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Top 5 Kansas news stories

December 4 2025

Greg Loving

04 Dec 2025 • 5 min read

U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann, R-Kansas, appears Sept. 5, 2024, at a candidate forum in Lawrence, Kansas. He represents Kansas' 1st District, and says his 2025 bipartisan legislation could reduce drunk driving deaths. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas Earns Mediocre Road Safety Grade as Congressman Pushes Federal Drunk Driving Bill

PROtect Signs as First Major Tenant in Former Towne West Square Mall

Three Kansas Communities Secure $19M in Federal Airport Infrastructure Grants

Boeing Nears Completion of $4.7B Spirit AeroSystems Acquisition After FTC Approval

Kansas State Coach Chris Klieman Announces Retirement as Former QB Klein Emerges as Successor

1. Kansas Earns Mediocre Road Safety Grade as Congressman Mann Pushes Federal Drunk Driving Bill

Kansas ranks among 36 states receiving a "yellow" caution rating for road safety laws, according to a report released this week by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, which cited deficiencies in child passenger safety, adult occupant protection and young driver programs. The state records nearly $3 billion in annual costs from motor vehicle crashes, with more than 4,000 traffic deaths over the past decade including 340 fatalities in 2024. U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann, who represents 60 mostly rural Kansas counties, emphasized the personal nature of road safety for Kansas families who depend on safe travel for healthcare, employment and education. Mann has co-sponsored the End DWI Act with Rep. Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, legislation that would encourage states to require ignition interlock devices for first-time drunk driving offenses—a measure aimed at reducing the nearly one-third of U.S. traffic deaths caused by drunk driving in 2023.

Kansas Reflector

2. PROtect Signs as First Major Tenant in Former Towne West Square Mall

Wichita-based safety and compliance firm PROtect has signed a lease for 41,698 square feet in the former Towne West Square mall, becoming the first major tenant in the space's transformation into Wichita Business Park. The company, which operates 22 locations with more than 750 employees nationwide, will consolidate its national headquarters and operations center under one roof in what CEO Nathan VanderGriend called an "intriguing project" that will help revitalize the area.

KAKE

3. Three Kansas Communities Secure $19M in Federal Airport Infrastructure Grants

Governor Laura Kelly announced Tuesday that Lyons, Newton and Wichita will receive more than $19 million in federal Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act funding for airport improvements, with state matching funds bringing the total investment to over $20.5 million. The Federal Aviation Administration grants will support five projects including runway rehabilitation at Newton's airport, terminal improvements and pavement work at Wichita facilities, and new hangar construction in Rice County, part of a broader state effort that has leveraged over $36.6 million in state matching dollars to secure more than $104.6 million in federal infrastructure grants across 50 projects statewide.

Citizen Journal

4. Boeing Nears Completion of $4.7B Spirit AeroSystems Acquisition After FTC Approval

Boeing's plan to acquire Wichita-based Spirit AeroSystems for $4.7 billion could finalize by year's end after the Federal Trade Commission approved the deal with conditions requiring Boeing to divest Spirit facilities in North Carolina, Northern Ireland and Malaysia that conduct business with rival Airbus. The FTC expressed concerns that the merger would allow Boeing to unfairly control its competitor's supply chain, leading to the divestiture requirement for the transaction announced more than a year ago.

KWCH

5. Kansas State Coach Chris Klieman Announces Retirement as Former QB Klein Emerges as Successor

Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman told his team Wednesday afternoon he plans to retire after seven seasons, with university officials targeting former Wildcats quarterback Collin Klein as his replacement. Klieman, who compiled a 54-34 record at Kansas State and won four national titles in five seasons at North Dakota State, cited family considerations in his decision following a 6-6 season as KSU.

ESPN

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