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Kansas Earns “Gold Shovel” Award Again

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Kansas Earns “Gold Shovel” Award Again


Kansas has garnered Area Development magazine’s Gold Shovel Award for the fourth year in a row.

According to Governor Laura Kelly’s Office, the latest accolade is without precedent in state history.

“Earning a fourth Gold Shovel underscores the work my administration is doing to attract business investment and increase job opportunities to continue making Kansas the best place to live, work, and raise a family,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The influx of jobs in every corner of the state is providing the possibilities for young Kansans to start or expand their careers right here at home.”

Since the start of 2019, Kansas has created 1,180 new economic development projects worth more than $19 billion in private sector investment and created and retained more than 67,000 jobs statewide.

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Kansas was recognized for its achievement in attracting high-value investment projects that will create a significant number of new jobs throughout the state. In 2023, there were 255 projects totaling almost $3.1 billion in private sector investment and nearly 12,000 jobs created or retained. The single largest project was Building Materials Manufacturing Corporation’s $350 million facility in Newton.

“After years of decline — and Kansans fleeing to other states in search of economic opportunity — the Kelly-Toland Administration has Kansas back on a path of growth,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Kansans in every region of our state deserved greater opportunities, and we needed a strategic plan to breathe life back into our communities. This fourth consecutive Gold Shovel is proof that our plan, the Kansas Framework for Growth, is working. Kansas has jumped from the middle of the pack to the top of the heap, establishing a new normal as a nationally recognized economic powerhouse. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure an even brighter future.”

The Framework for Growth, developed in partnership with communities, businesses, education institutions, and economic development stakeholders, focuses on five target sectors:

  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Aerospace
  • Distribution, Logistics and Transportation
  • Food and Agriculture
  • Professional and Technical Services

These target sectors emphasize Commerce’s focused, purposeful approach to economic development. Ninety percent of the business successes announced during the Kelly-Toland administration came from one of the target sectors.

Area Development Magazine is a publication for economic development executives involved with corporate site selection and relocation. Five states were awarded the prestigious Gold Shovel in their respective population categories, with Kansas leading the list of the states with fewer than 3 million residents.

The top 10 projects from 2023:

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  Company   Location   Investment      Jobs  
  Building Materials Manufacturing   Newton   $350 million   137
  Walmart   Olathe   $257 million   667
  High Plains Ponderosa Dairy   Plains   $168 million   95
  Kiewit Corp.   Lenexa   $120 million   723
  Camso Manufacturing   Junction City   $113 million   181
  H&T Kansas   De Soto   $110 million   180
  Koch Fertilizer   Dodge City   $93 million   –
  Marvin Lumber and Cedar Co.   Kansas City   $76 million   585
  Oppidan   Olathe   $70 million   6
  Southwest Plains Dairy   Syracuse   $54 million   45



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Police identify man killed in Kansas shooting that injured four officers

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Police identify man killed in Kansas shooting that injured four officers


The Kansas Bureau of Investigations (KBI) identified 22-year-old Stephen M. McMillan as the suspect who shot four officers who responded to a domestic dispute outside Carbondale, Kansas, on Saturday.

Three sheriff’s deputies and a state highway patrol trooper were injured and were taken to local area hospitals. McMillan was shot and killed at the scene.

Newsweek reached out by email to the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, who referred to the KBI for all queries. Newsweek reached out to KBI by email outside of normal business hours on Sunday afternoon for further information.

The Context

Carbondale lies around 16 miles south of Topeka.

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Domestic disputes are highly sensitive situations that can escalate into violence, highlighting the need to approach them with as much care as possible to protect lives.

Politicians have often discussed domestic disputes as a major point of discussion on the use of force by police, with some officials such as New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani suggesting new approaches to policing that would focus on mental health and crisis response.

What To Know

Authorities responded to a domestic violence incident at a residence in northern Osage County at 10:24 a.m. local time on Saturday after a woman called 911 seeking help for a domestic disturbance.

A male civilian, on Sunday identified as McMillan, was found standing outside the residence in question and allegedly opened fire on the officers after 10 minutes, wounding three deputies from the Osage County Sheriff’s Office and a Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) trooper.

Additional law enforcement officers responded after the shooting occurred, discovering that the suspect had been shot and killed, while another civilian, on Sunday identified as McMillan’s 77-year-old grandfather, was wounded and taken to a hospital for treatment.

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A KHP lieutenant was also involved in the shooting but was not injured.

On Sunday, the KBI revealed that two of the deputies had undergone surgery overnight and were listed in good condition, while the third deputy was discharged from the hospital, according to ABC News.

The trooper has also been released since his transfer to the University of Kansas Medical Center. McMillan’s grandfather remains hospitalized as of Saturday evening but is expected to survive.

The identities of the officers were not immediately released, according to The Topeka Capital-Journal. The KBI has taken over the investigation, with all law enforcement offices directing questions to KBI.

What Happens Next

The suspect’s motive and additional details of the domestic dispute remain unknown, but authorities will reveal more information as it becomes available.

In a statement posted to Facebook on Saturday, the KBI wrote that it “aims to discover all events leading up to the officer-involved shooting. In police use of force cases, the KBI releases details to the public as soon as possible.”

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It continued: “This information is preliminary in nature, and is based on evidence collected and early statements of the parties involved, witnesses, medical personnel and others. It does not represent final or thorough findings which take several weeks to complete.”



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Kansas officers shot while responding to domestic violence call; Suspect dead

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Kansas officers shot while responding to domestic violence call; Suspect dead


Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent Erik Smith speaks at a news conference about a domestic violence incident that resulted in multiple casualties, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at the Carbondale City Library in Carbondale, Kan. (Credit: KBI)

Four law enforcement officers were shot on Saturday morning while responding to a call at a home in a rural area south of Topeka, Kansas.

Dig deeper:

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The shooting was around 10:30 a.m. Three Osage County sheriff’s deputies and one Kansas Highway Patrol trooper were shot, Kansas Bureau of Investigation spokesperson Melissa Underwood said.

A male suspect died from gunshot wounds, leaders from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and state Highway Patrol said. One other male was injured and taken to a hospital and is in stable condition, officials said.

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Deputies and troopers were responding to a domestic violence incident north of Carbondale. They were on scene for several minutes when gunfire erupted, authorities said.

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded immediately to the call of the shooting, officials said.

The scene of the shooting is a house off a two-lane road that runs to Topeka. Authorities blocked off the road about six-tenths of a mile south of there.

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What they’re saying:

Their conditions are “still very fluid,” Underwood said.

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Big picture view:

The area of the shooting is a rural region close to U.S. Highway 75. There is no active threat to the public, Underwood said.

The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. Information in this story comes from statements by officials with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Highway Patrol. This story was reported from Los Angeles. 

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Power Play Comes Alive in 6-3 Wichita Win at Kansas City | Pro Hockey News

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Power Play Comes Alive in 6-3 Wichita Win at Kansas City | Pro Hockey News


INDEPENDENCE, MO – Wichita began a six-game road trip on Friday night, knocking off Kansas City, 6-3, at Cable Dahmer Arena. 

Noah Beck and Declan Smith led the way with three points while Peter Bates added two helpers. Roddy Ross earned his second win of the season, stopping 29 shots.

Smith opened the scoring at 12:39 of the first period. Vanroboys won a battle in the corner to the left of Ian Shane. Houle found Smith in the slot, and he put a one-timer past him for his first of the season to make it 1-0.

In the second, Houle added to the lead just 29 seconds into the frame. Noah Beck danced around Landon McCallum at the blue line, fired a shot on net and Shane made the save. He couldn’t find the rebound, which popped into the crease. Houle pounced on it and made it 2-0.

Just over a minute later, David Cotton cut the lead to one. Jake McLaughlin raced up the ice and peeled back in the corner. McLaughlin fed a pass to Cotton at the right faceoff dot, and he beat Ross for his third of the year to make it 2-1.

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Wichita re-gained a two-goal margin at 16:50 with a marker from Spencer Blackwell. Michal Stinil lifted a pass up in the air that got behind the defense. Blackwell beat Luke LaMaster to the puck and unloaded a shot past Shane to make it 3-1.

Kansas City fought back into the contest early in the third. Jackson Jutting took a shot that was initially blocked at the left point. He stayed with the play and fired it through traffic at 1:31 to make it 3-2.

Beck recorded his first of two at 3:32. Wichita won a faceoff to the left of Shane. Beck got to the loose puck in the slot and scored his fourth of the year to make it 4-2.

Jack Randl cut the lead back to one once again on the man advantage at 5:35. Bobo Carpenter let a shot go from the left circle that caught Ross’s leg pad. Randl got to a loose puck and put home a rebound for his fifth of the campaign to make it 4-3.

Wichita was awarded another power play when Hudson Wilson was called for slashing. He broke Smith’s stick in two pieces and gave the Thunder another opportunity. Kyle Crnkovic made a great play to steal the puck in the slot and kept the play alive. Bates fed it back to the blue line and Beck put one past Shane from the high slot for his fifth of the year to make it 5-3.

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Smith added an empty netter at 19:25 and Wichita earned a 6-3 victory.

Wichita snapped a three-game road losing skid and evened the season-series with Kansas City at one win apiece.

Beck and Smith each tallied two goals and an assist. Blackwell scored his second of the year. Houle finished with a goal and an assist.

Wichita recorded two power play goals in a game for the first time this season and finished 2-for-6. Kansas City was 1-for-3 with the man advantage.

The two teams play once again tomorrow night at Cable Dahmer Arena to close a three-game series. Opening faceoff is set for 6:05 p.m.

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Single game tickets for all games are on sale now. Our next homestand takes place starting on Wednesday, October 29 against the Florida Everblades. Buy tickets by clicking HERE.



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