Kansas

A transgender professor at Kansas State University is suing for discrimination

Published

8 months ago

May 1, 2025

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A transgender professor at Kansas State University is suing for discrimination

Kansas State University associate professor Harlan Weaver, a transgender man, is suing the university for gender discrimination and retaliation.
Weaver alleges his supervisor, Christie Launius, pressured him to return to work early after a hysterectomy and treated him differently than cisgender colleagues.
He claims Launius created a hostile work environment and retaliated against him after he filed complaints with the university.
Weaver further alleges that Launius and a coworker removed him from a committee crucial for promotion and withheld information about the application process.

A transgender faculty member at Kansas State University alleged the university created a hostile environment and did not provide medical accommodations.

Associate professor Harlan Weaver filed a gender discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against KSU April 28. He is asking for $300,000 in damages, front and back pay including benefits and attorney’s fees.

Weaver was assigned female at birth but identifies as male. He was hired as an associate professor within the Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies Department in August 2015, according to court documents and his personal LinkedIn.

KSU’s communications director Michelle Geering said the university has yet to receive the lawsuit. She also declined to make any further comment stating she “would not comment on active litigation.”

What claims does Harlan Weaver make in his lawsuit against Kansas State University?

In March 2022, Weaver underwent a hysterectomy, which is a surgery to remove a uterus. This procedure requires a post-surgery recovery period of six to eight weeks.

In preparation for the surgery, Weaver claimed he ensured his duties would be covered through the appropriate university channels, according to the lawsuit However, he was then allegedly pressured by his cis gender supervisor and is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, Christie Launius, into coming back to work before recovering. Launius did not immediately respond for comment.

Weaver reported back to work two weeks after his procedure and completed the Spring 2022 semester.

During the Fall 2022 semester, Weaver took a sabbatical and returned in time for the Spring 2023 semester. When he returned he found out that cis gender coworkers who also took a sabbatical were given more leniency and cooperation from Launius, according to court documents.

Weaver raised concerns to the department about the unfair treatment he had received in a department faculty meeting in January 2023 and again in the March 6, 2023 meeting.

On March 23, 2023, Weaver filed a complaint against Launius to the university’s Office of Institutional Equity for the differential treatment. After which, Weaver claims Launius’ demeanor became more negative against him and that Launius refused to acknowledge him on multiple occasions.

On April 17, 2023, the university held a meeting to address “tension” within the department and a co-worker had an aggressive and emotional outburst directed at Weaver stating he should be ashamed for filing a complaint, according to court documents. The co-worker is not named as a defendant in this lawsuit.

Weaver filed a second complaint on June 9, 2023 to the Office of Institutional Equity for the increasingly hostile environment created by Launius and his coworkers. Weaver claims the complaint was not addressed before closing two months later.

During that time, Launius was named interim department head despite Weaver’s objections.

In the Fall 2023 semester Weaver was allegedly the only one told he could no longer speak off topic during department faculty meetings. However, his submissions for discussion points were repeatedly denied by Launius.

During the October department meeting Weaver used the word orgasm, which is used when discussing sex education research. Soon afterwards, a coworker, Susan Rensing, filed a complaint against him for it. Rensing did not immediately respond for comment.

Near the end of October, Launius and Rensing allegedly took Weaver off the Queer Studies Committee without his consent or input, which would impact Weaver’s ability to get full professorship. He then alleged in his lawsuit that Launius withheld information about the full professorship application until after applications were due.

By summer time, Launius and Rensing moved to a different department and we’re no longer in direct contact with Weaver.

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Kansas

Kansas powers through Davidson, securing 10th win of season

Published

18 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Kansas powers through Davidson, securing 10th win of season

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Tre White and Flory Bidunga each had 18 points and eight rebounds as No. 17 Kansas used balanced scoring to beat Davidson 90-61 on Monday night.

Six players finished in double figures for the Jayhawks (10-3), including all five starters. Bryson Tiller added 11 points and Jamari McDowell scored 10. Melvin Council Jr. had 10 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.

Kohl Rosario provided 13 points off the bench as Kansas shot 58% from the field, including 11 for 21 (52%) on 3-pointers. The Jayhawks had 27 assists on 37 baskets and outrebounded Davidson 42-31. White nabbed four of the team’s 13 steals.

Roberts Blums was the only player in double figures for the Wildcats (8-4) with 13 points off the bench. Davidson was limited to 36% shooting from the floor and went 2 for 6 at the free-throw line.

Kansas played its second consecutive game without Darryn Peterson. The freshman star, who missed seven straight games earlier this season due to injury, is averaging 25 points in four games.

But the Jayhawks barely missed him.

Kansas led by 19 before Davidson went on a 10-2 run to trim it to 36-25. The Wildcats hit six straight shots during one stretch, though they never cut the deficit to single digits. When White hit his fourth 3 of the first half, the lead was back up to 46-26.

Kansas went to the locker room with a 51-30 cushion. The Jayhawks were led by White’s 16 points. Bidunga and Council each had 10.

The second half didn’t start much better for Davidson, as the Wildcats were outscored 7-2 in the first 2:51, leading coach Matt McKillup to exhaust his timeouts with 17:09 left.

Kansas wasted no time distancing itself from the overmatched Wildcats. When Bidunga threw down an alley-oop dunk with 13:03 left in the opening half, the Jayhawks already had stretched the lead to 17-6. Davidson didn’t reach double figures until 10:36 remained in the first half.

Up next

Davidson hosts Duquesne on Dec. 30.

Kansas is off until starting Big 12 play Jan. 3 at UCF.

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Kansas

Chiefs expected to announce stadium move from Missouri to Kansas

Published

1 day ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Chiefs expected to announce stadium move from Missouri to Kansas

The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to receive approval to build a new stadium in Kansas.
The new stadium will be located in Wyandotte County and is projected to be ready for the 2031 season.
Plans for the new venue include a roof to allow for year-round events like the Super Bowl or Final Four.

The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to receive the green light to build a new stadium in Kansas, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports, with the official announcement expected later Dec. 22 following a meeting of a key legislative committee.

The person was granted anonymity because the news was not yet official.

The eight-person Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) will vote later Dec. 22, with Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly teasing a “special announcement” for Dec. 22 as well.

The Chiefs have been negotiating with both the governments of Missouri and Kansas regarding their future home. Kansas City has played its home games at Arrowhead Stadium, located on the outskirts of Kansas City, Missouri, since 1972.

The exact location of the new stadium is unknown but the land will be in Wyandotte County, not far from the Kansas Speedway and where Major League Soccer’s Sporting KC is headquartered. The new stadium will be ready for the 2031 season since the team’s current lease at Arrowhead Stadium expires after 2030.

The venue will have a roof to make it a year-round hosting site, with designs on the stadium hosting the biggest events in sports, such as the Final Four or Super Bowl.

According to the Kansas City Star, the state will provide up to 70% of the funding for the stadium. The projected total price tag of the project is $3 billion.

The Chiefs are also moving their training facility to Olathe, Kansas – another suburb of Kansas City. That project does not currently have a timeline.

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Kansas

Kansas Lottery Pick 3, 2 By 2 winning numbers for Dec. 21, 2025

Published

2 days ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

The Kansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 21, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

Midday: 3-5-4

Evening: 8-2-2

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

Red Balls: 06-20, White Balls: 08-25

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

11-24-27-38-46, Lucky Ball: 15

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Kansas Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at select Kansas Lottery offices.

By mail, send a winner claim form and your signed lottery ticket to:

Kansas Lottery Headquarters

128 N Kansas Avenue

Topeka, KS 66603-3638

(785) 296-5700

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a claim form, and deliver the form along with your signed lottery ticket to Kansas Lottery headquarters. 128 N Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603-3638, (785) 296-5700. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Kansas Lottery.

When are the Kansas Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3 Midday/Evening: 1:10 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. CT daily.
2 By 2: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Super Kansas Cash: 9:10 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Kansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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