Kansas
Kansas to receive $2.1M to help formerly incarcerated residents find jobs
TOPEKA, Kan. (KCTV) – The Sunflower State will receive more than $2 million to expand job training and education programs for formerly incarcerated residents.
The Kansas Department of Corrections announced on Wednesday, Jan. 14, that it has joined a 4-year national initiative aimed at breaking barriers that prevent those with criminal records from finding work.
“Kansas has long recognized the profound impact education and workforce programs have on our incarcerated population, and our state’s selection for the Fair Chance to Advance State Action Networks is true recognition of the strides we have made,” said Governor Laura Kelly.
Kansas is 1 of 4 states chosen for Jobs for the Future’s Fair Chance to Advance State Action Networks. The state beat out 30 other applicants.
What Kansas Will Receive
Over the next four years, state leaders said Kansas will receive:
- Up to $2.1 million in funding
- $1.8 million in technical assistance
- Access to a secure data-sharing platform
- Participation in a national learning network
Officials indicated that Maine, North Carolina and Oregon also joined the program.
Why it Matters
State leaders noted that more than 70 million Americans have records of arrest, conviction or incarceration. Many face discriminatory hiring practices and legal restrictions that limit job opportunities.
“States play a critical role in creating education and workforce systems that open doors to opportunity,” said Molly Lasagna, Senior Strategy Officer at Ascendium Education Group. “When leaders align policy, funding, and data around a shared commitment to economic mobility, they can build pathways that work for learners and employers alike—especially for individuals with histories of incarceration that have been traditionally excluded from those opportunities.”
Kansas officials said connecting formerly incarcerated residents to education and employment reduces recidivism and address workforce shortages.
“Connecting returning citizens to training, education, and employment opportunities sets them up for success upon their release and reduces recidivism,” Gov. Kelly noted. “Our efforts are rooted in the core belief that when we invest in people, we create safer communities, a thriving workforce, and a stronger state for all.”
How Kansas Will Use the Funding
The state plans to:
- Strengthen collaboration among state agencies
- Improve reentry metrics and tracking
- Expand employer engagement
- Connect education programs during incarceration to job opportunities after release
“As Kansas experiences significant economic growth and workforce demand, state leaders are showing interest in how fair chance employment can contribute to the state’s future‚” said Rebecca Villarreal, Senior Director at JFF’s Center for Justice & Economic Advancement.
Get Involved
State leaders said they are forming a 5-person advisory board of people directly impacted by incarceration. Applications are now open.
“We are excited to collaborate with the bipartisan, inter-agency leaders from across Kansas who are committed to strengthening the state’s workforce, supporting businesses, and creating pathways to quality jobs for learners with histories of incarceration,” Villarreal said.
According to KDOC, the Coleridge Initiative, a nonprofit focused on data-driven public policy, will provide technical support. Mathematica will evaluate the program.
Jobs for the Future launched the initiative in 2024 with support from Ascendium Education Group.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
Four teens hurt in southeast Kansas rollover
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Four teenagers are hurt after being in a rollover crash on Sunday.
The Kansas Highway Patrol said a 16-year-old girl was behind the wheel of a Jeep. She went off the road, hit a culvert and rolled.
The crash happened just after midnight near the intersection of North 150th and North streets, northeast of Girard.
Man dead after downtown Wichita shooting
Two 15-year-olds and a 13-year-old were passengers in the Jeep. All four teens were hurt and taken to the hospital after the crash.
The driver received suspected serious injuries, and the rest received suspected minor injuries.
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The Detroit Tigers were beaten by the Kansas City Royals 5-1 on Saturday night.
Michael Wacha pitched seven scoreless innings, Bobby Witt Jr. hit an inside-the-park home run on a grounder and Michael Massey had a three-run homer for the Royals, who will go for the series sweep on Sunday night.
Witt hit the ball down the right-field line in the first inning that bounced off the wall and eluded right fielder Kerry Carpenter. Witt motored around the bases and beat the relay throw to the plate for a two-run homer.
It was the Royals’ first inside-the-park home run since Witt did it in August 2023.
Carpenter left the game later with left shoulder soreness.
Wacha (4-2) gave up two hits, walked two and struck out six. It was his longest scoreless outing since throwing eight scoreless innings against the Chicago White Sox on April 11.
Burch Smith (0-2) took the loss. He retired only one of the four batters he faced, allowing two runs on three hits in one-third of an inning.
Massey’s homer in the fourth inning came with runners on first and third with two outs. He lined the ball over the right-center field fence for his third homer of the season.
Wacha had at least one strikeout in each of his first four innings. The Tigers loaded the bases in the fifth on a double, a walk and a hit batter, but Wacha got Matt Vierling to ground out to end the inning.
The Tigers scored in the eighth on a two-out double by Riley Greene.
Up next
The teams conclude the three-game series Sunday. The Tigers have not announced a starter, though manager AJ Hinch said it will be a bullpen game. Kansas City will send LHP Noah Cameron (2-2, 5.40 ERA) to the mound.
Bullet point summary by AI
- The Chiefs are exploring long-term solutions at tight end beyond Travis Kelce’s expected 2026 retirement.
- One potential move involves targeting a veteran player from a team transitioning to a new starter at the position.
- The deal’s structure hinges on future playoff performance, creating a high-stakes incentive for both franchises.
While the 2026 draft is just in the books, it’s never too early to start thinking about the 2027 season — and if there’s one team that’s already looking that far ahead, it’s the Kansas City Chiefs.
Star tight end Travis Kelce is almost certainly retiring after the 2026 campaign despite an inflated new deal, and looking at the Chiefs’ depth chart, backup Noah Gray is not starting-caliber material. You could argue the team can scout for star talent in next year’s draft, but that would come with significant risk and opportunity cost if a prospect isn’t immediately NFL-ready.
Instead, there’s a potential solution general manager Brett Veach can utilize by acquiring an excess asset from another team.
This Chiefs-Bears trade solves Kansas City’s Travis Kelce problem
The Chicago Bears are clearly moving forward with 2025 first-round pick Colston Loveland as their TE1, in addition to taking blocking specialist Sam Roush out of Stanford in this year’s draft. All of which leaves backup — and previous starter — Cole Kmet on the outside looking in. The 27-year-old still has a lot of high-quality football left to play, and he’d certainly sign off on the opportunity to get starting snaps for a team with a championship window still wide open.
The problem is going to be convincing Chicago to pick up the phone in the first place. Kmet signed a restructured deal in April which disincentivizes the Bears from moving him until next year. A pre-June 1 deal would cost Chicago $4.1 million against the salary cap, while any swap after that date only saves the team $1.4 million.
So, with the present season not really an option, these two teams would need to be negotiating with next year in mind as Kmet is projected to cost the Bears $15.4 million against the cap in 2027. That’s the incentive Chicago needs to move him.
At the moment, Kmet is worth a conditional 2027 fifth-round pick — which may sound cheap, but the devil is in the details. Chicago will certainly dictate that an escalator be attached to the pick: For example, if Kansas City misses the playoffs in 2027, then it remains a fifth-rounder but may be deferred until 2028. If they qualify for the postseason then it could stay in 2027. A championship could push it up a round or two (though that would be a tough sell for the Chiefs).
Kmet has topped 500 receiving yards in three of his six seasons in Chicago, so there’s a good reason for Kansas City to inquire about his availability. The Bears, in turn, used a third-round pick to select Stanford’s Sam Roush – signaling they too are preparing for Kmet’s eventual departure.
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