AGP Executive Report

Community Health: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Greater Kansas is urging Hays-area residents to join the Hays Out of the Darkness Community Walk Saturday, Sept. 12, at Aubel-Bickle Optimist Park to support suicide prevention education, advocacy, and survivor services. Education & Access: A federal judge permanently blocked Kansas from enforcing its in-state tuition benefit for undocumented students, and the change is already taking effect for current students. Immigration Enforcement: ICE/HSI arrested a Peruvian noncitizen in Wichita for allegedly voting in the 2024 election by misrepresenting herself as a U.S. citizen. Public Safety Tech: Massachusetts towns are dropping Flock Safety camera contracts, while lawmakers consider privacy guardrails—part of a wider national debate over surveillance. Arts & Culture: The Mattie Rhodes Cultural Center launched “Nuestra Tierra: Breaking Borders,” a traveling Mexican diaspora exhibition featuring muralists and a live collaborative mural. Family-Friendly Events: Kansas Wetlands Education Center’s 13th annual Butterfly Festival returns Sept. 26 with monarch tagging, plus a StoneLion Puppet Theatre show. Local Sports: Barton Community College volleyball fell 3-1 at Colby, then heads to a tournament in Sterling, Colorado.

Immigration & Education: A federal judge permanently blocked Kansas from enforcing its in-state tuition law for illegal immigrants, siding with the U.S. Justice Department and Kansas AG Kris Kobach in a ruling that keeps undocumented students from getting the lower rate. Public Health: The Kansas Health Institute reports Kansas’ uninsured child rate jumped from 5.3% (2023) to 7.0% (2024), with more than 51,000 children uninsured, while overall uninsured rates stayed near historic lows. Community Support: Hays is hosting the Out of the Darkness Community Walk this Saturday to raise funds and awareness for suicide prevention, with organizers urging residents to show up for survivors and mental health journeys. Local Transportation: Derby updated its traffic ordinance to better manage golf carts and e-mobility devices after a speed-limit change created unintended problems for residents. Family & Fun Events: Abilene’s 9th annual Oktoberfest returns Sept. 18–19 with German food, music, and family activities, and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center’s Butterfly Festival is set for Sept. 26. Politics & Culture: Vice President JD Vance is set to visit Johnson County/ Olathe to back Sen. Roger Marshall, underscoring how national campaigns are landing in Kansas communities.

Immigration & Courts: A federal judge blocked Kansas from enforcing its in-state tuition law for undocumented students, saying the benefit conflicts with federal law. Education & Inclusion: Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools is facing a DOJ lawsuit over transgender policies, with families saying the pressure felt personal and immediate. Public Health & Literacy: A Wichita-focused report highlights how nearly 20% of Kansas adults struggle with reading, linking adult literacy to safer jobs and everyday life. Health Coverage: The Kansas Health Institute reports uninsured rates for children rose in 2024, with Hispanic Kansans and low-income families hit hardest. Culture & Community: The African American Film Critics Association donated $25,000 to support Kansas City’s Black Movie Hall of Fame ahead of its 2027 opening. Agriculture & Research: Arkansas State leads a $2.2M NSF project with Kansas partners to boost drought tolerance in rice and wheat. Local Schools: USD 253 approved its 2026-27 budget and Logan Avenue Elementary’s closure is now final after a 6-1 board vote. Sports & Entertainment: NFL season kicks off with Patriots vs. Seahawks, while Kansas City’s 9/11 remembrance stories continue to mark 25 years.

Education & Community Recognition: Derby Public Schools named its 2028 Kansas Teacher of the Year nominees, spotlighting Jessica Fuller (business finance, Derby High) and Jonathan Wisner (music, El Paso). Local Governance & Public Safety: Allen County commissioners approved a proposed 0.5% sales tax on the November ballot to fund emergency medical services after voters rejected a similar plan in 2024. Culture & Lifestyle: Lawrence’s Indigenous Arts Initiative is bringing free public workshops (Sept. 14–16) with Lakota artist Rhonda Holy Bear and casting director Stacey Rice, blending art, storytelling, and filmmaking. Transit & Daily Life: The K-10 Connector bus route between Lawrence and Johnson County will run through fall, but long-term funding is still up in the air. Sports & Community Pride: Kansas City’s Big Slick charity weekend helped spark Rob Riggle’s new horror-comedy “Don’t Move,” tying local philanthropy to a hometown film premiere. Sports & Kansas Connections: Kansas State University launched a national search for the next dean of the Graduate School, as it updates its Next-Gen K-State strategic targets through 2030.

Education & Policy: The Trump administration quietly updated the federal Civil Rights Data Collection, replacing school data on nonbinary students and gender-identity bullying with “suppressed” codes tied to an executive order defining sex as only male or female. Local Governance & Community: Wichita’s City Council upheld a ban blocking demolition of the nearly 100-year-old Crown Uptown Theatre until at least January, after the owner sought to tear it down again. Kansas Public Safety & Immigration: Kansas AG Kris Kobach urged more sheriff’s offices to assist ICE, pointing to a Kearny County case and citing the 287(g) program as a “helpful tool.” Higher Ed & Accreditation: KU School of Pharmacy is on “accreditation with probation,” with students citing staffing and continuity problems ahead of the next 2027 review. Arts & Culture: KU will host its first Democracy Day on Sept. 18, bringing faculty talks on populism, religion in schools, and the presidency to Lawrence. Agriculture & Local Appointments: Kansas Dept. of Agriculture named four Kansans to its Marketing Advisory Board, starting Sept. 18. Sports & Lifestyle: Oakley launched Patrick Mahomes’ new Signature Series sunglasses for Chiefs fans.

Education & Equity in Kansas: New federal data shows Kansas’s six-year bachelor’s completion rate for students of two or more races is 51.7% for the 2018 cohort, with big gaps by race/ethnicity. Local Government: Douglas County commissioners will consider a new Solid Waste Management Plan after a public hearing, aiming to manage trash and diversion over the next decade. Rural Health & Community: Sen. Roger Marshall visited Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in Larned as part of a rural outreach tour focused on what’s working in healthcare and what needs help. Culture & Faith: The Daughters of Isabella (Great Bend Circle) marked decades of Catholic women’s service by donating school supplies and supporting local church programs. Arts & Community Spotlight: Compton-born painter Reggie Burrows Hodges is set for a rare three-museum solo rollout in Southern California. Sports & Hometown Pride: Yates Center opened with a 48-0 win over Crest, while Cloud County’s Faith Jepchumba earned a KJCCC women’s runner of the week honor. Politics & Families: A coalition of lawmakers and advocates backed California parents in a court fight over school rules that limit parent access to decisions about socially transitioning a child.

Kansas Politics & Rights: A New York Times columnist argues Kansas’ anti-trans driver’s license and bathroom rules amount to authoritarianism, describing real-world fear and confusion for transgender residents. Immigration & Education: The Justice Department challenges states’ in-state tuition policies for illegal immigrants, adding pressure to Kansas-area school and college debates. Local Schools: Tonganoxie teachers rally over a proposed “double docking” vacation-day policy after contract talks hit an impasse. Public Health & Community Policy: Lawrence health officials consider a possible moratorium on new tobacco retailer licenses as the number of shops keeps growing. AI in the Classroom: A University of Kansas program helps Bonner Springs teachers use MagicSchool to connect math lessons to real career paths. Culture & Identity: A Kansas poet reflects on Hispanic Heritage Month amid funding worries and attacks on DEI. Sports & Lifestyle: Aaron Judge is activated for the Yankees after rehab; and the Phillies’ Luzardo posts a two-hit shutout as Kansas fans keep an eye on the season’s big storylines. Trade & Everyday Costs: Canada’s retaliatory tariffs take effect, with Kansas named among Bombardier’s U.S. job footprint.

Education & Equity: New federal data show Washburn University’s six-year bachelor’s completion rate for white students at 48.4% in Shawnee County (down 16.4 points from the statewide figure), while Douglas County’s rate for Black students is 44.6% and Sedgwick County’s is 35.1%—with Hispanic/Latino completion in Kansas at 52.2% for the 2018 cohort. State Taxes: Kansas collected $35 million in severance taxes in 2024—down from $71.3 million the year before—part of a broader look at how state revenue shifts affect budgets. Community Building: In Solomon, rural leaders gathered for a Kansas Sampler Foundation “Do-Alogue” on creating stronger “third spaces” using local assets. Local Lifestyle & Agriculture: A McPherson County farmer describes how extreme heat is reshaping harvest timing, school schedules, and even water routines for livestock. Politics & Schools: Kansas Sen. Cindy Holscher pitched education and job pipelines to KU students as part of her governor campaign. Sports (Kansas ties): The Blue Jays’ injury updates and wild-card push keep Kansas City sports fans watching, while NASCAR’s Darlington weekend crowned Christopher Bell with his first win of the season.

Education & Equity Watch: New state guidance is pushing Kansas schools to curb student screen time, with Derby Public Schools leaning on “best practice” recommendations after the Kansas State Board of Education’s bell-to-bell cellphone ban took effect this year. Student Success Data: Wichita State’s Asian six-year bachelor’s completion rate in Sedgwick County hit 67.8% by 2024, while Washburn’s Hispanic/Latino rate in Shawnee County was 44.2% and Pittsburg State’s Black/AA rate in Crawford County was 35.7%—all spotlighting gaps families feel. Community Giving: Nemaha County’s sixth annual Match Day raised $502,500 for local funds, topping last year by more than $200,000. Sports & Local Culture: Kansas City’s Irish Fest drew about 75,000 over Labor Day weekend, and Royals fans turned a stadium hot dog challenge into a viral moment (even with a Blue Jays loss). Religion Calendar: Multiple Northeast, South, Southeast, Northwest, and Southwest Kansas listings share adoration and confession times for Sept. 6–12. Tech & Policy: A former USCIS official was arrested in a green-card corruption scheme, accused of selling immigration benefits. College Sports Branding: Ripple’s multi-year deal will put the XRP logo on the University of Florida football field, with Kansas athletics branding already in motion.

Royals Game-Day Fun: Kauffman Stadium went viral with QuikTrip’s “Home Bun Race,” where fans had 35 seconds to assemble a giant inflatable hot dog—earning free glizzy even after a Blue Jays loss. Sports & Culture: NASCAR’s 2026 Chase kicks off Sunday at Darlington with the Southern 500 (USA Network; green flag around 5:10 p.m. CT), setting the tone for the season’s return to the classic Chase format. Local Faith Calendar: Multiple Kansas regions are listing church gatherings for Sept. 6–12, from adoration and confession schedules in Southeast and Southwest Kansas to family-focused church events in East Wichita. Community & Learning: East Wichita’s kids-and-family lineup includes library and church activities for the week, while Southwest Kansas highlights family programming at Finney County Public Library. Education Snapshot: New data shows Ellis County’s six-year bachelor’s completion rate for white students at Fort Hays State was 49.3% by 2024. Pop Culture: Kansas City comedian Funny Marco sparred with Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur in a chaotic interview that leaned into awkward humor. Entertainment Buzz: Country singer Bryan Andrews says the country music industry “f** hates” him after he criticized Donald Trump, framing it as a risk to his career. Crypto in Sports: Ripple’s XRP branding deal is expanding in college athletics, including a reported multi-year splash at the University of Florida’s “The Swamp.”

Food Safety & Health: Farm Forward says dangerous salmonella strains are rising in chicken and turkey flocks, with more antibiotic resistance—renewing calls for tougher USDA rules. Local Community Spotlight: After a storm blackout left Kansas City, Kansas in the dark, a KCK bar opened as a neighbor hub—and now it’s gearing up for the area’s first Black Restaurant Week. Sports (Kansas Ties): FC Dallas’ Petar Musa netted a late PK to beat Sporting KC 4-3, while the Toronto Blue Jays pulled even in the AL wild-card race with a win over the Royals; in Kansas City, Kansas, the community’s sports scene keeps moving. Culture & Entertainment: Disney voice actors Bret Iwan, Kaitlyn Robrock, Bill Farmer, and Jim Cummings shared what it takes to bring classic characters to life on a DVC cruise. Weekend Plans: NASCAR’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington starts Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on USA Network. Education Data (Kansas): New county-by-county six-year bachelor completion figures highlight gaps by race at Washburn, Emporia State, Wichita State, KU, and Pittsburg State.

Kansas Education & Equity Data: New federal figures spotlight six-year bachelor’s completion gaps at Kansas public four-year schools, including Washburn (22% for Black/African American students), Emporia State (48.9% for Hispanic/Latino students), Wichita State (46% for Hispanic/Latino students), and Pittsburg State (29.8% for Hispanic/Latino students), with Douglas County’s University of Kansas at 71% for white students. Local Culture & Campus Life: The Crossing at 14Tenn opens in Lawrence as a new sports bar hub for KU students, banking on heavy foot traffic near the “Triangle.” Sports & Community: Kansas priest case update: Gary Hermesch, accused in the killing of Father Arul Carasala, was declared not competent and ordered for involuntary commitment proceedings. Politics & Daily Life: A Bloomberg report says Trump’s pro–AI data center push is colliding with voter backlash over costs and local impacts ahead of midterms. Entertainment Picks: HBO Max is leaning into Labor Day binge culture, while Cinema Diverse returns Sept. 17–20 and 24–27 with LGBTQ+ films and filmmakers.

Education & Rights: The U.S. Department of Justice sued Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools over alleged “secret gender transitions,” saying the district kept parents out of key decisions and violated federal parental-rights rules. Civic Life: With midterms nearing, a practical guide is circulating on what to do if your vote is challenged—starting with checking registration and knowing who to call. Local Politics: Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall is facing fresh criticism over a lack of public town halls, with supporters pointing to safety and travel-heavy outreach. Community & Culture: Grinter Farms in Lawrence is gearing up for Labor Day sunflower crowds, even as heat and dry conditions threaten blooms. Sports (Kansas-area fans): Toronto’s Blue Jays surged back to .500 with a 9-2 win over the Royals, while Kansas City’s MLS side FC Dallas returns home to host Sporting KC after renovations. Lifestyle & Learning: A reminder column urges kinder feedback to students—“use a blue pen, not a red one”—as the school year ramps up.

School Closures in Olathe: Olathe Public Schools is weighing closing six schools at year’s end as enrollment drops, with a Sept. 22 public hearing and an October board vote; the plan also ties into boundary changes aimed at balancing middle-school enrollment. Teacher Contract Fight in Tonganoxie: Tonganoxie teachers staged a walk-in over a contract impasse for 2026-27, criticizing “double docking” leave terms and pushing for a fair deal. DOJ vs. Kansas City Schools: The U.S. Department of Justice filed a “first-of-its-kind” lawsuit against Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools over alleged secret transgender-related policies and parental notification/rights. Abortion Retrial Complication: Kansas AG Kris Kobach’s office faces a procedural snag in a court bid to retry an abortion case, after a filing was rejected over formatting. Labor Update in Dodge City: Workers at the National Beef plant in Dodge City ratified a five-year union contract, winning wage increases, better healthcare, and more time off. Community & Wellness: Sunflower Bank highlighted financial inclusion at a Kansas Housing Conference, and North Central Kansas Medical Center promoted Natalie Herrs to Rehab Services director. Local Culture Flashpoint: Derby High School yearbook pages drew backlash over partisan content and student drag, sparking a free-speech debate.

School Closures & Community Impact: Olathe Public Schools is recommending closing 1 middle school and 5 elementary schools (plus earlier mergers), citing enrollment shifts and facility mismatch—an emotional decision for families. Public Accountability in KCKPS: A Kansas City, Kansas school board member is pushing for clearer spending records, especially pricey hotel travel, after KORA requests were delayed or quoted at steep costs. Federal Lawsuit Over Student Privacy: The U.S. Department of Justice sued Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools, alleging staff help with “social transitions” and withhold details from parents, violating federal privacy and rights laws. Early Childhood Expansion: Lawrence schools will add five preschool classrooms after demand topped a 160-family waitlist, aiming to reduce barriers for 3- and 4-year-olds. Local Faith & Service: St. Mary’s Food Kitchen in KCK is gearing up with “all hands on deck” volunteer efforts, while The Leaven shifts to an every-other-week print schedule and boosts its email/news online. Culture & Learning: Paper Plains Zine Fest returns to Lawrence with workshops, open studios, and community events. Stress & Connection: A Kansas-focused piece highlights how small, familiar daily rituals and supportive communication can lower stress.

Kansas School Watch: The DOJ and U.S. Education Department announced enforcement moves against Olathe and Shawnee Mission over gender-inclusive policies, including claims tied to FERPA and parents not being told about pronouns or names. Public Safety & Courts: In the Seneca, Kansas priest killing case, a judge found accused killer Gary Hermesch not competent and ordered involuntary commitment proceedings to begin. Community & Culture: Lawrence’s Paper Plains Zine Fest is back with workshops, local zinesters, and a Pokémon tournament—plus KU football on Friday. Local Sports: Cloud County women’s cross country starts the season ranked No. 11 in the NJCAA DI coaches’ poll. Education & Workforce: The federal “Foundry School” launch ties universities (including KU) to manufacturing training aimed at filling millions of skilled-worker roles by 2033. Agriculture: Kansas Dept. of Agriculture named new members to its Marketing Advisory Board, including leaders from food safety, agriculture education, and livestock.