Kansas

Kansas is poised to expand tax credit for helping disabled workers after debate over low pay

Published

2 years ago

February 2, 2024

Kansas is poised to expand tax credit for helping disabled workers after debate over low pay

Kansas is poised to expand an income tax credit for goods and services purchased from companies and nonprofits employing disabled workers, a year after a debate over how much the state should buck a national trend against paying those workers below the minimum wage.

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A bill approved by the Legislature this week with broad bipartisan support would increase the total tax credits available from $5 million a year to $8 million. It also would create a new, $1 million program for nonprofit groups running vocational programs known as sheltered workshops to help them start paying workers at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

The tax credit had previously only covered purchases from employers paying at least the minimum wage, and lawmakers reviewed it last year because it was set to expire at the start of this year.

It’s the Legislature’s latest attempt to expand the tax credit.

Their first proposal would have allowed nonprofit groups with sheltered workshops to form separate divisions paying at least the minimum wage so that people or businesses buying from those divisions could claim the tax credit. Backers saw it as an opportunity to expand the reach of the tax credit and therefore employment opportunities for disabled workers.

But it drew strong opposition from disabled rights groups arguing that it would encourage wages below the minimum wage — a vestige of decades-old views of disabled people as incapable of doing jobs outside such programs.

The compromise last year was to start the grant program instead. However, the Republican-controlled Legislature folded it into an omnibus tax-cut bill with provisions opposed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, and she vetoed it.

The tax credit then expired at the start of this year, but this year’s bill is written so that people can still claim the tax credit when they file their 2023 returns.

“It’s a good compromise,” said Neil Romano, a member of the National Council on Disability, and former head of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. “It moves us towards where we want to be.”

Kelly hasn’t said publicly whether she will sign the bill, but she typically has when a measure has near-universal support.

Employers nationally are increasingly moving away from paying below the minimum wage, U.S. government data shows. Paying below the minimum wage requires a Department of Labor certificate, and a U.S. Government Accountability Office report last year said there were 2,750 American employers with certificates in 2014, while an online database listed 834 as of Jan. 1, a drop of 70%. In Kansas, 17 groups have them.

Fourteen states ban below-minimum-wage jobs for disabled workers, with Virginia enacting a law last year, according to the Association of People Supporting Employment First, which promotes inclusive job policies.

In Kansas, there remains “considerable work to be done” to move away from below-minimum-wage jobs, said Sara Hart Weir, executive director of the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities.

But, she added, “This is a step in the right direction.”

Rocky Nichols, executive director of the Disability Rights Center of Kansas, said it’s good that the tax credit is back and the state is signaling that it wants to move away from sheltered workshops through the grant program.

But he also said he worries the measure isn’t specific enough about how and when groups must transition away from paying below the minimum wage.

“We don’t want to see it turn into just kind of a slush fund for sheltered workshops,” he said.

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Kansas

Chiefs Name Burns & McDonnell as Owner’s Representative for New Practice Facility and Headquarters in Olathe

Published

11 hours ago

July 16, 2026

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Chiefs Name Burns & McDonnell as Owner’s Representative for New Practice Facility and Headquarters in Olathe

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On Thursday, the Kansas City Chiefs made their first major announcement for the club’s future day-to-day home, naming Kansas City-based Burns & McDonnell as owner’s representative for the team’s practice facility and headquarters project in Olathe, Kansas.

“We are extremely excited to have Burns & McDonnell join our project team as owner’s representative for our new practice facility and headquarters that we will be building in Olathe,” Chiefs Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Matt Kenny said. “As a local, employee-owned firm with a track record of project success around the world, we know they have the right mix of local knowledge as well as global experience to help us navigate the upcoming design and construction phases of a truly unique year-round home for our football team and staff.”

Burns & McDonnell will team with CAA ICON to serve as the franchise’s trusted advisor throughout the development of the new team facilities that support both business and football operations. Working alongside Chiefs project leaders, they will provide independent oversight and experienced leadership to guide the process from early planning through construction and occupancy. They will coordinate with architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and other key stakeholders to support project execution, maintain alignment with budget and schedule objectives, manage risk, and help ensure the facility is delivered to the high standards expected by the Chiefs organization.

“We are honored to partner with the Kansas City Chiefs on this transformational project,” said Jon Wright, senior vice president and general manager of the Buildings Market at Burns & McDonnell. “The Chiefs have had an extraordinary impact on our region for generations, and this investment represents an exciting new chapter for the organization and the Kansas City community. As a Kansas City-based company, it is a privilege to help bring that vision to life by providing experienced project leadership from planning through construction. We look forward to working alongside the Chiefs and the entire project team to deliver a world-class facility for the organization, its staff and Chiefs Kingdom.”

Set to open ahead of the 2031 football season, the Chiefs new $300 million practice facility and headquarters – as well as an associated mixed-use development – will be located on approximately 155 acres near the intersection of College Boulevard and Ridgeview Road in Olathe.

Additional announcements related to the design and construction of the club’s new practice facility and headquarters in Olathe are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

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Kansas

Kansas Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for July 15, 2026

Published

23 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Press Room

The Kansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at July 15, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from July 15 drawing

02-07-18-29-38, Powerball: 16, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 15 drawing

Midday: 3-3-6

Evening: 0-9-9

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from July 15 drawing

Red Balls: 02-03, White Balls: 08-22

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from July 15 drawing

26-29-41-46-47, Star Ball: 09, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Super Kansas Cash numbers from July 15 drawing

06-08-14-24-26, Cash Ball: 01

Check Super Kansas Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 15 drawing

01-05-18-23-33, Bonus: 05

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Kansas Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at select Kansas Lottery offices.

By mail, send a winner claim form and your signed lottery ticket to:

Kansas Lottery Headquarters

128 N Kansas Avenue

Topeka, KS 66603-3638

(785) 296-5700

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a claim form, and deliver the form along with your signed lottery ticket to Kansas Lottery headquarters. 128 N Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603-3638, (785) 296-5700. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Kansas Lottery.

When are the Kansas Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3 Midday/Evening: 1:10 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. CT daily.
2 By 2: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Super Kansas Cash: 9:10 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Kansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Kansas cases climb in ‘explosive diarrhea’ outbreak

Published

1 day ago

July 15, 2026

Press Room

Kansas cases climb in ‘explosive diarrhea’ outbreak

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – As health officials gain insight into the nationwide outbreak of the intestinal illness, cyclosporiasis, data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment show a sharp increase in cases within the Sunflower State.

As of Wednesday, KDHE is reporting 55 cases of the “explosive diarrhea” outbreak for the year, including 25 this month. A breakdown of the Kansas cases shows a balance of cases among males and females. The state data doesn’t break down county-by-county numbers, but on Tuesday, Sedgwick County confirmed five cases for the year, a total that is likely to jump with the additional statewide confirmations.

Also on Tuesday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said it identified lettuce and other salad greens as a potential source of the outbreak.

Adding to the concern about produce, Taco Bell issued a statement saying it had “voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure.

“We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow the guidance of public health authorities,” the restaurant chain said.

Sedgwick County offered guidance on ways to protect yourself from cyclosporiasis and bacterial illnesses connected with produce:

Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or preparing them.
- Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
- Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.
- Avoid bagged lettuce or salad mixes. When eating a whole head of lettuce, remove the first two or three layers of leaves and thoroughly wash the inner leaves under running water. Separate the leaves as you wash them.
Heating food to 158 degrees or higher kills the parasite.
Practice good hand hygiene by washing hands with soap and water before preparing or eating food and after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
Travelers to cyclosporiasis-endemic areas should follow food and water precautions, including avoiding foods and beverages that may be contaminated.
Be aware that Cyclospora is unlikely to be killed by routine chemical disinfection or sanitizing methods.
If you develop symptoms of cyclosporiasis, especially persistent watery diarrhea, contact a healthcare provider for evaluation and treatment recommendations.