1. In 1857, the territorial legislature of Kansas passed a bill banning the sale and consumption of alcohol. This was one of the earliest attempts at prohibition in American history and reflected the growing temperance movement in the United States.

2. On January 24, 1864, Union troops led by General William Tecumseh Sherman entered Meridian, Mississippi, after a month-long campaign that destroyed much of the region's infrastructure and disrupted Confederate supply lines. The campaign helped pave the way for the successful Union campaigns of 1864 and 1865 and hastened the end of the Civil War.

3. In 1955, the University of Kansas announced that it would admit African American students for the first time. This decision came amid the growing civil rights movement and pressure from activists and community members in Kansas.

4. On January 24, 1984, the Kansas City Chiefs played in their first-ever Super Bowl, losing to the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 38-16. Despite the loss, the Chiefs' appearance in the big game was a major milestone for the franchise and helped elevate them to the national stage.

5. In 2013, the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) broke ground in Manhattan, Kansas. The facility, which is slated to open in 2022, will be a state-of-the-art research center dedicated to protecting animal and human health from emerging diseases and biosecurity threats. It is expected to be a major driver of scientific innovation and economic growth in the region.