Kansas

Kansas Republicans ask state agencies what they would drop if budget is cut 7.5%

Published

7 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Kansas Republicans ask state agencies what they would drop if budget is cut 7.5%

Kansas Republicans are asking agencies to report on what they would cut if they had to reduce their budgets by 7.5% in the upcoming fiscal year.

The Kansas House Appropriations Committee reported that it would distribute the request to state agencies at its meeting on Wednesday. The request comes after the committee submitted its own budget for the first time in decades, rather than tweaking the budget provided by the governor.

“It’s an opportunity for any agency or any department to set their priorities and say, here are some things that, if we needed to make reductions, this is where we would like to see those reductions,” said Rep. Kristy Williams, R-Augusta, and the committee vice chair.

The request isn’t uncommon in budgeting processes, and Gov. Laura Kelly made the same ask from state agencies in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic caused a bleak revenue forecast. Budget director Adam Proffitt said Thursday that when it has been done in the past, agencies are typically given more time to decide where they would make cuts than they would with Wednesday’s request.

“We send the guidance out in usually June, when budget instructions go out, and we give agencies about three months to work through the process to more accurately and strategically identify where the supports might come from,” Proffitt said. “The exercise itself is not a bad exercise. It just needs to be done appropriately and strategically.”

Profitt said when reducing a budget, you want to use a scalpel and not a sledgehammer because some government programs leverage federal dollars that may be jeopardized if cut too deep.

“You want to make sure that you’re maybe not touching headcount or critical programs. It just takes a lot of time to work through these,” he said.

Not about new tax cuts

Kansas Republicans said the 7.5% isn’t necessarily to make space for tax cuts this session, but rather from a sense the government is wasting money after forming its own budgeting process.

“We’ve been able to see some areas where we really have a lot of work to do. And we also think there’s areas where maybe money is not being spent appropriately,” House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, told reporters.

Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, added that it’s important to cut after years of COVID-era stimulus starts to phase out of the state’s budget.

“It’s more about avoiding the cliff. You’re seeing all that massive amount of stimulus money that was in our system start to fade away,” Masterson said. “We ballooned to the cost of the administrative part of our government incredibly high. I mean, just under Laura, I think it’s up 60% on the executive side.”

What’s not facing a 7.5% cut?

There are some exceptions to the reduced resource proposal. The Legislature is only asking for the projection from agencies that are paid for by the State General Fund.

Dylan Dear, a fiscal analyst with the Kansas Legislative Research Department, said the State General Fund accounts for about half of the state’s all-fund budget. In fiscal year 2026, the request is $12 billion to the state general fund and a $24 billion all-fund budget.

That means certain state agencies that fund themselves through fees like the state’s highway fund will go untouched. There is also an exception for the state’s per-pupil funding it provides to school districts.

The 7.5% reduction doesn’t factor in any additional asks any agency might have for the year, which the Legislature can elect to reject or only grant a portion of. It also exempts debt service from the reduction because it’s a contractually required expenditure that can’t be reduced.

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Kansas

Victim of double shooting in Kansas City identified as 36-year-old man

Published

15 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Press Room

Victim of double shooting in Kansas City identified as 36-year-old man

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The victim of an early-week double shooting has been identified by investigators as a 36-year-old man.

The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department announced on Thursday, Jan. 16, that the man who passed away due to injuries sustained during a double shooting has been identified as Colton J. Stock, 36.

Law enforcement officials noted that around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, emergency crews were called to the area of 38th and Lister Ave. with reports of a disturbance. While en route, the call had been updated to a shooting.

When first responders arrived, they said they found Stock lying outside a nearby home with an apparent gunshot wound. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to the injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Investigators indicated that they also found a second adult male victim inside the home suffering from another gunshot wound. He was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the shooting most likely started due to an argument. Investigators continue to work to determine the relationship between both shooting victims and find a person of interest.

As of Thursday, no one had been taken into custody in connection with the investigation. No further information has been released.

A $25,000 reward has been offered for information that leads to a conviction in the case. Those with information about the shooting should report it to the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

A shooting in the 3900 block of Lister Avenue resulted in a homicide investigation on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo.(KCTV5)

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Kansas

CFTV: Otzelberger, Jones & Jefferson talk win over No. 9 Kansas

Published

23 hours ago

January 16, 2025

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CFTV: Otzelberger, Jones & Jefferson talk win over No. 9 Kansas

Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and players Curtis Jones & Joshua Jefferson addressed media members following their team’s 74-57 win over No. 9 Kansas Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum.

Kansas coach Bill Self and players Hunter Dickinson & Zeke Mayo also took questions following the game.

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Kansas

Family of man killed by Kansas City, Kansas police officer sues chief, Unified Government

Published

1 day ago

January 15, 2025

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Family of man killed by Kansas City, Kansas police officer sues chief, Unified Government

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) – The family of a man shot and killed by a Kansas City, Kan. police officer filed a lawsuit against the officer, the police chief and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County.

According to the lawsuit, an officer shot 50-year-old John Anderton in the back five times as he ran away from an emergency scene in February 2023. Anderton died from his injuries.

The Wyandotte County District Attorney investigated the shooting and determined the officer was justified in shooting Anderton.

According to the DA’s investigation, Anderton failed to follow the officer’s orders and reached for a gun when the officer fired at him.

ALSO READ: Man recently released from Leavenworth penitentiary charged with first murder of 2025

Anderton’s brother disagrees according to the lawsuit filed Jan. 14.

The lawsuit claims the police officer violated Anderson’s civil rights when he used excessive force and shot him.

The shooting happened as crews responded to a call about two people overdosing in a house near N. 55th Street and Haskell Ave.

The lawsuit said Anderton tried helping his friends by performing CPR. He left after paramedics arrive. The lawsuit said Anderton left the house because he was concerned that staying would exacerbate his chronic COPD.

ALSO READ: KCKFD firefighter hospitalized after person drives over fire hose

The officer stopped Anderton as he left the house.

The lawsuit states the officer “suddenly demanded” Anderton to put his hands on top of his head. That’s when Anderton tried to run away. The lawsuit claims the officer fired a dozen shots at Anderton. Five of the bullets hit him, including two in the back and one in the back of the head.

The lawsuit claims Police Chief Karl Oakman and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County are responsible because they should know how the officers are trained to use force.

ALSO READ: Kansas City begins to plan for another possible Superbowl Parade in the wake of tragedy

Spokespeople for both the police department and Wyandotte County declined to comment due to pending litigation.

The lawsuit asks for a jury trial and demands more than $75,000.

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