By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/01/07/kansas-house-committee-gets-jumpstart-on-evaluation-of-state-universities-budget-requests/?emci=e773f9e3-2fec-f011-8195-000d3a1d58aa&amp;emdi=9687a3d0-78ec-f011-8195-000d3a1d58aa&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas House higher education budget committee didn’t wait for start of the 2026 legislative session to take a dive into millions of dollars in pending budget requests for public universities.

Rep. Adam Turk, a Shawnee Republican who chairs the committee, convened Republicans and Democrats during what he referred to as “zero week” rather than await start of the session Monday. The objective was to get a jumpstart on presentations and discussions about budget earmarks for Wichita State University, Kansas State University, University of Kansas, Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State University and Emporia State University.

The Legislature’s interim budget committee previously rejected in late 2024 a series of proposals for university budget enhancements and hiring new campus personnel. In addition, that joint House and Senate budget committee said unused funding in current budgets could be seized and reappropriated in the new budget.

At this stage, administrators at the six state universities in Kansas began making sales pitches to the Republican-led House higher education budget committee for possible restoration of their requests.

“It is my intent to bring a quality product to the next level,” Turk said. “We can’t afford it to be unclear or indecisive or arbitrary in any way.&nbsp;I graduated from none of these institutions. I’ve got no dog in this hunt. You won’t see me playing favorites. Nothing is personal in here. It is math.”

Lawrence Rep. Mike Amyx, the ranking Democrat on the higher education committee, said he would focus on developing a budget plan that invested in delivery of a high-quality college education.

“Do everything we can to come out with the best budget,” Amyx said.

During the day’s committee meeting, PSU President Thomas Newsom, FHSU President Tisa Mason and interim ESU President Taylor Kriley shared budget and enrollment information with legislators. They outlined arguments for legislative support of individual budget requests.

Comments from several lawmakers indicated the focus of the House committee would be on decreasing state government spending on higher education.

“I see a lot of expansion, new stuff,” said Turk, the chairman. “It’s real easy to build something new. Really hard … to find the things that are not working anymore, cut them off.”

Newsom, who started in September at PSU after leading Southeastern Oklahoma State University for five years, said higher education needed to do a better job of deleting weak programs as it went about directing resources into promising programs. He said regional public universities such as PSU had to concentrate on making efficient use of public and private funding as well as being responsive to student and industry demands.

“We tend to add new toys to the toy box a lot without getting rid of old toys,” Newsom said.

He said PSU’s goal was to attract 700 new students over the next five years, which could infuse $6 million in tuition revenue into the university.

Mason, who has served as president of FHSU since 2018, said the university had the lowest tuition and fee rate among public universities in Kansas. FHSU successfully launched affiliation agreements with North Central Kansas Technical College and Northwest Kansas Technical College to create better academic pathways for students, find operational efficiencies and better serve the region’s economy.

“We view ourselves as an engine for social mobility,” she said. “Proving that a premium education doesn’t have to come with a premium price tag.”

Mason was asked for enrollment and financial information about FHSU’s online degree programs with two universities in China. FHSU last fall enrolled 3,000 students from China in English, business, leadership and health studies programs. The international students generated about $9 million in annual revenue, she said, but net revenue runs about $5 million per year. The funds were plowed into the FHSU campus in Hays, she said.

Rep. Bill Rhiley, a Republican from Wellington, said influx of tuition dollars from international programs had successfully subsidized tuition rates for Kansans attending FHSU. Mason concurred with Rhiley, and called that revenue a “game changer” in terms of tuition affordability.

Mason said FHSU students in China were linked to an IT system based in Singapore. A cybersecurity firm was hired FHSU to improve online computer systems, she said. Participants in the China program didn’t engage in academic research that could be the subject of espionage, she said.

“They’re highly vetted and they’re very established partnerships,” Mason said. “The geopolitical environment has changed in 30 years. I appreciate the question.”

Turk said nobody on the House committee was questioning the commitment at FHSU to guarantee security of the program with China. He told Mason it was impossible to predict how international relationships could unfold years from now.

“I don’t mean to beat you up about this China thing,” he said. “The nature of my question is simply how to plan for the worst. We wouldn’t be doing our job if we weren’t projecting, as budget members, into the future.”

The House committee also heard budget presentations from representatives of the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board, Kansas State Board of Healing Arts, Kansas State Historical Society and Kansas State Library.

FHSU president talks budget numbers with Kansas House higher education committee 

Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Sondra Hickert, director, about the USD 489 Hays Virtual School on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.

Learn more about the Hays Virtual School at <a href="https://www.usd489.com/o/hvs">usd489.com/o/hvs</a>&nbsp;or call 785-623-2426.

🎙 Post Podcast: Hays USD 489 Virtual School

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

In a short meeting on Thursday, the newly elected Hays city commissioners were sworn into office and the governing body reorganized.

Jamie Breit, city clerk, issued the oath of office to incumbents Shaun Musil and Sandy Jacobs, and newcomer David Vilaysing. The entire commission then voted to elect Mason Ruder to a second term as mayor and Alaina Cunningham as vice-mayor.

Jacobs, the previous mayor, was thanked for her service after she highlighted some of the major accomplishments of her mayoral term.

"As a body, this commission has made huge strides with our R9 project, housing, economic growth, commitment to our police with a new facility, parks, and our airport," Jacobs said.&nbsp;

"Leadership, to me, has never been about position or title but about listening, bringing people together and keeping our community at the center of every decision."

Vilaysing, the new commissioner who will serve a two-year term, said he has been meeting with department heads the past couple of months and touring the city's facilities.

"During those tours," he said. "I saw countless examples of department leaders finding ways to be resourceful, to preserve our resources and embracing innovation.&nbsp;

"Along with the educators, health care professionals, civic groups, the chamber of commerce, they're all out there being the backbone of the city," Vilaysing said.&nbsp;

Ruder, a sixth-generation Ellis County resident, said 2026 will also be filled with celebration for the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Volga-German settlers in Ellis County, and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.&nbsp;

🎙 New year, new governing body for city of Hays

HaysMed is proud to announce the relocation of its specialty clinic in Great Bend to a new, convenient location. The clinic, now known as the HaysMed Multispecialty Clinic in Great Bend, continues its mission of providing advanced specialty care close to home for Great Bend, Barton County, and surrounding communities.

Effective January 8, 2026, the clinic will operate under its new name and at its new address: 3800 10th Street, Great Bend, KS 67530, located directly across the street from its previous building. Patients can continue to reach the clinic at the same phone number, 620-796-2135, and enjoy the same exceptional care they have come to trust.

The HaysMed Multispecialty Clinic offers comprehensive services in Urology, Cardiology, and Pulmonology, delivered by a team of highly skilled specialists. Cardiology care is provided by Travis Haneke, MD, Mohammed Janif, MD and Megan Homolka, APRN. Pulmonology services are led by Lesa Klozenbucher, APRN, and Urology care is offered by Srinivas Samavedi, MD and Ed Habash, PA.

“Our goal is to make specialty care accessible and comfortable for our patients,” said Shae Veach, HaysMed Vice President Regional Operations. “This move allows us to continue providing exceptional care while improving convenience for the community.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 620-796-2135 or visit haysmed.com/services/multispecialty-clinic-great-bend/.

HaysMed Multispecialty Clinic in Great Bend, your health, our specialty.

Hays Medical Center (HaysMed) is a private, not-for-profit, 200+ bed hospital providing the only tertiary-level services in the region. As the premier provider in western Kansas for specialized care, HaysMed offers a wide variety of specialty programs including cardiology, orthopedics, cancer, surgery (general, minimally invasive and robotic), ENT, pulmonology, critical care and women’s services. HaysMed is a Level III Trauma Center and a certified Primary Stroke Center.

Other services include rehabilitation, hospice, neonatal, intensive care and diagnostic imaging, as well as a Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center and a Sleep and Neurodiagnostic Center. HaysMed is proud to be one of only 20 U.S. hospitals recognized by Vizient in 2023 as a Top Performer in the Complex Care Medical Center cohort. In 2024, HaysMed was named as one of the top 100 rural and community hospitals in the country by the National Rural Health Association and earned the prestigious five-star designation in the 2024 CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings. Learn more at <a href="https://www.haysmed.com/">haysmed.com</a>.

HaysMed multispecialty clinic in Great Bend moves to new location

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

Agronomic and economic issues to be addressed at 23rd annual conference

Producers, consultants, and experts will gather for the 23rd annual Cover Your Acres Winter Conference on January 20-21, at the Gateway Civic Center in Oberlin, Kansas. The conference is a joint venture between K-State Research and Extension and conference sponsors.

“Weed management, soil fertility -- and economics, of course -- are always on farmers minds,” said Stacy Campbell, K-State Extension and Cottonwood District, Crop Production Agent. “So, we have (K-State weed management specialist) Sarah Lancaster and (KSU NW Agronomist) Jeanne Falk Jones tackling weed management with a focus on cropping rotations and research on using targeted herbicide applications in Kansas.

Campbell also pointed to sessions on meeting Crop Nutrient needs in lean Economic Times and a discussion on How the Crop Markets have affected Producers, featuring K-State Research and Extension specialists, Dorivar Ruiz-Diaz and Dan O’Brien.

Roger McEowen, nationally-renown Ag Law and Taxation specialist, Washburn University and KS Farm Bureau, will share the Top five Legal Issues Farmers don’t think about, BUT should! Jennifer Ifft, K-State specialist, Ag Policy, addresses Navigating the 2026 Crop Insurance Decisions with SCO and ECO.

Utilizing crop rotations will be the focus of Lucas Haag, K-State Agronomist-In-Charge at Tribune along with Augustine Obour, K-State Soil Scientist at Hays discussing Considerations for Intensifying Crop Rotations and Incorporating Forages into Dryland Rotations.

The same programs will be offered both days of the conference. Wick said participants attending both days will find it easier to catch most or all of the programs. The program offers continuing education credits for Certified Crop Advisors and CEU’s for Commercial Applicators.

Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. with educational sessions ending at 5 p.m.

Early registration is due by Wednesday, Jan. 14. The fee is $60 for Tuesday, $55 for Wednesday, or $80 for both days. After Jan. 14, the cost is $80 for each day. The&nbsp;conference fee includes lunch, morning and afternoon refreshments, and educational materials.

The full conference schedule and online registration are available at <a href="https://www.wkrec.org/events/cover_your_acres/">https://www.wkrec.org/events/cover_your_acres/.</a> Or just google Cover Your Acres Winter Conference. For questions, call 785-443-3403.

Major sponsors of the conference include AKRS Equipment, Hoxie Implement Co., SurePoint Ag Systems, Lang Diesel, and 4G Farm and Sales.

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Cover your acres conference set for Jan. 20-21 in Oberlin

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

Hays High vs Emporia Friday, Jan. 9 - 6:00 Hays, Kan.

Radio:&nbsp;KFIX (96.9)&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Hays High Sports Network &nbsp; WATCH HERE - <a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/3314642">CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE</a> &nbsp;

Hays High plays consecutive Centennial League opponents as they host Emporia Friday evening.

Three of the four teams are ranked in 5A. The Hays girls (8-1) are ranked 5th and face an improved Emporia (4-5) squad that has already matched their win total of last season.

The Hays boys (6-3) are ranked 8th. They take on an Emporia (9-0) team that was unranked prior to the Christmas break and then debuted in the first rankings of 2026 in the 3rd spot.

Hertz pregame will begin at 5:40 on 96.9 KFIX.

🏀📺 Hays High hosts Emporia

TMP-Marian v Sacred Heart Friday, Jan. 9th, 5 p.m Hays, Kan.

Radio:&nbsp;KHAZ (99.5)&nbsp;<a href="https://99kzcountry.com/">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> <a href="https://mix103fm.com/"></a>Video:&nbsp;Monarchs Sports Network&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/3315080">CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)</a>

The TMP-Marian Monarchs return to the court Friday night for a non-league matchup against the Sacred Heart Knights in a rivarly contest.

Tip-off for the girls' game is set for 5:00 p.m. The Hertz Rent-a-Car Pregame Show begins at 5:40 p.m. on 99.5 KZ Country.

🏀🎥 TMP host rival Sacred Heart

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks to&nbsp;Allen P Roth about the 80th anniversary of the local conservation district.

Forward Ever: Allen P Roth on 80th anniversary of local conservation district 

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Hays received an additional .47 inches of rain on Thursday, according to the K-State Ag Research Center.

Hays had received .38 inches of rain as of 8 a.m. Thursday for a total of .85 inches.

Hays averages .5 inches of precipitation in January.

The center reported no snowfall as of 8 a.m., although snow is in the forecast for today.

The high for Hays today is forecast for 37 degrees with a 50% chance of snow today, a 20% chance of snow before midnight, and an overnight low of 22 degrees.

Southwest Kansas is forecast to receive the most snowfall, with accumulations of up to 6 inches.

The forecast for Hays calls for sunny skies with highs in the upper 40s on Saturday and Sunday, and in the upper 50s on Monday and Tuesday.

Hays receives more needed rainfall Thursday; snow still in forecast for today

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/obituaries">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/corrections-about-us">Click HERE for the Hays Post obituary policy.&nbsp;</a>

How to submit an obituary to the Hays Post

Please email obituaries to haysobits@eaglemedia.com.

Please allow up to 24 hours from the submission of the obituary for it to be posted on the Hays Post.&nbsp;

If you have questions, please contact Scarlett Deutscher at 785-301-2211.&nbsp;

If you have an issue outside of business hours or your obit has not been published within 24 hours, please email <a href="mailto:hayspost@eaglemedia.com" target="_blank">hayspost@eaglemedia.com</a> or call Cristina Janney, Hays Post editor, at 785-301-2077.&nbsp;

Recent obituaries, how to submit an obituary

Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as we work to make drop-off and pick-up as smooth and safe as possible.

Morning Drop-Off: Please continue using both lanes.

Inside lane (next to the school): You may drop your student off anywhere along the sidewalk, even past the raised crosswalk and all the way to the north end of the building. The more vehicles that pull forward, the quicker the line moves.

Outside lane: For safety reasons, students should exit only at the raised concrete area by the stop sign.We also ask that you continue entering from Hays Way to reduce congestion at 13th &amp; Canterbury. With both lanes in front of HMS being used, we saw a noticeable improvement this morning, and this should continue to help traffic move efficiently.

Thank you again for your patience, flexibility, and support as everyone adjusts to this system. We truly appreciate you.

Hays Middle School offers traffic update

SCHEDULE CHANGE: Tonight’s varsity high school basketball games vs. Sacred Heart will begin at 5 p.m.. The girls' varsity game will tip off at 5 p.m., followed by the boys' varsity game. JV/C games will not be played.

TMP basketball schedule change for tonight

&nbsp;Submit events to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:admin@hayspost.com">admin@hayspost.com</a>. Cover photo courtesy Pixabay

Special thanks to <a href="https://www.visithays.com/183/Events">The Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau</a> and<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/"> Fort Hays State University</a> for their contributions to the community calendar.

Community Calendar

The annual Hays Holy Family Elementary School Chili Supper &amp; Bazaar will be held Sunday, January 25, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the school, 1800 Milner.&nbsp;

The event includes a book fair, bingo, game room, cake walk, Feed the Pig, raffle and silent auction.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Chili Supper &amp; Bazaar is one of the largest fundraisers held to support Holy Family Elementary School every year. Each dollar raised directly affects our educational efforts for the 380+ students in our school as well as helps us maintain a safe environment for our students, staff, and visitors.

Silent auction items are still being sought for donation. For more information call Kelsey Konz at 785-410-8668.

Holy Family Elementary annual Chili Supper, Bazaar Jan. 25

Thank you for your patience and cooperation with drop-off and pick-up. We know the past few days have been frustrating, and we truly appreciate your flexibility as we continue working to make the process smoother. Today was already better, and we expect things to keep improving.

Morning Drop-Off (Drop-Off Only): To help traffic move more quickly, please use both lanes, even though they are not marked. ( We will get lanes marked when weather improves.)Inside lane (next to the school): You may drop off your student anywhere along the lane. Students can walk on the sidewalk to the gym commons entrance.Outside lane: Please pull up to the crosswalk area with the stop signs before letting your student out.Using both lanes consistently will help speed up the entire drop-off process.

Afternoon Pick-Up: To keep traffic flowing and ensure student safety:Please do not park and wait in the inside lane. If your student isn’t ready, pull into the parking lot or loop back around.The outside lane must remain a through lane. Students should not enter vehicles from the outside lane for safety reasons.

Crossing 13th Street: If your student walks home and needs to cross 13th, please remind them to use one of the two designated crosswalks and press the crossing button. This keeps traffic moving safely and protects students from dangerous crossings.Thank you again for your understanding, patience, and support as we work through these improvements. We truly appreciate you.Go Indians!

Hays Middle School offers direction on new student pick up, drop off

'The Feast' fundraiser for Codell Community Church Feb. 7

Logan, KS — The Hansen Museum Continuing Education Program is delighted to welcome certified Bob Ross instructor Hope Blakely of Arvada, Colorado, for two Magic of Painting classes on January 24 &amp; 25. On Saturday, January 24th, participants will paint Old Castle, and on Sunday, January 25th, Mystic Waterfall. Both classes will take place in the Hansen Museum Community Room, located at 110 W. Main Street in Logan, Kansas, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day, with a one-hour lunch break.

These classes offer a fun, beginner-friendly introduction to painting. Students will be guided step-by-step through the process of completing a finished painting each day. No prior experience is necessary, and all supplies are provided. Participants need only bring a roll of paper towels. Open to individuals aged 13 and older, these sessions provide a relaxed, supportive atmosphere that fosters creativity and camaraderie.

Registration is available online at www.hansenmuseum.org under the “Classes &amp; Camps” section. Discounts are offered to Patron and Sustaining Members of the Hansen Museum. These classes are part of the Hansen Museum Continuing Education Program and are made possible through generous support from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. For more information, call 785-689-4846.

The Hansen Museum is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 4:00, Saturdays from 9:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 5:00, and Sundays and holidays from 1:00 to 5:00. The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. The facility is handicap-accessible, and thanks to the support of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, admission is always free.

Upcoming beginner-friendly painting class at Hansen Museum

BUNKER HILL – Smoky Hills PBS is excited to announce that the 2026 PBS KIDS Writers Contest is now officially open for entries. The annual contest encourages creativity and imagination by inviting children in 1st through 5th grade to submit their very own original stories.

This year introduces a new contest requirement: every story must include a zoo theme. Whether it’s a daring adventure, a silly animal tale, or a heartwarming zoo friendship, young writers are encouraged to let their imaginations run wild.

“At Smoky Hills PBS, we love celebrating the creativity and imagination of young writers across our region," said Betsy Schwien, general manager of Smoky Hills PBS. "The PBS KIDS Writers Contest is a wonderful opportunity for students in 1st through 5th grade to explore storytelling, share their unique voices, and maybe even see their work featured on television. We can’t wait to read all the amazing zoo-themed stories this year!"

Students may submit stories individually, and teachers are also welcome to submit multiple entries on behalf of their classrooms. Printable entry forms are available at <a href="https://www.smokyhillspbs.org/kids/pbs-kids-writers-contest/">SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>, and completed forms and stories can be emailed to writerscontest@shptv.org.

All entries must be received by February 23, 2026.

Winners will receive prizes and be recognized in May 2026, during the annual Smoky Hills PBS Awards Show, where selected stories will be featured on TV.

The PBS KIDS Writers Contest continues to be a fun and educational opportunity for children to strengthen their writing skills, express themselves creatively, and share their ideas with the community.

Thank you to <a href="https://www.messer-us.com/">Messer: Gases for Life</a> and the Beach Family Foundation for making this year’s 2026 PBS KIDS Writers Contest possible.

Smoky Hills PBS announces 2026 PBS KIDS Writers Contest

Girl Scout sign up Monday in La Crosse

The Arc is collecting size 16+ dresses and 2XL suits to help make Night to Shine unforgettable for its amazing guests.

Drop off donations between Jan. 5-9 at The Arc, 600 Main St., Hays.

Be sure to mark donations for Night to Shine.

Arc collecting dresses, suits for Night to Shine

More than dozen 2026 candidates for governor must file reports by Monday

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Schwab reported $1.3 million in campaign contributions as of Dec. 31, while Republican Vicki Schmidt and Democrat Ethan Corson attracted more than $900,000 in donations to fuel their campaigns for governor.

Schwab, Schmidt and Corson released information on their 2025 fundraising ahead of the Monday deadline for submitting financial documents to the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission and Kansas Secretary of State’s office. At this point, the statistics have been based on candidate news releases, but the official documents filed with the state would disclose details about donations, loans, expenditures and cash on hand.

So far, more than a dozen candidates have announced campaigns for the Republican or Democratic party nominations for governor in Kansas. Their capacity to generate significant donations would be viewed as a measure of political viability in terms of the August primaries. In 2022, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly raised more than $7.7 million for her successful reelection campaign.

Schwab, who has served as Kansas’ secretary of state since 2019, said his campaign for governor attracted more than $1.3 million.

“These results show support for the only conservative in the race with a comprehensive plan for addressing the Kansas property tax crisis,” he said. “Kansans want a leader who will do more than share hollow rhetoric about issues, but put forth solutions that put the taxpayer first.”

Schwab’s most prominent GOP rivals include former Gov. Jeff Colyer, Senate President Ty Masterson and Schmidt, the state insurance commissioner.

Schmidt’s campaign said she raised $980,000 from more than 800 donors. The contributions ranged from $1 to $4,000, and 57% of the donations were from Kansans.

“We’re building a campaign the right way — with broad grassroots support, careful stewardship of resources and a clear path forward,” Schmidt said.

Corson, a Democratic state senator from Johnson County, said he accepted more than 3,000 contributions and that 70% of these donations were for less than $100. He reported securing more than $900,000 since July. His rival in the primary is Sen. Cindy Holscher, also of Johnson County. She has not yet released campaign donation information.

“Our campaign is about creating a Kansas where the next generation can build a life right here, and this milestone is proof that people all across the state believe in that vision,” Corson said.

During the 2025 portion of the campaign cycle, Corson said his campaign traveled 11,000 miles to dozens of cities. He’s been endorsed by more than 10 labor unions as well as Kelly, who referred to him as “most suited” to be the next governor.

In the campaign for attorney general, Democrat Chris Mann officially filed as a candidate and said his campaign raised $536,000 in 2025. Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach said he would run for reelection but hasn’t released a summary of his campaign treasurer’s report. In 2022, Kobach received 50.8% of the vote to narrowly defeat Mann, who claimed 49.2% of ballots cast.

Mann said 89% of his 2,500 contributions came from Kansans, which he said was an indication of momentum of his second campaign for attorney general.

“Kansans want an attorney general who is focused on protecting communities, upholding the law fairly, and delivering real results, not&nbsp;playing politics,” Mann said. “The record level of support we’re seeing makes it clear that people are ready for a new direction in the attorney general’s office.”

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Republican from Wichita, said he generated $427,300 during 2025 for his campaign for state insurance commissioner.

He asserted the total “breaks all previous records for down-ballot races at this point in the election cycle,” comparing it to campaigns for secretary of state, state treasurer and insurance commissioner in 2014, 2018 and 2022. He didn’t acknowledge Mann’s higher total in the campaign for attorney general.

“I’m truly overwhelmed by the support I’ve received from across the state,” said Hawkins, who promised to lower insurance costs and address insurance companies operating unethically or illegally.

The primary election in Kansas has been scheduled for Aug. 4. The state’s voter registration deadline is June 1.

Latest Kansas campaign finance reports: Candidates for governor strive to hit $1M mark

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A teen murder suspect, captured on June 17, after hiding from police for weeks was back in court this week.

During an arraignment hearing in the courtroom of Judge Tyler Roush, 19-year-old Jaden Watts pleaded guilty in the shooting death of 24-year-old Demarc Burgess, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. 

In August, Judge Roush rejected a motion from Watt's attorney to dismiss the case because the fatal shooting was in self defense, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;

In March, police issued a felony pick-up for Watts in connection with the shooting of Burgess&nbsp;at a residence in the 14000 block of E. Twinlake Drive in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Reboledo.&nbsp; EMS transported Burgess to a local hospital where he died.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the incident occurred during a gathering at the residence, where a disturbance broke out between Watts and Burgess, which ultimately led to the shooting.&nbsp; &nbsp;On June 17, Wichita police and U.S. Marshals took Watts into custody in the area of 700 S Hunter in Wichita, according to a statement from Wichita Police. He was charged with second-degree murder.

Watts is scheduled to be sentenced in March.

Kan. teen murder suspect who hid from police for weeks enters plea

By RIO YAMAT and SHAWN CHEN AP Business Writers

LAS VEGAS (AP) — CES 2026 offered a glimpse of a future that feels straight out of a sci-fi movie: bendable screens, paper-thin TVs and cars and gadgets that can think for themselves as they get to know you and your family's wants and needs.

As Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang put it, “The ChatGPT moment for physical AI is here.”

And everywhere you looked, robots. They roamed the show floor, assisted workers and entertained crowds — from humanoid helpers and furry “cyber pets” to task-specific machines.

Here's a recap of some of the attention-grabbing gadgets at CES 2026, the annual technology trade show in Las Vegas:

Lego leaned heavily into fan nostalgia this week to unveil its latest innovation, enlisting Lucasfilm Chief Creative Officer David Filoni and a lineup of familiar Star Wars characters, including Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO and X-wing pilots.

On Monday, the company introduced Lego Smart Play, a new platform built around connected bricks, tags and specially designed minifigures in partnership with Star Wars. These smart bricks are equipped with sensors that detect light and distance, triggering coordinated lights and sounds when used together to bring builds to life.

The platform allows fans to build interactive scenes, like space battles or lightsaber duels.

Another point for nostalgia: Clicks Technology is reviving the physical phone keyboard with its magnetic QWERTY model that clips onto phones.

Co-founder Jeff Gadway said the company's Power Keyboard “is one keyboard for all your smart devices."

It features a full QWERTY layout, with directional keys and a number row, in a callback to the Blackberry-era of smartphones for those who miss real buttons. The company said it also doubles as a wireless power bank.

If you're not familiar with CES, just know that new TV announcements are ubiquitous to the show — some big, some small, some even transparent. But LG brought something distinct to CES this year: an OLED TV that's only 9mm thick.

The South Korean tech company announced the OLED evo W6 model from its Wallpaper line just ahead of CES but reporters and industry representatives were able to see it for the first time at the show.

As advertised, the screen displays video nearly edge-to-edge and is ridiculously thin (though it doesn't roll up like its name implies). Like the previous models in its Wallpaper line, the TV's inputs are housed in a box that sits nearby. LG representatives claim you can seamlessly stream 4K video and audio to the screen. No pricing was available but the new TV will be available in 77- and 83-inch sizes.

Chinese robovac maker Roborock introduced a vacuum that literally sprouts chicken-like legs to navigate up and down stairs. There are vacuums out there capable of this feat (and there were even a few others at CES), but this one actually cleans the steps along the way.

The newly introduced Saros Rover took its time in its ascent and descent during the demo on the showroom floor, but Roborock said it will be able to traverse almost any style of stairwell, including spiraled and curved. Unfortunately, no release date was given for the Rover, which the company says is still in development.

Razer goes the smart glasses route with headphones

Gaming tech company Razer brought a very interesting concept to CES, a set of over-ear headphones that can largely replicate the capabilities of currently available smart glasses (think Meta's Ray Ban glasses).

During the demo, Razer's host asked the AI-powered headset — dubbed Project Motoko — to translate a Japanese restaurant menu into English and even asked it to search up information on The Associated Press.

The headphones see using built-in cameras and take audio inputs from microphones. What AI model serves as the base of the headphones is up to the user, and it sounded like the usual suspects were supported — ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude.

While it's being developed largely as a consumer product, Razer did mention that it could be sold to businesses to gather data to train AI models. Razer said consumer data retrieved from the headphones wouldn't be sold for training purposes and that enterprise sales would be siloed from consumer sales.

Extended-reality platform aims to help process grief

Do you wish you could speak one more time with a loved one who died unexpectedly? Or sit down for a conversation with your younger self? One company is exploring how immersive technology might make something like that possible, at least in part.

VHEX Lab showcased its SITh.XRaedo, an immersive extended-reality grief therapy platform that creates a virtual avatar from a single photo and, according the company, is guided in real time by a trained XR therapist. Wearing a virtual reality headset, users can speak with the avatar, which responds through speech, nods, smiles and other gestures.

The company, which won a digital health innovation award at CES, said the platform is designed to help people process grief and find closure, offering an alternative way to mourn.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride — that’s exactly what some conference attendees did at Strutt’s booth. Curious volunteers sat blindfolded in the robotics company’s new self-driving personal mobility chair called the EV1, which senses its surroundings and navigates on its own. With the push of a button and a forward lever, the chair guided riders through a small course, looping them around without requiring any active control.

Tony Hong, CEO and founder of the Singapore-based Strutt, told AP that the chair has a full suite of sensors that helps it avoid bumps, walls, people and other obstacles, adjusting in real time as it drives.

A “cyber pet” that turned heads at CES

Allergic to dogs or cats but still craving a furry sidekick? Chinese tech brand Ollobot pitched a futuristic alternative: a rolling, purple “cyber pet” named OlloNi. Part plush toy, part AI robot, OlloNi is designed to feel warm and expressive, unlike the stiff, humanoid home robots that often dominate robotics, the company said.

OlloNi uses a screen mounted at its neck, making eye contact and cycling through thousands of animated expressions meant to mirror human emotion and interaction.

Scratch behind its fuzzy “ears,” and OlloNi’s wide digital “eyes” pop open in apparent delight, which drew attention and laughs from passersby on the show floor.

Uber used CES to pull back the curtain on its upcoming robotaxi, offering the public a first look at a self-driving vehicle developed with luxury EV maker Lucid Motors and autonomous technology company Nuro.

Uber called it the most premium robotaxi yet, with cameras, sensors and radar for full 360-degree awareness, along with a sleek, low-profile roof “halo” fitted with LED screens that display a rider’s initials and ride status. Inside, passengers can tailor the temperature, seat heating and music, while on-screen visuals show what the vehicle sees and the route it plans to follow in real time.

The companies said on-road testing, led by Nuro, began in the San Francisco area last month, as they work toward launching the service before the end of the year.

Associated Press journalists Aya Diab, Jessica Hill and Ty ONeil contributed to this report from Las Vegas

From climbing vacuums to cyber pets: Some highlights of CES 2026

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/josh-boak">JOSH BOAK</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/aamer-madhani">AAMER MADHANI</a>U

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Friday called on oil executives to rush back into Venezuela as the White House tries to quickly secure $100 billion in investments to fix the country’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-oil-prices-trump-0c2c6ede79d550af53e6d3ddb51bfa04">neglected infrastructure</a>&nbsp;and fully tap into its expansive reserves of petroleum.

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