KU Admins Reject Faculty Union’s Pay Proposal
LAWRENCE, Kan. (LJW) — University of Kansas administrators have rejected the KU faculty union’s demand for raises, setting up a potential impasse in the talks. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the administration sent the union a letter Thursday formally rejecting its proposal. The university says the raises are “unaffordable” and would cost nearly $45 million over three years. Under the administration’s proposal, some faculty members might only see a 1% pay increase this year. If the union fails to accept the university’s final contract offer, an impasse could be declared, sending negotiations to mediation.
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State of Kansas and USDA Reach Agreement on SNAP Data
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — Kansas officials have agreed to turn over some food assistance data that the Trump administration requested. Republican leaders say the dispute never should have happened. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly had previously opposed turning over the data for privacy reasons. Now, she says through a news release that her administration will provide eligibility data while preventing personal information, including full Social Security numbers, from being shared. Kelly said the deal ends the USDA’s effort to withhold more than $10 million in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins sharply criticized the governor, calling the months-long dispute a “cover-up.” State officials say SNAP will continue to operate as usual.
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Methodist Pastor Considering Run for Kansas U.S. Senate Seat
UNDATED (KCUR) — The senior pastor of the country's largest United Methodist Church is exploring a run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Roger Marshall in Kansas. KCUR reports that Adam Hamilton, pastor of Leawood's Church of the Resurrection for the past 36 years, announced his interest in an email to his congregation and a video on the church's website. "Over the last couple of years, the voices have been stronger, and there has been a persistent nudge in my heart that maybe this is what I should do. Every week it seemed there was another news story in the last year where I would find myself shaking my head and thinking we have to do better," Hamilton stated in the announcement.
Hamilton said if he runs it will be as an Independent and that he regularly votes for both Democrats and Republicans. He says prayer and the urging of his wife drove his interest in running, and that he’ll make a final decision in early April. If elected, Hamilton said he would continue to serve as the church's pastor, joining Georgia's Senator Raphael Warnock as an active minister, and following in the footsteps of fellow Methodist minister Emanuel Cleaver II, who for years was pastor of St. James Church in Kansas City while serving in Congress.
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Lawrence Community Shelter Averaged 89% Capacity in 2025
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) — Lawrence Community Shelter served more than 800 people last year. The shelter has released its annual report. According to the report, the shelter operated at 89% capacity throughout the year. In December, it reached 95% capacity. Last November, the city of Lawrence announced it would no longer partner with local churches and other community organizations for winter shelters, leaving Lawrence Community Shelter the only option for the city’s homeless population.
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KCC Approves Atmos Energy Natural Gas Rate Increase
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) — The Kansas Corporation Commission has given the go-ahead to Atmos Energy to raise its rates for natural gas. About 140,000 customers in Kansas will be affected by the rate increase. KSNT reports it will take effect on March 1. Residential customers will see their bills go up by an average of $5.69 per month. In its ruling, the Commission said the increase was “just and reasonable and will provide Atmos with sufficient revenues to meet its financial obligations” while keeping rates as low as possible.
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Lesser Prairie Chicken Officially Removed from Threatened Species List
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KSNT) — The lesser prairie chicken has been officially removed from the threatened and endangered species list. KSNT reports the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service de-listed the bird this week. The lesser prairie chicken is a ground-dwelling bird known for elaborate mating dances. Its listing on the threatened and endangered species list was opposed by energy companies and ranchers, because it required them to take steps to avoid disrupting the birds’ habitat. The birds once numbered in the millions across the Great Plains. Their population is now about 30,000.
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Six Northwest Kansas Newspapers Merge
UNDATED (WIBW-TV) — Six newspapers in northwest Kansas will consolidate into a single weekly publication beginning next week. The newspapers are: The Goodland Star News, Colby Free Press, St. Francis Herald, Norton Telegram, Oberlin Herald, and Rawlins County Square Deal. All six papers are owned by High Plains News. The company says staff from all six papers will remain in place. WIBW-TV reports the first issue of the new consolidated paper will be published next Wednesday.
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Bill Would Require Turn Signal Use in Kansas Roundabouts
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — A new bill at the Statehouse would require drivers to use their turn signals when they exit roundabouts. The circular intersections where vehicles flow in one direction have been shown to ease traffic congestion, but the term roundabout is not officially in Kansas traffic law. A Senate bill could change that, along with adding the turn signal requirement when exiting. Republican state Senator Joe Claeys understands the need for the bill, but said he hopes enforcement will allow for some wiggle room. “You know, one would hope that our our men in blue and women in blue, would, you know, understand that and have some discretion,” he added. Claeys said some smaller roundabouts would require a quick turn signal which could make drivers more likely to receive a ticket.
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ACLU Files Lawsuit Against Kansas over Transgender Identity Measures
UNDATED (KCUR) — The American Civil Liberties Union is suing to block a new Kansas law requiring transgender people use the bathrooms for their sex assigned at birth in government buildings, including schools. The law went into effect Thursday after the House and Senate joined to override Governor Laura Kelly’s veto. It also invalidated trans Kansans’ IDs that reflect their gender identity.
ACLU staff attorney Harper Seldin says this regulation is unsafe for transgender Kansans, and for all women and girls whose identities might be questioned. “Just because of how they look, regardless of whether they’re trans or not trans, are now at risk of people asking invasive questions about their body and their medical history,” he explained.
The ACLU wants a judge to temporarily block the law while this case plays out. (Read more.)
(–Earlier reporting–)
State of Kansas Invalidates Some Identification Documents Held by Transgender People
UNDATED (KNS) — A Kansas law that took effect Thursday invalidated thousands of driver’s licenses and birth certificates belonging to transgender people. The new law also bars transgender people from using bathrooms based on their gender identity.
The Kansas News Service reports that the Kansas Department of Revenue has begun sending letters notifying residents that their gender marker changes have been reversed. Matthew Neumann, a transgender man in central Kansas who runs an LGBTQ mutual aid organization, says the law creates a logistical nightmare for transgender people and state agencies, adding that “...it's frustrating that they're implementing something that they don't know how they're going to handle...they’re so concerned to target trans people that they’re rushing this.”
Harper Seldin is an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, which plans to challenge the law in state court. Seldin says the gender marker reversals have caused confusion and panic. “It invalidated them overnight with no grace period for folks to understand what that meant or to even comply,” he said. The ACLU says it plans to file a lawsuit before the weekend. It will also ask the court to halt the law’s implementation during the lawsuit. (Read more.)
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Kansas House Approves Revised Property Tax Increase Bill
TOPKEA, Kan. (KPR) — A bill approved by the Kansas House limits annual property tax increases and gives voters more power to challenge them. The tax bill would limit how much cities and counties in Kansas can increase property tax revenue each year, capping growth at 3% with some exceptions. If a local government wants to raise property tax revenue, it must get voter approval or risk having the increase blocked through a citizen protest petition. Republican Rep. Shannon Francis changed the bill to reduce the number of signatures needed to file a protest petition. It was lowered from 10% to 5% of registered voters. “It's much harder to get a petition together if you're trying to get 7000 or 20,000 people together, and it's much easier if it's a smaller number, ” Francis said. The bill now moves to the Kansas Senate.
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Kansas Lawmakers Consider Bill Allowing Flexible Rent Payments
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — Kansas lawmakers discussed a plan this week that would allow renters the chance to make multiple payments to their landlords, as long as they pay on time. The bill, introduced by four Republican lawmakers, would give tenants a chance to split up their rent payments instead of having to pay their rent all at once. The partial payments would still need to be paid before the due date. Republican Rep. Leah Warren says the bill gives renters the same partial payment rights that homeowners already have. “I don't see why a renter should not have that individual liberty to do that, have that and have that flexibility also,” Warren argued. The proposal allows nontraditional income sources like Social Security, child support and disability payments to be considered on rental applications. Opponents worry that multiple payments could cause bookkeeping confusion for landlords. Lawmakers expect to make some changes to address those concerns.
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Kansas Bill Would Limit At-School Screen Time
UNDATED (KNS) — A bill introduced in Kansas would limit how much time students can use school-owned, digital devices each day. The Kansas News Service reports that students in kindergarten through fifth grade would not be allowed to use any digital devices in the classroom. Instruction and tests would have to be print-based or hands-on. Students in sixth through eighth grade would be limited to one hour of device use per day. High school students would get an hour-and-a-half. The bill is part of a recent push to reconsider how screen time affects developing minds. It comes as the state also considers a ban on student cell phones. Most districts would have to spend more on textbooks and printed materials. Also, Kansas students take state assessments on computers. The bill is set to get a hearing next week.
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Farm Closures Rose in Kansas and Missouri in 2025
LIBERAL, Kan. (KNS) — Farm closures were up almost 50% in 2025. Midwestern states like Kansas and Missouri saw the largest amounts of closures. The Kansas News Service reports that Kansas farmers had a rough year despite good weather and high crop yields. Input costs like fertilizer and machinery have increased, and tariff disputes have eliminated many grain crop markets. That resulted in the highest amounts of farm closures in the nation since 2021. Kansas saw a total of 700 farms close just last year. Greg Doering with the Kansas Farm Bureau says this can strain the mental health of farmers. “That can be very stressful, especially when you start considering times like this, that could end the legacy of a family that goes back three, four or five generations,” Doering explained. The American Farm Bureau says for now, there is little economic relief in sight.
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Former Washington, D.C. Police Officer Visits Kansas
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS) — A former police officer who defended the U.S. Capitol on January 6th is in Kansas this weekend for the nonprofit group Leading Kansas. The Kansas News Service reports that Michael Fanone worked for Washington, D.C., police when he responded to radio calls for help as rioters stormed the Capitol on January 6th. He was assaulted, dragged down the Capitol steps, stunned with a Taser and threatened with his own gun. Five years later, Fanone's mission is one of civic responsibility. He says leaders should denounce President Trump for pardoning the rioters and promoting conspiracies. "The American people are not asking them to rise up and stand against this administration. They're demanding it," he explained. Fanone says January 6th proved how fragile democratic norms can be, and that people should hold leaders accountable. : Fanone will speak in Wichita on Saturday and Lawrence on Sunday.
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Lawrence Prepares to Welcome Algerian Men's World Cup Team
UNDATED (KCUR) — Douglas County officials and residents are preparing to welcome the Algerian men’s team to Lawrence for this summer’s World Cup. KCUR reports that Algeria was the fourth team after Argentina, England and the Netherlands to select the Kansas City area as a base camp.
Kansas City is hosting six World Cup games in June, and Algeria will play in at least two of them. Jill Jolicoeur, the assistant county administrator for Douglas County, says the area is expecting about 15 thousand guests and fans during the World Cup. "It's going to continue to be an opportunity for us to learn about the Algerian country, and the culture of and the traditions of sport, and how that has been really pivotal to their nature, how they identify themselves as a nation," she added. The team has yet to announce where players will stay, but they’ll practice at Rock Chalk Park. That facility is located about an hour from Arrowhead Stadium.
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