Kansas
Kansas lawmaker urges more protections for Native American children in state welfare system – Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — Rep. Christina Haswood, a Lawrence Democrat and member of the Navajo Nation, wants to solidify indigenous rights in the state’s child welfare system, attempting to reduce inequality in a system long beset by racial and cultural disparities.
Her attempt would implement a state version of the Indian Child Welfare Act. The federal law, passed in 1978, is meant to keep Native American children with Native American families.
The federal act passed in response to Native American children taken from their families and placed in non-indigenous households. Native children are still disproportionately represented in foster care and face long stays in foster care locally and federally.
On a federal level, President Joe Biden’s health administration has set forward a proposed rule change that would require states to provide more data in child welfare cases related to the Indian Child Welfare Act.
Haswood is asking for requirements for custody proceedings involving Native American children. House Bill 2772 would give a child’s Indian tribe jurisdiction over proceedings and require courts to seek placement of a Native American child with the tribe.
Haswood estimated 17 states, including Oklahoma, Colorado and Nebraska, have a state-specific ICWA. The federal ICWA was a response to historical wrongs, such as the federal government’s long-lasting campaign to forcibly remove native children from their homes and assimilate them into white mainstream culture through white adoptive families and boarding schools.
State versions of the act seek to add more protections, especially in the wake of legal challenges to the federal law.
“HB2772’s purpose is not to change much but to make sure ICWA has a home in our state statutes,” Haswood said during a Feb. 19 bill hearing.
“We want to ensure every native child who faces these unfortunate circumstances knows there is a system that is fighting for their right to culture and heritage,” Haswood said.
Other sections of the bill, inspired by Nebraska’s ICWA, would require state courts to declare standards for proceedings involving an Indian child. The state courts also would be required to provide notice of the proceedings.
A 2021 state audit of foster care cases found Native American children were approximately 25% less likely to reunify with their parents and more likely to transfer to another agency than white children. Black and Native American children in Kansas were more likely to reach emancipation age relative to white children in foster care.
The Kansas Department for Children and Families was neutral on HB2772 but emphasized state support of tribal relations.
“DCF recognizes the continuing and compelling governmental interest of sovereign tribal nations in their children,” state testimony read. “The department supports the federal policy underlying ICWA to protect the best interests of Indian children and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and Indian families by establishing minimum federal standards to prevent arbitrary and unnecessary removal of Indian children from their families and tribes.”
Several lawyers disagreed with the legislation, asking for more time and thought to be placed into the matter. Scott Nehrbass, a member of the Cherokee Nation and partner at Foulston Siefkin law firm, said legal efforts are already underway to create a uniform state ICWA.
“Kansas should not go out on a limb and get out ahead of these efforts,” Nehrbass said. “Let the legal experts first do their work and come up with a well-considered and thoroughly vetted piece of uniform legislation for our legislators to adopt, before adding a Kansas state law to the federal ICWA statute and regulations that already occupy this field. We need to avoid conflict with the existing federal ICWA statute, regulations, and case law and not create uncertainty in the law.”
One of the top prospects in the 2027 boys’ high school basketball recruiting class recently trimmed his list of suitors, and the Kansas Jayhawks find themselves firmly in the mix.
KU is one of eight schools to make the cut for 2027 five-star small forward Demarcus Henry, according to On3 National Basketball Reporter Joe Tipton. His list of eight includes some of the best programs in the country: Kansas, Ohio State, Kentucky, North Carolina, BYU, Arkansas, UConn, and Louisville.
The 6-foot-7 Charlotte, North Carolina, native is one of the best players in the 2027 class. He’s currently ranked as the No. 5 player overall and the No. 1 player at his position, according to the most recent On3.com 2027 player rankings.
As a junior this past year at Compass Prep High School in Chandler, Arizona, Henry averaged 15.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game as he helped lead his team to a 25-3 record.
He followed that up with an impressive performance at the NBPA Top 100 camp this summer, leading all attendees in scoring (20.0 points per game) and rebounding (9.3 rebounds per game). He was also a member of the 2026 USA Men’s U18 National Team that earned a silver medal at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup earlier this summer in León, Mexico.
When speaking about his game, Henry mentions his versatility and how he’s developed over the past year.
“I’m just very versatile,” Henry told Rivals in a previous interview. “I can play one through four and just help my teammates and hit shots and play defense. I watch a lot of KD (Kevin Durant) and Paul George. How they score it, and how they could shoot off the dribble, shoot off the catch. I’ve gotten tougher and just more aggressive when I transferred AZ Compass and just being able to get downhill, I feel like that’s really developed for me.”
When asked about what he’s looking for in a potential home at the college level, Henry says he wants to be challenged and grow his game for the NBA.
“What I’m looking for in school is someone that just pushes me to be better,” Henry said. “Help me grow into the person I know I can be and someone who will help me reach my potential. I want to play for a coach that will hold me accountable and help me make me uncomfortable and keep growing and keep getting better and just help me reach the NBA, which is my ultimate goal.”
Early Contenders
Right now the early favorite to land Henry may be the basketball program with the least amount of notoriety of the final eight schools – and that is Ohio State.
Henry has a lot of familial ties to the university as his older brother Chris Henry Jr. is a five-star incoming freshman wide receiver for the Buckeyes football team this year, and his older sister Seini Henry is a talented women’s basketball player at Ohio State.
He’s already taken an unofficial visit to the school and has also taken an unofficial visit to BYU. Thus far, they are the only schools to have received a visit.
Follow
The Royals have been linked to shortstop Jacob Lombard out of Gulliver Prep (Fla.) — if he makes it that far — left-hander Gio Rojas out of Stoneman Douglas (Fla.) HS, outfielder Eric Booth Jr. out of Oak Grove (Fla.) HS, UC Santa Barbara right-hander Jackson Flora and Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress, among others. Maybe they shake up the board and go with Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS left-hander/outfielder Jacob Grindlinger, who is just 17 years old after reclassifying for this year’s Draft and has legitimate upside as a two-way player. Grindlinger is No. 16 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 250 Draft prospects list and is rising on boards as Draft day nears.
Prep players usually mean a lot of upside but with more risk, while college players bring a higher floor and more experience — often with a chance to move quickly. Over the full Draft, the Royals are going to value both.
“There’s a good mix of high school and college,” Bridges said. “To tell you the truth, our range is pretty broad. There’s a clear-cut four players, five players in this Draft, and then believe it or not, where we’re picking, you can go a number of different directions. So we have a pretty good balance of what we’re looking at, both high school and college.”
The Kansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 7, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 7 drawing
02-31-35-36-63, Mega Ball: 12
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 7 drawing
Midday: 4-2-9
Evening: 2-7-9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning 2 By 2 numbers from July 7 drawing
Red Balls: 07-26, White Balls: 12-18
Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 7 drawing
27-43-48-49-50, Bonus: 02
Check Millionaire 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.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
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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