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
Kansas AG ditches anti-immigration health care lawsuit after change in federal policy
Kris Kobach announced Wednesday he voluntarily dismissed his federal lawsuit that targeted health care for immigrants across the U.S. But health care for certain immigrants was stripped away months ago.
Kansas AG ditches anti-immigration health care lawsuit after change in federal policy
Kris Kobach announced Wednesday he voluntarily dismissed his federal lawsuit that targeted health care for immigrants across the U.S. But health care for certain immigrants was stripped away months ago.
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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.
Douglas County commissioners to ask federal delegation to ‘show the fortitude’ to defend democracy
Douglas County commissioners have penned a letter to the four congresspeople who represent the county, asking them to “prevent a single branch of government from becoming too powerful.”
Kansas Republicans punt immigration bill after kicking opponents out of hearing
A Republican-led Senate committee declined Monday to take action on a bill that would prohibit people in Kansas without permanent legal status from receiving public benefits, including in-state tuition, and permit higher bond prices for those charged with crimes.
Nathan Kramer/Lawrence Times
Lawrence community members gather to protest fascism, ‘musky’ government
Around 250 Lawrence community members filled the four corners at Ninth and Massachusetts streets Sunday to express their concerns about the state of America’s democracy.
Kansas senator’s rural town hall meeting swamped by people mad at Trump administration
Republican Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall ended a rural town hall meeting early Saturday after people angry about budget cuts, funding freezes and other actions by President Trump shouted the senator down.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Haskell students, supporters protest firings, demand government keep its ‘Hands off Haskell’
Holdings signs that read “My education is not your budget cut” and “Culture erasure is not progress,” about three dozen people marched Friday morning down Massachusetts Street to South Park in protest of recent firings at Haskell.
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