Federal fallout
Coverage tracking the Lawrence, Douglas County and statewide impacts of changes and cuts at the federal level.
Contact information for the congressional delegation representing Lawrence and Douglas County is available at this link. The nonprofit 5 Calls, 5calls.org, has phone numbers and templates of scripts to help people make their voices heard on several federal issues.
LATEST
Lawrence City Commission asks about immigration, schools’ involvement and more in World Cup prep
Lawrence city commissioners asked about ICE raid concerns, Haskell’s involvement and more with preparation for the World Cup coming up this summer.
Lawrence City Commission asks about immigration, schools’ involvement and more in World Cup prep
Lawrence city commissioners asked about ICE raid concerns, Haskell’s involvement and more with preparation for the World Cup coming up this summer.
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Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Housing Authority to temporarily close wait list for one of its programs
The Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority will soon pause accepting applications for a transitional housing program that currently has a four-year waitlist.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school district facing underfunded special education, enrollment decrease
The Lawrence school district is bracing for another year of underfunded special education from the state while the federal government picks systems apart.
She arrived in Overland Park undocumented. It took her 22 years to get her citizenship
Natalie Zarate, 28, spent two decades working to become a citizen after crossing the border illegally as a child. Now she worries that the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on immigration could endanger her and her family.
Kansas government efficiency committee restricts access to public suggestions
The chair of the Kansas Senate Committee on Government Efficiency restricted access to public submissions to its suggestion portal until after this legislative session, despite state law that requires public records be made available as soon as possible.
Kansas House members share family history while opposing resolution on immigration
House members shared personal family history Thursday as they discredited anti-immigrant rhetoric that echoed through committee hearings earlier in the legislative session.
Even in conservative Kansas, many law enforcement agencies don’t want to help with deportations
Federal agencies would need help from local law enforcement to accomplish their goal of widespread arrests and deportations – and many police departments and sheriff’s offices in Kansas are hesitant to help.
Art auction to benefit Haskell cultural preservation; artists welcome to donate
Proceeds from a Lawrence art auction will support cultural programs at Haskell Indian Nations University following federal cuts to university employees.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Haskell bracing for ‘another hit’ as feds call for reduction-in-force plans
Haskell was able to take a step forward, rehiring several employees who were fired without cause under federal orders, but it could face two steps back with Trump administration demands for reduction-in-force plans.
Hundreds of students abroad are caught up in USAID cuts to K-State food security programs
The federal government has not reimbursed K-State for about $1 million in expenses related to its work on global food security. The cuts also affect hundreds of students abroad who were recruited to advance agriculture in their countries.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
USDA grant funding for farms, wineries and Lawrence school district bakery frozen per federal order
The future is murky for a Lawrence school district bakery project as well as projects at four local farms and vineyards after their grant funding was frozen this week under orders from Trump and DOGE.
Feds investigating KU over pro-diversity business school partnership
KU is among 45 schools now under federal investigation because one of its graduate programs has been part of a partnership aiming to serve people of color.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Haskell faculty, many employees who were fired in federal budget cuts reinstated
Haskell Indian Nations University faculty members and many employees who were terminated in baseless federal job cuts have been reinstated.
Molly Adams/Lawrence Times
Save the date: Haskell planning Spring Resilience Powwow
After Haskell Indian Nations University’s spring powwow was postponed amid forced, baseless employee terminations, the university is now planning a Spring Resilience Powwow.
Tony Webster
Tribal nations, students sue feds over job cuts at Haskell and SIPI
A group of tribal nations and students have filed a lawsuit against federal government officials over the baseless terminations of nearly five dozen people serving Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute last month.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Fired Haskell instructors to return on contracts next week
Some of the nearly three dozen Haskell Indian Nations University employees who were terminated without cause due to sweeping federal budget cuts will be returning next week as adjunct professors.
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