Kansas has experienced a remarkable tourism resurgence, with visitor numbers surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2023. The state’s focus on affordability, authentic experiences, and strategic marketing has attracted nearly 38 million visitors, generating billions of dollars in economic impact. This success highlights the growing popularity of rural and off-the-beaten-path destinations as travelers seek less crowded and more authentic experiences.
Three former Republican officials from Kansas, including a former U.S. Senator, have publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, citing a stark choice between her and former President Donald Trump. They believe Harris aligns more closely with their values and the aspirations of Kansans.
KCAC Aviation, a leading provider of aviation services in the Midwest, is expanding its operations with the construction of a new state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance hangar at Johnson County Executive Airport (KOJC) in Olathe, Kansas. The new facility will significantly enhance KCAC’s capacity to service and maintain Pilatus and Piper aircraft, meeting the growing demands of the regional market.
Ronnie Wiggs, a Kansas man, has admitted to killing his hospitalized wife by choking her because he could not afford her medical expenses and was overwhelmed by her caregiving responsibilities. His confession came after staff at Centrepoint Medical Centre declared his wife brain dead following an attempted resuscitation procedure on May 3rd. Wiggs fled the hospital after the incident but was brought back by his son and apprehended by authorities. He confessed to hospital staff, expressing that he had tried to kill his wife before due to depression and the strain of caregiving.
Textron Aviation has unveiled its largest parts distribution facility at its headquarters in Wichita, Kansas. The 180,000-square-foot facility will improve parts storage capabilities and expedite shipping services for the company’s global clientele. Textron Aviation offers direct factory support, maintenance, and modifications to Beechcraft, Cessna, and Hawker customers through a worldwide network of service centers. The expanded facility will enhance the customer experience with a dedicated customer lane for in-person part drop-offs and pickups. The facility also incorporates energy-efficient features and process enhancements that reduce vehicle travel, supporting Textron Aviation’s commitment to sustainability.
Colby Trickle, a resident of Hays, Kansas, has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2019 murder of his wife, Kristen Trickle. Trickle’s conviction came after a trial where prosecutors presented evidence that he had purchased a sex doll just two days after receiving $120,000 from his wife’s life insurance policies. Investigators also found that Trickle had spent the entire insurance payout within about eight months on video games, debt repayment, and music equipment. Trickle’s mother testified that the doll was meant for comfort and warmth, not sexual reasons, but a jury found him guilty in November 2023, and he is now serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Oklahoma authorities have apprehended a fifth suspect, Paul Grice, in connection with the gruesome murders of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley. The victims, both Kansas mothers, vanished on March 30 while driving to retrieve their children. Their bodies were later discovered in rural Texas County, igniting a search for their killers. The case has taken a sinister turn with the involvement of ‘God’s Misfits,’ an anti-government group linked to some of the earlier arrests. Authorities suspect foul play and are actively investigating the motive behind this heinous crime.
Oklahoma prosecutors have charged a fifth member of an anti-government group with the murder and kidnapping of two Kansas women. Paul Jeremiah Grice, 31, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit murder in Texas County. Grice admitted his involvement in the killing and burial of Veronica Butler, 27, and Jillian Kelley, 39, of Hugoton, Kansas, to an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agent, according to court documents. Grice is being held without bond at the Texas County Detention Center. Court records do not indicate whether he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf. Four other members of the group, including Tifany Adams, 54, and her boyfriend, Tad Cullum, 43, of Keyes, and Cole, 50, and Cora Twombly, 44, of Texhoma, Oklahoma, have also been charged in connection with the deaths and are being held without bail.
Kansas Democratic Governor Laura Kelly has vetoed a broad tax cut package for the second time in three months, citing concerns about its long-term financial impact on the state. The vetoed bill, which enjoyed bipartisan support in the Republican-controlled Legislature, included income, sales, and property tax cuts worth $1.5 billion over the next three years. Kelly said that the bill was “too expensive” and would jeopardize the state’s future fiscal stability. She also expressed concerns that the plan’s move to two personal income tax rates would benefit the wealthy at the expense of the middle class. Republicans criticized Kelly’s veto, arguing that Kansas needs and deserves tax relief, and that the state has sufficient surplus funds to cover the cost of the cuts. Kelly proposed a new tax cut plan worth roughly $1.3 billion over the next three years, but the Kansas House’s top Republican dismissed it as “not serious” about tax relief.
An ostrich named Karen tragically passed away at the Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center in Kansas after accidentally ingesting the keys belonging to a staff member. Despite the zoo’s extensive efforts to save her, including consultations with experts across the country, Karen’s condition proved too critical.
