TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Forbes Field could be the home base for one of the US Air Force’s newest operations.

The 190th welcomed a site survey team consisting of members from the National Guard Bureau and active-duty Air Force to Forbes Field Tuesday. The Air Force is reviewing seven military bases across the nation to find a proper base for the KC-46 Pegasus.

KC-46s will replace KC-135 Stratotankers at the final decision location and bring enhanced capabilities, such as boom and drogue refueling on the same sortie, worldwide navigation and communication, cargo capacity on the entire main deck floor, receiver air refueling, improved force protection, and multi-point air refueling capability. DAF announces seven candidate locations for KC-46A Pegasus MOB 7

“The KC-46 brings more capability than just fuel to aerial warfare. This is critical for our Airmen and aircrew who would be fighting in potential future conflicts,” Col. Kent Crane, Commander, 190th ARW, said. “The site survey provides an opportunity to showcase how the 190th ARW is uniquely positioned to enhance Air Force capabilities in strategic refueling missions.”

The 190th Air Refueling Wing says it based its tour around several factors making it the ideal base: Forbes Field’s central location and potential for growth, and the 190th ARW’s existing infrastructure, partnerships, And proven capabilities.

“It’s always exciting getting to showcase the 190th, especially the members of the 190th because they’re so adaptable, they’re innovative, and they excel at everything they do,” Col. Marjorie Durkes, Deputy Commander, 190th ARW, said. “It’s so exciting to showcase not only the 190th but the Topeka community and how we’ve all come together around this.”

A final decision is expected this fall.

Candidate Bases:

1. Bangor Air National Guard Base, Maine
2. Forbes Field Air National Guard Base (Topeka), Kan.
3. Key Field Air National Guard Base (Meridian), Miss.
4. McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base (Knoxville), Tenn.
5. Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio
6. Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
7. Sumpter Smith Air National Guard Base (Birmingham), Ala.

Copyright 2025 WIBW. All rights reserved.

ODESSA, Mo. (KCTV) – Leaders in Lafayette County hope to follow in the steps of other Kansas City-area counties.

Voters will decide whether to approve a question that would allow the county to charge a 3% tax on adult-use marijuana sales.

The ballot language is listed below.

Other counties and cities in Missouri have already implemented a similar tax. Money from the tax is being used to fund things like city services and initiatives to fight crime.

Voters can learn more about voting hours and polling locations on April 8 on the Lafayette County Election Board website.

Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.

The Kansas State Finance Council approved a $4,000 settlement with an inmate who accused the state of failing to protect him from multiple prison gangs.

A prisoner acted as a confidential informant while serving time at the Lansing Correctional Facility in 2015. The Kansas Department of Correction was investigating allegations of corruption at the facility. But despite assurances that he would remain anonymous, the prisoner’s involvement was allegedly revealed by employees at the facility.

Court records for the case have been sealed, and The Capital-Journal is withholding his name out of concern for public safety.

After his involvement was made known, the inmate said he had a “green light,” where a prisoner is marked as a target, by members of the Gangster Disciples, Aryan Brotherhood, Bloods, Crips and adherents of Asatru — a Norse pagan revivalist group that is sometimes linked to white supremacist prison gangs.

The inmate was transferred out of state in 2017 but was since returned into the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections. He stated in court documents that staff informed him that other prisoners were still planning to attack him, and he made that known when transferred from Crawford County jail to the El Dorado Correctional Facilities.

Despite the warnings, he was housed with an inmate that the prisoner claims was a threat. After about a month at El Dorado, the prisoner alleges he was given an option to transfer to either Ellsworth Correctional Facility or Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility.

He chose Larned but was again targeted for attack by games, court documents allege.

The prisoner said he was placed in restrictive housing and requested an out-of-state transfer. He alleged that jail staff are retaliating against him for his previous court case in 2017 seeking out-of-state transfer, including by “screaming down the hallway around other inmates that Plaintiff ‘was a CI/snitch.’”

In April 2023, he was being held in segregated housing and “being forced to accept cell mates from general population.”

“If he refuses to accept them, he received a disciplinary report for disobeying orders. Plaintiff alleges that keeping him in long term segregation prevents him from earning program credits, and from buying food and electronics,” court documents said.

The parties agreed to the $4,000 settlement on Feb. 26, which the State Finance Council approved on March 24. The State Finance Council is comprised of the governor and legislative leaders.

The Department of Corrections said the inmate has been transferred out of state.