AGP Executive Report

Rural Economic Boost: Kansas is opening a new $250,000 round of SEED grants for towns with 5,000 or fewer people, offering up to $25,000 each for projects like childcare/senior programming, community beautification, food retail access, and library upgrades. Space & STEM Outreach: The Cosmosphere in Hutchinson hosted Artemis II astronauts and NASA leadership, with U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran highlighting the push to spark Kansas students’ interest in science and aerospace careers. Beef Supply Pressure: A new look at why beef prices stay high points to a shrinking U.S. cattle herd and the slow pace of rebuilding supply—one calf per cow per year, with years needed to reach slaughter. Gas Watch: Drivers saw some of the week’s lowest prices in Kansas—midgrade at $4.09 in Greenwood County and diesel at $4.59 in Cloud County (week ending Aug. 8). Nonprofit Funding Snapshots: IRS Form 990 rankings show some Kansas groups relying heavily on government grants, including Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas in Salina (90.6% share) and Kansas Manufacturing Solutions in Lenexa (88.3%). Public Safety: FBI is seeking an armed suspect after a bank robbery Monday at Commerce Bank in Kansas City. Local Tech/Water: A Lawrence high school student is building a prototype for real-time river water monitoring through Lawrence WaterWatch.

Rural Economic Development: Kansas Lt. Gov. and Commerce Secretary David Toland announced a new $250,000 round of SEED grants for communities of 5,000 or fewer, with awards up to $25,000 for childcare/senior programming, community vibrancy, food retail access, and library upgrades. Agriculture & Training: K-State Research and Extension will host a two-day Cow Camp Sept. 9–10 in Hays, covering beef nutrition, vaccine handling, neonatal calf care, reproductive management, agricultural finance, and more. Community & Food Systems: Douglas County’s Food Policy Council is pushing local leaders to expand organic waste diversion as the region updates its solid waste plan, aiming to protect soil health and reduce landfill pressure. Local Business Impact: In Lawrence, long-running Ninth Street stormwater construction has been a “bittersweet” experience for some businesses, while others say the closure helped push them out. Banking Deal: Great American Bank and Cottonwood Valley Bank signed a definitive merger agreement, combining into a community-banking franchise with about $569M in assets and 8 branches. Cattle Industry Pressure: Tyson Foods is shutting down or selling beef facilities as a domestic cattle shortage squeezes margins. Kansas Tax Snapshot: Kansas collected about $1.3B in selective sales and gross receipts taxes in 2024, according to Census Bureau data.

Rural Economic Development: Kansas is opening a new round of SEED grants, with $250,000 available for small communities (populations of 5,000 or fewer) across 78 eligible counties, offering up to $25,000 each for projects like childcare/senior programming, community beautification, food retail access, and library upgrades. Community Banking: Great American Bank and Cottonwood Valley Bank announced a strategic merger that would create a community-focused franchise with about $569 million in assets and eight branches across central and northeast Kansas and the Kansas City area. Beef Industry Pressure: Tyson Foods says it’s shutting down or selling three beef facilities as a domestic cattle shortage squeezes supply and margins, including ending operations at plants in Illinois and Utah and seeking a buyer for a Washington facility. Agriculture Policy Watch: Kansas Farmers Union leader Nick Levendofsky says the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee’s failure to move the farm bill forward raises doubts it will pass this year, pointing to SNAP-related divisions and tight voting margins. Kansas Business & Safety: Kansas AG Kris Kobach is warning residents about storm-chasing roofers using illegal Assignment of Benefits deals after July 1, urging consumers to verify contractor registration and “in good standing” status. Energy & Costs: GasBuddy reports Kansas regular gas averaging $3.70 statewide for the week ending Aug. 8, with McPherson County’s lowest regular price at $3.36. Workforce & Skills: K-State Research and Extension will host a two-day Cow Camp Sept. 9-10 in Hays, covering beef nutrition, vaccine handling, neonatal calf care, reproduction, agricultural finance, and pest control.

Rural Funding Push: Kansas Lt. Gov. and Commerce Sec. David Toland announced a new round of SEED grants totaling $250,000 for communities of 5,000 or fewer, with awards up to $25,000 for projects like childcare/senior programming, community vibrancy, food retail access, and library upgrades. Space & STEM Outreach: The Cosmosphere in Hutchinson hosted Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch, plus NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and Sen. Jerry Moran, highlighting the lunar mission and inspiring Kansas students toward science and aerospace careers. Beef Industry Training: K-State Research and Extension will hold a two-day Cow Camp Sept. 9–10 in Hays, covering beef nutrition, vaccine handling, neonatal calf care, reproductive management, finance, and pest control. Public Safety: FBI is searching for an armed suspect in a Kansas City Commerce Bank robbery Monday afternoon. Kansas Agriculture Policy: A Kansas Farmers Union leader said the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee’s failure to move the farm bill forward threatens passage this year, tied to SNAP-related divisions. Heat Record: NOAA reported July was the hottest on record for the contiguous U.S., raising concerns for the Plains and other regions. Local Infrastructure: Lawrence crews will close parts of Wakarusa Drive for months starting next week as the South Lawrence Trafficway expansion ramps up. Healthcare Leadership: MHSC hired Weston Turner as Acute Care Services Director, bringing ICU and healthcare leadership experience. Sports Business: MLB confirmed the 2027 Field of Dreams Game will feature the Royals vs. Red Sox.

Rural Funding Push: Lt. Gov. and Commerce Secretary David Toland announced a new $250,000 round of Kansas SEED grants for communities of 5,000 or fewer, with awards up to $25,000 aimed at childcare/senior programs, community vibrancy, food retail, and libraries. Beef Industry Shake-Up: Tyson Foods says it’s scaling back beef operations amid a historic cattle shortage—closing a Joslin, Illinois plant and a Utah case-ready facility, and seeking a buyer for its Pasco, Washington operation—while concentrating more processing at facilities including Holcomb, Kansas. Local Infrastructure Disruption: KDOT plans three separate closures on Wakarusa Drive tied to the K-10/South Lawrence Trafficway expansion, with access changes for businesses and no posted detours. Entrepreneurship in Kansas: K-State’s College of Business is accepting applications for its fall 2026 Accelerator, offering equity-free grants and two tracks for idea-stage and early startups. Public Safety & Privacy: Kansas City-area residents are debating Flock license plate readers after damaged and stolen cameras in Kearney and Platte County. Legal News: A KU student hit-and-run case adds new misdemeanor charges against William Klingler, filed after he was already facing fatality-related allegations.

Rural Economic Development: Kansas is opening a new round of SEED grants totaling $250,000 for communities of 5,000 or fewer, with awards up to $25,000 aimed at childcare/senior programming, community vibrancy, food retail access, and library upgrades. Local Housing & Incentives: Hays City Commission is set to vote on incentives for housing developers, including a plan to renovate the historic Lincoln School into a 26-unit apartment complex and related public improvements. Agriculture & Food Supply: Tyson Foods says it will restructure beef operations, closing its Joslin, Illinois plant and Eagle Mountain, Utah case-ready facility, relocating capacity to Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas, and seeking a buyer for its Pasco, Washington site amid a severe cattle shortage. Energy & Utilities: The Kansas casino industry posted a 3% July revenue gain, while the Board of Public Utilities reported higher second-quarter revenue. Business Climate: Mortgage rates dipped after six straight weeks of increases, and Kansas’ broader economic backdrop continues to shift with easing inflation and market optimism. Public Safety & Privacy: Kansas City authorities are searching for a bank robbery suspect, and a renewed national debate is heating up around police use of Flock cameras and license-plate readers.

Rural Kansas Funding: Lt. Gov. and Commerce Secretary David Toland announced a new $250,000 round of SEED grants for Kansas communities of 5,000 or fewer, with awards up to $25,000 for childcare/senior programs, community vibrancy, food retail and library upgrades. Public Health: Kansas health officials say cyclosporiasis cases have surged to 748 statewide, including 32 hospitalizations, as KDHE works with local health departments to trace exposures. Storm Recovery: Gov. Laura Kelly asked FEMA for a major presidential disaster declaration for June storms, seeking Hazard Mitigation and Public Assistance funding for 21 Kansas counties. Beef Industry Shakeup: Tyson Foods says it will close beef plants in Joslin, Illinois, and Eagle Mountain, Utah, and pursue the sale of a Pasco, Washington, facility—shifting capacity to Dakota City, Holcomb (Kansas) and Amarillo. Local Business & Community: Emporia’s chamber is pushing to rebuild momentum and attract new business as it welcomes students back, while Lawrence’s Castle Tea Room is getting a second life as a wedding and event venue. Security in Schools: Wichita is weighing a DOJ grant to install school “panic buttons” tied to its Real Time Crime Information Center, drawing privacy and surveillance concerns. Agriculture Education: K-State Research and Extension will host a two-day Cow Camp Sept. 9-10 in Hays, focused on hands-on beef management topics from nutrition to calf care.

Rural Economic Development: Kansas Commerce is opening a new round of SEED grants, with $250,000 available for small communities (populations of 5,000 or fewer) across 78 eligible counties, offering up to $25,000 each for projects like childcare/senior programming, food retail access, libraries, and community vibrancy. Education & Workforce: Great Bend’s Chamber is hosting its 11th Annual Business Showcase on Aug. 13 for Barton County school staff, while Wichita schools roll out a statewide-style student cell phone ban with local enforcement plans. Agriculture & Training: K-State Research and Extension will run a two-day Cow Camp Sept. 9-10 in Hays, focusing on practical beef cattle management topics from nutrition and vaccine handling to reproductive management and agricultural finance. Public Safety & Community: Law enforcement is searching for an armed suspect after a Kansas City bank robbery at Commerce Bank on Brookside Plaza. Policy & Food Security: A Kansas farm advocate says the stalled U.S. farm bill in the Senate Agriculture Committee could jeopardize passage this year, with SNAP-related divisions cited as a key hurdle. Business & Growth: Yesway reported stronger Q2 results, including higher net income and improved same-store inside merchandise and fuel performance.

Rural Economic Boost: Kansas Lt. Gov. and Commerce Secretary David Toland announced a new $250,000 SEED grant round for the state’s smallest communities, with up to $25,000 each for projects like childcare/senior programs, food retail access, libraries, and community vibrancy. Local Business & Education: Great Bend’s Chamber is hosting its 11th Annual Business Showcase for Barton County school staff, while K-State Extension is gearing up for a hands-on Cow Camp Sept. 9–10 in Hays covering beef nutrition, vaccines, calf care, reproduction, finance, and pest control. Public Safety & Growth: Kansas City, Kansas approved land for a new fire station near the future Chiefs stadium, and Pioneer is moving ahead with Flock license-plate cameras funded through the state highway fund. Housing/Finance: Kansas regulators reached a $15.5M settlement with mortgage servicer NewRez over improper force-placed insurance charges. Consumer Watch: The FTC is sending Grubhub settlement checks totaling $23.8M to drivers and diners. Energy & Costs: Sunflower Electric outlined its Clifton Station turbine replacement timeline, and GasBuddy reports show Kansas fuel prices easing in early August.

Public Safety: FBI is searching for an armed suspect after a Monday robbery at a Kansas City Commerce Bank, where a bucket-hat man allegedly displayed a gun and fled with an undisclosed amount. Local Government: Lawrence’s new city manager says an audit has exposed process and revenue problems, and he wants departments to tighten operations and budgeting as the city reviews “pretty much everything.” Higher Ed Finance: Kansas Board of Regents officials warn deferred maintenance is becoming a “ticking time bomb,” with one approach being costly but effective building tear-downs to wipe out backlogs. Agriculture & Weather: NOAA reports the Lower 48 just had its hottest July on record, with major heat impacts across the Plains and Northern Plains. Business/Community: Lewie’s dentist-developed oral care brand is expanding retail in the Kansas City area via Hen House Markets. Sports & Economy: Dodgers beat the Royals 6-5 in Skubal’s home debut, a reminder of how big-league spending and attendance drive local business. Education/Workforce: K-State Research and Extension plans a hands-on Cow Camp in Hays (Sept. 9-10) covering cattle health, reproduction, finance, and pest control.

Education & Workforce: K-State Research and Extension is hosting a two-day Cow Camp Sept. 9–10 in Hays, with hands-on sessions on beef nutrition, vaccine handling, neonatal calf care, reproduction, finance, prescribed burning, and fly/tick control. Public Safety: The FBI is searching for an armed suspect who robbed Commerce Bank in Kansas City, Mo., shortly after 2 p.m. Monday, fleeing with an undisclosed amount. Local Government & Schools: Hays USD 489 is wrapping up its $143.5 million bond work, with final renovations at O’Loughlin and Felten elementary schools, plus next steps for closing Rockwell Administration Center and moving administration into the former Wilson building. Broadband & Growth: IdeaTek Telcom plans to acquire Wave Wireless, expanding fiber and fixed wireless service across southeast Kansas, with the deal expected to close this fall. Business Development: Kansas Tourism is offering $1 million in Attraction Development Grants; applications open Aug. 17 and close Oct. 16. Community Finance: Fireboard Labs expanded its downtown Kansas City headquarters after a $620,000 renovation, supported by property tax abatements that helped retain 16 jobs and add five. Energy Costs: GasBuddy reports Kansas midgrade and E15 prices remain volatile, with some counties seeing notably lower single-station prices in the week ending Aug. 1.

Banking & Public Safety: FBI says an armed suspect robbed a Commerce Bank in Kansas City, fleeing with an undisclosed amount after demanding money just after 2 p.m. Monday; the suspect was described as wearing a bucket hat, striped polo, light jeans and white tennis shoes. Agriculture & Policy: Kansas Farmers Union executive Nick Levendofsky warns the U.S. farm bill may not move this year after the Senate Agriculture Committee failed to advance it, citing tight margins and SNAP-related budget cuts. Local Government: Lawrence school board is moving toward a policy to block private two-way social media communication between staff and students, with final approval set for Aug. 24. Weather & Water: A drought update from Barton County shows moderate drought expanding, with forecasts calling for hotter-than-normal conditions and only a chance of precipitation. Sports Business (Kansas ties): Dodgers’ Tarik Skubal made his home debut Monday vs. the Royals, and Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. returned to help the Royals beat the Twins 8-2. Community & Economy: Great Bend’s County Commission canvasses Aug. 4 primary ballots Tuesday and reviews juvenile services outcomes and anti-drug coalition updates.

Workforce & Training: Washburn University Institute of Technology opened a new North Topeka manufacturing training campus in a former Kmart, aiming to expand technical programs with state and federal workforce-development support. Public Safety & Justice: A Junction City Army veteran was convicted in federal court of defrauding the VA of more than $170,000 in caregiver benefits, after allegedly submitting false statements while working a federal job. Health & Food Supply: Kansas reported 289 cyclosporiasis cases tied to a national outbreak linked to Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce, prompting recalls of specific Marketside products sold at Walmart. Energy Costs: GasBuddy data shows Douglas County’s lowest premium gas hit $4.39/gal in the week ending Aug. 1, while Atchison County’s lowest diesel reached $4.79/gal. Agriculture Policy: Kansas Farmers Union leader Nick Levendofsky said the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee’s failure to move the farm bill forward threatens passage this year, with SNAP-related cuts and tight margins cited. Business & Logistics Tech: FedEx and Amazon are expanding robotic arms and automated loading systems to reduce physical strain and boost productivity across distribution hubs.

Kansas Economy & Health: Hospitals including University of Kansas are among those suing CVS, alleging the pharmacy giant kept about $95 million in savings from a federal drug pricing program instead of using it to support care for indigent and uninsured patients. Kansas Agriculture: A Kansas Farmers Union leader says the farm bill’s failure to move forward in the Senate Agriculture Committee threatens passage this year, with disputes tied to SNAP-related cuts and state cost burdens. Local Government: Hays city commissioners reviewed tweaks to the 2027 draft budget, including a small levy decrease and staffing cost increases. Business Growth: FACE FOUNDRIÉ reported record Q2 sales and continued franchise momentum, including activity in Kansas. Agtech & Investment: Ranchbot closed a Series B raising more than $15 million and set up a Delaware holding company to accelerate global growth. Weather & Risk: Kansas drought conditions remain a concern, with forecasts pointing to hotter-than-normal temperatures and only a modest chance of precipitation. Sports Business: The Royals added veteran closer Craig Kimbrel to bolster a struggling bullpen, while Kansas City’s baseball scene also saw a standout Royals power night from Jac Caglianone. Community & Services: Neuro RehabCare Kansas City expanded neuro rehabilitation programs, aiming to improve access for stroke and brain injury recovery.

Farm Bill Gridlock: Kansas agriculture advocates say the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee’s failure to move the farm bill forward Thursday puts passage this year in doubt, with disputes tied to SNAP-related cuts and tight voting margins. Local Budgeting: Hays city commissioners reviewed tweaks to the 2027 draft budget, keeping operations steady while holding the mill levy at 24.153 mills. School Policy: Lawrence school board members will consider final approval of a bell-to-bell personal electronic device ban and updates to staff social-media rules to align with state law. Business & Courts: A federal appellate court revived part of a lawsuit accusing Hill’s Pet Nutrition in Topeka of false advertising tied to grain-free pet food claims, allowing a portion of a $2.6 billion class action to proceed. Tech & Safety: A Reuters/Ipsos poll finds 61% of Americans back stronger social media oversight, including age-verification tools for younger children. Kansas Economy & Growth: Kansas Wesleyan added two trustees to its Board of Trustees, including a Dell Technologies HR strategist and a consultant who helped shape the school’s recent strategic plans. Agriculture & Weather: A drought update says conditions are largely unchanged but trending drier, with moderate drought expanding in parts of southwest and south central Kansas.

Kansas-EU Business Ties: Gov. Laura Kelly and Lt. Gov. David Toland signed a mutual cooperation statement with the Czech Republic aimed at boosting collaboration in aerospace, agriculture/animal health/biotech, advanced manufacturing, and nanotechnologies—an effort meant to spur trade and new opportunities for Kansas entrepreneurs, researchers, and universities. Food & Retail Risk: A lettuce-linked cyclospora outbreak tied to shredded iceberg lettuce has hit restaurant traffic, with FDA involvement reported in Kansas and other states; Taco Bell says it removed lettuce from a supplier, but visits reportedly fell about 21% below average as cases continued to rise. Tech Regulation Pressure: A Reuters/Ipsos poll finds most Americans favor stronger rules for social media, including age-verification requirements to protect younger users—coming as states pursue major legal actions against platforms over youth harm. Local Economy & Energy Costs: GasBuddy reports Doniphan County’s lowest premium gas price at $4.58 for the week ending Aug. 1, while Kansas premium averages rose to $4.43. Community Events: The Red Rocks State Historic Site in Emporia will host journalist Bill Kurtis Sept. 13 at the Granada Theatre, with admission free and donations encouraged for maintenance.