Kansas Public Radio

A new book by the author and historian Caleb Gayle tells the story of Edward McCabe, one of the leaders of Nicodemus, a Kansas town founded by the formerly enslaved.

In the next 15 years, the demand for electricity in the U.S. is expected to increase by 30 to 50%. Data centers are a big part of that. But it's not just industry that will need more power. Commentator Scott Carlberg takes a look at energy use in the U.S. and how we all have a role to play.

Sure, it's hot. But things were a lot worse 151 years ago. Not only was there no air conditioning, but in 1874, Kansas was under attack - from giant swarms of grasshoppers. The swarms were so large they blocked out the sun.

Dozens of rare and historic Civil War battle flags stored at the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka are falling apart and in desperate need of restoration. But repairing just a single flag can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

It's called ABS, or the automatic balls and strikes challenge system, and it creates a 2D adjustable strike zone.

A proposed state constitutional amendment would require Kansas Supreme Court justices to be elected rather than appointed by the governor.

Contemporary views of Kansas have largely been shaped by outsiders, non-Kansas natives who produced popular books and movies about the state. Such perspectives have their place, but Commentator Rex Buchanan says it's refreshing to read about Kansas as seen through the eyes of actual residents. And that's just what he did this year when he picked up two different books, written by fellow Kansans.

An avid birdwatcher who's lived in the Flint Hills for more than 40 years says something strange has been happening.Bones Ownbey, a 71-year-old ranch hand…

LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) -- The Kansas Corporation Commission is disputing a newspaper article about the number of abandoned oil and gas wells in the state. The Topeka Capital-Journal recently reported that the state has 22,000 abandoned wells. The article was also picked up by the Associated Press.

Disability rights advocates are arguing Kansas is “warehousing” hundreds of people with mental health issues in nursing homes. The Disability Rights Center of Kansas said in a report that a lack of funding for community mental health services and other obstacles make it hard for the 600 people in the nursing facilities to transition out.