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Kansas measles cases reach 23; new Ohio outbreak sickens 10

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Kansas measles cases reach 23; new Ohio outbreak sickens 10


A measles outbreak that began in southwestern Kansas has rapidly expanded to 23 cases and may be connected to earlier outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico, which have collectively sickened more than 370 people, according to state and federal health officials.

At the same time, Ohio health authorities confirmed that a case in Ashtabula County has led to 10 infections, marking a concerning resurgence of the highly contagious disease across multiple states.

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Where are measles outbreaks spreading in Kansas and Ohio?

What we know:

In Kansas, the Department of Health and Environment said Wednesday that the outbreak has more than doubled since Friday, when only 10 cases had been reported. The infections have now spread across six counties: Grant, Morton, Stevens, Haskell, Gray, and Kiowa.

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Nearly all of the Kansas cases are in people under 18. The outbreak began with a case identified in Stevens County on March 13. In response, Kansas health officials have issued an alert to medical providers and are recommending early MMR vaccination for infants 6 to 11 months old living in or near affected counties — a measure typically reserved for outbreak situations.

In Ohio, the state health department confirmed that 10 cases are currently in Ashtabula County. A separate case involving a visitor in Knox County led to exposure concerns across multiple counties. Ohio previously saw a large outbreak in 2022, which sickened 85 people in central parts of the state.

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What we don’t know:

It remains unclear how long these outbreaks will continue to grow or whether they will spread to additional states with similarly low vaccination rates. 

Health officials have not identified a single source linking the Kansas and Ohio outbreaks to those in Texas and New Mexico, though potential connections are being investigated. 

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It’s also unknown how many exposed individuals may develop symptoms in the coming days, given the disease’s incubation period.

How are other states involved in the outbreak?

The backstory:

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that measles cases in 2025 have already surpassed all reported cases in 2024 — even before the Kansas and Ohio clusters were added. As of Tuesday, New Mexico had 43 outbreak-related cases, and Texas reported 327. Oklahoma has nine cases linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks.

Public health experts say the Texas outbreak, which began in January, could last for months. If it spreads further into undervaccinated communities, it may continue for a year or more — and could put the U.S. at risk of losing its measles elimination status.

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Why vaccination rates are a key concern

By the numbers:

Health officials emphasize that the MMR vaccine — a two-dose series typically given before kindergarten — is about 97% effective at preventing measles. But several Kansas counties in the outbreak have lower-than-recommended vaccination rates:

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Morton County: 82%

Stevens County: 83%

Haskell County: 58%

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Gray County: 66%

Public health experts recommend a 95% vaccination rate to prevent outbreaks. Kansas’ state health department warns that more cases are likely to emerge in and around the affected counties, especially among the unvaccinated.

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FILE – A person receives a vaccination as public health officials urge immunization to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

In Ohio, CDC data from the 2023–24 school year shows that 89% of kindergarteners were vaccinated against measles — below the optimal threshold.

What they’re saying:

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“Given the measles activity in Texas, New Mexico, and other states around the country, we’re disappointed but not surprised we now have several cases here in Ohio and known exposure in some counties,” said Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff.

“This disease can be very serious, even deadly, but it is almost entirely avoidable by being properly vaccinated,” he added.

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Jill Bronaugh, a spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said, “Due to the highly contagious nature of measles, additional cases are likely to occur within the current outbreak area and the surrounding counties, especially among those who are unvaccinated.”

The Source: This article is based on reporting from the Associated Press, which cited updates from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Ohio Department of Health, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Case counts and vaccination data reflect official state and federal figures as of March 2025. 

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Kansas Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for Dec. 24, 2025

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The Kansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 24, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

04-25-31-52-59, Powerball: 19, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

Midday: 5-0-7

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Evening: 1-2-4

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

Red Balls: 05-20, White Balls: 02-10

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

03-05-07-17-34, Lucky Ball: 09

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Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

01-18-27-41-49, Star Ball: 09, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Super Kansas Cash numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

03-04-07-25-27, Cash Ball: 25

Check Super Kansas Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Kansas Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at select Kansas Lottery offices.

By mail, send a winner claim form and your signed lottery ticket to:

Kansas Lottery Headquarters

128 N Kansas Avenue

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Topeka, KS 66603-3638

(785) 296-5700

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a claim form, and deliver the form along with your signed lottery ticket to Kansas Lottery headquarters. 128 N Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603-3638, (785) 296-5700. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Kansas Lottery.

When are the Kansas Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3 Midday/Evening: 1:10 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. CT daily.
  • 2 By 2: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
  • Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
  • Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Super Kansas Cash: 9:10 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Kansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Broncos aim to dominate Chiefs in Christmas night showdown in Kansas City

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Broncos aim to dominate Chiefs in Christmas night showdown in Kansas City


Denver (12-3) at Kansas City (6-9)

Thursday, 8:15 p.m. EST, Amazon Prime Video.

BetMGM NFL Odds: Broncos by 13.

Against the spread: Broncos 6-8-1; Chiefs 5-9-1.

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Series record: Chiefs lead 73-58.

Last meeting: Broncos beat Chiefs 22-19 on Nov. 16 in Denver.

Last week: Broncos lost to Jaguars 34-20 in Denver; Chiefs lost to Titans 26-9 in Tennessee.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, left, and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) shake hands after an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. Credit: AP/Jack Dempsey

Broncos offense: overall (9), rush (18), pass (8), scoring (13).

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Broncos defense: overall (4), rush (2), pass (10), scoring (5).

Chiefs offense: overall (13), rush (22), pass (9), scoring (20).

Chiefs defense: overall (10), rush (8), pass (12), scoring (4).

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid watches during the...

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid watches during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. Credit: AP/John Amis

Turnover differential: Broncos minus-4; Chiefs minus-2.

Broncos player to watch

WR Courtland Sutton needs 28 yards receiving to become the first Broncos player with back-to-back 1,000 yards seasons since Emmanuel Sanders (2014-16) and Demaryius Thomas (2012-16).

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Chiefs player to watch

QB Chris Oladokun finished out last week’s game against the Titans once Gardner Minshew joined Patrick Mahomes in tearing his ACL in consecutive weeks. Now, the former South Florida, Samford and South Dakota State quarterback — a seventh-round pick in 2022 — could make his first NFL start.

Key matchup

The Chiefs quarterback against the Broncos pass rush, which is the best in the league. They have 63 sacks, or 13 more than the second-place Falcons, and more than double what Kansas City (31) has had this season.

Key injuries

Chiefs: CBs Trent McDuffie (knee) and Jaylen Watson (groin) and WRs Nikko Remigio (knee), Rashee Rice (concussion) and Tyquan Thornton (concussion) missed practice this week. QB Gardner Minshew (torn ACL) went on injured reserve.

Broncos: LB Dre Greenlaw has been dealing with a hamstring injury. WR Pat Bryant (concussion), C Luke Wattenberg (shoulder), TE Nate Adkins (knee) have also been out. LBs Justin Strnad (foot) and Karene Reid (hamstring) were full participants this week.

Series notes

The Chiefs won 16 consecutive games in the series beginning in November 2015 and ending in October 2023. But since then, the Broncos have won three of the past four, including their matchup earlier this season in Denver. Each of those three wins have come at home for the Broncos; they still have not won in Kansas City since Sept. 17, 2015.

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Stats and stuff

Broncos QB Bo Nix is tied for the second-most victories over the first two seasons at his position with 22. … Nix needs one TD pass to become the fourth QB in NFL history with at least 25 in each of his first two seasons. … Two of Nix’s protectors earned their first Pro Bowl starting bids in G Quinn Meinerz and ninth-year veteran T Garett Bolles, who leads the league in pass-blocking efficiency and has yet to allow a sack this season. … WR Courtland Sutton has moved into fifth in Broncos history with 6,226 yards receiving. … Broncos LB Nik Bonitto needs one sack to joins Simon Fletcher as the only players in team history with at least 13 1/2 in back-to-back seasons. … Chiefs TE Travis Kelce needs 46 yards to become the fastest at his position to reach 13,000 in NFL history. Kelce has caught a pass in 189 straight games, the longest streak in Chiefs history and longest active streak in the NFL. … Chiefs K Harrison Butker has missed at least one PAT or FG attempt in eight of their 15 games. Kansas City was 1 for 9 on third down and finished with 133 total yards last week against the Titans. Nearly half of those yards were offset by 10 penalties for 59 yards.

Fantasy tip

Broncos RB R.J Harvey could have a huge day against a beaten-up Kansas City defense, one week after the Titans’ Tony Pollard eclipsed 100 yards against it. The Chiefs offense has been decimated by injuries, which means they could be punting a lot, giving the Broncos the ball for long stretches. And if the game gets out of hand early — a distinct possibility — then it could be Harvey getting fed simply to run out the clock.



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Kansas Lt. Gov. ‘thrilled’ to bring Chiefs to Sunflower State

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Kansas Lt. Gov. ‘thrilled’ to bring Chiefs to Sunflower State


OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KCTV) – As Kansas lawmakers and the Chiefs held negotiations to get the team to leave Missouri, Lieutenant Governor David Toland led those conversations. He spoke to KCTV at the Kansas Department of Commerce office in Overland Park on Tuesday.

“We’re thrilled,” said Toland. “We’re so excited to be able to bring the Chiefs to Kansas, keep them in the Kansas City region, and to add an entirely new facility to the ecosystem of assets in Kansas City, which is a modern, domed facility that can host a Super Bowl, Final Fours, and big bowl games among many other things.”

Toland, who is also the state’s Secretary of Commerce, describes the last few days as a whirlwind, but a happy one, and they weren’t sure it was a done deal until around 2 p.m. on Sunday. He acknowledges the teamwork from state politicians in getting this done.

“This is a massive win,” said Toland. “It’s a massive project. We’re talking about a $4 billion project, 21,000 construction jobs, $4 billion in economic impact just during construction and then $1 billion a year in new revenues to Kansas. Our main message is one; this is a great deal for the taxpayers. Two, we’re going to be able to do things that we’ve never done before in Kansas and in Kansas City. Three, and most importantly, this is great for the Chiefs.”

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The new stadium in Wyandotte County and team headquarters and practice facility in Johnson County, along with entertainment districts at both, are part of a new STAR Bond District. The Sales Tax and Revenue bonds, or STAR Bonds, will help finance this project. The cost of the projects will be split 60-40, with Kansas paying 60% and the Chiefs paying 40%.

“This is a project that pays for itself with new revenues and at no risk to the taxpayers,” said Toland. “It’s going to create new money that is not currently here. That sales tax from the district in that area is pledged to the STAR Bonds. The risk for those STAR Bonds is born by the people who buy those bonds, not by the taxpayers. That’s about 80% of the capitol stack for the project. The other 20% comes from the state’s Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund, which comes from the lottery and from sports betting. You put those two pieces together and that’s how we’re able to accomplish a $4 billion deal for Kansas.”

There have been questions of the success rate of STAR Bonds for past projects. KCTV5 investigated the 25-year history of the program and found a mixed record: some projects paid off early, while others closed before the bonds were retired. Toland stands by them.

“STAR Bonds are a proven tool that we’ve been using for over 25 years in Kansas,” said Toland. “We’ve done huge projects with them, like the Kansas Speedway, and we’ve done smaller projects all over the state, like the Amelia Earhart Museum in Atchison, for example.

“This is a proven model. We’ve done them successfully and it’s a tool that’s particularly good on a large project like this. We’re going to have a STAR Bond District that’s very strong, and we know that this is going to be a win, not just for the Chiefs and the communities, but for the investors.”

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With the plans for the new stadium to have a dome and an entertainment district, Toland says it can be used for much more than Chiefs’ games. He listed Super Bowl games, Final Four games, collegiate bowl games, and concerts, on top of hotels, restaurants, and more. He says this is a win for the whole metro.

“When you have a large-scale event like that, the impact is felt not just in Kansas, but across the region,” said Toland. “I think this is going to be, without question, a net positive for the Kansas City metro and that’s always been a goal of ours. We want a destination that’s going to be active, vibrant, and alive 365 days a year with people who live there and work there and come for restaurants and entertainment any night of the year. That’s a major part of how this project will differ from what’s currently at the Truman Sports Complex.”

The plan is to have the Chiefs in the new stadium by the start of the 2031-2032 season. Toland acknowledges the team leaving Arrowhead and Missouri is difficult for some fans.

“I’m an economic development professional,” said Toland. “I’ve been on both sides of winning deals and losing deals, and I know what it feels like both ways. I know this is tough for a lot of people in the region. I love Arrowhead as a venue. It’s an amazing place, but it’s time to go to the next level. That’s what we’re doing with this stadium project, with the headquarters and practice facility and these entertainment districts in Kansas. It’s making sure that the Chiefs remain best in class, that we’re growing the economy not just in Kansas but in the Kansas City metro, and we can have new opportunities to, among other things, finally realize Lamar Hunt Sr.’s dream of bringing a Super Bowl to Kansas City.”

When asked if he’s leading continued talks with the Royals, Toland declined to answer, saying they’re still focused on the Chiefs at this time.

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For more stories on the latest stadium development news, click here.



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