Kansas
Kansas attorney general sues to prevent transgender people from changing driver’s licenses
TOPEKA, Kan. — The Republican attorney general of Kansas sued Friday to block transgender residents from changing their sex on their driver’s licenses and to rebuke the Democratic governor for defying his interpretation of a new law.
Attorney General Kris Kobach went to a state court in hopes of getting an order to stop Gov. Laura Kelly and agencies under her control to stop allowing the changes to transgender people’s licenses. Kobach contends a law that took effect Saturday prevents such changes and requires the state to reverse any previous changes in its records, including about 1,300 made over the past four years.
The new law defines a person’s sex as male or female, based on the “biological reproductive system” identified at birth, applying that definition to any state law or regulation. It also says that “important governmental objectives” of protecting people’s privacy, health and safety justify single-sex spaces such as bathrooms and locker rooms. Kansas is among at least 10 states with a law against transgender people using facilities in line with their gender identities, though the new law includes no enforcement mechanism.
But Kelly’s office announced last week that the state health department, which handles birth certificates, and the motor vehicle division, which issues driver’s licenses, will continue allowing transgender people to change the markers for sex on those documents. Her office said lawyers in her administration had concluded that doing so doesn’t violate the new law. Kelly is a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and vetoed the measure, but the Republican-controlled Legislature overrode her.
In response to that announcement, Kobach said, “She is violating her oath of office to uphold Kansas law.”
The lawsuit filed Friday names as defendants two officials who oversee driver’s licenses. Part of the lawsuit reads: “The Governor cannot pick and choose which laws she will enforce and which laws she will ignore.”
His lawsuit seeks to force the governor to enforce the law as he sees it but did not request to stop changes to birth certificates. The rationale for restricting the lawsuit to driver’s licenses wasn’t immediately clear, nor was it clear how quickly the district court in Shawnee County, home to the state capital, Topeka, would deal with the case. Judges have the option of sending the lawsuit to a trial court to do fact-finding, which could delay a resolution for months.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly speaks during a rally for teachers and education funding, April 25, 2023, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kansas. The Democratic governor declared Thursday, June 29, that the state will keep allowing transgender residents to alter their driver’s licenses and birth certificates, despite a new law aimed at preventing it. Credit: AP/John Hanna
The new Kansas law was among a raft of measures rolling back transgender rights enacted this year in statehouses across the U.S. But only a few states do not allow transgender people to change their birth certificates. Federal judges last month upheld policies in Oklahoma and Tennessee, and a no-changes rule in Montana is expected to face a legal challenge.
Kelly won her first term as governor in 2018 by defeating Kobach, then the Kansas secretary of state. He staged a political comeback last year by winning the attorney general’s race as she captured a second term, both of them by slim margins.
The governor’s statements about the new law are at odds with descriptions from LGBTQ+ rights advocates before the Republican-controlled Legislature enacted it over Kelly’s veto. The advocates predicted that it would prevent transgender people from changing their driver’s licenses and amounted to a legal “erasure” of their identities, something Kobach confirmed as the intent when he issued his legal opinion.
“For me to go into a bathroom and not have a marker that represents who I am, I was terrified. I was afraid I was going to get accosted or harassed,” said Ty Goeke, a 37-year-old transgender Topeka resident who changed both his birth certificate and driver’s license last month.
This image from the Kansas Department of Revenue shows a sample driver’s license issued by the state’s Division of Vehicles, first produced in June 2021. A new Kansas law will prevent transgender people from changing the listing for their sex on the license to match their gender identities. Credit: AP
Goeke participated in a transgender rights rally last week with his wife, Mallory, who carried a sign made from a toilet seat, calling for the new law to be “flushed.” Ty Goeke said he sobbed with joy in a state health department office when he changed his birth certificate.
“Now that I have the correct marker, I feel much better, feel more confident,” he said. “I feel at ease with myself.”
The legal wrangling is complicated by a federal lawsuit filed in 2018 against Kansas health department officials by four transgender residents over a previous no-changes policy on birth certificates imposed under a Republican governor. That policy also hindered changes in driver’s licenses.
Kelly settled the federal lawsuit months after taking office in January 2019, and a federal judge issued an order to enforce the settlement that requires the state to allow birth certificate changes. The order remains in effect.
Kobach has asked the federal judge to rescind his order but argues that the new state law supersedes it. Others disagree.
Kansas
'We'll prevail again this year': Kansas City illuminates City Hall Menorah, celebrating Hanukkah
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas alongside local Jewish leaders Thursday night illuminated the City Hall Menorah to celebrate Hanukkah.
“We are reminded that we all have beloved traditions and even share cultural themes and values in common,” said Neta Meltzer, the interim executive director for the American Jewish Committee. “We all share this community and each of our thriving is tied to, and dependent on the thriving of others.”
Jack McCormick/KSHB
Across the globe, 15.7 million Jews are celebrating Hanukkah, known as the “Festival of Lights.” In Hebrew, Hanukkah translates to “dedication.” The holiday commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
In 164 BC, a group of Jewish fighters, Maccabees, at the command of Judah of Maccabees engaged in battle with the Greek army, which captured the city of Jerusalem in 200 BC.
Judah and his fighters took back the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. They attempted to re-light their menorah, a then oil-based candelabra, used in Jewish worship.
The fighters found there was only enough oil to hold light for one day. In a miracle, the menorah remained lit for eight days.
Jews commemorate ancestral efforts in the annual Hanukkah holiday, celebrating freedom from injustice.
Jack McCormick/KSHB
“The Jews have absolutely become a resilient people. Certainly back in the times of Hanukkah but so many different times during our history,” explained Jay Lewis, the president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. “Now today and in the post-October 7th world, there is rising anti-semitism. Our resilience gets tested again and Hanukkah is a good reminder we are resilient, we are a strong people, and we prevailed many times and we’ll prevail again this year.”
Jack McCormick/KSHB
The 2024 Menorah Lighting celebration at Kansas City’s City Hall has only taken place a handful of times. This year, it symbolizes the Jewish community’s presence in the Metro.
“We started it to make sure everybody knew they were welcome, from all faith communities in Kansas City. But certainly for our Jewish sisters and brothers, that you knew you always have a home here at City Hall,” Mayor Lucas told those in attendance.
Jack McCormick/KSHB
For the first time since 2005, the first night of Hanukkah fell on Dec. 25, Christmas Day. Since 1900, the holiday’s first night has fallen on Christmas five times: 1910, 1921, 1959, 2005, and now 2024.
Judaism follows the 354-day-long lunar calendar, following the length of time it takes for the moon to revolve around the sun.
Hanukkah lasts eight nights. The shorter lunar calendar means each year, the holiday starts 11 days earlier and can begin as early as Thanksgiving.
Jack McCormick/KSHB
“It’s a beautiful metaphor that Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa are all right here at the same time. They’re all about light, warmth, and bringing more light into the world. The Jewish community feels totally integrated in the Kansas City Community,” added Lewis. “It’s not this way in every city. In Kansas City, we have multiple religions and cultures that can all be intertwined the way Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah are. The fact we can be inside City Hall having this kind of celebration, I don’t think it gets any better than that.”
Jack McCormick/KSHB
Lewis says Jewish communities have remained safe in history during times of strife through their healthy relationship with elected officials and the government.
Thursday night’s display offered Marcee Levin, an Overland Park native, the chance to become more connected in her hometown.
“I just moved back home after being gone for 40 years,” Levin said. “This ceremony shows strength. Having city hall sponsor this shows the Jewish community in Kansas City is so strong and tight-knit.”
Jack McCormick/KSHB
The first night of Hanukkah was Dec. 25 and the final night is Jan. 2. The 12-foot blue menorah located outside City Hall will illuminate a new candle each night of Hanukkah at 7 p.m.
—
KSHB 41 reporter Ryan Gamboa covers Miami County in Kansas and Cass County in Missouri. Share your story idea with Ryan.
The Kansas State Wildcats decided to switch things up a bit by wearing alternate uniforms for Thursday’s Rate Bowl against Rutgers in Phoenix.
The biggest difference was trading in silver for a white helmet. While most fans liked the look, there were some who weren’t impressed. They felt the Wildcats unis were fine as they were.
Kansas State is going to contend for a Big 12 title next year. Also, they should keep these unis.
— Jay Elliot Coburn (@JayCoburn816) December 26, 2024 I can’t lie, silver to white is pretty much negligible in my eyes, especially from a distance. Glad we let the seniors get what they want but it’s not significant or flashy enough for me to notice from a glance
— ArlynTheAwesome (@ArlynDaAwesome) December 26, 2024
Many were more concerned with the Wildcats’ bad luck wearing new digs. They entered having lost the previous four games in a different uniform. It didn’t help K-State trailed 27-17 at halftime to make more fans dislike the new look.
Kansas State has one of the best uniforms in the sport with the silver pants and helmet. Why would you ever go away from that?
— Adam Drovetta (@ADrovetta) December 26, 2024 The normal home @KStateFB uniforms are so clean. Why would you change the silver to white for the bowl game?!?!
— Shawn Crull (@illini3sc) December 26, 2024
Here are some first-half highlights:
RUTGERS 27 – WILDCATS 17
Rutgers added to their lead with a field goal after picking off Wildcats quarterback Johnson.
RUTGERS 24 – WILDCATS 17
Raymond rushes for another touchdown with a 24-yard run to regain the lead.
RUTGERS 17 – WILDCATS 17
Jayce Brown’s 34-yard rush set up a Dylan Edwards touchdown reception. The offense gets creative utilizing receivers in the run game and the backs coming out the backfield.
RUTGERS 17 – WILDCATS 10
Running back Raymond’s 65-yard run sets up the score by Ja’shon Benjamin.
RUTGERS 10 – WILDCATS 10
The Scarlet Knight failed to capitalize on Ian Strong’s 60-yard reception, and instead have to settle for a field goal to start the second quarter.
RUTGERS 7 – WILDCATS 10
Avery Johnson caps off a Wildcats touchdown drive with a red zone rush. He connected with top receiver Jayce Brown.
RUTGERS 7 – WILDCATS 3
Rutgers running back Antwan Raymond put the Scarlet Knights up 7-3 midway through the first quarter. A few big runs by quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis highlighted the touchdown drive.
Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Kansas State Wildcats On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com
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Kansas
Kansas City Chief’s Hollywood Brown Has A Real Estate Investment Company And Wants to Empower Other Athletes To Invest
The statistics aren’t kind. Eighty percent of pro athletes go broke soon after retiring. Kansas City Chiefs‘ Marquise “Hollywood” Brown will not be among them. Despite NFL stars’ eight-figure contracts, in most cases, their financial literacy does not match their salaries. Brown wants to change that.
“Players often leave their finances up to financial advisers who tend to invest in more traditional avenues, like stocks, because those methods also earn money for the advisers,” Brown told Mansion Global.
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“It hurts, seeing the stories of these guys who end up with nothing,” he said. “It’s a problem within the NFL, specifically for guys like myself who come from a background without a lot of money. We’re not educated on how to handle finances,” Brown, who has earned $25 million during a five-year career, continued.
The Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver, who was first drafted to the NFL in 2019 – first playing for the Arizona Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens before signing with the Chiefs this year – has cofounded Platinum Pro Capital, a private equity real estate firm with his wife, real estate influencer Zoei Brown. The firm has joined Jason Caraway of Island Sky Investments to educate professional athletes on the advantages of luxury real estate investing – in their case – in the Caribbean and other resort areas.
See Also: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today.
According to Bloomberg, the company has backed an oceanfront luxury condo development in the U.S. Virgin Islands, is renovating a resort in Grand Bahama Island and is planning other projects in South Florida and Costa Rica.
Player investors are not urged to buy high-end rental properties from Brown’s company. Rather, they invest in his fund passively for returns on their money and the option to stay in vacation properties for free during the off-season.
“A lot of guys in our field, they like luxurious things, they are drawn to attractive places,” Brown said. “And a lot of us travel in the offseason, so instead of having a traditional house, they are drawn to places that feel like a vacation. That’s appealing to guys. I feel like it creates a sense of unity. So, owning property on Caribbean islands saves money in the long term because that’s where everybody wants to travel in the offseason. It really caught the eye of a lot of people.”
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