WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Combines will soon be rolling across the state with wheat harvest underway in Kansas. With it comes some optimism and an improved outlook from the last few years hampered by extreme drought conditions. This year, much-needed rain came with severe weather that presented some problems.

“Sporadic little storms that came through here, it did cause some damage,” said Harvey County farmer John Janzen.

Fortunately, the storms weren’t catastrophic for his land east of Newton.

“Two inches of rain after a fairly dry but intermittent rain spell was not a disaster,” Janzen said.

Rising temperatures brings urgency as we approach mid-June.

“Breezy, sunny day when the wheat’s dry enough to combine, you can see the urgency of getting this crop in as soon as possible,” Janzen said.

Reflecting on past years, it’s an improved situation from the drought that for some, proved to be devastating.

October of last year, of [2023], it was really, really dry,” Janzen said. “We planted wheat in October, November, and also planted alfalfa that just did not come up and we declared it a total loss.”

With the wheat crop, Janzen said he’s thankful for what nature’s provided.

“Hot, dry win in late June is a blessing,” he said.

While he expects this year’s harvest to be better than the last couple of years, the true test is in the numbers.

“Weight, moisture, protein, we aim to do the highest quality” Janzen said.

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TOPEKA — Outgoing state Sen. Tom Holland recommended Wednesday ahead of a special session of the Kansas Legislature a state tax reform bill highlighted by residential, commercial and agricultural property tax relief rather than offering a package emphasizing state income tax rate cuts.

Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat who decided not to seek reelection after 22 years in the Legislature, said during a news conference at the Capitol that he would urge lawmakers to increase state exemptions in all property tax classes and trim the state property tax mill levy for public schools. With inclusion of property tax relief for veterans, Holland’s approach would deliver nearly $200 million annually in property tax reductions.

“I am here to announce a tax proposal for next week’s special session that provides all Kansans with meaningful, significant tax relief that is fiscally sustainable,” Holland said. “Make no mistake, the number one hated tax in any state government or local government scheme is property tax.”

He referred to his strategy as the “Statehouse Kumbaya Tax Plan,” because contents were drawn from legislation receiving bipartisan support in the House and Senate. Overall, he said, his bill would offer an average $361 million annual reduction in state tax revenue through 2028. It would leave an estimated $600 million in the state treasury after four years, but that would be a significant reduction from the current surplus of $1.9 billion.

Under Holland’s bill, the state would adopt an income tax exemption on Social Security benefits that would cost the state $152 million in the first year by level off to about $125 million annually going forward. He didn’t propose a broad reduction in income tax rates, arguing it was impossible to make progress on property taxes if the Republican-led Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly devoted too much capital to lowering income taxes.

GOP legislative leaders and Kelly have tangled for the past two years on what would be an appropriate reduction in state income taxes, given the constitutional imperative to balance the state budget. GOP lawmakers say Kansas had sufficient cash reserves to make big income tax changes, especially for benefit of wealthy Kansans. Kelly has sought modest reductions that lower the risk of a budget quagmire over the next five years.

“I, like most legislators, have heard from many of my constituents regarding their tax burden,” Holland said. “Kansas property owners will be extremely pleased to hear that this plan provides approximately $1 billion, with a ‘b,’ in property tax relief over five years.”

Holland’s plan would nearly triple the state’s residential property tax exemption to $125,000 and shrink the state property tax mill levy for public schools from 20 mills to 18 mills. He said his bill would obligate state government to make up for reductions in property tax revenue for K-12 schools so that burden wouldn’t shift to local property taxpayers.

He said the interest among Kansas politicians in rolling back state income tax rates was problematic because legislation sent to the governor would torpedo the state budget. Rank-and-file legislators understand Kelly vetoed three tax bills in the 2024 legislative session because they weren’t sustainable, he said.

Grace Hoge, a spokeswoman for Kelly, said she appreciated Holland’s inclusion of significant property tax relief in his proposal.

“Kansans have been asking for property tax relief for months,” Hoge said. “There continues to be productive conversations with legislative leaders on responsible tax relief for all Kansans that does not threaten the state’s long-term fiscal stability.”

Members of the House and Senate expect to convene Monday for committee meetings dedicated to sorting through options for a new tax bill. Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, said Republican legislators would develop a fresh bill that made a priority of modifying income taxes.

In addition, both chambers plan to work during the special session on a bill outlining economic development incentives that might attract the Kansas City Chiefs or Kansas City Royals to new stadiums built in Kansas.

While there has been considerable legislative interest in making a deal on tax reform, the idea of issuing bonds for construction of professional sports stadiums in Wyandottee or Johnson counties hadn’t been vetted by legislators and could run into dedicated opposition.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium announced the loss of one of its birds.

Mabel, a trumpeter swan who had been at the zoo for five years, passed away at 13 years old due to renal failure.

“She was beloved by staff and guests…Mabel will be remembered for her gentle personality, love of lettuce, and excellent nest-building skills,” the zoo stated. “Her care team says that Mabel would bury her eggs so far in the nest, they were hard to find. She will be dearly missed by all.”

During their time together, Mabel and her habitat companion Melvin produced 13 cygnets, some of which were released back into their native range to increase the population. The KCZoo participates in the Trumpeter Swan Restoration Project, which helps reintroduce this species into its natural habitat.

Trumpeter swans are monogamous and the KCZoo will be working with the Association of Zoos & Aquarium’s Species Survival Plan (SSP) to pair Melvin with a new mate.

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