By Sherman Smith | editor-in-chief
Good morning! We're reporting on storm damage in Kansas City, Kansas, what gubernatorial candidates had to say at Thursday's Kansas Chamber forum, private equity in healthcare, and the latest from Washington.
Meanwhile, opinion editor Clay Wirestone has some thoughts on Dolly Parton.
Matt Kleinmann
Kansas City groups band together in wake of surprise storm’s severe damage, slow government response
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — In the absence of immediate government response, community organizations in Kansas City, Kansas, banded together to help each other reckon with the effects of a tornado-like storm that damaged homes, trees and power lines without much warning.
It wasn’t until later that government agencies arrived to help the predominantly Black community.
When storms began rolling through northeast Kansas the night of Aug. 18, Nikki Richardson-Iwegbu said “it felt as though I did something wrong and somebody was attacking me.”
Violent hail woke her up at 1:36 a.m. Aug. 19, and she moved into her bathroom for shelter, waiting for a tornado siren.
“I just waited,” she said, “and then you hear destruction. Power goes out, and I’m just sitting there waiting, just waiting, just to see what’s going to happen.”
A siren never sounded.
Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector
Kansas gubernatorial candidates questioned on property tax, data centers, goals
OLATHE — Candidates for governor fielded business and economic questions Thursday, exchanging barbs about the “property tax crisis,” encouraging economic growth and steps to filling workforce needs.
The Kansas Chamber hosted the forum, giving candidates seven minutes to answer questions asked by Eric Stafford, chamber president and CEO.
Kansas Governor’s Office
OPINION
In Dolly Parton’s life and death, lessons in life and love and devotion to what really matters
By Clay Wirestone
The queen is dead. Long live the queen.
That queen, of course, would be legendary country entertainer Dolly Parton, who slipped the surly bonds of Earth on Aug. 25 at the age of 80. A Tennessee native, she nonetheless visited Kansas three years ago to celebrate the expansion of her Imagination Library literacy program.
The preternaturally talented Parton had much to teach those of us in the Sunflower State — and every other state besides, if we bother to pay attention.
As states tighten oversight, private equity’s healthcare deals decline
New state oversight laws are pumping the brakes on private equity’s push into healthcare, according to new data.
The number of private equity-involved healthcare deals has declined since last year, and the value of those deals in the first half of 2026 is lower than it was for the same time in 2025, according to a new report from Pitchbook, a company that tracks private capital markets and investment data.
GOP path to retaining US House majority narrowing as midterms near
WASHINGTON — With less than 70 days until midterm elections, Democrats remain favored to regain the majority in the U.S. House.
Trump administration appeals latest order freezing rule on mail-in voting
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration is appealing a federal judge’s temporary pause on a U.S. Postal Service regulation that places new restrictions on mail-in voting, according to a Friday court filing.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Kansas Reflector staff will participate in the following free public forums.
3 p.m. Sept. 26, Washburn Library in Topeka. Opinion editor Clay Wirestone will participate in the panel “Why UPK: University Press of Kansas Celebrates 80 Years.” Host: Kansas Book Festival.
2 p.m. Sept. 27, Red Rocks Visitor Center in Emporia. Host: Red Rocks.
7 p.m. Sept. 29, Raven Book Store in Lawrence. Book release event for opinion editor Clay Wirestone’s “Opinionated.” Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will moderate.
6 p.m. Oct. 12, Riverbank Brewing in Council Grove. Opinion editor Clay Wirestone talks about his book and the latest news. Host: Flint Hills Books.
6 p.m. Dec. 3, Prairie Star Restaurant in Manhattan. Host: League of Women Voters of Manhattan and Riley County.
If you're interested in having us talk in your town, email Sherman Smith at [email protected].
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