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.
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Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Haskell, KU student researchers present their work at annual symposium
Student scientists in now-defunded KU and Haskell programs showcased their work Thursday, sharing research ranging from depression treatments for veterans and proteins’ impact on tumor cells to gene mutations, behavior of prairie voles and more.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Federal cuts raise challenges for Watkins Museum, Humanities Kansas
A $250,000 grant for the Watkins Museum to expand exhibits on local Indigenous history is in limbo and a Lawrence event honoring veterans will be canceled amid federal cuts to humanities programs.
Timeline to release point-in-time count of people experiencing homelessness is unclear
The timeline for processing this year’s final point-in-time count data — the annual count of people experiencing homelessness — is unclear because of chaos at the federal level, and the work may fall on local agencies to complete.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
False alarm: ICE is not accosting people at Lawrence Dillons
A social media post spread rapidly Tuesday about an alleged encounter with immigration agents in a Lawrence grocery store parking lot, but the incident never occurred.
Students in defunded Haskell, KU programs prepare to present their research projects
Student researchers in programs at Haskell and KU have been hard at work preparing for the yearly symposium that showcases their work. It’s coming up Thursday — a week to the day after the program director learned their federal grants had been cut without notice.
Some Kansans may lose free help enrolling in insurance because of federal funding cuts
Navigators help people enroll in Medicaid and insurance on the federal marketplace. Federal funding cuts by the Trump administration mean Kansas will have fewer navigators.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Haskell’s spring powwow celebrates resilience
Haskell Indian Nations University celebrated the campus community’s resilience with their spring powwow Saturday night.
Mark Potts/Lawrence Times
Lawrence community members rally, joining nationwide ‘Hands Off!’ protests
Hundreds of Lawrence community members gathered at Ninth and Massachusetts Saturday as part of a nationwide movement directing Trump and Musk to take their “hands off” many facets of Americans’ lives.
Federal grants cut for programs supporting Haskell, KU student researchers
Federal funding for KU programs that enable Haskell and KU students to conduct scientific research, further their studies and launch their careers has suddenly been terminated.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Just Food facing major cut in food, seeking community support
Because of federal cuts to food assistance, Just Food, the Douglas County food bank, will receive about 30% less food over the next few months for a program that feeds more than 5,500 local people.
Kansas’ federal delegation, public invited to virtual town hall
Kansans and the Congressional delegation representing them in Washington, D.C., are invited to a town hall webinar Monday on how federal policy changes are impacting Kansans.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence cuts some employees, facing potential $1M shortfall
The Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, facing a budget shortfall that could rise to more than $1 million, has eliminated several positions, the organization announced. Current programs and services will continue as normal, however.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
More Haskell staff members to be reinstated
Several more of the Haskell Indian Nations University employees who were cut under federal orders last month will now be reinstated, according to an update from the university president.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Watkins Museum, Lawrence library directors discuss potential fallout from federal order
Much is still unknown about how a recent executive order targeting the federal agency known as IMLS will ultimately impact Lawrence’s museums and libraries, but the stakes are high.
Leavenworth city leaders say CoreCivic needs permission to open immigration detention center
The Leavenworth City Commission voted unanimously on Tuesday for a resolution that says a private prison operator must get permission before reopening its facility in the city, rebuking the for-profit company’s plan to work with ICE.
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