JOHN HANNA

State government reporter

Hanna covers politics and state government in Kansas for The Associated Press. He’s worked for the AP in Topeka since 1986.

Kansas businessman pleads guilty in case over illegal export of aviation technology to Russia

A Kansas business executive has pleaded guilty to illegally exporting sensitive American aviation to Russian companies in violation of U.S. sanctions.

Worsening floods and deterioration pose threats to US dam safety

Floodwaters in rural Minnesota carved a path around a century old dam early last week, causing severe erosion to a riverbank.

Judge’s order greatly expands where Biden can’t enforce a new rule protecting LGBTQ+ students

A federal judge in Kansas has blocked a federal rule expanding anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ students from being enforced in four states and a patchwork of places elsewhere across the nation.

Discipline used in Kansas’ largest school district was discriminatory, the Justice Department says

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Educators in Kansas’ largest public school district discriminated against Black and disabled students when disciplining them, according to the U.S.

What happened to Minnesota’s Rapidan Dam? Here’s what to know about its flooding and partial failure

A Minnesota dam is still intact after floodwaters overcame parts of the structure and prompted officials to prepare for a potential collapse.

Missouri, Kansas judges temporarily halt much of President Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan

Federal judges in Kansas and Missouri have together blocked much of a Biden administration student loan repayment plan that provides a faster path to cancellation and lower monthly payments for millions of borrowers.

Missouri, Kansas judges temporarily halt much of President Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan

TOPEKA, Kan. — Federal judges in Kansas and Missouri on Monday together blocked much of a Biden administration student loan repayment plan that provides a faster path to cancellation and lower monthly payments for millions of borrowers.

Midwestern flooding collapses a bridge, forces evacuations and kills at least 2

Flooding in the Midwestern U.S. has collapsed a railroad bridge and sent water surging around a dam after days of heavy rains that have forced hundreds of people to evacuate or be rescued.

Flooding forces people from homes in some parts of Iowa while much of US broils again in heat

Floodwaters have forced people out of their homes in parts of Iowa, the result of weeks of rain. Meanwhile, much of the United States is longing for relief from yet another round of extraordinary heat Saturday.

Kansas governor signs bills enabling effort to entice Chiefs and Royals with new stadiums

Kansas’ governor has signed legislation enabling the state to lure the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and Major League Baseball’s Royals away from neighboring Missouri.

Kansas will see major tax cuts but the relief for home owners isn’t seen as enough

Kansas legislators have approved major tax cuts and ended a political stalemate with Gov. Laura Kelly. Yet some of them sounded frustrated as they were doing it.

A Missouri mayor says a fight over jobs is back on. Things to know about Kansas wooing the Chiefs

The mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, says an economic ‘border war’ between his state and Kansas has restarted.

Kansas is making a big run at Kansas City’s pro teams with a plan to help pay for new stadiums

Kansas is making a serious run at becoming the new home for the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Kansas lawmakers to debate whether wooing the Chiefs with new stadium is worth the cost

Kansas legislators trying to lure the Kansas City Chiefs to their state argue that helping the Super Bowl champions build a new stadium could bring Kansas millions in income taxes from players and coaches that are currently going to Missouri.

Kansas lawmakers poised to lure Kansas City Chiefs from Missouri, despite economists’ concerns

A rivalry is flaring up as Kansas lawmakers try to snatch the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs away from Missouri.

Kansas governor and GOP leaders say they have a deal on tax cuts to end 2 years of stalemate

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ Democratic governor and top Republican lawmakers say they have an agreement on a package of broad tax cuts, potentially ending a two-year political standoff that has prevented their state from following others in making big reductions.

Florida and Kansas are accusing 2 people of forging signatures for petition drives

Florida and Kansas officials are accusing two petition circulators of forging voter signatures during campaigns to put an abortion rights measure to a vote in Florida and allow the No Labels party to put candidates on the Kansas ballot.

Kansas leaders and new group ramp up efforts to lure the Kansas City Chiefs from Missouri

Top Kansas legislators have intensified efforts to woo the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs by offering to let the professional football franchise shape a plan for using state bonds to finance a new stadium in Kansas.

A Minnesota city will rewrite an anti-crime law seen as harming mentally ill residents

A Minnesota city and the U.S. Department of Justice have reached an agreement addressing allegations the city discriminated against mentally ill residents in enforcing an anti-crime law.

Kansas governor vetoes a third plan for cutting taxes. One GOP leader calls it ‘spiteful’

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has vetoed a proposal for broad tax cuts for the third time this year. Her action Thursday to set up a high-stakes election-year tussle with the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature.

Schools turn to artificial intelligence to spot guns as companies press lawmakers for state funds

Schools across the U.S. are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence and video cameras to spot guns.

Kansas’ governor has killed proposed limits on foreign land ownership

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has vetoed proposed restrictions on foreign ownership of land in Kansas.

Kansas’ governor vetoes a bill for extending child support to fetuses

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has vetoed a bill aimed at ensuring that judges order child support payments for fetuses.

A cyberattack forces a big US health system to divert ambulances and take records offline

A cyberattack on the Ascension health system operating in 19 states across the U.S. forced some of its 140 hospitals to divert ambulances, caused patients to postpone medical tests and blocked online access to patient records.

Kansas has a new border security mission and tougher penalties for killing police dogs

Kansas’ Republican-controlled legislature has given the state’s National Guard a mission to help Texas officials in their dispute with the Biden administration over border security.

Kansas legislators expect Kelly to veto their latest tax cuts and call a special session

Kansas lawmakers have approved a new, slightly smaller package of tax cuts, expecting Gov. Laura Kelly to veto it and call a special legislative session to push for a plan more to her liking.

Lawmakers want the Chiefs and Royals to come to Kansas, but a stadium plan fizzled

Some Kansas lawmakers see a chance to lure Kansas City’s two biggest professional sports teams across the Missouri border.

Kansas has new abortion laws while Louisiana may block exceptions to its ban

Kansas is requiring abortion providers to share patient information with the state and increasing funds to anti-abortion centers, while bills to loosen a restrictive ban in Louisiana face an uphill battle.

GOP leaders still can’t overcome the Kansas governor’s veto to enact big tax cuts

Republican legislators have narrowly failed again to enact a broad package of tax cuts over Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto.

Kansas bill to limit gender-affirming care for transgender minors dies after failed veto override

A proposed ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors in Kansas has died. The Republican-controlled Legislature was unable Monday to override Democratic Gov.