By Sherman Smith | editor-in-chief
Good morning! The governor's chief of staff said Tuesday that three Kansans are being monitored for hantavirus because they were seated behind someone on a plane who had symptoms, tested positive and died. So far, the Kansans are asymptomatic. But at the governor's request, legislative leaders agreed to extend her emergency declaration until June 7 in case the situation changes.
In other news, all but one of the state's public universities are raising tuition this year — the outlier is Emporia State. More immigrants are voluntarily leaving the United States, and the Congressional Black Caucus is challenging corporations to support voting rights.
Also, columnist Richard Pund is not a fan of data centers.
Baya Burgess/Kansas Reflector
Kansas legislative leaders approve extended monitoring of three residents exposed to hantavirus
TOPEKA — Kansas legislative leaders on Tuesday approved the governor’s request to extend an emergency declaration in response to three residents who are being monitored for a potential hantavirus infection.
Will Lawrence, the governor’s chief of staff, revealed new details about how the three individuals had been in close contact with someone who died from the disease.
Gov. Laura Kelly declared an emergency May 12 after health officials learned about the exposure. Lawrence said the declaration allowed the state to transport individuals to the University of Kansas Medical Center for monitoring, and for the state to continue to monitor the patients after they were discharged last week. The three patients, who are all asymptomatic, remain in voluntary isolation at home.
Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector
Five of six Kansas public universities seek student tuition increases of 3.5% to 6%
TOPEKA — Five public universities in Kansas are seeking in-state undergraduate tuition increases ranging from 3.5% to 6% in the upcoming academic year, while Emporia State University wants to hold tuition steady another year as an incentive to increase enrollment.
Campus officials say Kansas Board of Regents universities remained a financial and academic bargain, but the majority requested tuition adjustments in wake of the 2026 Legislature’s imposition of millions of dollars in cuts the state university system. Higher education costs continue to escalate as the Midwest consumer price index for urban areas advanced 4.1% during the 12 months ending in April.
Dan Koeck/North Dakota Monitor
OPINION
As data centers sprawl across the landscape, AI companies should pay Kansans what we’re owed
By Richard Pund
Former Kansas state Rep. Jan Kessinger contributed a piece about artificial intelligence data centers last month, which has inspired me to respond. I appreciate Kessinger’s time in the Legislature as my representative, but I disagree with him here.
When I see rhetoric about welcoming a new development with open arms, I take that to mean the developer is looking for public money of some kind. This was shown recently when Beale Infrastructure withdrew its proposed data center in Gardner. These companies will just keep looking until they find a handout.
Kessinger’s column argued that data centers will bring jobs to Kansas, but will they really?
Voluntary departures spike as immigrants face squalid detention, pressure to leave
A surge in voluntary departure agreements in immigration courts is raising concerns that Trump administration tactics are unfairly pressuring immigrants into leaving the United States, even if they have a legal right to stay.
Congressional Black Caucus calls for corporate leaders to speak out for voting rights
The Congressional Black Caucus on Tuesday urged American corporations to condemn efforts to dilute Black voting strength, as Southern states eliminate congressional districts where most residents are Black.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Kansas Reflector staff will participate in the following free public forums.
6:30 p.m. June 12, Kansas Museum of History in Topeka. Opinion editor Clay Wirestone will join a panel discussion: "From the Desk of William Allen White: What Can Journalism Today Learn from the Sage of Emporia?"
5:30 p.m. June 16, Bradbury Alumni Center at Washburn University in Topeka. Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will lead a discussion on the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. Host: Kansas Appleseed. Register here.
6 p.m. June 24, Groover Labs in Wichita. Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will lead a discussion on the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. Host: Kansas Appleseed. Register here.
6 p.m. June 25, Clint Bowyer Community Building in Emporia. Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will lead a discussion on the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. Host: Kansas Appleseed. Register here.
7 p.m. June 27, Park City Senior Center. Host: Park City Community Pride.
2 p.m. Sept. 27, Red Rocks Visitor Center in Emporia. Host: Red Rocks.
If you're interested in having us talk in your town, email Sherman Smith at [email protected].
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