Annie Parsons had her son, River, when she was 41. (Photos by Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga / Kansas News Service) In Kansas and nationwide, the number of women having babies in their 40s is increasing. It comes as the overall birth rate declines and younger women are having fewer babies. ROELAND PARK — It’s a warm day in November, and Annie Parsons and her 2-year-old son, River, are raking leaves in their yard in Roeland Park. River has a toddler-sized rake he’s using to scrape the dirt and...

At the Harvesters food bank distribution center in Lawrence, Kansas, volunteers pack produce destined for a local food pantry. (Zane Irwin / Kansas News Service) Democrats and Republicans have different proposals to keep feeding hundreds of thousands of Kansans. Food banks are preparing for an influx of demand. By Zane Irwin Kansas News Service With the looming threat of food benefits halting for nearly 190,000 Kansans on Nov. 1, the state’s leaders are split on how to respond. On Tuesday,...

Brian Williams describes Labette Health's financial situation “better than most and worse than some," but with so many nearby hospital closures in the region, he's still focused on finding long-term solutions. (Noah Taborda / Kansas News Service) Kansas has more rural hospitals at risk of closure than any other state, and federal changes could further reduce revenue. However, a change to a state tax will give a few years' cushion for hospitals to implement long-term strategies. By Noah...