AGP Executive Report

Rural Health Funding: HHS is sending nearly $25.6 million to 132 rural hospitals across 13 states, including 11 Kansas facilities such as the University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus, to help them retain staff and keep emergency and inpatient services running. Local Business & Community: Great Bend’s chamber is gearing up for Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15), highlighting how Hispanic residents and Hispanic-owned businesses—about 3,600 people, or 25% of the city—support downtown commerce and reduce vacancy. Healthcare Collaboration: Salina Regional Health Center is joining five partners to form Astra Health, a new Kansas rural healthcare collaboration aimed at improving access and affordability while keeping independent hospitals’ identities. Agriculture: K-State Research and Extension released the Kansas Wheat Variety Guide 2026, updating disease and insect resistance profiles and adding new variety profiles for growers planning fall planting. Public Safety: Topeka police are investigating a double homicide in the NOTO Arts District and have identified a person of interest, asking the public for tips. Chamber Leadership: Salina Area Chamber of Commerce named Christina Hayes as its next president and CEO, starting Oct. 1, 2026.

Rural Health Funding: HHS selected 11 Kansas hospitals, including KU Health System’s Great Bend campus, for nearly $25M in federal support aimed at keeping rural emergency and inpatient care running. Economic Development & Tourism: Kansas Commerce’s BARN grant helped a Barton County couple restore a 1900 limestone barn, turning it into an events space. Workforce & Business Leadership: Salina’s chamber named Christina Hayes as its next President/CEO, starting Oct. 1, 2026. Agriculture: K-State released its 2026 Kansas Wheat Variety Guide, highlighting new and updated variety profiles and disease/insect resistance ratings. Manufacturing Growth: Elanco completed a $120M expansion of its Kansas biologics plant in Elwood, boosting monoclonal antibody capacity and planning more investment through 2028. Local Public Safety: Topeka police are investigating a double homicide in the NOTO Arts District and are seeking a person of interest. Community & Education: Hays USD 489 voted to close the Rockwell Administration Center and move offices to the former Wilson Elementary building. Legal/Policy Watch: Kansas Supreme Court reversed a pothole injury case, clarifying when cities can be liable for unsafe streets.

Tourism & Rural Business: A Barton County couple, Jim and Katie Homolka, received a Kansas Department of Commerce Tourism Office BARN grant to restore their 1900 limestone barn and turn it into an events venue, part of the state’s push to revive historic agritourism sites. Local Leadership: The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce named Christina Hayes its next president and CEO, starting Oct. 1, 2026, as the chamber looks to strengthen partnerships and support local business growth. Public Safety: Topeka police are investigating a double homicide in the NOTO Arts District and are asking the public for help identifying a person of interest. Agriculture: K-State Research and Extension released the Kansas Wheat Variety Guide 2026, updating variety profiles and disease/insect resistance ratings to help growers make fall planting decisions. Education & Facilities: Hays USD 489 voted to close the Rockwell Administration Center and move administration to the former Wilson Elementary building, with renovations planned in phases. Politics: Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall defended his view that social media has fueled anger and division, while also highlighting his media strategy ahead of the midterms. Energy Costs: Diesel prices are pushing toward $6 a gallon, and Kansas farmers say the higher fuel costs are squeezing already-stressed budgets after drought impacts. Sports Business: Kansas City approved up to $185 million in public financing for CPKC Stadium expansion and surrounding development, including a larger Current stadium and infrastructure upgrades.

Energy & Inflation Watch: The U.S. average diesel price crossed $6 a gallon for the first time, with GasBuddy citing supply pressure tied to the U.S.-Iran conflict and refinery disruptions—an added cost hit for trucking, farming, and the broader supply chain. Kansas Agriculture: K-State Research and Extension released the Kansas Wheat Variety Guide 2026, updating disease and insect resistance ratings and adding new variety profiles to help growers fine-tune fall planting decisions. Local Government & Schools: Hays USD 489 took a first step toward closing the Rockwell Administration Center, with plans to move administration to the former Wilson Elementary building after legislative permission to sell the Rockwell property. State Politics: Republican Ken Rahjes won his party’s nomination for Kansas House District 110, setting up the next ballot fight focused on water policy and property tax relief. Infrastructure: KDOT will resurface about 10 miles of I-70 in Russell County starting the week of Sept. 14, using lane reductions and lower speeds through late October. Business Real Estate: Kansas City Council approved up to $185 million in public financing for a $1.4 billion Berkley Riverfront plan, including expanding CPKC Stadium beyond 18,000 seats.

Kansas Politics & Campaign Pressure: U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall is facing fresh scrutiny as the Kansas race heats up, including criticism over an AI-generated map graphic and renewed attention to his record of lawsuits against patients, while Trump’s latest threats tied to Bombardier have put the spotlight on the senator’s stance on protecting Wichita jobs. Federal Policy & Health Data: A group of Democrats is urging the Consumer Product Safety Commission to pause a program that collects identifiable emergency-room records, arguing it exceeds authority and could deter people from seeking care. Rural Healthcare Collaboration: Five independent Kansas hospitals are forming Astra Health to share resources and quality measures to improve access and lower costs while keeping local identities. Workforce & Adult Literacy: A Wichita-area reading crisis report highlights how adult literacy affects job safety and health outcomes, with Kansas Board of Regents leaders pointing to reduced workplace injury risk when workers can read instructions and labels. Business Growth in Emporia: A bilingual entrepreneurship academy, Su Negocio Academy, opens enrollment for a Nov. 5-6 program aimed at helping Kansas business owners start and grow ventures. Local Business & Community: Kansas City’s Black Movie Hall of Fame is getting a $25,000 boost from the African American Film Critics Association as it prepares for a 2027 opening.

Kansas Agriculture: A heatwave is still hurting Kansas farmers, with growers saying higher input costs and crop losses could squeeze fall harvests and cash flow. Local Courts & Schools: A Bonner Springs-Edwardsville school district is facing a federal lawsuit after a paraprofessional was allegedly fired for talking politics with a visiting state representative, raising First Amendment questions. Trade & Tariffs: U.S. moves in the escalating U.S.-Canada trade war include bans on some Canadian exports and tariff changes, with Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran praising a salt exemption that matters for local businesses and winter road safety. Kansas Business & Downtown: Kansas Commerce launched a $500,000 competitive placemaking grant program aimed at quickly transforming a downtown block to spur investment and local economic activity. Sports Business (Chiefs): Patrick Mahomes is on track to start Week 1 for the Chiefs after offseason knee rehab, as Kansas City looks to rebound from missing the playoffs last season. Regional Economy: Kansas City’s Royals held a 9/11 memorial stair climb at Kauffman Stadium, drawing first responders and community members.

US-Canada Trade War Hits Kansas Politics: Trump’s escalating tariffs and threats tied to Canada’s Bombardier are putting Kansas Republicans in a tough spot with voters as lawmakers weigh how to defend local jobs while distancing from the fight. Local Business & Community: Great Bend approved $68,450 for sound and lighting upgrades at the Crest Theatre, aiming for more concerts and downtown foot traffic. Healthcare Privacy: Democrats are pushing the Trump administration to halt a new surveillance effort that would pull identifiable emergency-room health data for thousands of injury types. Kansas Agriculture Workforce: Kansas Dept. of Agriculture named four Kansans to its Marketing Advisory Board, including leaders from food retail, agriculture education, the Kansas Horse Council, and livestock. Crypto Lobbying: A final lobbying push is underway in senators’ home states over major cryptocurrency legislation, with Kansas among the places seeing local op-eds and outreach. Business Growth Leadership: CRB named Helga Margrethe Salling as Chief Growth Officer to lead global growth strategy in life sciences and food and beverage.

Trade War Watch: President Trump escalated the U.S.-Canada fight by ordering the General Services Administration to remove Canadian-origin products from federal procurement catalogs, with Canada retaliating via tariffs that took effect Tuesday—hitting goods like steel, dairy, appliances, and electronics. Kansas Jobs at Stake: Wichita is getting direct attention as Trump threatens to ban Bombardier sales unless the company builds in the U.S.; Kansas officials and candidates pushed back, arguing the move could disrupt more than 1,000 local jobs tied to Bombardier’s defense and aerospace footprint. Local Government: Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas commissioners approved two sales tax increases for the November ballot—one for health funding and another for parks and infrastructure—plus grant applications for public safety and lead abatement. Health & Courts: A Kansas woman pleaded guilty in federal court to bank fraud and identity theft in Maine after impersonating account holders using fake passport cards; sentencing is pending. Community Spotlight: Lawrence’s “Stan the Mailman” retired after three decades, a downtown fixture known for delivering more than just mail.

Trade War Fallout in Kansas: President Trump threatened to block Bombardier aircraft sales in the U.S. unless the Canadian planemaker moves production stateside, just as Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on about $20B of U.S. goods took effect—prompting immediate pushback from Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran, who says Bombardier’s Wichita presence supports more than 1,000 jobs and a deep aerospace supply chain. Local Government Pay & Hospital Funding: Greenwood County commissioners approved a new pay scale, including shifting the EMS Director role to a different pay level; separately, Greenwood County Hospital says it could receive about $840,000 from a COVID-era Employee Retention Credit claim, while awaiting other grant decisions. Agribusiness Innovation: A “Day on the Farm” event in Kansas highlights new crop and farm-tech ideas, including a robotic weed-killer and perennial sunflower research aimed at helping small farms “grow to earn.”

Trade & Manufacturing: President Trump escalated the U.S.-Canada fight by threatening to block Bombardier from selling jets in the U.S. unless it builds in America, a move that could ripple through Kansas aerospace jobs tied to Bombardier’s Wichita defense work and its broader U.S. supplier network. State Budget Watch: Kansas lawmakers are still waiting on revenue triggers as state tax collections miss targets by more than $1B, delaying another income tax cut. Tax Policy Detail: Kansas collected $35M in severance taxes in 2024, down sharply from $71.3M the year before. Local Business & Community: Kansas Sampler Foundation brought rural leaders to Solomon to share practical ways communities can strengthen connection and participation without big budgets. Public Safety & Health: A proposed data center near Osawatomie State Hospital is drawing concerns from former staff about noise and light affecting psychiatric patients’ treatment. Consumer/Tech: AT&T users reported widespread 5G home internet and broadband outages, with Kansas among the hardest-hit areas.

Energy Costs: AAA says nearly 40 million Americans will drive for Labor Day, but the national gas average hit $4.14/gal—an all-time high for the holiday weekend—pushing household budgets further as crude prices stay elevated. Local Business & Community: Kansas City, Kansas launched its first Black Restaurant Week with 11 Black-owned spots, including $9.13 specials tied to “913 days,” spotlighting local dining and community support after recent storm recovery. Storm Disruption: SantaCaliGon Days in Independence, Missouri won’t reopen Monday after severe storms damaged festival grounds; the carnival and nearby businesses will still operate on a limited schedule. Agriculture & Food Prices: New reporting highlights rising taxpayer farm subsidies alongside concerns about who benefits, while weekly livestock updates point to shifting protein demand and mixed cattle/hog market pressure. Immigration Enforcement: A former USCIS official was arrested in a green-card corruption scheme alleged to involve approvals in exchange for money. Tech/Finance Branding: Ripple’s multi-year deal with the University of Florida will put the XRP logo on Ben Hill Griffin Stadium’s field, following a similar Kansas athletics partnership.

Kansas consumer watch: Valley Center and Tampa both landed in the BBB Scam Tracker’s “one scam report” tie group for July 2026, while Wichita, Overland Park and Topeka led Kansas cities for reported scams. Public safety & community: Kansas City firefighters climbed 110 stories in full gear to honor 343 FDNY members lost on 9/11, marking the event’s 16th year. Local business & weather: City Market shoppers and farmers say the heat is speeding ripening and softening produce, with peppers and tomatoes showing stress. Social Security snapshot: New ZIP-level counts show 66612 had 485 beneficiaries in Dec. 2024, while 66117 had 55 and 67211 had 3,340—useful for spotting where retiree and disability benefits cluster. Tech & logistics: Amazon says Prime Air could reach nearly 500 U.S. communities by end of 2026, with Kansas among the launch-site states. Healthcare policy: Rep. Jill Tokuda and Kansas lawmakers introduced “REH 2.0” to strengthen rural emergency hospital funding and keep services from shrinking.

Kansas Economy: Kansas tax collections are running strong early in fiscal year 2027, with total receipts about 6.5% above estimates and individual income tax leading the way, while corporation taxes lag. Healthcare & Business: A Lawrence pharmacy says new Kansas transparency rules for pharmacy benefit managers are squeezing revenue, a sign of how state policy can ripple through local healthcare providers. Food Safety: A new report warns salmonella strains in poultry are increasing and may be more resistant to antibiotics, raising pressure on regulators and the poultry supply chain. Ag & Weather: Kansas farmers facing drought are looking at perennial grains as a resilience play, even as yields and market readiness remain hurdles. Energy/Tech Politics: Billionaires are funding a major ad push to make AI data centers look “responsible,” aiming to sway voters in battleground states. Local Community & Growth: Wichita’s Kanna Next conference highlights headwinds for Kansas hemp businesses ahead of a potential nationwide crackdown. Public Safety: Kansas City, Kansas businesses helped residents during a storm blackout, and now local restaurants are gearing up for the area’s first Black Restaurant Week.

Local Public Safety Funding: U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran announced about $160,000 in federal help for Yates Center to upgrade radios, buy a patrol car and body armor—after the department faced possible closure. County Budget Watch: Johnson County commissioners adopted a roughly $1.9B 2027 budget and kept the property tax rate essentially flat at 24.13 mills, with major capital spending and staffing plans. Water System Updates: KDHE rescinded a “do not drink” order for Sundowner, Inc. after testing showed no bacteriological contamination and manganese below health advisory levels; KDHE also issued a boil-water advisory for Reno County’s RWD #8 after a waterline break caused pressure loss. Fraud Signals: BBB Scam Tracker data put Emporia among 52 Kansas cities tied for 28th in July scam reports (one report), underscoring ongoing fraud pressure statewide. Workforce & Training: A Maryville, Mo. council update highlighted a Kansas-area workforce push—tuition-free training funded by a Patterson Family Foundation grant, plus plans for more housing and child care.

Crypto & Banking Policy: Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran says he won’t back the CLARITY stablecoin bill as written, warning a loophole could steer “interest-like” yields to crypto exchanges and drain deposits that fund local lending—especially hitting community banks and Kansas farmers. Local Governance & Data Centers: A Kansas judge dismissed Edgerton residents’ lawsuit aimed at blocking a hyperscale data center petition, keeping the debate over health, environment, and local control alive heading into November. Sports Sponsorships: Ripple’s XRP branding deal is set to show up at the University of Florida’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium starting Sept. 5, with the partnership reportedly valued around $5M a year—another sign of crypto chasing mainstream sports exposure. Agriculture Innovation: With drought pressure mounting, Kernza—a perennial grain developed in Kansas—gets attention as a more resilient option that can reduce tilling and help conserve moisture. Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs are building depth with a workout for veteran WR Xavier Gipson as they reshape the roster ahead of the season.

Kansas Budget Fight: Kansas Republicans say KDADS improperly shifted about $24 million among disability service programs, arguing the money should have gone to people on the I/DD waiting list instead of being reallocated to other disability-related needs. Wichita Homelessness Funding: Wichita’s Second Light got a $5 million one-time city grant, but the city tied it to expanding shelter bed capacity as the campus faces funding pressure. Local Business & Construction: Kansas City metro construction is ramping back up after a World Cup pause, and one Westport business says the disruption is cutting lunch traffic and hurting staff morale. Wichita Boathouse Lease: The Wichita City Council will decide next week whether to terminate the long-term lease of the Wichita Boathouse, citing more than $400,000 in deferred maintenance and the foundation’s inability to cover costs. Banking & Regulation: Kansas Bank Commissioner David Herndon announced he’ll retire Oct. 30, 2026, ending a tenure that began with his 2019 appointment. Workforce Training: The federal “Foundry School” initiative launched to train millions of skilled manufacturing workers by 2033, with curriculum support from Stanford and coordination with Congress. Higher Ed Costs: Kansas public four-year institutions’ enrollment-weighted in-state tuition and fees averaged $9,950 for 2024-25, before aid. Consumer Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Wichita leads Kansas with 25 scam reports in July 2026, while Atchison logged two.