Kansas
Kansas lawmakers introduce bills to decriminalize marijuana
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Kansas lawmakers introduced two bills aimed at decriminalizing marijuana. While previous attempts have failed, the legislation this year has some major differences.
These are two separate bills. One that decriminalizes marijuana for recreational use. The other legalizes marijuana for medical purposes. But both include provisions that would return 40 percent of the revenue to the people of Kansas.
The bills are sponsored by 19 Democrats from the Kansas House, including Representative Ford Carr from Wichita. Carr said both bills would establish the cannabis industry, which is estimated to give the state between $750 million and $1 billion in revenue each year.
This isn’t any different from previous legislation. What is different is that 40 percent of that revenue would be returned to Kansans. Representative Carr says that this money would be used to address various concerns, such as childcare, homelessness and property taxes.
“Those carve outs are set in stone, that’s where these funds will go, they will go back to the people,” said Carr. “It’s the residents that need the help, right? The state has been able to maintain itself.“
Senate President Ty Masterson has previously stated marijuana will not be decriminalized as long as he is in power. Therefore, the bills face an uphill battle, but Carr believes the changes will help to gain support from other Republican lawmakers.
Copyright 2026 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Linn County, Kansas, man died in a single-vehicle crash early Thursday morning.
The Kansas Highway Patrol says just after midnight Thursday, a 41-year-old Centerville, Kansas, man was driving south on Mills Road about 6.5 miles southwest of La Cygne when he lost control of a 2012 Hyundai Elantra.
The vehicle left the roadway and struck an embankment, causing the Hyundai to overturn before coming to rest on its top.
The driver and sole occupant of the car, Edward Schultz, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – A new mural under the Kansas Avenue Memorial Bridge will be unveiled Thursday afternoon in North Topeka.
A ceremony celebrating the mural will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, July 2 under the bridge near Veterans Park, 131 N.E. Laurent St.
The finished mural, titled “Reflections of North Topeka,” is the culmination of a project that brought together artists, students, volunteers, local leaders and community members to create a lasting tribute to the history and spirit of North Topeka.
“Over the past several months, the bridge has been transformed into a vibrant outdoor gallery that tells the story of our community,” organizers said in a news release. “From the area’s Indigenous roots and the Kaw Nation to the development of Eugene, the growth of North Topeka, and the revitalization of today’s NOTO Arts & Entertainment District, the mural celebrates the people, places, and events that shaped our community.
“What makes this mural truly special is the community behind it. More than 90 volunteers helped paint this project, proving that when people come together with a shared vision, incredible things can happen.”
The celebration will include:
- The official unveiling of the completed mural
- A brief program with remarks from the mural team
- A ceremonial ribbon cutting
- An opportunity to meet the artists and learn about the stories behind the artwork
- Complimentary refreshments
Led by Project Manager and NOTO Arts Administrator Staci Schnacker, lead artist Zandra Sneed-Dawkins, and supporting artists DeAna Morrison, Jordan E. Brooks, and Pradeep K. Bangalore, “this mural is more than public art,” organizers said — “it’s a celebration of the people, places, and history that make North Topeka unique.
This project was supported in part through the National Endowment for the Arts, ArtsConnect Topeka, the City of Topeka, Shawnee County Parks + Recreation, and many other community partners, businesses, artists, and volunteers.
Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.
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