Winter Storm Ends; Cold Temps Remain
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - The winter storm has moved on but bitterly cold temperatures remain. Meteorologist John Woynick, with the National Weather Service in Topeka, says the Capital City received 4-5 inches of snow. Manhattan received 6 inches and Lawrence received 3-and-a-half inches. Woyncik says an Extreme Cold Warning remains in effect through noon Thursday, with wind chills expected between -8 and -18. Temperatures will begin to warm up this weekend. Saturday's high will reach 37, Sunday's high will hit 51 and by Monday, it should be sunny with a high near 62 degrees.
Visit the National Weather Service in Topeka for the latest weather information.
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Kansas Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors Goes into Effect Thursday
UNDATED (KNS) – A ban on gender-affirming care for minors in Kansas takes effect Thursday, just two days after lawmakers overrode a gubernatorial veto to pass the bill into law. The Kansas News Service reports that Kansas Republicans managed to override a veto by Democratic Governor Laura Kelly to pass the ban into law. Its quick turnaround is unusual, because most laws don't take effect right away. The so-called “Help Not Harm Act” bars health care providers from prescribing puberty blockers, hormone treatments and surgeries for minors experiencing gender dysphoria. Under the law, young transgender people who are in the middle of gender-affirming medical treatments must stop that care by the end of the year.
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Kansas Lawmakers Override Governor's Gender-Affirming Care Ban Veto
UNDATED (KNS) – Kansas lawmakers overrode the governor's veto to approve a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The Kansas News Service reports that when the law takes effect, health care providers will lose their licenses and face legal consequences if they approve hormone treatments or surgeries for transgender teens. Passing the ban was a long-standing goal for Kansas Republicans, who argue kids are not mature enough to decide to treat gender dysphoria with medical interventions. But D.C. Hiegert, a legal fellow at the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, says transgender kids have it hard enough already. “It's just really frustrating to see a small amount of people in power continually introduce bills that target this community that has done nothing wrong,” Hiegert added. The law will take effect within weeks unless legal challenges cause delays.
Kansas Lawmakers Override Governor's Veto; Enact Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
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's veto pen. 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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Kansas House Legislators Pass Pregnancy Child Support Payments Bill
UNDATED (KNS) – Kansas House lawmakers have passed a bill that would allow pregnant Kansans to seek child support payments starting at conception. The Kansas News Service reports that under the bill, child support payments during pregnancy would be limited to direct medical and pregnancy-related expenses, with interest. Anti-abortion groups that back the bill say many women get abortions because of a lack of financial resources, and monetary support during pregnancy could reduce those numbers. Reproductive rights supporters say the bill is an effort to codify a concept known as fetal personhood into state law. That refers to the idea that fetuses have the same legal rights as pregnant women. They say it could make it easier for Kansas to ban abortion in the future. The bill now heads to the Kansas Senate.
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New USDA Secretary Visits Kansas
LIBERAL, Kan. (KNS) – Kansas farmers and ranchers told the new U.S. Secretary of Agriculture that they are concerned about immigrant labor, trade and conservation funding. The Kansas News Service reports that newly appointed Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins told the farmers during a meeting on Monday in Plains, Kansas, that she will make their concerns a top priority. But she also said that Republican President Donald Trump’s vision for the ag industry will come with growing pains. Philip Weltmer of the Kansas Livestock Association says Kansas ag relies on immigrant labor. “We understand the need for securing our borders, but simultaneously, we need to find a guest worker program that will meet those needs for our livestock industry to stay current,” he explained. Others say they need conservation programs to reduce water scarcity and erosion. The Trump administration froze funding for those programs. Kansas ag leaders also discussed their desire for better trade agreements for commodities, and increasing biofuel and beef production. Rollins did not address the recent federal funding freeze, but did say that says less government involvement will improve the agriculture industry.
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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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Kansas Senate Advances Bill to Prevent Use of Food Stamps / SNAP Benefits to Purchase Candy and Soda Pop
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 contribute to poor health. But Democratic Senator Oletha Faust-Goudeau says many people receiving 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 Considers 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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Kansas House Education Committee Rejects Proposal for "Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day"
UNDATED (KNS) – Kansas lawmakers have rejected a proposal from schoolchildren in Kansas City, Kansas, to name a day in honor of civil rights icon Ruby Bridges. Conservatives in the House Education Committee voted down a bill that would have established a Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day every November. Bridges, who lives in Louisiana, was the first Black child to attend a formerly all-white school after desegregation. Republican Rep. Kyle McNorton of Topeka opposed the measure, saying that schools could honor the day without requiring a state law. “You know, we do have Black History Month. We have Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Are we going to do a day for Brown v. Board? I just think, where’s the end?,” he added. Students in seven Kansas counties celebrated Ruby Bridges Day last year. Supporters say a statewide recognition would encourage more schools to teach about the civil rights movement.
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Man Who Pleaded Guilty to Shooting Black Teen Dies
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCUR) – The 86-year-old Kansas City man who shot a Black teen on his front porch in April 2023 has died. KCUR reports that the Clay County District Attorney’s office on Wednesday confirmed the death of Andrew Lester. Just last Friday, Lester pleaded guilty to second-degree assault for twice shooting then-16-year-old Ralph Yarl. The plea bargain meant he could avoid a trial and, if convicted, possibly getting a life sentence. He was supposed to be sentenced in March -- the district attorney was planning to ask for a 5-year sentence.
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IRS Workers in KC 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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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 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 Kansas 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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Washburn Men's Basketball Team Drops to 4th in Latest 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 pm Thursday in Lee Arena. Washburn will then host Rogers State for senior day on February 22 at 3 pm.
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