Kansas
Here are the women who will lead the Republican and Democratic parties in Kansas
What is the Kansas Supermajority? How leaders react to 2024 election
The 2025 Legislative Session begins Jan. 12 with Republicans controlling the House and Senate under Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.
Kansas Republicans have elected a new party chair to lead the GOP into the 2026 election cycle, while Democrats reelected their party chair.
Republicans met over the weekend in Goodland for their annual convention. Meanwhile, Democrats met in Topeka for their annual convention, known as Washington Days.
Part of the state conventions was electing party leadership, who will lead their parties in the next election cycle, which features an open gubernatorial race in 2026 and congressional midterms.
Who will lead Kansas Republicans into 2026 elections
Republicans elected Danedri Herbert as chair.
“It is an honor to lead the Republican Party of the greatest state in the nation,” Herbert said in a statement to The Capital-Journal. “Kansas has long been the heart of the conservative movement, and our party is committed to continuing the fight for limited government and individual liberty. Over the next two years, I look forward to working with Kansas Republicans to grow our party, to stand firm for conservative values, and most importantly, to elect a Republican Governor in 2026.”
Herbert, who is a spokesperson for Attorney General Kris Kobach, replaces outgoing chair Mike Brown.
Republicans also elected conservative talk radio host Andy Hooser as vice chair, Roger Lomshek as treasurer and Amanda Schlyer as secretary.
Who will lead Kansas Democrats into 2026 elections
Democrats reelected party chair Jeanna Repass.
“Democrats are ready to fight for the shared values of Kansans during this time of uncertainty in our state and country,” Repass said in a news release. “Unelected billionaires and their friends are cutting jobs and funding that has a direct impact on veterans, farmers, and other working families. These are not Kansas values and we will be unwavering as we stand up for every Kansan.”
Delegates also reelected vice chair Shaun Junkins and elected former Sen. Usha Reddi as treasurer and Nik Cabrini as secretary.
Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.
Kansas
Sheriff: 2 Kansas suspects arrested, stolen items recovered
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Two men were arrested following a lengthy Reno County Sheriff’s Office investigation into several burglaries and thefts in the area.
Garson Stanley Boyles was arrested May 21, and Jimmy Ray Miller was arrested May 27. Both were arrested on suspicion of 11 counts of burglary, five counts of criminal damage to property and four counts of theft.
The sheriff’s office said numerous stolen items have been recovered, including a vehicle. Investigators said several items remain missing.
Anyone with information about the location of stolen property is asked to contact the Reno County Sheriff’s Office at 620-694-2735. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call Reno County Crime Stoppers at 620-694-2666 or 800-222-TIPS.
Kansas
Where to watch Kansas City Royals vs Texas Rangers: TV channel, start time, streaming for May 30
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.
The MLB action continues on Saturday as the Kansas City Royals visit the Texas Rangers.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Kansas City Royals vs Texas Rangers?
First pitch between the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 30.
How to watch Kansas City Royals vs Texas Rangers on Saturday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for May 30 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
Kansas
Kansas man sentenced to 4 years in connection with 13-year-old Linn County boy’s death
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Bates County Circuit Court judge Friday sentenced a Linn County, Kansas, man in connection with the December 2025 death of Airen Andula, 13.
Damon Leonard, 47, was sentenced to four years in prison for abandonment of a corpse, according to court records.
He pleaded guilty to the charge of abandoning a corpse on May 22.
Andula disappeared from his Pleasanton, Kansas, home on Dec. 21, 2025. A day later, law enforcement found the boy’s body in a ravine in Bates County, Missouri. He had died from multiple dog bite injuries.
Police were led to the boy’s body after a phone call from Leonard.
Court documents said Leonard “admitted that he transported the deceased child from Kansas to Missouri and left the body in the bottom of the creek” before he returned home.
KSHB 41 reporter Fernanda Silva spoke with Andula’s family earlier this week — after the guilty plea and ahead of Friday’s sentencing.
His family shared that the guilty plea brought a small sense of justice, but it didn’t do much to ease the pain of their loss.
READ MORE | Family of Airen Andula speaks out ahead of sentencing
“We’re missing our kid every day of our lives,” the boy’s father Charles Andula told Silva.
Leonard received credit for time served of 158 days in his sentence, per court records.
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