Kansas
Explosion at Kansas State Fair leaves two hospitalized
A small explosion at a concession trailer during the Kansas State Fair on Tuesday evening left two individuals hospitalized and others with minor injuries, according to local officials.
The blast resulted in a fire that prompted a quick response from emergency personnel. According to Kansas State Fair director Brian Schulz in a news release, crews from the Hutchinson Fire Department were called to the fairgrounds and arrived on the scene at 6:28 p.m. local time.
Two individuals were immediately transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment. While their condition has not been disclosed, officials at the fair confirmed that others sustained minor injuries but declined medical attention on-site.
The exact cause of the explosion is still unknown while authorities, including the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Hutchinson Fire Department, are currently investigating the incident.
Newsweek reached out to the Hutchinson police department and the Kansas State Fair via email on Wednesday for comment.
Mark Reinstein/Corbis/Getty Images
According to the Kansas State Fair website, Tuesday’s incident occurred during the fair’s Tasty Tuesday, in which participating vendors offered $2 concessions.
The fair is a major annual event in the area. It began on Friday and is scheduled to end this Sunday with an expected 350,000 visitors.
The family-friendly fair hosts several outdoor attractions, including carnival rides on the Midway, fried foods at the food court and musical performances that will include acts ranging from Wynonna Judd, the Goo Goo Dolls and the Oak Ridge Boys.
“Each year, visitors from around the world come to Hutchinson to celebrate the culture and history of our great state,” Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said on the State Fair visitor’s guide. “Whether that means taste-testing 50-year-old family recipes, attending a show at the Nex-Tech Grandstand, or experiencing Kansas’ rich agricultural history firsthand, the State Fair showcases why it’s so great to be a Kansan.”
Kelly statement added, “My administration will continue to support efforts to grow the Fair in the coming years as an important Kansas tourist attraction, and a symbol of our agricultural sector’s strength, and a driver of the local economy,”
The annual event dates back to January of 1873 when a group of businessmen met and organized the Reno County Agricultural Society. On September 23-24 that year, the society hosted a fair which was held in a small wooden livery stable behind the town’s only bank, according to the Kansas State Fair website.
Since then, every year the Kansas State Fair has provided visitors with more events and food.
“As always, you will find the many outstanding exhibits that our great Kansas people have spent many hours preparing to showcase at the Fair,” Bob Atkisson, president of the Board Kansas State Fair, said on the State Fair visitor’s guide.
Kansas
LET’S TALK | KSHB coming to Northeast Kansas City, Missouri, on Jan. 20
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The KSHB 41 News team will be landing in Northeast Kansas City, Missouri, for our latest Let’s Talk event.
We’ll be hanging out from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at Peachtree Cafeteria, 2128 E. 12th Street, in Kansas City, Missouri, 64127.
Join KSHB 41’s Kevin Holmes, Wes Peery, Alyssa Jackson, Ryan Gamboa and others in person to let us know what we need to learn about the Historic Northeast, its residents, what’s going well and what opportunities are possible.
If you can’t make it in person, send us a question using the form below.
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Kansas
Kansas ag officials take comment on proposed water rules
Posted:
Updated:
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Kansas Department of Agriculture held a meeting on Thursday to discuss proposed rules regarding the Kansas Water Appropriation Act.
The Division of Water Resources is proposing new regulations and changes to current regulations under the law.
The division is looking at amending or revoking regulations related to flowmeters tracking water usage.
It is also proposing changes to groundwater usage rules on how far you can move a well from its original location to prevent harming the water rights of other landowners.
Another regulation would create voluntary Water Conservation Areas, where landowners work with the division to establish water conservation plans on their properties.
Some of the concerns raised at Thursday’s meeting dealt with property rights and the transfer of land to new owners. Some expressed concern about the sale of water rights to other landowners in the area.
There is no listed timeline for when the changes could be made.
For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.
Kansas
Rural Kansas fire department reports record number of calls in 2025
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A rural Kansas fire department says it saw yet another increase in calls in 2025.
On Tuesday, Butler County Fire District #3 posted data about last year on social media.
It responded to 782 alarms in 2025, which is a new record.
The majority of the calls were for rescue and emergency medical services, followed by service calls.
The department’s data show the number of calls has been trending upward over the last 20 years.
From 2006 to 2010, the department handled an an average of 550 calls a year. From 2021 through 2025, that average was 720, a 31% increase.
Officials said continued growth in the community has increased the demand for emergency services.
“These numbers reinforce the importance of ongoing training, staffing, equipment planning, and community support to ensure we can continue to provide timely and effective service,” the department said on Facebook.
For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.
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