Kansas

Kansas Medicaid expansion debate to be revived when Legislature returns • Kansas Reflector

Published

2 years ago

April 9, 2024

Kansas Medicaid expansion debate to be revived when Legislature returns • Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — In three weeks, senators will decide whether to give Medicaid expansion a full floor debate or block discussion of health insurance coverage for low-income Kansans for another year.

Lawmakers rushed to hammer out myriad policy pieces ranging from the tax code to K-12 education funding during a late-night marathon session before adjourning Saturday for three weeks. During the frenzied process, Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, introduced a motion to pull Senate Bill 355 to the floor for consideration.

The procedural move is designed to override the authority of Republican leadership who refuse to allow the bill to move forward through the usual process. The Sykes motion will require approval from 24 of the 40 senators.

“This is not a partisan issue, and over 70% of Kansans, regardless of party, support Medicaid expansion,” Sykes said. “Only a few extremists in the Legislature are standing in the way, so Kansans deserve to know where their legislators stand on Medicaid expansion. To quote Beyonce, let’s bring it to the floor now.”

The quote is an apparent reference to Beyonce’s song “Texas Hold ‘Em,” which contains the line, “Come take it to the floor now.”

Senators will consider the motion after they return later this month, with a vote scheduled for April 26.

Gathering 24 votes will be an uphill battle, given GOP leaders’ opposition to Medicaid expansion. Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins have characterized the program as a way to “expand the welfare state,” instead of helping the “truly needy.”

Medicaid expansion would expand health insurance coverage for lower-income families. Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government covers 90% of the extra cost of Medicaid services in exchange for expanding eligibility to those who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty rate. Most of the estimated 152,000 Kansans who would benefit from expansion are self-employed, small business owners and their employees, or suffering from chronic illness.

Medicaid expansion would unlock $700 million in annual federal funding and could save 59 rural hospitals on the brink of closing.

“The costs of everyday living continue to rise — including the cost of health care — and Kansas families are feeling it,”said April Holman, executive director of Alliance for a Healthy Kansas. “It is past time for Kansas lawmakers to listen to the people and enact policy change that will ease the burdens of these costs on Kansas families.”

Kansas is one of 10 states left that have not expanded Medicaid.

This session marked the first time in four years that GOP leaders allowed a Medicaid expansion bill to receive a committee hearing. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly applied pressure before the session with a statewide tour in which she promoted Medicaid expansion.

Democrats and health care advocates are hopeful this year’s election will place additional pressure on lawmakers to support Medicaid expansion. All 165 seats in the House and Senate are up for election, and polling shows bipartisan support for Medicaid expansion.

In a statement to voters Saturday, Kelly said, “Now is the time to make your voices heard.”

“I urge you to write, call, or meet with your legislators and encourage them to support expanding Medicaid by voting yes on this motion. We have the momentum to get this done this legislative session.”

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Kansas

Chiefs expected to announce stadium move from Missouri to Kansas

Published

50 seconds ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Chiefs expected to announce stadium move from Missouri to Kansas

The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to receive approval to build a new stadium in Kansas.
The new stadium will be located in Wyandotte County and is projected to be ready for the 2031 season.
Plans for the new venue include a roof to allow for year-round events like the Super Bowl or Final Four.

The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to receive the green light to build a new stadium in Kansas, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports, with the official announcement expected later Dec. 22 following a meeting of a key legislative committee.

The person was granted anonymity because the news was not yet official.

The eight-person Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) will vote later Dec. 22, with Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly teasing a “special announcement” for Dec. 22 as well.

The Chiefs have been negotiating with both the governments of Missouri and Kansas regarding their future home. Kansas City has played its home games at Arrowhead Stadium, located on the outskirts of Kansas City, Missouri, since 1972.

The exact location of the new stadium is unknown but the land will be in Wyandotte County, not far from the Kansas Speedway and where Major League Soccer’s Sporting KC is headquartered. The new stadium will be ready for the 2031 season since the team’s current lease at Arrowhead Stadium expires after 2030.

The venue will have a roof to make it a year-round hosting site, with designs on the stadium hosting the biggest events in sports, such as the Final Four or Super Bowl.

According to the Kansas City Star, the state will provide up to 70% of the funding for the stadium. The projected total price tag of the project is $3 billion.

The Chiefs are also moving their training facility to Olathe, Kansas – another suburb of Kansas City. That project does not currently have a timeline.

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Kansas

Kansas Lottery Pick 3, 2 By 2 winning numbers for Dec. 21, 2025

Published

12 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

The Kansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 21, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

Midday: 3-5-4

Evening: 8-2-2

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

Red Balls: 06-20, White Balls: 08-25

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

11-24-27-38-46, Lucky Ball: 15

Check Lucky 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.

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

3 hospitalized in Kansas City after Sunday morning house fire

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

3 hospitalized in Kansas City after Sunday morning house fire

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three people were taken to the hospital after a house fire in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday morning.

The Kansas City Fire Department was called to the 3300 block of Askew around 10:37 a.m., when crews reported smoke on the second floor of a two-story house.

All residents in the house were able to evacuate the home on their own. The fire was quickly brought under control and contained to a single room.

KCFD transported all three residents to the hospital. Their condition is currently unknown.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by KCFD.

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