Kansas
Kansas City wants big federal money for sustainability projects, but it faces tough competition
Kansas City is dreaming big with visions of massive federal support for making the city greener than it’s been since wagon trains rumbled through these parts.
Last month, area governments submitted a request for nearly $200 million in sustainability funds with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Officials said they knew the effort would be epic in scale. The application included everything from bike trails to Civil War era settlements, subsidized e-bike sales, massive tree plantings and solar panels atop inner-city libraries.
Now, after grant requests from across America have landed at the EPA, it turns out the competition for the funds will be stiff.
Zealan Hoover, senior adviser to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, last week said, “We received $30 billion in proposals.”
That figure swamps the $4.6 billion the EPA will dole out to be spent over five years by cities, states and tribes on a wide variety of programs designed to cut carbon dioxide emissions and slow climate change and its devastating consequences.
The program is a result of the Inflation Reduction Act, which along with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act of the Biden administration, was approved by Congress to help counter the lingering drag on our economy from the COVID pandemic and boost employment.
In an interview, Hoover told the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Talk podcast: “We will be funding the best of the best. It is unlikely everyone will be selected.”
Local government representatives who worked on the Kansas City area submission remain upbeat as they await EPA action promised in July.
Tom Jacobs, the chief resiliency officer at the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), said, “If EPA elected to make a partial award, we would be thrilled to receive any resources they though appropriate.”
Jacobs and his team spent months working with 119 cities in nine counties in Missouri and Kansas represented by MARC. Collectively, they came up with $197,823,216 of funding requests for 40 projects. The projects were an outgrowth of a Priority Climate Action Plan, which can be viewed at kcmetroclimateplan.org.
The plan’s principal goals are to leverage public leadership, achieve neighborhood resilience and critical infrastructure resilience.
“We believe we have $200 million in outstanding projects,” Jacobs said.
He said he had no way of knowing if the fierce competition for funding from around the nation means Kansas City can expect to receive all its requested funding, partial funding or no funding.
“I don’t have any idea how they are going to implement it,” Jacobs said. But according to grant criteria, “they said they would not evaluate line item by line item but by a whole body of work.”
The grant requests from the Kansas City region submitted to EPA were an outgrowth of “our exhaustive community conversation,” he said.
Any revisions of plans prompted by EPA’s decisions would result in an effort to fine-tune the area’s requests.
“I would go back to the community to see what game plan they would like,” he said. “We laid out a program of interconnected parts so each investment would be supportive of other investments. We would apply that philosophy to any revisions we make.”
“I want to be able to tell a story of how one investment connects to the next to make visible change in the community,” Jacobs said.
Realistic expectations
Hoover of EPA said that the federal government expects just that.
“Even if every applicant is not selected the benefits will be felt across the country,” he told Grid Talk. “I’m really confident that there are going to be fantastic climate pollution reduction grants … all across the country.”
“We’ve received over $30 billion dollars in project proposals so we will be funding the best of the best,” he continued. “We’re seeing really innovative proposals that are tailored to the needs of local communities and states.”
In Kansas City, that could be boosts to commercial food waste composting; planting of indigenous plants, shrubs and trees to enhance area bird and wildlife; construction of electric vehicle charging in areas of the city lacking such critical 21st century energy infrastructure; and tons of caulking and energy efficiency upgrades of the oldest, leakiest housing stock in the area.
Such efforts, collectively, are expected to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 5.45 million tons over 25 years.
All of it will fall under the umbrella descriptor: “Kansas City – Anchoring Climate Transformation.”
This story was originally published by Flatland, a fellow member of the KC Media Collective.
Indiana’s portal haul continued to grow Sunday as multiple outlets reported the addition of Kansas State edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi.
Osunsanmi has played in 36 games over the last four years and has 8.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. Most of that production came over the last two seasons. He has a total of 47 QB pressures during his college career.
In 2025 he played in six games and had 20 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. He suffered a season-ending injury in October.
He saw action in all 13 games in 2024 as a reserve defensive end and on special teams, recording 19 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble over 303 defensive snaps and 31 special teams plays.
In 2023 he saw time in all 13 games as a reserve linebacker, a rush end on passing downs and on special teams. He was tied for team-high honors with five tackles on kickoff coverage.
He played in four games in 2022 and preserved his redshirt.
The 6-foot-3 and 250-pound Osunsanmi has one year of eligibility remaining.
The Wichita, Kan. product (Wichita East H.S.) was regarded as the 232nd-best overall player in the nation for the Class of 2022 by 247Sports.
Osunsanmi will help fill the void left by outgoing edge rushers Mikail Kamara, Kellan Wyatt and Stephen Daley.
More transfer portal information:
For complete coverage of IU football recruiting, GO HERE.
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
Related
Kansas football coach Lance Leipold explains signing QB Jaylen Mason
Check out some of what Kansas football coach Lance Leipold had to say Wednesday about why the Jayhawks signed quarterback Jaylen Mason.
LAWRENCE — The Division I transfer portal window for college football is open from Jan. 2 through Jan. 16, and that means Sunday is another chance for the Kansas football program to shape its roster.
The Jayhawks already gained one public addition earlier this offseason in Grand Valley State transfer Jibriel Conde — whose signing was announced Dec. 4. Conde, who is making the jump up from Division II, is a 247Sports-rated three-star defensive lineman in the portal and is listed by KU as a defensive tackle. On Saturday, a number of current Kansas players — including redshirt freshman quarterback Isaiah Marshall, redshirt sophomore wide receiver Keaton Kubecka and redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Blake Herold — also outlined in social media posts on X that they are locked in with the program for the 2026 season.
Marshall is set to compete for the starting quarterback job next season. Kubecka has the chance to step up into a more significant role at wide receiver. Herold is in line to be a key part of Kansas’ defensive line.
Those positives, though, don’t outweigh the fact that there has been a sizable group of players who have revealed their intentions to transfer away. Looking overall, when it comes to those whose decisions became public before and after the portal opened, the significant names to know include redshirt senior safety Lyrik Rawls, redshirt junior linebacker Trey Lathan and freshman quarterback David McComb. Lathan led KU in tackles in 2025.
Check in here for more updates during this transfer portal window about a KU team that finished 5-7 during the 2025 season, with transfer ratings as outlined by 247Sports.
Kansas football transfer portal additions
Jibriel Conde (3-star defensive lineman from Grand Valley State) — KU lists him as a defensive tackle
Kansas football transfer portal departures
Joseph Sipp Jr. (linebacker)
Jacoby Davis (cornerback)
Dylan Brooks (defensive end)
Jaidyn Doss (wide receiver)
Carter Lavrusky (offensive lineman)
Trey Lathan (linebacker)
Tyler Mercer (offensive lineman)
Harry Stewart III (running back)
Caleb Redd (3-star edge) — KU lists him as a defensive end
Aundre Gibson (3-star cornerback)
David McComb (3-star quarterback)
Kene Anene (3-star interior offensive lineman) — KU lists him as an offensive lineman
Laquan Robinson (3-star safety)
Jameel Croft Jr. (3-star cornerback)
Logan Brantley (3-star linebacker)
Greydon Grimes (3-star offensive tackle) — KU lists him as an offensive lineman
Jon Jon Kamara (3-star linebacker)
Lyrik Rawls (3-star safety)
Damani Maxson (3-star safety)
Jaden Hamm (tight end)
Bryce Cohoon (wide receiver)
JaCorey Stewart (linebacker)
Johnny Thompson Jr. (running back)
Efren Jasso (punter)
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Hundreds of people packed the Gem Theatre over the weekend to celebrate Kwanzaa.
The celebrations run nightly through January 1. Each night highlights a different core value, including unity, cooperation and faith.
The event features local vendors and performances. Organizers say it’s a great way to start the new year.
The Kwanzaa celebration is free and open to everyone.
Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.
Cuba says 32 Cuban fighters killed in US raids on Venezuela
US appeals court strikes down California’s open-carry ban in major Second Amendment ruling
Police seek suspect after dentist and wife found shot dead at home while 2 young children are unharmed
Texas requires students learn about ‘perils of communism’ in sweeping new curriculum overhaul
Redistricting battles brewing across the country as parties compete for power ahead of 2026 midterms
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Cuba says 32 Cuban fighters killed in US raids on Venezuela
Dan Bongino officially leaves FBI deputy director role after less than a year, returns to ‘civilian life’
Hundreds march in silence to honour Crans-Montana fire victims
Here’s a partial list of U.S. elected officials opposing Trump’s invasion of Venezuela
Crans Montana organises solemn march for the victims • FRANCE 24 English
-
World7 days agoHamas builds new terror regime in Gaza, recruiting teens amid problematic election
-
Indianapolis, IN1 week agoIndianapolis Colts playoffs: Updated elimination scenario, AFC standings, playoff picture for Week 17
-
Business1 week agoGoogle is at last letting users swap out embarrassing Gmail addresses without losing their data
-
Southeast1 week agoTwo attorneys vanish during Florida fishing trip as ‘heartbroken’ wife pleads for help finding them
-
World1 week agoSnoop Dogg, Lainey Wilson, Huntr/x and Andrea Bocelli Deliver Christmas-Themed Halftime Show for Netflix’s NFL Lions-Vikings Telecast
-
Politics1 week agoMost shocking examples of Chinese espionage uncovered by the US this year: ‘Just the tip of the iceberg’
-
World1 week agoPodcast: The 2025 EU-US relationship explained simply
-
News1 week agoRoads could remain slick, icy Saturday morning in Philadelphia area, tracking another storm on the way