Jess Hoeme believes he can convince a jury his client never intended to commit a crime, questioning "what kind of America" would tear "a good man away from his family, his community and his cattle." Friends describe Ceballos as naive about what he doesn't know but hardworking and trusted, having progressed from a "mostly penniless but eager calf-roping kid ranch hand" to a utility pole climber, farm owner with 165 acres and 35 cattle, and community leader repeatedly elected by voters who clearly support him. The case highlights tensions in Kansas's immigration system, with an estimated 55,000 undocumented immigrants fully employed and paying taxes in the state according to Pew Research Center. Kobach,who has made voter fraud a chief political concern despite data suggesting voting by ineligible residents is rare, expects to find hundreds of ineligible voters on Kansas rolls, though friends say Ceballos—who doesn't even care enough about politics to stay in the room when it's discussed—represents the opposite of the typical voter fraud narrative.

KMUW

Sources

1. https://www.kwch.com/2025/12/03/turning-much-colder-across-kansas-tomorrow/
2. https://www.kwch.com/2025/12/03/thousands-truck-driving-schools-risk-closure-over-federal-compliance-violations/
3. https://www.citizenjournal.us/semi-hauling-hydrochloric-acid-overturns-at-kansas-avenue-and-highway-81-bypass/
4. https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article313247070.html?giftCode=d3186db371db192c35fd22a3a4cb748c9decc76ad90188dc889a8e50e605a212

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