K-State in the news
Recent news highlights
Read some of today's top stories mentioning Kansas State University. Download an Excel file (xls) with all of the day's news stories.
See more K-State faculty, staff and students in the news in the clip archives.
Friday, Feb. 27, 2026
National/International
Nuclear power plant proximity study sparks controversy
2/26/26 Nuclear Newswire
Amir Bahadori, nuclear engineering program director at Kansas State University, cautioned that this study should not be read as proof that nuclear power plants cause cancer deaths. “I do not think this study advances the field of radiation epidemiology in any way,” said Bahadori. “It is common for articles like this to garner substantial media attention. People see headlines and make assumptions on causality often without understanding the real scientific value of the work. Results from ecological studies must be scrutinized because of the limitations associated with study design.”
State/Regional
Meat consumption rises as plant-based diets decline nationwide
2/27/26 Farm Progress
A comprehensive five-year study by Kansas State University's Meat Demand Monitor has uncovered unexpected shifts in American eating habits, challenging popular assumptions about plant-based diet adoption. The monthly survey, funded by beef and pork checkoff programs, collected responses from over 190,000 Americans between February 2020 and 2025, providing crucial insights into meat consumption patterns during a volatile period marked by the COVID pandemic, record beef prices, and the rise of weight loss medications.
Local
New York City actress speaks to Kansas State University students ahead of on-campus show
2/26/26 WIBW
Heather Massie is bringing ‘HEDY! The Life and Inventions of Hedy Lamarr’ to McCain Auditorium Friday evening. Ahead of her show, she spoke to theatre students at Kansas State University. “Well because it’s part of my mission,” Massie said. “I don’t want to just come and do the show, I want to do community engagement and contribute to the community and learn about the community.”
K-State Rodeo debuts new facility
2/25/26 The K-State Collegian
Reece Conner, a K-State rodeo athlete who competes in breakaway roping, noted the energy shift during the Saturday night session. The crowd consistently filled the new stands to capacity, and Conner emphasized that the facility is more than just a venue; it is a tool for the program’s growth. "It was a really cool experience,” Conner, freshman in news & sports media, said. “It was full nearly every day, and that is so impressive and exciting. With a new coach and a new arena, you’re going to get great kids from all over the country. You should see how nice this is compared to other collegiate arenas.”
How farmers can manage cropland after a wildfire
2/26/26 KSNT
With the emergence of wildfires that burned parts of Kansas in early February, wildfire damage to growing crops from a wildfire can cause challenges for farmers including crop injury, erosion risk and altered nutrient status, according to Kansas State University. K-State agronomists emphasized that erosion risk from water or wind is the number one issue regarding wildfire impacts on cropland soil quality. However, it is recommended to use emergency tillage practices like cultivating ridges or clods to roughen the soil’s surface to provide good wind protection.