Kansas House votes overwhelmingly (116-6) to pass bill 2279, which requires groundwater management districts to do more to preserve the Ogallala Aquifer.

It says GMDs need to identify spots with the worst depletion and submit water conservation action plans to the state. #ksleg The six representatives who voted against this bill:

-Brett Fairchild, St. John Republican
-Scott Hill, Abilene Republican
-Michael Houser, Columbus Republican
-Trevor Jacobs, Ft. Scott Republican
-Samantha Poetter Parshall, Paola Republican
-Bill Rhiley, Wellington Republican

So, what can #westernkansas tell us about why the Kansas abortion amendment failed?

Even in rural, mostly conservative areas, the amendment fared far worse than Trump did in 2020

Greeley County, the least populated in the state, voted 86% for Trump and 61% Yes...a 25% swing

🧵 Same story in Hamilton County, population 2,518.

Voted 81% for Trump in 2020.
Voted just 56% Yes today.

Another 25% swing.

While reporting my recent story on Black farmers, I had the chance to learn more about some of the people who founded #Nicodemus, Kansas - the last remaining African American settlement west of the Mississippi.

This is John and Lee Anna Samuels.

📻: hppr.org/hppr-news/2021…

1/x The Samuels' great-great-great-granddaughter, Angela Bates, was kind enough to share their story with me.

When John and Lee Anna got married, they were enslaved on two different plantations in Kentucky. Bates says John was able to visit Lee Anna two days a week.

2/x