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Kansas counties hand-count ballots in uncalled governor race

Democrat Cindy Holscher leads Republican Ty Masterson by around 7,600 votes as all Kansas counties double-check the results before a Nov. 16 deadline.

Election

Seven days after the election, Kansas still doesn&#x27;t know who its next governor will be, but counties could finish counting ballots as soon as next week.Why it matters: Democrat Cindy Holscher <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="leads Republican Ty Masterson by about 7,600 votes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ksn.com/news/your-local-election-hq/close-race-audit-happening-monday-in-sedgwick-county/" data-vars-content-id="6f540392-5923-48b1-8bd4-240a540392a4" data-vars-headline="Kansas counties hand-count ballots in uncalled governor race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ksn.com/news/your-local-election-hq/close-race-audit-happening-monday-in-sedgwick-county/" target="_blank">leads Republican Ty Masterson by about 7,600 votes</a> in a race that determines whether Democrats keep the governor&#x27;s office or Republicans <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="control both branches" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/11/04/kansas-governor-race-holscher-masterson" data-vars-content-id="6f540392-5923-48b1-8bd4-240a540392a4" data-vars-headline="Kansas counties hand-count ballots in uncalled governor race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/11/04/kansas-governor-race-holscher-masterson" target="_self">control both branches</a>.

Democrat Holscher wins Kansas governor's race

AP called the race nine days after the election.

News

Democrat Cindy Holscher won Kansas&#x27; close governor&#x27;s race, the Associated Press <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="called on Thursday" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-governor-midterm-election-cindy-holscher-c9bb46dfd593fa7182a6bc93722ce552" data-vars-content-id="276442ea-b596-4233-b01d-52a7ade787b0" data-vars-headline="Democrat Holscher wins Kansas governor&#x27;s race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-governor-midterm-election-cindy-holscher-c9bb46dfd593fa7182a6bc93722ce552" target="_blank">called on Thursday</a>, nine days after Election Day.Why it matters: Holscher&#x27;s win keeps the governor&#x27;s office in Democratic hands, preventing Republicans from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="controlling both branches" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/11/04/kansas-governor-race-holscher-masterson" data-vars-content-id="276442ea-b596-4233-b01d-52a7ade787b0" data-vars-headline="Democrat Holscher wins Kansas governor&#x27;s race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/11/04/kansas-governor-race-holscher-masterson" target="_self">controlling both branches</a> of Kansas government.

Jackson County ends bid to develop forest land amid pushback

The decision comes amid widespread pushback from advocates and organizations.

Jackson County on Monday ended its request seeking development proposals for public land along the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Blue River Parkway" data-vars-click-url="https://www.makeyourdayhere.com/Facilities/Blue-River-Parkway" data-vars-content-id="487d0393-cac8-4014-a29a-177b24d5838d" data-vars-headline="Jackson County ends bid to develop forest land amid pushback" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.makeyourdayhere.com/Facilities/Blue-River-Parkway" target="_blank">Blue River Parkway</a> after residents and conservation groups objected to its potential sale. Why it matters: The decision is a win for nature advocates, but it leaves open whether the land will be permanently protected from future development.

Look inside River Market Hotel as it nears completion

The hotel and its patio were built from a warehouse and a literal hole in the ground.

Business

The River Market&#x27;s only hotel, along with its outdoor bistro and spritz bar, is nearing completion.The big picture: Built from a warehouse and a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="literal hole in the ground" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/06/10/snitch-on-the-ditch-delaware-street-trench-getting-filled" data-vars-content-id="1c03d14b-a593-4762-aa32-d2a70c9fb1e9" data-vars-headline="Look inside River Market Hotel as it nears completion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/06/10/snitch-on-the-ditch-delaware-street-trench-getting-filled" target="_self">literal hole in the ground</a>, owners hope the boutique hotel on Delaware Street will elevate the surrounding neighborhood.

The needle is moving on KC's literacy problem

Only 26% of KCMO's public school third graders read at grade level.

Education

Educators are harnessing KC&#x27;s sports town identity in the classroom, combining personalized tutoring with Royals players and stadium visits to boost motivation for reading comprehension. Why it matters: Child literacy rates are tied to success later in life, but test data shows only 26% of KCMO&#x27;s public school third graders read at grade level.

Metro schools face cuts as state money falls short

Districts are leaving jobs open and raising taxes as Missouri falls about $190 million short.

Missouri&#x27;s current budget falls about $190 million short of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fully funding the state&#x27;s school aid formula" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kcur.org/education/2026-05-11/missouri-school-officials-worry-about-tight-budgets-after-legislature-underfunds-education" data-vars-content-id="0b2f2406-bb4d-4614-b9ed-0632b1607242" data-vars-headline="Metro schools face cuts as state money falls short" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2026-05-11/missouri-school-officials-worry-about-tight-budgets-after-legislature-underfunds-education" target="_blank">fully funding the state&#x27;s school aid formula</a>, and KC-area districts are paying the price.Why it matters: Districts spend about 80% of their budgets on employees, so they&#x27;re leaving jobs open, raising property taxes and weighing cuts to busing and student devices.

Online school is booming across the KC metro

Both states now beat the national rate for full-time online enrollment, but virtual students score well below their peers on state tests.

More students are going to school entirely online than they were before the pandemic, and Kansas and Missouri both beat the national rate.The big picture: Full-time online enrollment has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="doubled nationwide" data-vars-click-url="https://www.chalkbeat.org/2026/08/27/virtual-school-enrollment-has-surged-since-pandemic-new-federal-data-shows/" data-vars-content-id="a2fae0e8-c403-487c-ab40-9180cb3bd736" data-vars-headline="Online school is booming across the KC metro" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/2026/08/27/virtual-school-enrollment-has-surged-since-pandemic-new-federal-data-shows/" target="_blank">doubled nationwide</a> since before 2020 to about 1 in 80 students. That number is about 1 in 50 in Kansas and 1 in 60 in Missouri.

College free speech is struggling in the heartland

KU, K-State, Mizzou and UMKC all earned a C- or worse.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="KU" data-vars-click-url="https://rankings.thefire.org/assets/docs/campus/2027-155317.pdf" data-vars-content-id="aac2b7b0-e76f-4825-b51d-2afd2fde769b" data-vars-headline="College free speech is struggling in the heartland" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://rankings.thefire.org/assets/docs/campus/2027-155317.pdf" target="_blank">KU</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="K-State" data-vars-click-url="https://rankings.thefire.org/assets/docs/campus/2027-155399.pdf" data-vars-content-id="aac2b7b0-e76f-4825-b51d-2afd2fde769b" data-vars-headline="College free speech is struggling in the heartland" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://rankings.thefire.org/assets/docs/campus/2027-155399.pdf" target="_blank">K-State</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mizzou" data-vars-click-url="https://rankings.thefire.org/campus/178396-university-of-missouri-columbia" data-vars-content-id="aac2b7b0-e76f-4825-b51d-2afd2fde769b" data-vars-headline="College free speech is struggling in the heartland" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://rankings.thefire.org/campus/178396-university-of-missouri-columbia" target="_blank">Mizzou</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="UMKC" data-vars-click-url="https://rankings.thefire.org/assets/docs/campus/2027-178402.pdf" data-vars-content-id="aac2b7b0-e76f-4825-b51d-2afd2fde769b" data-vars-headline="College free speech is struggling in the heartland" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://rankings.thefire.org/assets/docs/campus/2027-178402.pdf" target="_blank">UMKC</a> all earned a C- or worse for their campus <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="free speech climates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/10/free-speech-collge-student-censorship" data-vars-content-id="aac2b7b0-e76f-4825-b51d-2afd2fde769b" data-vars-headline="College free speech is struggling in the heartland" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/10/free-speech-collge-student-censorship" target="_self">free speech climates</a> in a new national ranking, with UMKC dropping 24 spots in a year.Why it matters: Students at all four schools say they&#x27;re censoring themselves at high rates amid mounting political pressure.

DOJ sues KCK schools in first-of-its-kind case

The district could lose $70 million in federal funding, and Olathe and Shawnee Mission may be next.

The Trump administration is signaling that its lawsuit against Kansas City, Kansas (KCK) Public Schools over transgender student policies could be the first of several, with two other Kansas districts potentially next.Why it matters: KCK schools could lose more than <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$70 million in federal funding" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kcur.org/education/2026-09-01/justice-department-sues-kansas-city-kansas-public-schools-transgender-policies" data-vars-content-id="f03e4eb4-1d00-4515-8d58-e0de7bfbcc1b" data-vars-headline="DOJ sues KCK schools in first-of-its-kind case" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2026-09-01/justice-department-sues-kansas-city-kansas-public-schools-transgender-policies" target="_blank">$70 million in federal funding</a>, about 16% of its budget, while two other Kansas districts have rejected similar settlement terms that involved <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ending &quot;gender support plans&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-finds-four-kansas-school-districts-violated-federal-law" data-vars-content-id="f03e4eb4-1d00-4515-8d58-e0de7bfbcc1b" data-vars-headline="DOJ sues KCK schools in first-of-its-kind case" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-finds-four-kansas-school-districts-violated-federal-law" target="_blank">ending &quot;gender support plans&quot;</a> and letting parents see records about their children&#x27;s gender identity.

Schools adopting AI could see benefits (and more work)

Schools are shifting the "show your work" model to AI assignments.

Schools are adding the &quot;show your work&quot; model to AI assignments, with new technology to track learning and prevent cheating.Why it matters: Banning AI won&#x27;t stop kids from using it, districts and experts say, but there are ways it can assist learning and track progress.

Therapy is part of the schedule at this KC school

More than 40 districts across Missouri and Kansas send students here when a regular classroom isn't working.

Cornerstones of Care opened a K-12 school Monday in south Kansas City where every student gets therapy built into their class schedule.Why it matters: Students whose anxiety, depression or behavioral challenges are severe enough to qualify for special education <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="drop out at higher rates than any other disability group" data-vars-click-url="https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cgg/students-with-disabilities" data-vars-content-id="225fed67-bb43-4b5f-a833-b1ae9d39e8a0" data-vars-headline="Therapy is part of the schedule at this KC school" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cgg/students-with-disabilities" target="_blank">drop out at higher rates than any other disability group</a>, per the National Center for Education Statistics.

KC's college pipeline is shrinking

Missouri and Kansas are projected to send 12% fewer graduates out of high school by 2041.

Students moving into Kansas City dorms this month are the first college class drawn from a declining pool of high school graduates, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wiche.edu/knocking/key-findings/graduates/" data-vars-content-id="d49b915e-feed-4581-ba06-dd887782761f" data-vars-headline="KC&#x27;s college pipeline is shrinking" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wiche.edu/knocking/key-findings/graduates/" target="_blank">per</a> the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE).Why it matters: Every class after this one gets smaller, and schools that recruit close to home have the most to lose.

Students are becoming disenchanted with college

College is no longer a direct path to the American Dream.

The college diploma is getting a hard reappraisal.Why it matters: Students today are taking a tougher look at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="college tradeoff" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/14/college-jobs-gallup-ai" data-vars-content-id="523b89be-1f83-4f30-af43-0761203fe715" data-vars-headline="Students are becoming disenchanted with college" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/14/college-jobs-gallup-ai" target="_self">college tradeoff</a>: burdensome debt and no guarantee of a dream career — or employment at all, as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AI" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/technology/automation-and-ai" data-vars-content-id="523b89be-1f83-4f30-af43-0761203fe715" data-vars-headline="Students are becoming disenchanted with college" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/technology/automation-and-ai" target="_self">AI</a> threatens the jobs the degrees were meant to unlock.

Big tech says skip college as schools add AI programs

Tech leaders are building their own programs and workforce pipelines.

Some of the tech industry&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most influential CEOs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/07/palantir-ceo-alex-karp-interview-axios" data-vars-content-id="261083a3-877a-4186-9028-ed56dd05020d" data-vars-headline="Big tech says skip college as schools add AI programs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/07/palantir-ceo-alex-karp-interview-axios" target="_self">most influential CEOs</a> have an ambitious message for young people in the age of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AI" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/technology/automation-and-ai" data-vars-content-id="261083a3-877a-4186-9028-ed56dd05020d" data-vars-headline="Big tech says skip college as schools add AI programs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/technology/automation-and-ai" target="_self">AI</a>: Skip college altogether.The big picture: Elon Musk, Alex Karp and Peter Thiel are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="challenging the four-year degree" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/15/tech-leaders-say-skip-college-elon-peter-thiel" data-vars-content-id="261083a3-877a-4186-9028-ed56dd05020d" data-vars-headline="Big tech says skip college as schools add AI programs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/15/tech-leaders-say-skip-college-elon-peter-thiel" target="_self">challenging the four-year degree</a> as the default path for elite talent — and, in some cases, building their own alternatives.

Education 📚

The needle is moving on KC's literacy problem

Metro schools face cuts as state money falls short

Online school is booming across the KC metro

College free speech is struggling in the heartland

DOJ sues KCK schools in first-of-its-kind case