Hearing on Legal Challenge to Kansas “Bathroom Bill” Scheduled
LAWRENCE, Kan. (Kansas Reflector) — A Kansas judge will hear arguments on Friday in a lawsuit challenging the state’s new “bathroom bill.” The law took effect last week. It requires that drivers licenses display the license holder’s sex assigned at birth. It also requires people to use bathrooms in government buildings corresponding to their sex at birth. The ACLU is challenging the law, saying it discriminates against transgender Kansans. The Kansas Reflector reports Douglas County District Judge James McCabria has scheduled the first hearing in the case for Friday afternoon.
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Kansas Senate Advances Bill Cracking Down on Student Protests
TOPEKA, Kan. (Kansas Reflector) — The Kansas Senate has advanced a bill that would punish school districts whose students take part in protests during the school day. Under the bill, students would need parental permission to take part in protests. And districts could be fined more than $100,000 if it’s found that staff members “encouraged, facilitated, or enabled” a student protest. Supporters insist the bill does not run afoul of the First Amendment. Students in several Kansas districts have staged protests in recent months, mainly targeting U.S. immigration policy. The Kansas Reflector reports the measure passed the state senate 21-18. All 21 votes in support were by Republicans. The 18 opposing votes were by nine Republicans and nine Democrats.
(–Additional reporting–)
Kansas Senate Advances Proposal to Restrict Student Walkouts
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — The Kansas Senate has passed a proposal to restrict student walkouts during the school day. The measure could face legal challenges. The plan would require written parental permission before a Kansas student can leave school to protest. It would also fine districts if staff encouraged a walkout. A 1969 Supreme Court ruling found that students do not shed their first amendment rights at the schoolhouse gate. Kansas American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Micah Kubic says the amendment is punitive. “I would say it's very clearly designed to punish anyone who allows students to engage in constitutionally protected expression,” he added. Republican state Senator Michael Murphy said he proposed the change because schools are not marking students who left to protest as truant.
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Threats Reported Against Miami County Elementary School
OSAWATOMIE, Kan. (KSHB) — Police are investigating multiple threats against an elementary school in Miami County, Kansas. KSHB reports the threats targeted Trojan Elementary School in Osawatomie. The threats were received on Monday and Tuesday. In both cases the school was searched and no weapons were found. In a social media post, district officials told parents, “We do not believe that this is an active threat, but will continue to monitor the situation.”
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Voters Deliver Verdicts on Kansas School Referendums
UNDATED (WIBW-TV) — Voters in several Kansas school districts decided the fate of bond referendums on Tuesday. WIBW-TV reports preliminary results show voters rejected bond issues in Jefferson West USD 340 in Jefferson County and Council Grove USD 417 in Morris County. Voters approved bond issues in USD 322 in Pottawatomie County and USD 379 in Clay County.
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Wichita Sales Tax Increase Decisively Rejected
WICHITA, Kan. (KMUW) — Wichita voters sent a decisive message Tuesday against a proposed sales tax, with nearly 82% voting no. From an election watch party at the Save Taxpayers, Vote No offices, Celeste Racette told KMUW that the votes speak for themselves. "We're telling the City Council and the mayor, 'you need to do a better job of transparency, accountability and reestablishing trust.' That should send a clear message to them that all Wichitans are concerned about those issues," she explained. Racette was a founding member of the bipartisan coalition against the tax. Nonprofit group Wichita Forward urged voters to pass the tax. The group said if they had, $850 million would have been directed to public safety, housing and cultural projects as well as property tax relief. Racette says that 82% of voters voting 'no' shows her there's deep distrust in the city's handling of big deals.
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Kansas Lawmakers Continue to Evaluate Proposal on In-School Screen Time Restrictions
UNDATED (KMUW) — Kansas lawmakers held a hearing Tuesday on a bill that would ban digital devices in elementary school classrooms. It would also limit the time middle school and high school students could use school-owned devices in class. Supporters say the bill would protect student privacy and mental health, while improving their ability to learn. But state officials say students take state exams on digital devices. Frank Harwood, who is with the state Department of Education, said “If this bill were enacted for next school year, we would not be able to implement the state assessment nor would districts be able to do the required dyslexia screeners.” Harwood says it could be difficult to enforce screen time limits for students in certain classes or college credit programs. KMUW reports that many districts would also have to spend more on textbooks and printed materials.
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State Revokes Former KU Athletic Trainer’s License
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) — The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts has revoked the license of a former University of Kansas athletic trainer who has been accused of misconduct. Jeremy A. Goates is accused of improperly accessing the medical records of more than 300 women without authorization. KSNT reports more than 100 of those records included photographs of the women. His license was revoked last week. Women whose records he allegedly accessed are suing KU and LMH Health over the breach. Goates was fired from KU in 2023, shortly after the allegations were made public.
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Army Corps Seeks Input on Plan for Lower Missouri River
UNDATED (HPM) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public input on a plan to reduce flooding on the Lower Missouri River. The Lower Missouri has seen several extreme floods in recent decades, causing billions of dollars in damage to property, infrastructure, and natural resources. The Corps of Engineers worked with Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska to explore a long list of options. Harvest Public Media reports the Corps crafted a proposal that could widen the flood plain in some places. It could raise levees in others, including in part of Kansas City, Missouri. Detailed maps of the changes are on the Corps’ website. The agency is taking public comments till March 9.
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University of Kansas Faculty Senate and University Senate Call for No-Confidence Vote in KU Chancellor
UNDATED (KCUR) — We’ll know by the end of Wednesday whether University of Kansas faculty and staff have lost confidence in the chancellor. In an email to faculty and university senators, Faculty Senate and University Senate leadership said KU finances are "uncertain", and they called for an independent audit. They cited the cost of rebuilding the football stadium and its associated one billion dollar hotel and retail project, and a new pay structure for student-athletes. KCUR reports that KU is using tuition and taxpayer money to fund the $20 million student-athlete payroll that kicked in July 1st. KU Athletics projects a $15 million deficit this year. This also comes after the University offered a 1%, across-the-board pay hike to the faculty union. KU said that was its last, best offer.
UPDATE: Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Joe Monaco told KPR via e-mail that "The university does not provide any dollars – tuition, state general fund or otherwise – to Kansas Athletics. Kansas Athletics is a fully self-sustaining enterprise that operates entirely on revenues it generates itself."
(–Related–)
University of Kansas Disputes KCUR Reporting on Funding for Student Athletes
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) — The University of Kansas is pushing back on a report by KCUR Radio that claimed the university was using tuition and taxpayer money to pay its student-athletes. Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Joe Monaco told KPR that "the university does not provide any dollars – tuition, state general funds or otherwise – to Kansas Athletics." Monaco added, "Kansas Athletics is a fully self-sustaining enterprise that operates entirely on revenues it generates itself."
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Kansas Lawmakers Consider Expanding and Changing Composition of State Prisoner Review Board
UNDATED (KNS) — Kansas lawmakers want the state’s prisoner review board to consist of political appointments. The Kansas News Service reports that a bill would expand the board from three to five members who are selected by the governor and attorney general. Three of the five positions would require specific legal or law enforcement experience. The board currently consists of three members who are Kansas Department of Corrections employees. Supporters of the bill say the board needs outside professionals to increase scrutiny. Attorney Emily Brandt opposes the change, saying that the board mostly works on administrative issues, so it makes sense to fill it with correctional staff. She added that the board would need “...full time employees working day in and day out to do all kinds of things that are not parole decisions.” Critics also argue the bill inserts politics into parole cases.
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Kansas Lawmakers Considering Changes to Gun Regulations
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — Kansas lawmakers are considering a bill that would legalize silencers and sawed-off firearms. Federally, silencers and sawed-off firearms are legal, but need to be registered with the government. Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach supports the change. He says the difference between federal and state law is a trap for gun owners, who may not realize silencers are still illegal under Kansas law. Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter says his concern with the change is the criminal use of silencers and sawed-off firearms. “Our issue with this particular bill isn't the law-abiding citizens of the state of Kansas, it's the criminals that we deal with on an everyday basis that possess guns and use them in nefarious ways,” he explained. Easter wants the bill to include a felony charge for people who commit crimes with the gun modifications.
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Kansas City Museum Seeks 1980s Toy Donations
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCUR) — A national museum in Kansas City is on the hunt for childhood toys from the 1980s. KCUR reports that museum officials want people to check closets, attics, and basements because the museum is seeking donations from the public. The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures could be interested in taking that old My Little Pony, Care Bear or Ninja Turtle toy off your hands. They’re making plans for a special exhibit in 2027 that features toys from what some consider the golden age of Saturday morning cartoons. Senior manager Madeline Rislow says they aren’t just looking for pristine examples, either. “Some of my favorite objects in the collection are kind of beat up, because they were loved," she explained. If you’re interested, send an email to objectdonation@toyandminiaturemuseum.org or contact the museum by April 30th. (Read more.)
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