Gov. Laura Kelly said the construction of the plants would create 500 construction jobs and 165 permanent jobs. She said the plants would ensure reliable energy in emergencies and during hot summer days.

A federal program kills hundreds of thousands of wild animals a year. Documents obtained by NPR show that many of those animals were killed in places where no damage to livestock was reported.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it would seek protections for the regal fritillary, a large non-migratory butterfly with orange and black markings. It's suffering from habitat loss in Missouri and Kansas because of development, pesticides and climate change.

With geography already posing challenges for Midwestern forecasters, meteorologist Chris Gloninger says climate change has made traditional models obsolete and has voided historical precedents.

The EPA is trying to crack down on lead pipes that bring water into homes. But a looming deadline — and the election — will determine if it follows a Biden plan to replace pipes or a Trump plan.

Sedgwick County declared a local disaster Monday as firefighters struggled to contain a blaze in Park City. No injuries or damage to other properties have been reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The rules will affect new residential construction projects funded by the federal Housing and Rural Development agency. Now, lawmakers are pushing the agency that oversees the nation’s two largest mortgage backers to adopt similar measures.

The first English word for “lawn” dates back to the early 1500s, described as an “open space among trees.” Lawns today are a far cry from that description, but they’ve come to dominate our physical — and cultural — landscapes. Now concerns over environmental impacts are propelling yet another redefinition.

Residents who live and work near industry harbor a litany of concerns about its environmental impacts. Some are engaged in conversations with the EPA about what can be done.

The annual “State of the Air” report from the American Lung Association shows some progress for the region and the nation in smog reduction but reports that particulate pollution levels are deadly.