1. In 1864, the Battle of Mine Creek took place in Linn County, Kansas. The battle was a significant one in the American Civil War, with Union forces under the command of General Alfred Pleasonton defeating the Confederate forces of General Sterling Price. The Union victory effectively ended Price's Missouri Expedition and marked the beginning of the end of the War in the West.

2. October 3, 1918, saw the worst natural disaster in Kansas history when an F5 tornado struck the town of Clovis, killing 109 people and injuring many more. The tornado was part of a larger outbreak that hit the central and southern plains over several days, and it remains one of the deadliest and most destructive tornadoes in American history.

3. On October 3, 1956, Kansas Governor Fred Hall declared a state of emergency as tensions mounted between shoppers and business owners following the publication of a Sears catalogue containing integrated images of black and white children. The controversy sparked protests and boycotts across the state, and Hall's declaration authorized the use of state troopers to help maintain order.

4. In 1990, the World Series returned to Kansas City for the first time in more than a decade, as the Kansas City Royals hosted the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 at Royals Stadium. Despite losing the game, the Royals went on to win the series, marking their first World Series championship.

5. October 3, 2013, saw the first-ever public debate between Kansas Senator Pat Roberts and challenger Milton Wolf, a radiologist and distant cousin of President Barack Obama. The debate, held in Johnson County, Kansas, focused on topics such as healthcare reform, immigration policy, and the federal budget. Despite early controversy over Wolf's past social media posts, the debate was largely civil and informative, with both candidates presenting their views on the issues facing Kansans.