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Kansas lawmakers push for law restricting sex offenders from schools

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Kansas lawmakers push for law restricting sex offenders from schools


LIBERTY, Mo. — Schools in Kansas and Missouri differ in more ways than just the state line dividing them.

Kansas has never had a state law restricting certain sex offenders from being on school property.

In addition, Kansas doesn’t have residency restrictions.

Lawmakers in Kansas want that to change.

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Senate Sub for HB 2164 passed the Kansas Senate by a vote of 37-3 on Thursday.

State of Kansas

Kansas Senate votes on sex offender law

The bill was proposed by Kansas Sen. Kellie Warren after parents in the Blue Valley School District made complaints about a registered sex offender being allowed to attend an elementary school dance in a chaperone role.

If the bill becomes law, it would be a felony offense for registered adult sex offenders convicted of crimes against minors to enter school property or attend certain school activities.

In Missouri, a registered sex offender convicted of certain crimes against a minor can’t be within 500 feet of school property and can’t live within 1,000 feet of a school.

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The offenses include:

– Incest
– Endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree
– Use of a child in a sexual performance
– Promoting a sexual performance by a child
– Sexual exploitation of a minor
– Possession of child pornography
– Promoting child pornography
– Furnishing pornographic material to minors

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender Registration and Enforcement Unit oversees around 460 registered sex offenders.

Sarah Boyd, public relations manager for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, said there are some special circumstances in their law that the Kansas House could consider while debating the bill.

​”Missouri law does give the possibility for the school districts to grant exceptions, because, you know, everything is case-by-case, and everything that you see on a court paper may not represent the real circumstances of an incident. Not to say that we should just let all the sex offenders in the schools, but you know, there may be a chance someone’s child is really struggling, and we find a way to meet off-site to talk about it,” Boyd said.

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Like most law enforcement agencies, Clay County Sheriff’s deputies conduct address verification checks, investigate complaints, and follow up with offenders who haven’t registered.

Clay County Sheriff's Office

KSHB 41

The sheriff’s office also maintains strong partnerships with schools.

“Most of the schools in Clay County, when you come into the building, you have to present your driver’s license and they run that and it will show up if you are a sex offender,” Boyd said. “They contact us, we confirm that we’re then in touch with that sex offender. Say, ‘Hey, you cannot be at that school’”. Boyd said.

Boyd said their main challenge can be offenders without a home.

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“One of the most difficult issues for the sex offender registration and enforcement unit is transients, so we have a lot of people on the registry who are homeless,” Boyd said. “That is hard to keep track of…of where they are. They have difficulty, you know, getting here to register. They can say they will live one place, but maybe that’s just for a couple weeks, and then they’re somewhere else.”

Kansas and Missouri could soon have laws that are common to both states.

“If there’s no enforcement, then there’s not a lot of incentive to comply,” Boyd said. “I think this legislation is a helpful tool for schools and for families to feel safer where they are. While the risk is low, it’s not zero.”

The bill had significant bipartisan support in the Senate and is in the House conference committee for a vote.

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KSHB 41 reporter Alyssa Jackson covers portions of Johnson County, including Overland Park, Prairie Village and Leawood. Share your story idea with Alyssa.





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Gas, diesel fuel prices down over past week across nation, Kansas

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Gas, diesel fuel prices down over past week across nation, Kansas


TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – It may not seem like a lot of relief, but gas and diesel prices have declined over the past week.

Friday morning’s national average for a gallon of unleaded gas was $4.39, according to the Automobile Association of America.

That’s down three cents from $4.42 on Thursday; down 16 cents from a week ago; but was up 17 cents from $4.22 a month ago and up $.23 from $3.16 a year ago.

Gas and diesel fuel prices are down this week in Kansas and across the nation, according to the American Automobile Association.(KALB)

In Kansas, AAA says, unleaded gas on Friday was averaging $3.96 a gallon — down four cents from $4.00 on Thursday; down 13 cents from $3.96 a week ago; but up 26 cents from $3.70 a month ago; and up $1.07 over $2.89 a year ago.

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Diesel fuel also was dropping in price. AAA says Friday’s national average for a gallon of diesel was $5.52 a gallon — down three cents from $5.55 on Thursday; down 12 cents from $5.64 a week a go; but up six cents from $5.46 a month ago and up $1.98 from $3.54 a year ago.

Kansas diesel fuel prices, according to AAA, checked in at an average of $4.98 on Friday. That’s five cents below $5.03 on Thursday; down 16 cents from $5.14 a week ago; but up 24 cents over $4.74 a month ago; and up $1.72 from $3.26 a year ago.

In Topeka, GasBuddy.com on Friday morning showed unleaded gas prices ranging between $3.77 and $4.09 in Topeka, with diesel fuel going for between $4.94 and $5.29 a gallon.

Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.



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Sunflower soak: Rain welcomes Arkansas baseball to Kansas, might stay awhile | Whole Hog Sports

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Sunflower soak: Rain welcomes Arkansas baseball to Kansas, might stay awhile | Whole Hog Sports





Sunflower soak: Rain welcomes Arkansas baseball to Kansas, might stay awhile | Whole Hog Sports







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NFL Trade Rumors: Kansas City Chiefs linked to $15M New York Giants pass rusher and $10M Chicago Bears tight end in bold ESPN proposals

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NFL Trade Rumors: Kansas City Chiefs linked to M New York Giants pass rusher and M Chicago Bears tight end in bold ESPN proposals


The Kansas City Chiefs have been linked to trade rumors involving New York Giants pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet. ESPN proposed deals involving future draft picks, but both were viewed as unlikely. Analysts believe the Giants and Bears have little reason to move key contributors. While Thibodeaux could strengthen Kansas City’s pass rush and Kmet could help at tight end, salary cap concerns and long-term roster planning make both potential trades difficult.

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to be linked to potential trade targets despite entering the 2026 season with one of the NFL’s deepest rosters. Recent speculation from ESPN connected Kansas City to New York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet. In the proposed scenarios, the Chiefs would send a 2027 fourth-round pick for Thibodeaux or a 2027 third-round pick while receiving Kmet and a fifth-round selection. While neither proposal gained traction with the opposing teams, the rumors have sparked debate about whether Kansas City should make a significant move before the season.

Category Details
Player Kayvon Thibodeaux / Cole Kmet
Current Team New York Giants / Chicago Bears
Rumored Team Kansas City Chiefs
Contract Status Both under contract
Salary Cap Hit Thibodeaux: manageable rookie extension window; Kmet carries a significant future cap number
Trade Likelihood Low to moderate
Latest Insider Update ESPN floated hypothetical trade proposals
Potential Return 2027 fourth-round pick for Thibodeaux; 2027 third-round pick for Kmet

Which teams are interested in Kayvon Thibodeaux and Cole Kmet?

Kansas City emerged as the most notable team connected to both players through the ESPN exercise. The fit is understandable. For Thibodeaux, the Chiefs could add another proven pass-rushing threat alongside their current edge group. Defensive line depth remains one of the most valuable assets in today’s NFL, especially for teams with championship aspirations. Adding a player of Thibodeaux’s caliber would strengthen the rotation and provide insurance against injuries. Kmet addresses a different need. While Travis Kelce remains a central piece of the offense, he is approaching the later stages of his career. Kmet offers a combination of blocking ability and receiving production that could help Kansas City maintain stability at tight end while preparing for the future.

What insiders are saying about the trade rumors

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According to AtoZ Sports’ Charles Goldman, the concept behind pursuing Thibodeaux makes sense, but the compensation falls short. New York has little incentive to move a talented edge rusher for a mid-round draft pick when pass rushers are among the league’s most sought-after players. Goldman was similarly cautious regarding Kmet. Although he acknowledged the tight end would fill a practical role in Kansas City’s offense, he questioned whether investing draft capital and future money in Kmet is the best long-term strategy. Instead, he suggested the Chiefs may be better served developing a successor to Kelce through the draft.

Contract details and salary cap implications

Any trade discussion involving Kansas City begins with the salary cap. The Chiefs would likely need to create additional financial flexibility before taking on a notable contract. Thibodeaux presents the cleaner situation. He remains young, productive, and could be controlled through future contract negotiations. There are no reported no-trade restrictions complicating a potential move. Kmet’s situation is more challenging. His future cap numbers could require restructuring or a new agreement if Kansas City wanted to keep him long term. That added financial commitment makes the decision more complicated than the draft-pick cost alone.

How the trade could impact both teams

For Kansas City, acquiring Thibodeaux would strengthen a defense already built to compete for another Super Bowl. A deeper pass rush often becomes critical during playoff runs, where one extra pressure can change a game. Kmet’s arrival would have a different effect. He could ease the workload on Kelce while giving the offense a more balanced tight end room. At the same time, surrendering valuable draft assets could limit future roster-building options. From the Giants’ and Bears’ perspectives, keeping proven starters may provide more value than collecting future picks. That reality is why both proposed deals remain long shots, even if the Chiefs continue to surface in trade conversations.



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