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 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.
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.
MORE
ICE detention center in Leavenworth is hiring despite months of legal limbo
Seemingly undeterred by legal setbacks, private prison company CoreCivic is on a hiring spree to staff a Leavenworth detention center and showing every sign that it intends to fulfill its contract with ICE.
Kansas Bureau of Investigation deleted voicemail that sparked inquiry into Lenexa leader’s citizenship
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation deleted the voicemail that prompted a police inquiry into the citizenship of a Lenexa City Council member, the bureau’s legal department says.
Police investigate a Kansas city council member’s citizenship after a complaint left via voicemail
Lenexa City Councilmember Melanie Arroyo revealed that police had recently investigated her citizenship status and required her to prove her citizenship after a false allegation made in a voicemail.
Housing progress in Kansas may slow with state, federal cuts to programs
The housing industry in Kansas faces a rollback of funding on the state and federal levels, rising building costs, inflation and tariffs, which could affect the progress made to address a dire need for housing in communities across the state.
Kansas governor joins lawsuit against Trump administration for federal funding losses
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly joined 22 other states and Washington, D.C., in suing the Trump administration for terminating federal funding, which she said has led to cuts to state agriculture, health and safety programs “on a whim.”
Federal Leavenworth prison modifies conditions for migrants after letters reveal squalor
Problems linger in a Kansas federal prison holding immigrant detainees, even after altering some practices that a coalition of lawyers, civil rights groups and advocates revealed were harmful to those inside.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence immigration advocacy organizations to host community training
Sanctuary Alliance and Somos Lawrence will host a training and educational session to prepare community members in the case of federal immigration enforcement activity in Lawrence.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Just Food is stretched thin addressing food insecurity in Lawrence; new federal law will likely make it worse
Impending federal cuts to food assistance under Trump’s recently passed economic bill threaten to stretch the capacities of Just Food, which is already seeing a spike in the number of residents registering for its services.
Kansas could lose millions after Congress cut SNAP funds. Thousands may go hungry
State lawmakers must soon decide whether to cover extra costs to provide food assistance after federal cuts. If they don’t, food banks and pantries alone can’t make up the difference.
Federal energy policy u-turn, planned gas plants put Kansans at risk, expert says
The future of green energy is challenged almost daily by federal decisions that affect the Kansas utility industry, according to an environmentalist who has spent most of her career focused on practical solutions to climate and energy challenges.
Federal education grants unfrozen; $468K will flow to Lawrence Public Schools
Hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal education grants will resume flowing to Lawrence Public Schools following a reversal of a previous Trump administration decision to freeze the grants.
ICE Out of Kansas sticker fundraiser to pop up at Espurresso Cat Cafe
An ongoing sticker fundraiser to benefit immigrants affected by ICE raids will hold an in-person pop-up at Espurresso Cat Cafe this weekend.
Nathan Kramer
In final push to boot DEI initiatives, KU tells employees to remove pronouns from email signatures
KU has eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion positions and programs and is directing employees to remove gender-identifying pronouns from their email signatures before the end of the month in response to state legislation.
KPR Staff/Contributed photo
KPR launches emergency fundraising campaign in wake of federal funding cut
Congress has voted to claw back $1.1 billion of already-approved federal funding for public broadcasting nationwide, and the action will “have an immediate impact” on Kansas Public Radio, according to the station.
Democratic governors demand Trump administration release $6.8 billion in education funds
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and 17 other democratic governors signed a letter addressed to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, demanding the relinquishment of nearly $7 billion in school funds.
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