AGP Executive Report

College Sports Reform: Sen. Maria Cantwell opened a hearing arguing college athletics is “broken and unsustainable,” pointing to cuts to women’s and Olympic programs and warning against pay-for-play. Higher Ed Leadership & DEI: UF’s presidential finalist Stuart Bell met with the campus as Florida’s search nears a decision, while Arizona State faces a DOJ investigation tied to DEI practices. Mental Health in Douglas County: Leaders are exploring a “clubhouse model” for adults with serious mental illness, aiming for a non-clinical, peer-led support space by 2028. Education Access: Kansas Board of Regents is weighing a faster three-year bachelor’s option (90 credits), with experts warning some fields may treat it like “bachelor’s light.” Local Politics: Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog filed for Kansas governor, and the Kansas Democratic Party hit back after Jeff Colyer exited the GOP primary. Public Safety & Schools: Kansas City, Kansas school police deputy chief Sy Colaco says he’s being fired after an internal affairs probe found criminal misconduct. Community & Family: Topeka’s monthly free food distribution is set for June 4, and “Wednesday’s Child” spotlights Kamien, a Kansas child seeking an adoptive family. Culture & Travel: Sunflower Summer returns July 9–Aug. 2 with free admission for eligible Kansas families. World Cup Watch (Kansas City): Argentine journalists say Kansas City is calm now, but expect a big fan arrival ahead of the tournament.

Reproductive Rights & Courts: Sen. Susan Collins backed another Trump-era judicial confirmation, voting to elevate Kathleen “Katie” Lane, a judge with a record tied to restricting abortion access. Education Policy: Kansas educators and a state task force wrestled over school funding math, with debate over whether cutting paraprofessionals would hurt early-career teachers and student support. Housing & Affordability: Lawrence officials heard consultants say the city needs thousands more housing units over the next decade to improve affordability, while Lawrence City Hall also moved on a downtown building purchase plan. Civic Life & Community: A Northland family marked the death of a child killed when a tree fell, sharing memories and asking for prayers. STEM & Youth: Curiosity Cube™ brought hands-on science activities to students in Zambia, pairing classroom experiments with local STEM mentors. Sports Culture: The NWSL Championship is headed back to Washington, D.C., with Audi Field hosting Nov. 21, and Kansas baseball’s postseason run continues as the Jayhawks chase a College World Series berth. Health & Federal Services: The Social Security Administration cut 7,100 jobs, with advocates warning benefit cases are stuck and delays are worsening.

Nursing Home Watch (Leavenworth County): Lansing Care and Rehab (Coronado Operator, LLC) earned a 3-star CMS rating for Q1 2026, matching the Kansas statewide average, with 52.6 residents served daily and one fine/penalty reported from January–March. Community & Faith in Action (Wichita): Wichita WorkCamp 2026 sent 78 teens to scrape and caulk eight homes, with volunteers saying the “redoing” work brings real joy to families. Local Culture & Learning (Russell): The Kansas Archeological Training Program field school returns June 4–15 in Russell, pairing hands-on excavation with public evening talks—no spectator pass needed. Food & Pride of Place (Kansas City): Kansas City’s FIFA Fan Festival is gearing up for a huge crowd, with vendors like Argentina Empanadas planning tens of thousands of empanadas for the week. Health & Lifestyle (Wellsville): A raw milk revival story spotlights a Wellsville family dairy shifting to A2/A2 raw milk and meeting rising demand. Sports & Community (Kansas): Teens from Kansas qualified for the National Junior High School Rodeo after strong Iowa finals performances, including barrel racing and goat-tying wins. Education Advocacy (Emporia): A petition drive is pushing to save Logan Avenue Elementary from closure, aiming to collect signatures by Wednesday ahead of state review. Public Safety (Severe Weather): Tornado damage across rural areas is being tied to a less “steady” season pattern—more bursts, more high-impact hits. Religion & Accountability (Leawood): A former priest from Curé of Ars Catholic Church appeared in court on a felony theft charge tied to alleged church money.

World Cup Hype Meets Sticker Shock: Fans across host cities are excited but wary as ticket prices and travel costs make the 2026 FIFA World Cup feel “for the rich,” with some hoping the high prices backfire. Kansas Education Watch: The June Olathe school board meeting will tackle facility alignment tied to declining enrollment, plus a new bullying plan and how the 2026 legislative session could affect the district. Workplace Safety Push: Gov. Laura Kelly has proclaimed June 2026 as National Safety Month, spotlighting Kansas Department of Labor efforts to prevent workplace injuries. Kansas Higher Ed: The Kansas Board of Regents is set to vote mid-June on a reduced-credit bachelor’s option (down to 90 hours) as a faster, cheaper path—while critics worry about academic standards. LGBTQ+ Protections: Kansas City is moving forward with a revised conversion-therapy ban ordinance after a Supreme Court setback, aiming to protect LGBTQ youth. Local Sports Drama: At the state track meet, Colby’s 3A boys 4x400 relay was disqualified after an appeal process that didn’t allow video review. Health Policy: New Medicaid work/engagement rules could affect millions nationwide, with key groups like pregnant people and people with disabilities exempt.

Kansas Politics: Former Gov. Jeff Colyer has dropped out of the 2026 governor’s race after President Trump endorsed Senate President Ty Masterson, leaving the GOP field to sort itself out as filing deadlines lock in. Local Governance: Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog filed late for the Democratic nomination, turning the governor’s race into a three-way primary and spotlighting Johnson County’s growing political clout. Native Health & Education: Haskell Indian Nations University and the Indian Health Service signed an agreement to build a new clinic on Haskell’s campus, expanding care access and hands-on training for Native students. Community & Culture: Lawrence is gearing up for Algeria’s visit with World Cup-themed public art and a new visitor center, while Free State Brewing’s east-side mural project will celebrate trails and local community history. Public Safety: The FBI warned Kansas City-area parents about violent extremist recruitment of children through online games and apps. Sports & Lifestyle: Fans in KCK lined up to catch a glimpse of Argentina during World Cup preparations, and Kansas athletes continue to sign on for college careers.

Kansas Culture & Community: Johnson County Community College won its first Junior College World Series title, finishing an undefeated run with an 8-5 championship win over Blinn College. Local Business Values: Packer Fastener CEO Terry Albrecht credits an “intentional culture” built on integrity, generosity, and leadership for turning a small shop into an employer of choice. World Cup in Kansas City: Argentina’s team arrived at KCI and is already training in Wyandotte County, with England, the Netherlands, and Algeria set to follow next week. Sports + Lifestyle: Unbound Gravel 2026 kept the Flint Hills buzzing—riders praised the community support even as brutal mud and crashes reshaped results. Arts & Live Music: KPR and the Dole Institute launched a Thursday-through-June series spotlighting Kansas artists, including Emporia’s land-based arts leader Elexa Dawson. Health & Trust: A new report says Social Security disability access got harder after staffing cuts and rule changes, with advocates warning applicants are facing more friction. Politics Close to Home: Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog entered the Kansas governor race as a late Democratic filing, while GOP candidate Ty Masterson named a running mate.

Tech & Schools: Kansas City Public Schools is swapping more than 30,000 Windows PCs and Chromebooks for MacBook Neo devices under an “All-Apple District” plan, with older students getting MacBooks while younger grades keep iPads and MacBook Airs. Civic Life: Shawnee County Democrats hosted a “Democracy Tailgate” in Topeka so voters could meet candidates one-on-one and ask unscripted questions about healthcare, education, and affordability. Community & Culture: Festa Italiana returned to Zona Rosa with food, music, and Italian-American traditions—and raised over $60,000 for college scholarships for Kansas City students. Education & Parenting Tech: The U.S. teachers’ union is pushing AI and screen-time guardrails, urging schools to limit AI and avoid iPads for pre-K through second grade unless there’s a compelling reason. Local Sports: The Kansas City Current closed May with a 1-0 win over Boston Legacy FC, extending a record home unbeaten streak to 23 matches. Arts & Family Fun: Rolling Hills Zoo joined Kansas AZA zoos in the KaZOO Wild Adventure Passport program, offering stamps, prizes, and reciprocal member discounts.

Sports & Community Pride: Kansas City Current closed May with a historic 1-0 win over Boston Legacy FC, powered by Temwa Chawinga and a record-setting home run of 23 straight unbeaten matches at CPKC Stadium. Local Education & Workforce: Salina Area Technical College received a $50,000 gift from Larry and Stephanie Hettenbach to expand scholarships for allied health and skilled trades like welding, diesel, and machine tool tech. Civic Values & Justice: A Kansas coalition is urging voters to oppose a constitutional amendment that would shift Kansas Supreme Court justice selection from a merit-based process to general elections, warning it could politicize the courts. Culture Watch: Apple TV’s “Cape Fear” remake leads this week’s must-see list, while Emily Blunt says she’s “terrified” of AI and avoided it for a key language-heavy scene in Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day.” STEM & Conservation: KU’s Monarch Watch is using new butterfly tagging tech to turn migration questions into real tracking data across the U.S. and beyond.

Unbound Gravel chaos in Kansas: Swiss rider Robin Gemperle won the mud-soaked 2026 Unbound Gravel XL in Emporia after 21 hours and 16 minutes, including a stretch where he had to walk about 21 kilometers through ankle-deep mud and rain. Race-day grit: Conditions were so brutal that elite riders in Unbound 200 early on were forced to get off bikes and run, with some stopping to clear mud from their drivetrains. Debut cut short: French star Romain Bardet abandoned Unbound Gravel about 100 miles in, stepping off the course in the same Flint Hills downpour. Local politics filing: Two candidates filed for Kansas House District 69—Miranda Bachman and Meagan Rico—both pitching practical fixes around food access, healthcare, affordability, childcare, housing, and education. Community & learning: Kansas literacy advocates highlighted a documentary on adult illiteracy’s real-life impacts, while CREES at KU announced winners of its Laird Essay Contest. Sports culture: Big Slick weekend is underway in Kansas City to raise money for Children’s Mercy, mixing celebrity appearances with a big variety show and auctions.

Junior Baseball Glory: Johnson County Community College won its first JUCO World Series title in school history, finishing an undefeated run with an 8-5 win over Blinn College and ending the season with a record 219 home runs. Kansas Politics & Voting Access: Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab says he doesn’t expect a proposed federal “SAVE Act” proof-of-citizenship requirement to disenfranchise eligible voters, despite past Kansas court rulings that blocked thousands. GOP Campaign Trail: Scott Schwab filed for Kansas governor and named Rep. Ken Rahjes as his running mate, leaning into rural and agriculture priorities. Local Education & Workforce: Melanie McMillan filed to run for Kansas House District 111, pitching lower costs, stronger public education, and technical training. Community Culture: Wyandotte County kicked off the first One World Wyandotte Festival in KCK, celebrating languages, food, music, and World Cup watch-party energy. Faith & Community Safety: A Kansas priest surrendered after an internal audit alleged he stole more than $100,000 from his former parish. Food Security: Kansas Appleseed warns thousands of children have lost SNAP food aid since federal changes, calling it a direct hit to kids’ access to meals. Sports & Summer Plans: UNBOUND Gravel XL launched from Emporia with a 350-mile, self-supported Flint Hills ride—no outside help, just grit.

Kansas Politics & Campaign Trail: Scott Schwab named Rep. Ken Rahjes as his running mate, spotlighting rural water and agriculture priorities. STEM & Youth Innovation: Four Kansas teams won top honors at the 2026 World KidWind Challenge, from a Shawnee elementary team to Hutchinson middle schoolers. Community & Culture: Kansas City Zoo opened Giraffe Crossing, adding year-round indoor viewing and upgraded amenities in the Africa section. Lifestyle & Travel Planning: The Kansas Sampler Foundation launched a free Online Kansas Guidebook to help people explore small-town stops, backroads, and local stories. Immigration & Family Impact: A teen released from ICE after months in detention across multiple states returned to Chicago to receive his high school diploma. Public Health & Safety: Experts urged Kansans to avoid virus panic and focus on practical protection as outbreaks and headlines swirl. Sports & Local Pride: Emporia was ranked Kansas’s most walkable city, with downtown and campus areas doing the heavy lifting.

Civic & Culture Calendar: The Dole Institute of Politics at KU kicked off its America 250 summer lineup, including a June 29 talk with historian Beverly Gage and a June 9 Kansas-focused program. Local Environment: Lawrence’s Sustainability Advisory Board is weighing changes to the city’s weed-control ordinance to better support native, “natural” landscaping. Faith & Community: The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas shared mid-year progress on its Archdiocesan Call to Share, while the Renewal from the Heartland process moves into an online survey window June 1-15 after 31 listening sessions. Education & Summer Reading: Teachers are urging families to keep kids reading and writing over summer to avoid the “summer dip.” Arts & Learning: KU students wrapped up a Model NATO simulation on cyberattacks and Article 5, and KU named five faculty Kemper Fellows for Teaching Excellence. Food Security: Kansas Appleseed says thousands of children lost SNAP access after federal changes. Tech & Tourism: Kansas Sampler Foundation launched a free Online Kansas Guidebook, and Kansas City’s Media Tech Museum opens June 1.

Local Politics: Pete Caster has announced his run for Kansas City Council District 1, pitching a platform of safer neighborhoods, responsible budgeting, better infrastructure, and more accountability. Food & Community: Dave’s Hot Chicken is expanding into Manhattan and several other Kansas cities, with a Manhattan opening slated for late this year and Wichita-area plans already in motion. Faith & Public Life: The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is rolling out details for its 2026 “One Nation Under God” route, with Kansas-area residents invited to join events and sign up for a “spiritual bouquet” of Holy Hours. Weekend Culture: Kansas City, Kansas is packed with free and low-cost events, including the One World Wyandotte Festival, Festa Italiana, and a Potato Fest. Education & Kids: Kansas families and educators are pushing back on special education funding shortfalls, while another report warns about the growing use of surveillance tech near school buses. Wildlife & Family Fun: AZA-accredited Kansas zoos are launching the KaZOO Wild Adventure Passport, encouraging stamp-collecting visits across seven locations.

Kansas City Culture & Sports: Travis Kelce is now a Cleveland Guardians minority owner, adding MLB ownership to his off-field playbook. World Cup in Kansas City (KCK): Visit KCK is rolling out free Spanish and English watch parties plus street festivals tied to multiple matches, with big cultural programming along Wyandotte Street. Local Health Need: A Kansas City-area single dad is urgently seeking a living kidney donor, sharing how dialysis has taken over his life. Community & Education: Lawrence Arts Center opens a visiting exhibit exploring indigo, African diaspora, and memory through an immersive installation. Higher Ed Watch: Kansas public universities are asking the Board of Regents for tuition increases (up to 6%), while Emporia State wants to hold rates steady. Civic Growth: Pittsburg leaders discussed data center expansion opportunities, weighing economic benefits against environmental concerns. Sports Spotlight: Kenyan student-athletes are gearing up for NCAA regional action as they chase national championships. Everyday Costs: A new household budget index points to rising gas prices squeezing middle-income purchasing power.

Sports & Local Pride: Travis Kelce is now a minority investor in the Cleveland Guardians, adding MLB ownership to his growing off-field portfolio. Women’s Soccer: The USWNT roster for June friendlies vs. Brazil reunites the “Triple Espresso” trio—Trinity Rodman, Sophia Wilson, and Mallory Swanson—for the first time since the 2024 Olympics. Kansas Politics & Families: A Kansas judge issued a statewide temporary injunction blocking a law restricting gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth, saying it likely violates parental rights. Public Safety & Costs: Kansas will raise the offender registration fee starting July 1. Community Spotlight: Neighbor to Neighbor Women’s Center will transition to new ownership this summer, with Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas taking over operations in July. Kansas Culture & Outdoors: Unbound Gravel week in Emporia continues to build momentum, with the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame set to add new inductees. Higher Ed Watch: Five of six Kansas public universities are seeking in-state tuition increases for 2026-27. Tech & Streaming: Roku’s big home screen redesign leans harder into recommendations and quick access.

Memorial Day in Kansas: Kerr County residents lined up at the courthouse war memorial Monday, honoring 89 local heroes with a roll call, bagpipes playing “Amazing Grace,” and readings including “In Flanders Fields.” School Pay Boost: The Lawrence school board approved major 2026-2027 raises for teachers and support staff, including a jump for education support professionals from $15.46 to $20 an hour. Local Culture Calendar: Chalk Walk returns May 30 for its 19th year, and Sugar Creek Slavic Fest celebrates 40 years in 2026. World Cup Prep: Kansas City is getting festive for visiting teams, with at least one downtown bar closing to deck out for the tournament. Politics: President Trump endorsed Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson for governor, aiming to boost him in the August GOP primary. Court Watch: A former Leawood priest, Father Richard Storey, faces felony theft charges tied to alleged missing church funds.