Free State Firearms' Secure Pistol Adopted by Texas Sheriff's Office

0:00It's April 20th. Kansas News today starts now. AI-powered and ready. I'm Cory with the story. A Baldwin City Company just scored a huge win with law enforcement. Free-stay firearms sold its century-1911 handgun to the Real County Sheriff's Office in Texas. This pistol only fires if you're wearing a special RFID ring, super-closed-range authentication to keep it secure. The tech shines for deputies transporting prisoners, where grabbing a gun is a real risk. Without the ring, it's just dead weight. Company President Tom Holland calls this the first time any U.S. agency has used user-authenticated fire-arm tech on duty. Holland, a former Kansas State Senator with 22 years in office, co-founded the five-year-old outfit. Real County Sheriff Nathan Johnson says it tackles their top safety worry and works perfectly after testing. Holland bets this, opens doors for sales everywhere. Meanwhile, up the road near Vinland Airport, McFarlane Aviation got bought out.

1:03Trans-Digham Group snapped up its parent company in a $2,200,000,000 deal that includes other aviation firms. Started in 1979 for crop-duster parts, it's growing fast. Word is, they're hiring full-timers and interns now, signaling big plans ahead. Local innovation like this keeps putting our area on the map for smart business moves.