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Kansas navigates bold economic initiatives in 2025: 12 stories

Stories by Kansas City Star journalists, with AI summarization

Kansas politics in 2025 features bold moves and high-stakes decisions. Lawmakers are deciding whether to extend Kansas’ major offer to finance new Chiefs and Royals stadiums, with lingering questions over cross-state sports negotiations. Residents now pay no state sales tax on groceries, marking a big change in household budgets and fulfilling a long-term bipartisan goal.

The unexpected retirement of Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Wilson opens the door for a new judicial appointment while a proposal for direct elections of justices could shift court politics. Meanwhile, large investments such as Merck’s expansion in De Soto and Fiserv’s relocation to Johnson County signal ongoing efforts to grow Kansas’ economy and job market.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly speaks during an event at Hillcrest Transitional Housing Clothing Bank on Wednesday in Lenexa. Kelly spoke about her plan to eliminate the state sales tax on food. By Emily Curiel

NO. 1: KANSAS’ STATE SALES TAX ON FOOD IS ENDING. HOW MUCH COULD YOU SAVE AT THE GROCERY STORE?

The final phase of the state’s food tax elimination goes into effect on New Year’s Day, reducing the cost of most grocery items. | Published January 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Natalie Wallington

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly holds a small axe on Monday during an event at Dillons in Topeka. Kelly is calling on lawmakers to eliminate the state sales tax on food, among the highest in the nation. By Jonathan Shorman

NO. 2: KANSAS GOV. LAURA KELLY AXED THE TAX ON GROCERIES. WILL SHE GET CREDIT FROM THE GOP? | OPINION

The Democratic governor prioritized ending grocery taxes since her 2018 campaign, achieving it despite Republican opposition. | Opinion | Published January 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joel Mathis

NO. 3: KANSANS NEED PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. HERE’S HOW TO DO IT AND FULLY FUND OUR SCHOOLS, TOO | OPINION

The tax burden is tilted against single homeowners and those with lower incomes. There’s a fairer way. | Opinion | Published January 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Shirley Christian

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly shakes hands with KU athletic director Travis Goff and chancellor Douglas Girod, right, after Kelly addressed the crowd regarding plans for renovations to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium and a campus Gateway Project in Lawrence on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2023. By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 4: THESE ARE THE HIGHEST PAID KANSAS STATE EMPLOYEES. ONE MADE OVER $1.2 MILLION IN 2024

Find out where your tax dollars went. | Published February 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Eleanor Nash

Joseph Naumann, archbishop of Kansas City, Kansas By Jason Alatidd

NO. 5: KCK CATHOLIC LEADER SUES SATANIC CHURCH, ARGUING IT STOLE HOLY ITEMS FOR BLACK MASS

Michael Stewart, the Satanic Grotto’s founder, said the host he plans to use in next week’s Topeka ritual “came from Pope Amazon.” | Published March 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew Kelly

Justice Evelyn Wilson plans to resign her seat on the Kansas Supreme Court July 4, 2025, after being diagnosed with ALS. By Courtesy of Kansas Courts

NO. 6: KS SUPREME COURT JUSTICE TO RETIRE AFTER ALS DIAGNOSIS. GOV. KELLY WILL NAME REPLACEMENT

“My tenure as a Supreme Court justice has been a rare gift, and I know it,” Wilson wrote in her resignation letter to Gov. Laura Kelly, who will name her successor. | Published March 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew Kelly

NO. 7: LAURA KELLY WARNS OF ANOTHER BUDGET DISASTER AS KANSAS RISKS A 2028 SHORTFALL | OPINION

After years of surpluses, the GOP-dominated Legislature is on track for a return to the Sam Brownback years. | Opinion | Published April 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joel Mathis

Vacant land sits is seen along Nall Avenue from about 115th Street (top right) to 119th Street, (top left) near the Aspira Campus in Overland Park on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2024. The campus includes several five story parking garages. By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 8: KANSAS UNVEILS MYSTERY COMPANY GETTING HISTORIC PERKS FOR JOBS IN JOHNSON COUNTY

Fintech company Fiserv will be moving into the former Sprint campus in Overland Park, bringing high-paying jobs in exchange for major state incentives as part of a deal dubbed Project Turtle. | Published April 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Taylor O’Connor

A general aerial view of Kauffman Stadium (front) and Arrowhead Stadium (back) before a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots on Sept. 29, 2014. By Denny Medley

NO. 9: KANSAS’ OFFER TO POACH CHIEFS & ROYALS STADIUMS IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE. WHAT’S NEXT?

Kansas has offered to issue billions in bonds to finance new stadiums for the teams if they’re willing to relocate. | Published April 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew Kelly

NO. 10: DEMOCRATS TO PUMP CASH INTO RED STATES: A REVIVAL STRATEGY | OPINION

The 50 State Strategy aims to sway rural voters in Kansas and Missouri. | Opinion | Published April 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joel Mathis

NO. 11: MERCK’S $895M EXPANSION IS LATEST IN WAVE OF WESTERN JOHNSON COUNTY DEVELOPMENTS

The project is the second largest private investment in Kansas history. | Published May 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Taylor O’Connor

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly. By Emily Curiel

NO. 12: KELLY ALLOWS KANSAS ELECTION OFFICIAL IMPERSONATION BILL TO BECOME LAW

Prosecutors must prove that people accused of falsely representing themselves as election officials acted with the intent to deceive. | Published May 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tyler Kirby

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.