Kansas

Kansas Air National Guard hosts team surveying 190th ARW for new operations

Published

11 months ago

April 2, 2025

Kansas Air National Guard hosts team surveying 190th ARW for new operations

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:

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

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Kansas

Doe v. State of Kansas | American Civil Liberties Union

Published

7 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Doe v. State of Kansas | American Civil Liberties Union

In early 2026, the Kansas state legislature passed SB 244, a law which prohibits transgender people from using public restrooms on government property that align with their gender identity and establishes a private right of action that allows anyone who suspects someone is transgender and in violation of the law to sue that person for “damages” totaling $1,000.

The law also invalidates state-issued driver’s licenses with updated gender markers that reflect the carrier’s gender identity. In February 2026, transgender people across the state received letters from the state Department of Revenue’s Division of Vehicles informing them that their driver’s licenses “will no longer be valid,” effective immediately. SB 244 also prohibits transgender Kansans – or those born in Kansas – from updating the gender marker on state-issued birth certificates and driver’s licenses in the future.

The same day SB 244 went into effect, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Kansas, and Ballard Spahr LLP filed a lawsuit challenging SB 244 in the District Court of Douglas County on behalf of two transgender men who had their driver’s licenses invalidated under the law. The lawsuit charges that SB 244 violates the Kansas Constitution’s protections for personal autonomy, privacy, equality under the law, due process, and freedom of speech.

“The invalidation of state-issued IDs threatens to out transgender people against their will every time they apply for a job, rent an apartment, or interact with police,” said Harper Seldin, Senior Staff Attorney for the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Rights Project. “Taken as a whole, SB 244 is a transparent attempt to deny transgender people autonomy over their own identities and push them out of public life altogether.”

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Kansas

Kansas City man sentenced for cocaine trafficking, possession of illegal firearm

Published

19 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Kansas City man sentenced for cocaine trafficking, possession of illegal firearm

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A Kansas City man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy and possession of an illegal firearm.

According to the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, 22-year-old Antoine R. Gillum was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole.

His sentencing stems from a June 2024 incident in a metro gas station. KCPD investigators contacted Gillum inside and found that he had discarded a 9 mm pistol in an aisle between the merchandise. He also discarded a pill bottle containing multiple illegal substances: cocaine base, oxycodone/acetaminophen and oxycodone.

Officers searched the vehicle Gillum had arrived in and found approximately 32 grams of cocaine base.

On May 6, 2025, Gillum pleaded guilty to one count each of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Jennings. It’s a part of ‘Operation Take Back America,’ a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations.

No further information has been released.

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