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 House, Senate strike deal to end in-state college tuition for qualified immigrant students
The Kansas House and Senate have struck a deal on a bill repealing a law offering in-state tuition rates to students who immigrated to the U.S. and live in Kansas without documentation.
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Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Sanctuary Alliance asks people to call hotline if they spot possible ICE activity in Lawrence
A Lawrence-based collective advocating for immigrant rights is asking people to call their rapid response hotline if they spot any potential ICE activity around town.
‘Do better’: House Democrats castigate majority party for cutting debate short
Republican legislators abruptly cut off debate on a bill that stops people living unlawfully in the country from getting public benefits, passing it out of the House with an amendment the Senate already defeated.
CoreCivic receives Leavenworth planning commission approval in contentious meeting
CoreCivic is a step closer to reopening its private prison in Leavenworth as a lucrative immigration detention center after the city planning commission approved a special use permit over objections from local advocates.
Kansas schools could be required to verify family income for every student receiving free lunch
A proposed bill would require school districts to verify the gross household income of every student who receives free or reduced-price lunches. Federal law requires schools to verify a random sample amounting to 3% of recipients.
Kansas Democrats tout bill requiring ICE to display IDs, shed masks and forego warrantless searches
A coalition of Kansas House Democrats urged passage of a bill requiring ICE agents operating in Kansas to forego warrantless raids, undergo a law enforcement training program and clearly identify themselves in public.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence, Free State high school students hold walkouts to protest ICE
Students walked out of Lawrence and Free State high schools Tuesday to protest ICE. They were joined by middle schoolers, teachers, college students and community members of all ages.
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.
‘America is showing its dark underbelly’: Protesters condemn ICE in rally at Kansas Statehouse
Hundreds of Kansans chanted “f*** ICE,” carried pointed and sometimes profane signs, and sang protest songs Wednesday as they flooded the second floor of the Statehouse to rally for human rights.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence protesters speak out against fatal ICE shooting, immigration policy
Peaceful protesters congregated Sunday afternoon in downtown Lawrence to denounce American immigration policy, prior to and during the Trump administration, in the wake of an ICE agent fatally shooting a woman in Minneapolis.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
KU’s living library of fungi, key to restoration and sustainability, threatened by shrinking federal funds
For a team of researchers at KU, fungal doomsday looks less like parasitic mushrooms transforming people into zombies, and more like the loss of a fungi collection that serves as a major global resource for sustainability and restoration.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Sanctuary Alliance to hold solidarity demonstration in downtown Lawrence
Sanctuary Alliance will hold a solidarity demonstration Sunday in downtown Lawrence in the wake of an ICE officer’s fatal shooting of a woman in Minnesota Wednesday morning.
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 tribe fires business leaders for accepting $30 million ICE detention center contract
The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation has fired senior leaders of its tribally owned business for accepting a nearly $30 million deal to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
CoreCivic changes course and will ask Leavenworth for permit to house ICE detainees
Private prison company CoreCivic has applied for a permit to hold immigration detainees at its dormant Leavenworth facility, the city said on Monday.
Kansas governor says ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ could cost state $150 million or more
The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is expected to cost Kansas at least $150 million as provisions cutting health care programs go into effect, Gov. Laura Kelly said in an interview with Kansas Reflector.
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