Kansas wildlife

The Kansas River is cleaner today than half a century ago, but pollution and trash remain problems. Kayakers and others who love this river are helping the river's sandbars by hauling away tons of garbage.

Well-designed lighting lets people see at night while reducing the negative impacts of artificial light on pollinators and birds. It's also better for human sleep.

The lesser prairie chicken is threatened in its northern range, which includes Kansas and Oklahoma, and endangered in its southern range. Kansas Republicans have introduced legislation over the years that would reverse protections for the species.

The Lesser Prairie-Chicken Landowner Alliance aims to earn money while preserving habitat for the endangered bird.

Jim Richardson had a distinguished career making images for National Geographic Magazine stories on cultural, environmental and scientific issues. His work on the Flint Hills introduced the uniquely American landscape to an international audience.

The tension over water for Quivira National Wildlife Refuge has lasted for decades. But recently, water users made progress toward using less groundwater in the area that impacts Quivira.

The spill included 10 barrels of oil and 1,500 barrels of industrial salt water left over from oil and gas production. Officials say it's mostly cleaned up.

A Republican lawmaker sparked ethics concerns after he threatened to cut at least a million dollars from the agency if it bans deer baiting. And he said another lawmaker that owns a hunting lodge would help him.

Two pipelines, including the Keystone that ruptured on Dec. 7, are the most important local sources of tax revenue for Washington County

TC Energy hasn't said yet what caused the Keystone's biggest spill. And it didn't answer a question about the pipeline's operating pressure when the spill happened.