Judge Issues Ruling to Allow Enforcement of Controversial Kansas Law During Ongoing Lawsuit
UNDATED (KNS) — A Douglas County District Court judge ruled Tuesday that a new Kansas law restricting bathroom use and ID changes for transgender people can remain in effect, even as a lawsuit filed by transgender Kansans and the American Civil Liberties Union is underway.
According to the Kansas News Service, the ruling means that transgender people must use bathrooms in public places that align with their sex assigned at birth. Driver’s licenses and birth certificates that have had the gender marker changed are now considered invalid.
A hearing on the enforcement of the Kansas law was held on Friday, after two transgender Kansans, who used pseudonyms, sued to challenge the recently-enacted state law.
Their attorneys raised concerns that the law could result in altercations and invasions of privacy if transgender people have to show IDs or use restrooms that don’t match their gender identity. They had requested the law be put on hold while it winds through the legal system.
But Douglas County District Court Judge James McCabria said he doesn’t believe most Kansans would act that way toward transgender people.
The judge also rejected the suggestion that having IDs that don’t match gender identity would result in transgender people losing their jobs. (Read more.)
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Kansas Senator Proposes End to State Property Tax
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — A Kansas lawmaker wants to gradually remove property taxes altogether and replace them with a surcharge on retail transactions, but other legislators are saying that the bill has some problems. “Not ready for primetime” was how a committee member described the bill state Senator Michael Murphy brought forward. Murphy admitted himself that the bill “needs some work.” The legislation would decrease property taxes before removing them in 2028.
Retail purchase surcharges would replace all property taxes. Purchases less than $20 would be subject to a 7.6% surcharge, while purchases of over $20 would include a flat $1.60 surcharge.
Murphy said too many exemptions for corporations have led to increased property taxes for other Kansans. “People have been given exemptions for sales tax or property tax, and all that is shifted to the people,” he said. Opponents of the bill say the tax would disproportionately affect people with lower incomes.
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Kansas House Passes K-12 School Cell Phone Ban, Sending Measure to Governor Laura Kelly
UNDATED (KNS) — The Kansas House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday that would ban student cell phones in K-12 schools. The Kansas News Service reports that students would have to store their phones in a secure, inaccessible location until dismissal. The bill would apply to public schools and accredited private schools. Critics say cell phone policies should be set by school boards. But supporters say the bill is a necessary step to remove distractions from the classroom.
Representative Angela Martinez, a Democrat from Sedgwick County, said that “...many classrooms, attention has drifted, participation has dropped, and the simple act of looking someone in the eye and speaking from the heart has begun to fade.” The bill would provide no additional funding for local school districts to enforce the policy. It now awaits action from Democratic Governor Laura Kelly, who has voiced support for a cell phone ban.
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Pedestrian Killed in Apparent Hit-and-Run in Topeka
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW-TV) — Topeka police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run in the city Monday night. WIBW-TV reports it happened shortly after ten pm at the intersection of SW 6th St. and SW Horne St. First responders found a pedestrian who had apparently been struck by a vehicle that fled the scene. The pedestrian was declared dead at the scene. The area was closed to traffic. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Topeka police.
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Junction City Apartment Fire Displaces 13 Residents
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (WIBW-TV) — More than a dozen people are without a place to live after a fire in Junction City. The fire was reported Sunday evening at the West Ridge Apartments on West Ash Street. Firefighters battled heavy smoke and flames coming from the rear of the building. The Fort Riley and Geary County fire departments were called to assist. WIBW-TV reports six units were damaged, affecting 13 residents. Investigators believe the fire was accidental.
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Arrest Made in Allen County Homicide
HUMBOLDT, Kan. (KPR) — An Allen County man is facing murder charges after a domestic disturbance in Humboldt on Sunday. Police say 25-year-old Malachi I. Davis of Humboldt shot and killed a man who intervened in a dispute between Davis and his girlfriend. The victim was 43-year-old John P. Kent, also of Humboldt. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says Davis fired a single shot from his vehicle, striking Kent, who was later pronounced dead at Allen County Regional Hospital. Davis faces charges of second-degree murder.
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Kansas National Guard Unit Deployed for Iran War
TOPEKA, Kan. (Kansas Reflector) — A Kansas Air National Guard unit has been deployed for the war in Iran. The Kansas Reflector reports the 190th Air Refueling Wing deployed in early March. The 190th is stationed at Forbes Field in Topeka. The unit flies KC-135 aircraft and has more than 900 members. The United States attacked Iran on February 28 without a declaration of war from Congress.
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Kansas Officials Warn of New Text Scam
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — State officials are warning of a new scam. It’s a text message that purports to be from the Kansas Division of Vehicles. The message tells recipients they have outstanding traffic fines they must pay. In a statement posted to social media, the Kansas Department of Revenue reminds the public that it never sends unsolicited text messages regarding fines, toll fees, payments, or violations. Anyone who receives the text message is asked to report it to the Federal Trade Commission and the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
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Kansas House Committee Advances Bill to End Requirement for Landlords
UNDATED (KNS) — A Kansas House committee Tuesday advanced a bill that would stop cities and counties from requiring landlords to accept rental assistance vouchers from tenants. The bill appears to target a City of Lawrence ordinance that bars landlords from rejecting tenants based on the source of their income. Critics argue the bill hurts low-income renters amid a housing shortage. But supporters say the city rules put too many restrictions on landlords. The Kansas News Service reports that Republican state Representative Paul Waggoner says landlords should have the choice to accept vouchers that come with more federal regulations. “It is really to the good of the community that landlords be able to make that judgment independently and not have their hand forced,” he added. The bill now heads to the full House for consideration. The Kansas Senate passed the bill last month.
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Kansas Lawmakers Considering New Medicaid Eligibility Reviews
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — Lawmakers in Kansas want to take more steps to limit Medicaid fraud. But one bill attempting to do that could have severe consequences for Kansans in need. The bill would require Medicaid eligibility to be reviewed every three months to make sure recipients still qualify. Republican lawmakers hope to cut down on waste, fraud and abuse, a common theme for the session. But Kansas Mental Health Association lobbyist Amy Campbell says the procedural churn would hurt Kansans in need. "It will ensure that people who need Medicaid services are going to be falling through the cracks," she said. There are some exceptions in the legislation for people with permanent intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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No Charges Filed in Fatal Lawrence City Hall Shooting
LAWRENCE, Kan. (LT) — The Douglas County district attorney’s office says it won’t pursue charges related to the fatal shooting at Lawrence City Hall in January. Police say a 28-year-old man from Minnesota, Omar Dominguez Gavilan, broke into City Hall on the morning of January 5 and engaged in a fight with a security officer, who shot and killed him. In a statement released on Friday, the DA’s office said the security guard acted “in self-defense and defense of others.” Kansas Highway Patrol officers had noticed Gavilan acting erratically at the Turnpike rest stop east of Lawrence and took him to the city’s Amtrak station. For reasons unknown, Gavilan made his way to City Hall from there. Gavilan’s sister told the Lawrence Times her brother had schizophrenia.
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Kansas Lawmakers Seek Changes to Conservatorship Rules
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — Kansas lawmakers want to create a middle ground between conservatorship, which is court-appointed decision-making by another adult, and people with mental health concerns going without help. The push to give people more autonomy began due to a tragedy for Mental Health Advocacy Day Chair Lori Barnes. Her son, who had bipolar disorder, took his own life half a decade ago. Barnes, like many parents, didn’t want to take away her son’s rights under a conservatorship. Since her son’s death, she has worked to get a supported decision making agreement bill passed at the Kansas Statehouse. Barnes said the legislation allows for people to get help when they need it. “Basically you're their copilot. So they get to keep their rights. They still get to make their decisions, but you're there to help them,” she explained. More than thirty states already have similar laws on the books.
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Man Pleads Guilty to Charges in Super Bowl Rally Shooting
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCUR) — One of two men charged in the fatal shootings at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl rally in 2024 pleaded guilty Monday. KCUR reports that Dominick Miller and another man were charged with second-degree murder after the shootings that killed Lisa Lopez Galvan and injured 23 others. Now, under a plea deal, that charge was dropped and Miller pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful use of a weapon. A Jackson County judge sentenced Miller to two years in prison. The second-degree murder charge against the other man, Lyndell Mays, is still pending.
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Gasoline Prices Rise in Kansas and Missouri, Following Nationwide Trends
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCUR) — As oil prices surge due to the war in Iran, gas prices in Kansas and Missouri have spiked. AAA says the average price in Kansas is $2.91 a gallon, 36 cents more than a week ago. KCUR reports that the price is slightly higher in Johnson and Wyandotte Counties. The national average is $3.25 a gallon, so the Kansas price is among the cheapest in the U.S. In Missouri, Triple A pegs the average price at $2.97 a gallon, a 31 cent increase in the last week. Missouri and Kansas are still two of the least expensive states to charge an electric vehicle. Triple A says it costs about 25 cents per kilowatt hour.
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Report Tags Kansas and Missouri as Lacking in Protections for Online Sports Gamblers
UNDATED (KCUR) — Kansas and Missouri rank among the worst in the country when it comes to protecting online sports gamblers. KCUR says that a report from the Center for Addiction Science, Policy, and Research gives both states failing grades. The report cites the lack of protections for sports bettors paired with the easy access and addictive nature of online betting apps as dangerous, according to The Beacon. The center is calling on states to implement more protections, including mandatory loss limits, higher tax rates on gambling, and requiring operators to intervene when users are showing high-risk behavior. The center also says Kansas and Missouri do not tax online gambling companies enough. Kansans have been able to place online sports bets since September of 2022, and Missourians gained access in December last year.
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Survey Shows Higher-Than-Average Rates of Some Health Challenges in Southeast Kansas
UNDATED (KNS) — A recent survey shows people in Southeast Kansas see higher-than-average rates of certain health issues, such as diabetes and hypertension. The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas recently surveyed its patients in Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma to determine the biggest health issues and barriers to health care. Jason Wesco, the center’s president, told the Kansas News Service that the most common health problems in the region are heart disease, cancer and obesity. He says some of these may be related to regional factors like poverty and limited health care access. “There are myriad of things going on in a community that maybe people don't think about directly impacting someone's health, but they certainly do in the big picture,” he explained. Wesco says it will take collaboration between health care organizations and outside leaders to improve health outcomes.
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KU Reaches Tentative Agreement with Faculty and Academic Staff Union
UNDATED (KCUR) — Faculty and academic staff at the University of Kansas announced Friday that their union reached a tentative first contract agreement with the school. The United Academics of the University of Kansas represents the faculty and academic staff union,, which has been engaged in fraught negotiations with KU. KCUR reports that a statement from the union says the agreement ensures due process, job security, academic freedom and dignified compensation for all. The agreement includes a 13% median raise for several hundred workers, as part of a minimum salary structure. It also includes a first-ever path to promotion for lecturers.
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Former KU Jayhawk Mark Turgeon Hired as New Men's Basketball Coach at UMKC
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KPR) — Topeka native and former Kansas Jayhawks guard Mark Turgeon, who went on to coach at Wichita State among other places, was formally introduced Monday as the new UMKC head men's basketball coach in Kansas City. Turgeon has been out of coaching since 2021, which was his last season as the University of Maryland head coach. But with his son, Will, at his side as an assistant coach, they’re teaming up to get UMKC, which finished with a 4-27 record this season, turned around.
"We’ve got work to do and I’ve had so many people tell me it’s not an easy job. I disagree. You hire the right people, you’re around the right people, you’re in a great area. You can do great things," he said.
Turgeon played on the Jayhawks' 1986 Final Four team under Coach Larry Brown. Later as a head coach, he guided Wichita State to the Sweet 16 in the 2006 NCAA tournament.
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