KS - March 14 2025
Feds probe KU; Kansas schools cut DEI content; Lawmakers vote for child support at conception; K-State ends ag research; USDA cuts Kansas produce food aid; Storm threatens wind, fire; KU, KSU Big 12 runs over
KU Faces Federal Probe Over Race-Exclusionary Graduate Practices As Kansas Universities Strip DEI Content Amid Funding Threats
Kansas Lawmakers Pass Child Support From Conception Bill
K-State Halts Ag Research After DOGE Cuts USAID Funds and USDA Slashes $10.6 Million for Kansas Local Produce
Powerful System Brings High Winds, Fire Danger to Kansas
Big 12 Tournament Roundup: Arizona Ends Kansas' Run After Overtime Thriller, KSU Also Out
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KU Faces Federal Probe Over Race-Exclusionary Graduate Practices As Kansas Universities Strip DEI Content Amid Funding Threats
A. The University of Kansas is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education for allegedly engaging in “race-exclusionary practices” in its graduate programs. The Education Department’s Office For Civil Rights named KU along with 44 other universities in a Friday news release announcing the opening of investigations into schools that partnered with The Ph.D. Project, an organization that aims to encourage students from diverse backgrounds to pursue doctoral degrees. The launch of the investigation comes exactly a month after the civil rights office sent a letter to schools directing them to “end the use of racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities” in accordance with a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down affirmative action in college admissions.
Source: Kansas City Star
B. Kansas universities have removed pages from their websites that contain information about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The federal Department of Education told schools they must take the language down or lose out on vital funding. The Department of Education sent a letter to federally funded schools instructing them to remove any DEI language from their websites. This change affects not only colleges and universities but also public schools.
Source: KWCH
Kansas Lawmakers Pass Child Support From Conception Bill
The Kansas Legislature passed a bill requiring child support payments from the date of conception, including medical and pregnancy-related expenses. Democrats argue the bill is a veiled attempt to grant "fetal personhood" and oppose the lack of clarity on defining pregnancy-related expenses. The bill, passed with a veto-proof majority, is expected to become law, unlike a similar attempt last year. An amendment seeks to extend tax exemptions for dependents to include unborn children.
Source: Topeka Capital-Journal
K-State Halts Ag Research After DOGE Cuts USAID Funds and USDA Slashes $10.6 Million for Kansas Local Produce
A. The federal government has ordered Kansas State University to stop working on agricultural research grants valued at up to $137 million that was funded by the United State's now-defunct foreign aid agency. K-State announced Friday that it will suspend the operation of two agricultural research labs next month.
Source: Topeka Capital-Journal
B. President Donald Trump's administration has cut more than $10 million in federal funding that would have been used to buy fresh produce from local farmers to be used in Kansas schools and food banks. The U.S. Department of Agriculture cut over $1 billion nationwide from the two programs, USA TODAY reported. Kansas government officials told The Capital-Journal that the state had expected to receive about $10.6 million combined from the programs.
Source: Topeka Capital-Journal
Powerful System Brings High Winds, Fire Danger to Kansas
A. Meteorologist Adrian Campa says a potent storm system will continue to sweep across the state this afternoon. While a few rain showers are expected over western and northern Kansas, the far bigger weather story will be the wind and fire danger. Wind gusts between 45 and 65 mph and low humidity will create critical to extreme fire weather concerns, potentially catastrophic if a fire can start, areas of wind damage, and possible power outages. After warming into the lower 80s on Thursday, for the first time since last October, today will be noticeably cooler with highs in the upper 60s and lower 70s. Saturday promises to be even cooler with high temperatures mostly in the 50s. A big warm-up is expected early next week. Highs in the 60s and 70s on Sunday will be followed by highs in the 80s on Monday and Tuesday as stronger winds from the south come back to the state. Looking ahead… another powerful storm system will sweep across Kansas on Wednesday. While the bigger story will be another intense wind event, rain and snow chances are climbing, especially across central and western Kansas.
Source: KWCH
B. The National Weather Service said widespread power outages were expected in an area including Topeka for which it issued high wind warnings early Friday morning lasting from noon to 7 p.m. Friday. A few isolated to scattered thunderstorms, which could quickly become strong and possibly severe, were expected Friday over the far northeast and far east-central parts of the state, forecasters said. They said high winds were expected to be the biggest threat from those storms, with hail also being possible if storms were slow to exit the area.
Source: Topeka Capital-Journal
Big 12 Tournament Roundup: Arizona Ends Kansas' Run After Overtime Thriller, KSU Also Out
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Big 12 Tournament provided basketball fans with dramatic moments as Kansas' journey ended Thursday night when Henri Veesaar and KJ Lewis each scored 19 points to lead Arizona to an 88-77 quarterfinal victory at T-Mobile Center. The Jayhawks had advanced to face Arizona following a nail-biting 98-94 overtime thriller against UCF the previous night, but couldn't maintain momentum against the Wildcats' late-game surge. Meanwhile, tenth-seeded Kansas State saw its tournament run conclude after Coleman Hawkins' season-high 26 points helped the Wildcats overcome Arizona State 71-66 in Tuesday's opening round, only to fall to seventh-seeded Baylor 70-56 on Wednesday as VJ Edgecombe (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Norchad Omier (12 points, 14 rebounds) dominated the glass for the Bears.
Source: Citizen Journal
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Sources
- https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article302080489.html (Kansas City Star)
- https://www.kwch.com/2025/03/13/kansas-universities-remove-dei-content-amid-federal-funding-threats/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=organicclicks&tbref=hp (KWCH)
- https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/state/2025/03/14/kansas-lawmakers-pass-child-support-at-conception-include-tax-credits/82265981007/ (Topeka Capital-Journal)
- https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2025/03/14/doge-ends-usaid-ag-researckansas-state-university-ordered-to-stop-usaid-funded-agricultural-research/82379123007/ (Topeka Capital-Journal)
- https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2025/03/14/usda-cuts-kansas-funding-for-local-farm-produce-at-schools-food-banks/82339033007/ (Topeka Capital-Journal)
- https://www.kwch.com/2025/03/14/weather-alert-extreme-wind-fire-weather-today/ (KWCH)
- https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/state/2025/03/14/high-wind-red-flag-warnings-issued-friday-for-area-including-topeka/82401510007/ (Topeka Capital-Journal)
- Citizen Journal