TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas has expanded the number of counties classified as having a drought emergency so that nearly half are covered. Allen County remains in the warning category, just a step below emergency status.
Gov. Jeff Colyer issued an executive order Friday listing 50 of the states 105 counties as having a drought emergency.
His new order replaces one in March listing 28 counties as having an emergency. That status allows counties to use water from some state fishing lakes and federal reservoirs.
The entire state is under some stage of drought.
The least serious stage is a drought watch. Under Colyers new order, that status applies to 28 counties, down from 48 in March.