hcj

Top 5 Kansas news stories

December 9 2025

Greg Loving

09 Dec 2025 • 5 min read

Kansas lawmakers in 2025 passed a law to enact a flat income tax by gradually reducing tax rates. However, the tax cuts are contingent on meeting certain conditions, and the law is not expected to trigger any rate reductions in the near future. April File Photo/The Capital-Journal

Trump Unveils $12 Billion Bailout to Stabilize Agricultural Sector as China’s Trade War Retaliation Halts US Exports

Kansas Flat Tax Trigger Law Fails to Activate Despite Optimistic Revenue Projections

Coldwater Mayor Charged with Election Fraud Resigns, Council President Takes Over

Derby's Rock Regional Hospital Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy to Avoid Immediate Closure

Kansas Legislative Leaders Express Uncertainty Over January Redistricting Push

Trump Unveils $12 Billion Bailout to Stabilize Agricultural Sector as China’s Trade War Retaliation Halts US Exports

WASHINGTON — President Trump unveiled a $12 billion bailout package for American farmers Monday during a White House roundtable, providing emergency relief to agricultural producers hurt by his administration's trade war with China, which halted purchases of U.S. farm products in retaliation this year. The relief funds, distributed primarily through the Agriculture Department's Farmer Bridge Assistance program, will support producers of corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, rice, cattle, wheat and potatoes as farmers have warned of the worst crisis since the 1980s, with China shifting purchases to Brazil, Argentina and other markets. This marked the second major farm bailout under Trump's leadership, following more than $20 billion in support during his first term when China similarly boycotted U.S. products. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday the relief money would help farmers with financing and planning, stating, "We are going to create this bridge," emphasizing agriculture's forward-looking nature amid ongoing trade uncertainties.

Citizen Journal

Kansas Flat Tax Trigger Law Fails to Activate Despite Optimistic Revenue Projections

Kansas's newly enacted flat tax trigger law will not reduce income tax rates in its first year, falling short of conditions required to implement the gradual tax cuts, state officials announced last month. The Kansas Legislative Research Department confirmed that revenue estimates through the forecast period do not anticipate any rate reductions under 2025 Senate Bill 269, which Republican lawmakers passed over Democratic votes to gradually transition the state toward a single-rate flat tax system. The law requires tax reductions to meet strict thresholds before triggering, including maintaining a healthy balance in the state's rainy day fund and ensuring income tax revenues grow faster than inflation. Once personal income taxes reach the single flat rate, corporate income taxes and financial institution privilege taxes would follow the same formulaic reductions, though that timeline now appears pushed further into the future.

CJOnline

Coldwater Mayor Charged with Election Fraud Resigns, Council President Takes Over

Joe Ceballos, who gained national attention after being charged with illegal voting, resigned as mayor of Coldwater, with the city council swearing in council president Britt Lenertz to serve out the remainder of his term. The Coldwater City Council announced Monday it accepted Ceballos' resignation and pledged to maintain city services and operations without interruption during the transition.

Kansas Reflector

Derby's Rock Regional Hospital Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy to Avoid Immediate Closure

Rock Regional Hospital in Derby filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday, giving leadership time to restructure assets and develop a survival plan after receiving an eviction notice scheduled for Wednesday. CEO Ben Quinton told employees during an hour-long meeting that the bankruptcy filing will allow the hospital to remain open past the eviction deadline while administrators work to secure the facility's future.

KWCH

Kansas Legislative Leaders Express Uncertainty Over January Redistricting Push

Kansas legislative leaders sent mixed signals about their commitment to redrawing congressional districts during the January session, with House Speaker Dan Hawkins acknowledging that "something isn't connecting" with holdout Republicans in his caucus. Speaking alongside Senate President Ty Masterson at a recent American Legislative Exchange Council conference in Fort Worth, both leaders discussed the stalled redistricting effort that failed to secure enough votes for a special session this fall, part of a nationwide Republican push to protect seats ahead of midterm elections. Hawkins fell approximately 10 votes short of the support needed to call a special session, while Masterson obtained sufficient backing in the Senate. During a conversation with conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt, the pundit pressed Hawkins on whether Kansas Republicans understand that failure to redistrict could cost Republicans control of the U.S. House, highlighting the nationalized stakes of what some legislators view as a local decision.

Kansas Reflector

Sources

Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:

citizen journal offers three flagship products: a daily national news summary, a daily Kansas news summary, and local news and school board summaries from 15 cities across Kansas. Each issue contains 5 paragraph-length stories that are made to be read in 5 minutes. Use the links in the header to navigate to national, kansas, and local coverage. Subscribe to each, some, or all to get an email when new issues are published for FREE!

Brought to you by (click me!)