Kansas
Kansas traffic fatalities trend downward after seven years averaging more than 420 deaths • Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — The number of traffic deaths on Kansas backroads, streets and highways increased in the decade from 2013 to 2023 despite three consecutive annual reductions that cut fatalities below 400 for the first time since 2015.
State and federal transportation reports and an assessment by TRIP, a nonprofit organization researching and distributing data on transportation issues, said traffic fatalities in Kansas expanded 11% during the 10-year period. The peak in Kansas fatalities during the decade was 461 deaths in 2017, which fell within boundaries of a seven-year stretch in which the state averaged 423 traffic deaths per year.
Reports showed roadway deaths in Kansas diminished 8% from 2021 to 2023, culminating with 388 fatalities in 2023. That figure more closely resembled a three-year period marked by 350 fatalities in 2013, 385 in 2014 and 355 in 2015.
Gov. Laura Kelly celebrated the decline and argued public investment in transportation safety projects had delivered dividends. The Kansas Department of Transportation said wearing a seatbelt — a primary driving offense since 2010 — improved crash survivability by more than 45%.
“Safe roads save lives,” Kelly said in a statement. “We must all do our part to reduce traffic fatalities. I encourage all Kansans to buckle up, follow posted speed limits, avoid distractions and drive sober.”
TRIP, the transportation policy organization in Washington, D.C., said U.S. traffic fatalities declined in 2022 and 2023, but remained 25% higher than a decade ago. In 2020 and 2021, traffic deaths across the country escalated during height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found drivers engaged in riskier behavior, including speeding, failure to wear seat belts and driving under the influence after the declaration of the public health emergency.
Bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities accounted for 21% of all U.S. traffic fatalities in 2023. From 2018 to 2023, the number of pedestrians killed increased 16% to 7,522 and the number of cyclists who died expanded 29% to 1,105. Motorcycle fatalities grew by 16% of the national total to 6,364 in 2023.
“Ensuring safety on our nation’s roadways is a collective effort involving everyone from drivers to government entities that finance road improvements, as well as manufacturers, contractors and innovators,” said Mike Hare, board chairman of the American Traffic Safety Services Association.
TRIP said crashes in U.S. highway work zones resulted in 4,316 fatalities from 2018 to 2022, which reflected an increase of 18% from 756 in 2018 to 891 in 2022.
In Kansas, highway work zone accidents resulted in 32 fatalities from 2018 to 2022. In the same five-year period, Missouri recorded 99 such deaths, Oklahoma reported 93 and Nebraska had 35.
“Distracted driving is an increasing factor in work zone crashes,” said Michael White, executive director of the Kansas Contractors Association. “That’s why 38 other states have taken action to make their roadways safer with hands-free legislation.”
The Kansas House approved a bill during the 2024 session that would have prohibited drivers under age 18 from using a mobile telephone while behind the wheel and would have banned anyone operating a vehicle to use a cellphone in a school or construction zone. The Kansas Senate didn’t act on the bill.
“We applaud the Kansas House for taking the first step this year,” White said. “We’re looking forward to working with the Kansas Senate to move this issue forward next year so that Kansans aren’t left behind on this important safety front.”
Kansas
Kansas Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 winning numbers for July 10, 2026
The Kansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 10, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 10 drawing
02-39-44-46-56, Mega Ball: 23
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 10 drawing
Midday: 4-0-8
Evening: 0-0-3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning 2 By 2 numbers from July 10 drawing
Red Balls: 01-03, White Balls: 02-08
Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 10 drawing
14-42-46-47-57, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire 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.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
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.
Kansas
Kansas parents charged after child fatally shoots 5-year-old, 8-year-old
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Two Kansas parents were charged Thursday in connection with the shooting deaths of their two children.
The Ellsworth County Attorney’s Office charged Aaron French and Makayla French of Brookville with four counts each of aggravated child endangerment.
On March 28, law enforcement responded to a home near Kansas Highway 141 and Avenue N near Kanopolis Lake.
A 5-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy had been shot, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The 5-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. The 8-year-old was taken to a Wichita hospital, where he died almost a week later.
The KBI said a young child in the home picked up a loaded, unsecured shotgun and shot the siblings.
Aaron French, 37, and Makayla French, 28, have been ordered to appear in court on July 28.
For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.
Kansas
Kansas City to reduce bus transit frequency, extended hours after World Cup matches end
KSHB 41 reporter Isabella Ledonne reports on stories in Overland Park, Johnson County and topics about government accountability. Share your story idea with Isabella.
—
Saturday marks the final FIFA World Cup 26 match in Kansas City with Argentina set to meet Switzerland on the pitch at Kansas City Stadium.
Kansas City to reduce bus transit frequency, extended hours after World Cup
Public transportation received a big boost during the World Cup.
Johnson County launched JOCO United, and according to leaders, the airport drop and ride service that was implemented for the tournament will stick around.
“It has been very smooth every time,” Johnson County resident Mariah Wickham said. “I’ve been up and down so many times.”
Kansas City, Missouri, also bumped up its transit options, but not all of the those will be sticking around once the final whistle blows.
Tens of thousands of people have been using the airport link, streetcar and the buses to get around Kansas City. The city poured millions of dollars into building up its public transit infrastructure. The KCATA added more frequency to bus transit lines and the streetcar, pushing more fans to use public transportation during the tournament.
Brian Luton
“With the World Cup here, I was able to exercise using the streetcar more frequently and that was really fun,” Trish Luancing said. “It wold be nice to not have to drive everywhere and not have to worry about parking.”
But thousands have been relying on public transit for years, regardless of what event was in town.
“It’s been busier since the World Cup,” Jeffrice Jackson, a bus rider, said. “It’s been smooth sailing.”
The KCATA added streetcar ‘bus bridge’ links, extended bus service hours and increased frequency on East-West routes to link riders to the streetcar. It’s benefited both travelers and commuters.
Brian Luton
“[Service] has been more consistent with the World Cup than it was previously,” Jerry Breault, a rider said. “We were missing buses or routes because there weren’t enough drivers to drive that route.”
But the add-on’s stop on Sunday, July 12. If the transit authority can’t find more money, more than a dozen routes will be cut, potentially impacting more than 8,000 riders.
“It’s a little frustrating,” Breault said. “A lot of us rely on it just to get back and forth to work, to take care of our daily needs. It looks like we may be having to find alternatives and we’re not very happy about that.”
The KCATA will potentially suspend these weekday and weekend routes by September:
Weekday Route Eliminations:
- 9 – 9th Street, 365 average weekday ridership
- 21 – Cleveland Antioch, 512 average weekday ridership
- 23 – 23rd Street, 266 average weekday ridership
- 25 – Troost Local, 1,460 average weekday ridership
- 27 – 27th Street, 422 average weekday ridership
- 57 – Wornall, 411 average weekday ridership
- 71 – Prospect Local, 464 average weekday ridership
Weekend Route Eliminations:
- 9 – 9th Street, 349 average weekend ridership
- 21 – Cleveland Antioch, 312 average weekend ridership
- 23 – 23rd Street, 312 average weekend ridership
- 25 – Troost Local, 1,431 average weekend ridership
- 27 – 27th Street, 455 average weekend ridership
- 57 – Wornall, 595 average weekend ridership
- 71 – Prospect Local, 982 average weekend ridership
Bus fares came back earlier this summer to offset some of the operation costs, but many have reported issues with the free fare cards and eligibility.
“There’s always funding challenges with the KCATA,” Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said. “How are the fare re-institutions working right now?”
Brian Luton
Mayor Lucas told KSHB 41 News Reporter Isabella Ledonne the transit improvements implemented for the World Cup “should continue,” and there are plans to talk with the KCATA commissioners to “make it work”.
“KCATA cannot just be Kansas City supported alone forever,” Mayor Lucas said. “Our approach and our preference is that the region got to see how much they would like [expanded service] during the World Cup. It was always intentional that if they liked it, maybe they would invest and maybe they would want this thing to go further.”
That’s good news to the thousands of daily riders.
Brian Luton
“I think it’s good because it helps people get around if they need to get around,” Jackson said.
The KCATA did not make themselves available for an interview.
—
-
Lifestyle25 minutes agoAzar Nafisi on the movie adaptation of ‘Reading Lolita in Tehran’
-
Technology37 minutes agoAfter years of teasing, the viral Nopia synth is ‘basically finished’
-
World40 minutes agoBeloved musicians among victims in deadly Bahamas plane crash; aviation authority grounds flights
-
Politics45 minutes agoTrump-aligned House holdouts accused of holding ‘life-saving’ veterans bill ‘hostage’ over SAVE America Act
-
Health52 minutes agoSimple sitting change linked to lower risk of cancer death, study finds
-
Sports54 minutes agoGolf star records lowest round in LPGA major history with astounding performance at Evian Championship
-
Technology60 minutes agoMeta Verified scam threatens Facebook deletion
-
Business1 hour agoMeta discontinues Instagram feature on new AI image generation tool after Hollywood backlash