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.
MORE
Kansas Republicans might redistrict to help defeat the state’s only Democrat in Congress
Statehouse Republicans already redrew Democrat Sharice Davids’ district in 2022. They may try again, joining the national gerrymandering battle over the U.S. House of Representatives.
Freedom’s Frontier, preserver of Kansas and Missouri history, spared by release of federal funding
Freedom’s Frontier has received the half-million dollars the federal government held hostage for six months, ensuring the organization can continue for another year to preserve the story of the struggle for freedom through historic sites across Kansas and Missouri.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Haskell maintains high enrollment; interim president says funding for 2025-26 is secure
Haskell Indian Nations University is entering another fall semester with high enrollment. Despite budget concerns, the interim president said federal funding is secure for the year.
Kansas governor, 18 others oppose Trump’s ‘chaotic’ plans for state National Guard
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and more than a dozen other Democratic governors cautioned President Donald Trump against deploying states’ National Guard.
Police records reveal man who sparked investigation into Lenexa official’s immigration status
A 74-year-old certified public accountant’s misunderstanding and subsequent call to the KBI sparked a police inquiry into a Lenexa City Council member’s citizenship, igniting public scrutiny and leading to records requests from local residents.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center rebuilds from crisis
While the Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center began to rebuild from a financial and management crisis six months ago, the community need was growing.
Greg Kramos / USFWS
Kansas lesser prairie chicken loses endangered species act protections after Texas court order
The lesser prairie chicken, a dancing grouse that has long teetered between threatened and endangered classifications, lost its federal protections in court in a victory for Great Plains petroleum and cattle industries.
Kobach asks federal court to boot Kansas governor from lawsuit over federal funding cuts
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach on Thursday asked a federal court to remove Gov. Laura Kelly from a multi-state lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s refusal to release grant money to states.
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.
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