Winter Storm Shutters Schools, Government Buildings
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - A winter storm is expected to drop several inches of snow across eastern Kansas today and tonight. Anywhere from 3 to 8 inches is possible, with the heavier snowfall expected south of I-35. The wintry weather has forced schools, universities and government offices to close. (See KPR's list of closures and cancellations.)
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until midnight.
An Extreme Cold Warning remains in effect through Thursday.
Visit the National Weather Service in Topeka for the latest weather information.
Evergy Crews Work to Keep the Power on
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - More than 100 customers of Evergy were without power Tuesday morning. According to the utility company's outage map, about 114 customers lost power for some period of time Tuesday morning, but as of 10 am, most outages had been restored.
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Gender-Affirming Health Care Ban for Minors to Become Law, After Lawmakers Override Governor's Veto
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) – Republican lawmakers on Tuesday overrode Governor Laura Kelly’s veto and put a ban on gender-affirming health care for minors into law. The Kansas News Service reports that it’s the latest in several attempts by GOP leaders to get the ban past the governor. Republican Senate President Ty Masterson said he’s glad to finally see it happen, adding that “...I feel it's about time, right? We've hashed this out, rehashed this out. For those that say it went through expeditiously this year, from my side, it feels like it's been a long time coming.” Opponents say a ban on gender-affirming care is discriminatory and harmful to transgender youth. The law will take effect within weeks unless legal challenges cause delays.
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Gender-Affirming Care Ban Will Become Law Following Veto Override
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Lawmakers in the Kansas House and Senate voted Tuesday to override Governor Laura Kelly's veto of a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. That means the bill will become law. WIBW reports that the state Senate voted 31-9 to override the veto. The Kansas House voted a short time later, getting exactly 84 votes to obtain the needed two-thirds majority. The measure bans gender-affirming care for children under the age of 18.
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Demonstrators Gather at the Kansas Statehouse to Protest DOGE
TOPEKA, Kan. (Kansas Reflector) - People demonstrated at the Kansas Statehouse Monday to protest cuts to federal spending implemented by President Trump and his advisor Elon Musk. The Kansas Reflector reports that dozens of demonstrators encircled the capitol building, carrying signs protesting Musk and the efforts of his so-called Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE to identify government waste and fraud. Governor Laura Kelly was asked about the protest and about the work of DOGE. She said there's nothing inherently wrong with trying to identify potential government savings, but it required people to be thorough and thoughtful. Kelly said DOGE needed to be careful it wasn't throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
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Budget Cuts Hit Haskell Indian Nations University
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KCUR) - Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence is still reeling from a round of federal government budget cuts. According to Native News Online, nearly 40 Haskell employees lost their jobs including faculty, IT workers and administrators. In all, that’s about 30 percent of the Haskell workforce. Haskell’s student newspaper, The Indian Leader, says some classes will have no instructor. In a statement, the Haskell Board of Regents says both Kansas Senator Jerry Moran and 1st District Congressman Tracey Mann are "working to reduce the impact of these changes." There is some question, the statement suggests, that these layoffs could run afoul of treaties with Indian nations.
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Kansas City IRS Workers Could Be Fired Wednesday Morning
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCUR) – About 1,000 federal workers in Kansas City could be fired Wednesday morning. Shannon Ellis is local president of the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents IRS workers in Kansas City. Ellis says security staff at the IRS processing facility, near Union Station, notified her Tuesday that all the most recent hires at that location will lose their jobs. Ellis told KCUR that the newer workers are easiest to lay off, and that taxpayers would see delays. "We're coming into tax season, and 812 of the 1,000 or more that's going to be terminated were brought in specifically to process your returns," she warns. Ellis says the IRS facility in Kansas City is already short staffed, working 7 days a week with mandatory overtime to try to keep up.
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Federal Funding Freeze Affects Agricultural and Rural Projects
UNDATED (HPM) – Billions of dollars for conservation and rural energy projects have been put on ice during a sweeping review by the USDA. Harvest Public Media reports that the American Soybean Association, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and other groups are urging the new administration to resume payments to farmers and grant recipients under contracts. Mike Lavender, the policy director for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, says delayed reimbursements for farmers creates financial burdens. It can also dampen conservation practices later this year. “At this time of year for farmers and ranchers they're planning for the work ahead, and the uncertainty that has been created by the executive orders and the broader freeze is creating a lot of pain and confusion,” he explained. Federal judges have ruled that the Trump administration did not have authority to block funding that was appropriated by Congress. The legal challenges are ongoing.
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Did Departmental Conflict Affect the Public Health Response to KC's TB Outbreak?
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KNS) - Wyandotte County is experiencing one of the largest outbreaks of tuberculosis in recent U.S. history. Emails obtained by the Kansas News Service show efforts to end the outbreak have been full of turmoil. The Kansas News Service reports that the internal conflict may have affected the public health response to the TB outbreak. (Learn more.)
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Kansas Senate Advances Bill Revising Which Foods Will Be Covered by SNAP Benefits
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) – The Kansas Senate Tuesday advanced a bill aimed at preventing people from buying sugary foods with SNAP benefits (also known as food stamps). The Kansas News Service reports that the bill would ask the federal government to let Kansas ban people from buying candy or soft drinks with food stamps. Republican proponents say tax dollars should not go toward foods that can contribute to poor health. But Democratic Senator Oletha Faust-Goudeau says many people on SNAP benefits lack healthy options due to food deserts. “The only places they can get to are places that sell processed food,” she explained. The federal government has previously denied attempts by other states to implement similar bans, but the idea now has support from some officials in the Trump administration.
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Kansas Legislature Consider Bill to Legalize Pet Raccoon Ownership
UNDATED (KNS) – It’s against Kansas law to own a pet raccoon. That could change if a proposed bill becomes law. For the past four years, Lenexa resident Stephen Kaspar has fed and trained wild raccoons on his property. “I see probably between 18 and 22 of them every single year. It is the highlight of my life. These are the things that you do when you become an empty nester. You start playing with raccoons in the backyard,” he said. Now, he’s asking Kansas lawmakers to legalize owning the creatures as pets if purchased from authorized breeders. The Kansas News Service reports that owners would be required to obtain a raccoon ownership permit, complete an education program and vaccinate their raccoons for rabies. It’s unclear if the bill will advance. The state public health veterinarian testified against it, warning it could fuel the spread of rabies.
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KU Changing Test Score and GPA Admission Requirements
UNDATED (KNS) – The University of Kansas is changing its admission requirements to allow students with lower high school GPAs. The Kansas News Service reports that beginning in 2029, any student with a 3.0 grade point average will automatically be accepted into KU, regardless of their score on the ACT. The previous GPA requirement was 3.25. The Kansas Board of Regents approved the change. Regent Diana Mendoza says it offers students some grace if they made mistakes in high school, explaining that if a student didn't have such a good year, but overall did well, they'd have an opportunity to apply and receive automatic acceptance. Currently, students with a minimum 21 on the ACT and a 2.0 high school GPA are also guaranteed admission. The university will raise that to a minimum 24 on the ACT and a 2.5 GPA.
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Kansas Attorney General Says KBI Will Assist Federal Deportation Efforts
UNDATED (KNS) – Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announced Monday that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation will assist federal deportation efforts. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, will train some KBI agents to help enforce immigration laws. Kobach, a Republican who oversees the KBI as state attorney general, says the agreement will help keep violent criminals off the streets. But Micah Kubic, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, says it’s a misallocation of resources. “The same way that we don't expect immigration officers to do something about jaywalking, we shouldn't expect the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to be charged with front line immigration enforcement,” he explained. This agreement does not include local law enforcement agencies, though some have similar deals with ICE.
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Kansas Lawmakers Consider Bill to Reopen Horse Racing at Eureka Downs
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) – State lawmakers are considering a bill that could potentially revitalize the horse racing industry in Kansas. The Kansas News Service reports that the bill would reopen live horse racing at the Eureka Downs racetrack in southeast Kansas. A small portion of state revenue from gambling would help fund the effort. Supporters say it would boost the economy in both Kansas and the city of Eureka. Justine Staten is executive director of the Kansas Horse Council. “When one horseman can spend a million dollars in hay in a year for his racing horses, we want that money back in the state, of course,” Staten added. No one spoke against the bill at its hearing, but some critics in general say racing is cruel to horses. The track in Eureka was built more than a century ago but closed in 2011 due to financial issues.
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Nearly 1,000 Kansas EBT Cards Affected by Recent Skimming Fraud
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - State officials say someone used a card skimmer to steal food assistance benefits from EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards in the Kansas City, Kansas, area. KCTV reports that at least three skimming devices were recently discovered in KCK, which resulted in more than 800 people losing access to their food assistance benefits. To make matters worse, a federal law prevents victims from being able to recover their stolen benefits.
The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) confirmed Friday that three skimming devices were found in KCK and that users lost access to their funds. The suspicious activity was first discovered on January 30 when out-of-state phone numbers began calling in balance inquiries for EBT cards.
The exact locations of where the skimmers were places has not been publicly released. In response, DCF shut down a number of EBT cards and started the process of issuing new ones. According to DCF, cardholders will automatically have a replacement card loaded with benefits mailed to their homes within 5-7 days after their original card was canceled.
DCF stated that approximately 830 cardholders were protected from fraud by their actions, saving nearly $370,000 in benefits from being stolen. The agency also confirmed that the benefits of 162 card members were stolen, amounting to nearly $39,000.
According to DCF, residents whose benefits were stolen are unable to recover their stolen benefits because of federal law. DCF Secretary Laura Howard expressed her disappointment in the situation. “It’s disheartening that there are people preying on some of the most vulnerable Kansas — children and the elderly — and are stealing the money they depend on to put food on their tables,” she said.
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Proposed Bill Would Address Nonprofit Community Theater Taxation Rates
WICHITA, Kan. (KMUW) – Music Theatre Wichita is pushing for state legislation that staff says would save it around $75,000 dollars annually. KMUW reports that the bill aims to provide a sales tax exemption for nonprofits operating community theaters, like Music Theatre Wichita. Currently, the theatre pays sales tax on building and set items as well as the tickets it sells, meaning it gets taxed twice. Angela Cassette, the managing director of Music Theatre Wichita, says other entities often only pay sales tax on their end product. “I'm going to use Spirit Aerosystems as an example because they buy a lot of steel. When they buy steel, they do not pay sales tax on that steel. The tax comes on the end product. Music Theatre Wichita also buys a lot of steel because we build our sets with them. When we buy steel, we pay sales tax on our steel, and then we also pay tax on the end product, which is our tickets," she explains. This is the fourth year the bill has been proposed to the Kansas Legislature, but it's finding difficulty passing once again.
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CONCACAF Announces Changes for Upcoming Champions Cup Match in Kansas City
UNDATED (KPR) – The first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round One series between Sporting Kansas City and Inter Miami CF has been rescheduled. The match was set for Tuesday evening at Children's Mercy Park. It will now take place at 7 pm Wednesday. All previously purchased tickets will remain valid for entry on Wednesday. The decision to reschedule the match has been made to prioritize player and fan safety. For more information, visit Concacaf.com.
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Washburn Men's Basketball Team Drops to 4th in NCAA Division II Rankings
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Washburn Ichabods men's basketball team fell from first to fourth in the latest NABC Top 25 Coaches Poll released Tuesday. The drop follows a pair of losses last week. The team returns to action for their final two regular season home games, starting with Central Oklahoma at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Lee Arena. Washburn will then host Rogers State for senior day on Feb. 22 at 3 p.m.
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This summary of area news is curated by KPR news staffers. Our headlines are generally published by 10 am weekdays and are updated through 7 pm. This ad-free news summary is made possible by KPR members. Become one today. And follow KPR News on X (formerly Twitter).