Man Killed in Lawrence City Hall Shooting Identified
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) — The Lawrence Police Department has released the name of the man killed in a shooting at Lawrence City Hall on Monday. He has been identified as 28-year-old Omar Dominguez Gavilan of Buffalo, Minnesota. Gavilan had been the subject of a call to the Kansas Highway Patrol from a service station area east of Lawrence on I-70 Sunday evening because of his erratic behavior. The highway patrol transported Gavilan to the Lawrence Amtrak station, and Lawrence police did not have contact with him Sunday evening or Monday morning before the incident.
A press release from LKPD says details of Gavilan's fatal encounter in Lawrence City Hall will not be released until the investigation is completed. The city employee involved is on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.
Detectives in the Lawrence police investigations unit expect to issue a full report of what happened in the next two to three weeks. It will be sent to the Douglas County District Attorney's Office for review. Updates will continue to be provided at the Lawrence Police Department Facebook page.
(–Related–)
Lawrence City Hall Remains Closed After Shooting
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR/LJW) — Lawrence City Hall will remain closed through Wednesday as police continue to investigate a fatal shooting in the building on Monday morning. Police say a city worker shot and killed a 28-year-old man from Minnesota who’d broken into the building, entered an area that is closed to the public, and engaged in a fight. Neither the shooter nor the victim has been identified. The employee has been placed on administrative leave. The Lawrence Journal-World reports city employees are permitted to carry weapons, subject to certain regulations.
==========
Kansas House Speaker Says Congressional Redistricting Measure Doesn't Have Enough Legislative Support to Pass
UNDATED (KNS) — A top Republican lawmaker in Kansas says there is not enough support to redraw the state’s congressional map. It was part of a national push by President Trump to get more Republicans in Congress. Multiple outlets reported that House Speaker Dan Hawkins said the chamber is at least 20 votes short of enacting mid-decade redistricting. The Kansas News Service reports that Republican leaders previously said they would continue to pursue the move after a failed attempt to call a special session last year. Now, it might not even come to a vote in the House when lawmakers return to Topeka for the regular session next week. Republican state Senate President Ty Masterson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
==========
Former Marion Police Chief Seeks Trial Delay
MARION, Kan. (KMBC) — The former chief of police in Marion, Kansas, is seeking to delay his trial. Gideon Cody faces one count of interfering with the judicial process for his role in a controversial raid on the town’s newspaper, the Marion County Record. Cody allegedly induced a witness to withhold or delay information in the case. His attorneys say a new documentary about the case portrays Cody as a “villain” and makes it impossible for him to get a fair trial at this time. KMBC reports the trial has been scheduled to begin on February 2.
==========
Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall Supports Maduro Arrest
UNDATED (KNS) — Republican U.S. Senator Roger Marshall says he backs the Trump administration’s arrest of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. U.S. forces arrested Maduro during a raid in Venezuela over the weekend. Federal prosecutors have indicted him on narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges for allegedly importing cocaine into America. The Kansas News Service reports that Marshall says Maduro was a dictator who worked with cartels to funnel drugs into states like Kansas.
“Whenever we take out a drug lord, it has to make Kansans safer. So first and foremost, I think Kansans are safer today,” he said.
Marshall added that he believes the arrest also ensures the U.S. can control Venezuelan oil to keep it away from China.
==========
K-State Stops Student Government from Using Funds on DEI Programs
UNDATED (KNS) — Kansas State University has stopped its student government from using funds on diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The Kansas News Service reports that a university official says the student funding was violating state law. A Kansas law requiring universities to eliminate diversity programs and policies went into effect last July. That same month, the state received an anonymous complaint about the K-State student government’s spending. Marshall Stewart is chief of staff for K-State’s president. He told lawmakers that university officials worked with the student government to address the issue when they returned to campus in August. “So no longer are they disbursing money that is in conflict with that or making appointments that's in conflict with Senate Bill 125,” Stewart explained. He did not say what the funding had been used for. Lawmakers say the state may need to improve guidance on complying with the law.
==========
Bipartisan Bill Would Prohibit Use of Cell Phones by Student During School Hours
WICHITA, Kan. (KMUW) — A bipartisan bill introduced in Kansas would prohibit students across the state from using cell phones during school hours. KMUW reports that students would have to store their phones in a secure location until dismissal. The bill would exempt students whose doctors say they need a phone for medical reasons. Amy Warren is an incoming Wichita school board member and an advocate for reducing screen time in schools. She says when students don’t have cell phones between class periods, it helps them retain and process what they’ve learned that day. “When we let them get on their phones in between class (periods), we're just kind of wiping that experience and that processing off the board,” Warren added. Some school leaders have concerns about liability when storing students’ phones, and some parents say they want to be able to quickly reach their children in case of an emergency. (Read more.)
==========
Police Say Linn County Teen Died From Multiple Dog Bites
LINN COUNTY, Kan. (KMBC) — Police say a teenager from Linn County, Kansas, who was found dead across the state line in Bates County, Missouri last month died from “multiple dog bite injuries.” Airen Andula was 13 years old. Damon Leonard, 47, has been charged in connection with the teen’s death. Leonard was initially charged with abandonment of a corpse. He was later charged with interference with law enforcement, criminal desecration, and having a vicious dog at large. KMBC reports Leonard is still jailed in Bates County on a $100,000, cash-only bond.
==========
Kansas GOP Ends Gerrymander Push
TOPEKA, Kan. (The Beacon) — It appears efforts by Kansas Republicans to eliminate the only congressional district held by a Democrat in the state have failed. GOP leaders have conceded they don’t have the votes to gerrymander the state in the forthcoming legislative session. That’s according to a report in the Beacon. Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins says the issue is still one of his priorities, but he says House Republicans are about 20 votes short of being able to override an inevitable veto by Democratic governor Laura Kelly. The Republicans wanted to eliminate the Kansas City-area district currently represented by Sharice Davids, a Democrat.
==========
Lawrence Considers Lifting Short-Term Rental Restrictions for World Cup
LAWRENCE, Kan. (LT) — Lawrence city commissioners are considering loosening restrictions on short-term rentals for the upcoming World Cup. Currently, an owner is limited to three short-term rentals such as Airbnbs. But with six World Cup matches to be played in Kansas City this summer, Lawrence is expecting an influx of visitors. At its meeting Tuesday night, the Lawrence Times reports, the commission will consider lifting the limit for the duration of the tournament.
==========
Kansas Ceases Wooing Royals
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) — Now that the Kansas City Chiefs have decided to move to Kansas, it seems Sunflower State lawmakers are no longer interested in wooing the Royals across the state line. House Speaker Dan Hawkins tells KSNT Kansas officials will no longer be pursuing the baseball team. Last year, Kansas made offers to both teams with a December 31 deadline. The Chiefs announced their move to Kansas on December 22. But the Royals let the deadline pass, and Hawkins says lawmakers don’t intend to extend it.
==========
Kansas Governor Urges Fiscal Caution After Lower-than-Expected Tax Collections in December
UNDATED (KNS) — Democratic Governor Laura Kelly is advising caution after Kansas tax collections came in lower than expected in December. The state collected just over $1 billion in taxes last month. That’s about 5% lower than anticipated. Both corporate and individual income taxes fell short. Sales taxes were slightly above estimate. Monthly tax revenue exceeded expectations throughout much of last year. But after the latest report, Governor Kelly says lawmakers should be careful to keep the state’s budget balanced. Republicans in Topeka say the state is in good financial health. They will likely pursue further cuts to spending and taxes in the coming legislative session.
==========
New Data Details Number of Women Receiving Abortions in Kansas in 2024
UNDATED (KNS) — Nearly 20,000 women got an abortion in Kansas in 2024, according to recent data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The Kansas News Service reports that after the fall of Roe V. Wade in 2022, abortions in Kansas more than doubled. In 2024, more than 15,000 of the abortions in the state were for non-residents. Emily Wales with Planned Parenthood Great Plains says the influx of patients might be the new normal as states in the South and Midwest have restricted or banned abortion. She says Kansas providers are overwhelmed. “It has felt in recent years a little bit like drinking from a fire hose. And we've tried to be really transparent with Kansans that care can take longer to access,” Wales explained. Anti-abortion advocates, including the organization Kansans for Life, say the influx of patients could create unsafe conditions, but Planned Parenthood says they provide safe, high-quality care.
==========
Maintenance Needs of Kansas Universities Keep Rising
UNDATED (LJW) — A new assessment says Kansas’s six state universities have more than $1.6 billion in deferred maintenance. That’s up from $1.2 billion in 2020. The Lawrence Journal-World reports leaders at the six schools recently completed an end-of-year review of maintenance issues of all their facilities. They gave a C grade to the overall condition of critical buildings. Despite the growing need for repairs, spending on maintenance has actually gone up in recent years, from $107 million in 2023 to $203 million in 2025.
==========
Report: Kansas Ranks No. 4 in Lightning
UNDATED (Washington Post) — A new report listing the states with the most lightning last year says Kansas came in fourth place. The top 3 were Oklahoma, Florida, and Louisiana. The report by the environmental consulting firm AEM says there were more than 88 million lightning flashes nationwide last year, a 9.8% increase over 2024. The Washington Post reports that the most lightning-prone county in the U.S. was Kay County, Oklahoma, which borders Kansas along Interstate 35. The county averaged 123.4 lightning flashes per square mile last year.
==========
Cars Exposed to Mystery Sticky Substance in Small Kansas Town
GARNETT, Kan. (KSN) — Drivers who passed through Garnett, a town about 50 miles south of Lawrence, last Wednesday reported having their cars covered with a mysterious sticky substance that had apparently spilled from a truck. The EPA has investigated but has been unable to determine what the substance is. However, officials say it is “a basic corrosive liquid” and is not acidic. KSN reports local emergency management officials described the substance as a “thick, clear, slick liquid with no noticeable odor that left a sticky residue.” The EPA is offering to wash cars soiled by the substance. For more information, call (785) 448-6797.
==========
Washburn Men Remain Atop NABC Poll
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KPR) — The Washburn Ichabod men's basketball squad remains in the top spot of the latest NCAA Division II NABC Coaches' Poll. It's the third straight week Washburn has been ranked at number one. The Ichabods take on the Missouri Western Griffons in St. Joseph Wednesday night.
==========
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).