Environment
Evergy announces plan for large solar farm near coal plant in Kansas City
Evergy will build a 10-megawatt solar farm near its coal-fired power plant in northeast Kansas City, the company announced on Wednesday. The electric utility serves 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. Half of the energy produced at the solar farm will go to serve that entire base. The other half will be reserved for […]
This is how Kansas can be a climate leader, thanks to our unique prairie ecosystem
The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Susan Alig is a native prairie enthusiast, mother of two young sons and a team leader with the Kansas City chapter of Mothers Out Front, a […]
4 New Year’s resolutions for a healthier environment in 2022
The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Viniece Jennings is an assistant professor at Agnes Scott College, where she focuses on the intersection between green space, health, and social justice. When many people […]
Kansas Reflector’s 2021 year in review: Insurrection, deep freeze, vaccines, arrests, Bob Dole
TOPEKA — The year began with the ominous declaration that four members of the Kansas congressional delegation would support President Donald Trump’s lies about voter fraud by refusing to acknowledge the fair and accurate results of the election. Then, on Jan. 6, the president’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in shocking violent rage, delaying the […]
In history of Santa Fe Trail, a window to Kansas’ past and our nation’s future
The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Dave Kendall served as producer and host of the “Sunflower Journeys” series on public television for its first 27 seasons and continues to produce documentary videos […]
Flurry of earthquakes in Salina region raise new questions about wastewater injection
Flurry of December earthquakes near Salina raise new questions about consequences of wastewater injection and fracking activity in Kansas.
Proposed grasslands act would protect Kansas’ precious prairies
The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Shawna Bethell is a freelance essayist/journalist covering the people and places of Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. Amid the chaos of 2020, I reached a point when […]
Kansas governor striving to fulfill campaign pledges amidst stubborn COVID-19 pandemic
Gov. Laura Kelly says Kansas made progress since 2019 on funding of education and transportation and generated job growth despite COVID-19 pandemic.
KU, UMKC graduate appointed EPA regional administrator for Kansas, Missouri
Biden administration selects Kansas native and Missouri law school graduate to lead EPA region 7, which includes both states along with Iowa and Nebraska.
A Christmas wish for Kansas Reflector readers: Embrace the now
This Christmas Day, let’s all give ourselves the gift of presence. No, that’s not a misspelling of “presents.” I mean presence, our existence in this moment. Ourselves being ourselves, ignoring technological bubbles and alternate realities. On this one day of the year, let’s commit to being right here, right now, no matter what. Perhaps this […]
Audio Astra: An audio time capsule of Kansas news for 2021
Audio Astra reviews recent audio reporting on Kansas news, including podcasts and radio stories. Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas. People often ask me for my podcast recommendations, because I am insufferable about quoting podcasts in conversations. The number of podcasts that I hear […]
Evergy proposes energy efficiency programs designed to save customers $42M
Evergy customers in Kansas could soon get discounts and rebates to upgrade their homes to be more energy efficient. The electric utility, which serves 1.2 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, filed a plan with Kansas regulators last week to invest in a host of energy efficiency programs for business and residential customers. The plan, […]