January 2026 Across Kansas: News, Places, Food, Trivia & Family Fun
Across Kansas This Month
January 2026 opened the year with Kansas Day celebrations, winter weather, early budget and infrastructure news, winter wheat updates, and a good excuse to warm up with a bowl of chili and a cinnamon roll.
- News
- Places
- Food
- Trivia
- Family Fun
Governor released Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal
On January 14, Governor Laura Kelly announced her annual budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2027. The proposal included K-12 school funding, special education funding, water planning, early childhood, health care, public safety, and other state priorities.
The proposal was the beginning of the public budget conversation for the year, not a final enacted budget. Source: Kansas Office of the Governor.
Winter wheat started January mostly fair to good
USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service reported that, for the week ending January 4, Kansas winter wheat condition rated 2% very poor, 7% poor, 31% fair, 49% good, and 11% excellent.
Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 12% very short, 32% short, 52% adequate, and 4% surplus. Source: USDA NASS Kansas Crop Progress and Condition.
January brought the first widespread snow of the season
The National Weather Service in Wichita documented a January 9 storm system that tracked from the Oklahoma Panhandle into southwest Kansas and spread heavy snow across southwest and west-central Kansas.
NWS storm reports included 4.0 inches at Sterling, 3.0 inches at Russell and Great Bend, and 2.5 inches near Hutchinson. Source: National Weather Service Wichita.
Kansas announced rail and airport infrastructure awards
On January 15, the Governor's Office announced $11.2 million for 10 rail service improvement projects through KDOT's Rail Service Improvement Program. With local matches, the total rail infrastructure investment exceeded $16.5 million.
On January 21, the state also announced more than $2.6 million in total investment for airport infrastructure projects in 10 Kansas communities. Sources: Kansas Office of the Governor rail announcement and Kansas Office of the Governor airport announcement.
Revised SIGNS grants opened for downtown districts
The Kansas Department of Commerce announced a new round of Supporting Innovative Growth through New Signage grants on January 9. The program supports coordinated signage improvements for consumer-facing businesses in qualifying downtown or walkable commercial districts.
The state said $125,000 was available statewide, with communities eligible to receive up to $25,000 per application. Source: Kansas Department of Commerce.
Kansas Tourism marked the state's 165th birthday
On January 29, Kansas Tourism released a video campaign celebrating Kansas' 165th birthday. The Commerce announcement noted that Kansas entered the Union as the 34th state on January 29, 1861.
The same month, Kansas Tourism announced the second annual KANSAS! Kids edition for fourth through sixth grade students across the state. Sources: Kansas Tourism birthday announcement and Kansas Department of Commerce.
Featured Kansas Tourist Spot
Kansas State Capitol Visitor Center
Location: Topeka, Kansas
The Kansas State Capitol is a natural January feature: Kansas Day falls on January 29, the Legislature is in session, and the building itself gives visitors a close look at Kansas government, history, art, and architecture.
Visit Topeka notes that free Statehouse tours are offered and that reservations are strongly encouraged, especially between January and May. The dome tour includes 296 steps and no elevator, and Visit Topeka describes Kansas as the only U.S. capitol where the public can go to the top of the dome and walk along the outside balcony.
- Tour Representative Hall, the Senate Chamber, the State Library, and the Old Supreme Court.
- Visit the Capitol Visitor Center and look for Kansas history exhibits.
- Reserve ahead for guided tours, especially during the busy January-May season.
- Pair the stop with downtown Topeka restaurants, museums, and nearby historic sites.
Visitor tip: Check tour times before traveling. Dome tours involve stairs, enclosed spaces, and height exposure, so the standard historic tour may be a better fit for some visitors. Sources: Kansas Historical Society, Travel Kansas, and Visit Topeka.
Kansas Kitchen
Chili and Cinnamon Rolls
Few cold-weather pairings start as many conversations as chili with cinnamon rolls. KCUR reported that many people connect the pairing with Kansas and Midwestern farming communities and school lunches, while Smithsonian Magazine describes the combination as beloved in parts of the Midwest and western states.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 can diced tomatoes, 14.5 ounces
- 1 can tomato sauce, 15 ounces
- 1 can kidney or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup beef broth or water
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 6 prepared cinnamon rolls, homemade or bakery-style
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened.
- Add garlic and ground beef. Cook until the beef reaches 160 degrees F, breaking it into small pieces as it browns. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, broth, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of water if the chili gets too thick.
- Serve warm with cinnamon rolls on the side. Refrigerate leftovers promptly.
Kansas connection: This is framed as a Kansas-inspired winter comfort meal, not a claimed official state dish. Sources: KCUR, Smithsonian Magazine, and USDA FSIS safe temperature chart.
Kansas Trivia
Test Your Kansas Knowledge
- On what date did Kansas enter the Union?
A. January 29, 1861 B. February 14, 1867 C. March 4, 1870 D. July 4, 1861 - What number state was Kansas?
A. 29th B. 34th C. 40th D. 50th - What city is home to the Kansas State Capitol?
A. Wichita B. Dodge City C. Topeka D. Salina - How many steps are on the Kansas State Capitol dome tour?
A. 96 B. 165 C. 296 D. 500 - Which January 2026 program supported signage improvements in downtown districts?
A. SIGNS B. Sunflower Summer C. RSIP D. KANSAS! Kids
Answer key: 1-A, 2-B, 3-C, 4-C, 5-A
Kids Corner
Kansas Crossword
Open the crossword, type one letter in each square, then check or print the puzzle.
Seasonal Kansas
What January Brings
- Kansas DayJanuary 29 marks the anniversary of Kansas statehood.
- Winter WeatherSnow, cold fronts, and slick roads can change travel plans quickly.
- Capitol SeasonJanuary-May is a busy tour season at the Kansas State Capitol.
- Farm PlanningWinter wheat, soil moisture, equipment work, and seed planning stay on producers' minds.
Coming Up Next Month
- February 7: Rescheduled Kansas Day event at Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Source: Great Plains Nature Center.
- February 14-17: International Pancake Day activities in Liberal, including the February 17 race day schedule. Source: International Pancake Day schedule.
- February: Black History Month is a good time to visit Kansas sites connected to civil rights history, including Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park in Topeka. Source: National Park Service.
- February planning: Kansas families can use Travel Kansas event listings for winter and early spring trip ideas. Source: Travel Kansas events.
Keep Exploring Kansas
January reminded Kansans that the year can begin with a little snow, a little state history, and plenty of plans for the months ahead. Thanks for reading JustKansas Monthly. We will see you next month with more verified news, practical ideas, and reasons to keep exploring the Sunflower State.
Sources
- Governor Kelly Unveils Fiscal Year 2027 Budget - Kansas Office of the Governor, published January 14, 2026, accessed July 7, 2026.
- Kansas Crop Progress and Condition, January 6, 2026 - USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, accessed July 7, 2026.
- First widespread snow of the season - National Weather Service Wichita, accessed July 7, 2026.
- Governor Kelly Announces $11M for Rail Service Improvement Projects - Kansas Office of the Governor, published January 15, 2026, accessed July 7, 2026.
- Governor Kelly Announces Over $2.6M for Airport Infrastructure - Kansas Office of the Governor, published January 21, 2026, accessed July 7, 2026.
- New Grant Opportunities Available Through Revised SIGNS Program - Kansas Department of Commerce, published January 9, 2026, accessed July 7, 2026.
- Kansas Tourism Shares Video Campaign Celebrating Kansas' 165th Birthday - Kansas Department of Commerce / Kansas Tourism, published January 29, 2026, accessed July 7, 2026.
- KANSAS! Magazine Releases Second Kids' Edition for Students Across the State - Kansas Department of Commerce / Kansas Tourism, published January 22, 2026, accessed July 7, 2026.
- January Total Tax Collections at $988.2 Million; 1.2% Above Estimate - Kansas Office of the Governor newsroom listing, published February 2, 2026, accessed July 7, 2026.
- Capitol Tours - Kansas Historical Society, accessed July 7, 2026.
- Kansas State Capitol Visitor Center - Travel Kansas, accessed July 7, 2026.
- Kansas Statehouse - Visit Topeka, accessed July 7, 2026.
- It's time to talk about Kansas City's obsession with cinnamon rolls - KCUR, published December 19, 2021, accessed July 7, 2026.
- What's Up With the Pairing of Chili and Cinnamon Rolls? - Smithsonian Magazine, published January 18, 2022, accessed July 7, 2026.
- Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart - USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, accessed July 7, 2026.
- Rescheduled Kansas Day Event - Great Plains Nature Center, accessed July 7, 2026.
- 2026 Pancake Day Schedule - International Pancake Day, accessed July 7, 2026.
- Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site visitor information - National Park Service, accessed July 7, 2026.
- Kansas Events - Travel Kansas, accessed July 7, 2026.