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.”
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – A former Kansas wrestling coach was charged with creating child sexual abuse materials by secretly recording minors showering during an athletic competition.
According to court documents, 37-year-old Ryan Brungardt of Salina is charged with two counts of production of child pornography and one count of attempted production of child pornography.
Brungardt is a former employee at Lakewood Middle School and former wrestling coach for Salina Central High School.
Brungardt is accused of using a cellphone to record three minors while they showered in a locker room during the Tournament of Champions, a wrestling tournament was held at Newton High in January 2024.
Brungardt made his initial court appearance for the criminal complaint on Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brooks G. Severson.
A detention hearing is scheduled for Monday
Investigators are in the process of reviewing additional seized cellphone videos in this case that are suspected to have been recorded at wrestling meets in Newton, Hays, Garden City and Salina during the 2023-2024 wrestling season.
Anyone who believes they witnessed crimes or any suspicious activity at these events is asked to contact the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (785) 600-8790 or report at www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.
Copyright 2026 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Below is a look at the results from Wednesday night’s high school basketball sub-state semifinals in Northeast Kansas.
Editor’s Note: This story will be updated with what schools are hosting when that information becomes readily available.
WIBW Scoreboard
BOYS
6A Boys West Sub-State: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Topeka High 57, Washburn Rural 50 (will play Maize Saturday)
- Junction City 70, Dodge City 56 (will play Derby Saturday)
- Manhattan 58, Wichita-Northwest 56 (will play Wichita-East Saturday)
4A Boys East Sub-State: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Rock Creek 62, Louisberg 57 (will play Bishop Miege Saturday)
- Atchison 74, Wamego 43
- Hayden 72, Independence 56 (will play Atchison Saturday)
- Eudora 76, Santa Fe Trail 68
GIRLS
5A West Girls: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Hays 80, Topeka West 18
- Eisenhower 55, Seaman 41
- Kapaun Mt. Carmel 71, Emporia 41
5A East Girls: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Shawnee Heights 89, Sumner 15 (will play Pittsburg Saturday)
- Basehor-Linwood 74, Highland Park 28 (will play Piper Saturday)
3A Pomona-West Franklin Girls: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Osage City 75, Columbus 31 (will play Frontenac Saturday)
3A Sabetha Girls: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Silver Lake 48, Nemaha Central 26 (will play Riley County Saturday)
- Riley County 51, Jeff West 40 (will play Silver Lake)
Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Below is a look at the results from Tuesday night’s high school basketball sub-state semifinals in Northeast Kansas.
Editor’s Note: This story will be updated with what schools are hosting when that information becomes readily available.
WIBW Scoreboard
BOYS
5A East Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- KC Washington 68, Highland Park 38
- Shawnee Heights 49, De Soto 37 (will play Leavenworth Friday)
5A West Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Topeka West 55, Hutchinson 32 (will play Bishop Carroll Friday)
- Emporia 61, Great Bend 41 (will play Maize South Friday)
- Seaman 73, Valley Center 51 (will play Hays Friday)
3A West Franklin Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Burlington 60, Osage City 35 (will play Baxter Springs Friday)
3A Sabetha Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Hiawatha 73, Oskaloosa 48 (will play Heritage Christian Friday)
- Silver Lake 58, Sabetha 39 (will play Perry-Lecompton Friday 7:30 p.m.)
GIRLS
6A West Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Washburn Rural 60, Wichita South 32 (will play Derby)
- Topeka High 69, Maize 45 (will play Liberal)
- Manhattan 67, Free State 21 (will play Wichita East)
4A East Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Rock Creek 71, Parsons 23 (will play Tonganoxie)
- Wamego 54, Labette County 33 (will play Bishop Miege)
- Hayden 2, Athison 0 (will play Baldwin)
2A Eskridge/Mission Valley Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results
- Rossville 71, KC Christian 49 (will play Maur Hill-Mount Academy)
- Lyndon 61, Jeff. Co. North 31 (will play Valley Heights)
- Valley Heights 65, Doniphan West 41 (will play Lyndon)
Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.
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