Kansas
Kansas Senate advances bill that'd ban gender-affirming care for minors
![Kansas Senate advances bill that'd ban gender-affirming care for minors Kansas Senate advances bill that'd ban gender-affirming care for minors](https://gray-kwch-prod.gtv-cdn.com/resizer/v2/IIAX7OJMFZLPTLI2QF2X25DI3E.jpg?auth=c1032bc8dc60a795ce1eb2a8d1adf55354e15f28c7c02b79c69bd8a4cf0db0a2&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – The Kansas Senate on Wednesday advanced a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors. After passing the Senate, 32-8, the bill moves to the Kansas House. The “Help Not Harm Act” is similar to proposed legislation that Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed last year. Republicans came up one vote short of overriding that veto, although similar laws have been implemented across the U.S.
The Kansas House and Senate were working on parallel bills and both had hearings on Tuesday. The Republican-sponsored bills would prohibit state funding to gender-affirming care and prohibit healthcare providers from providing care to children including surgery, hormones and puberty blockers.
“Today, a supermajority of the Kansas Senate took a firm stand in support of helping and not harming children by make it clear that transgender ideology and the mutilation of minors is no longer legal in Kansas. The credit for this victory goes to the courageous men and women who have spoken out against the harm these procedures are causing our children,” said Senate President Ty Masterson in a news release from his office that followed the vote.
Ahead of the Senate vote on Tuesday, those for and against the bill had two minutes to make their cases in a Senate hearing. Mother Kristi Khan was among those who spoke against the bill. She said her transgender son died by suicide in 2022 and that the impact of such bills and conversations weigh heavily.
“We’re going to have more children dying because there is no care offered for them,” she said. “This bill is going to make it hard for them to even have the therapists talk to them about gender dysphoria.”
Bill supporters said this is about protecting children, citing concerns about the science of treatments and harm to the body.
“Hopefully this year we have the votes to override. We are one of the last red states to still allow pediatric gender transition,” said bill supporter Susan Cary on Tuesday. “We need to stop it. It’s medical maleficence.”
Masterson said the need for the Help Not Harm Act was evident during Tuesday’s hearing in the Senate Public Health Welfare Committee.
He said “conferees offered compelling testimony demonstrating the devastating, lifelong impact of these procedures.”
Copyright 2025 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Kansas
President’s Day protesters call out Donald Trump and Elon Musk at Kansas Capitol
![President’s Day protesters call out Donald Trump and Elon Musk at Kansas Capitol President’s Day protesters call out Donald Trump and Elon Musk at Kansas Capitol](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2025/02/17/NTCJ/78993835007-20250217-presidents-day-protest-en-15.jpg?auto=webp&crop=5206,2930,x0,y270&format=pjpg&width=1200)
A President’s Day protest converges at Kansas Statehouse
Over 100 protesters gathered for a national President’s Day protest against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka.
- A President’s Day protest at the Kansas Statehouse criticized actions by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
- Protesters expressed concerns about threats to democracy, including attacks on government institutions and the rights of marginalized groups.
- The protest aimed to raise awareness and encourage action against perceived threats to American democracy.
A President’s Day protest at the Kansas Statehouse took issue with President Donald Trump and government efficiency leader Elon Musk’s actions in the federal government.
Christie Peterson, who lives in Oskaloosa and has owned a business in Lawrence, said the rally was part of nationwide protests. She encouraged people to “really pay attention to what is going on.”
“We want the president to follow the law,” Peterson said. “We want the Constitution to be upheld. We want there to be three co-equal branches of government, as our Constitution says.
“So am I anti-Trump, anti-Musk? Sure. But if they were doing everything legally and the way it’s been done since the beginning of our country, then I would still hate the policies, but it wouldn’t be threatening our democracy. What’s happening now is threatening our democracy, and we’re in real danger of losing all of our freedoms that we’re so used to thinking of in America.”
Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen, D-Topeka and a local pastor, told rallygoers that he is a naturalized citizen.
“I was naturalized 50 years ago,” he said. “My grandparents were part of the resistance in Nazi Germany. We came to this country because we were looking for a better place for the future, and I can’t believe that 50 years later I am seeing what I’m seeing here today. But I would be betraying my grandparents if I were not opposed to what’s happening at this particular moment, and I encourage all of you to keep doing what you’re doing.
“This is the greatest assault on American democracy this country has ever seen. It’s happening brazenly. The leadership is rolling over and letting it happen, both on the national and the state level. The people need to rise up now and peacefully be heard.”
He said “oligarchy tendencies” need to be reversed, and there is a “heist on our rights” and government benefits.
Protesters spoke and carried signs opposing Trump, Musk, Project 2025, billionaires and fascism while supporting democracy, civil service employees of the federal government, immigrants, LGBTQ rights and Haskell Indian Nations University.
Mioshia Wagoner, an alum and employee of Haskell, spoke of federal employees losing their jobs, despite treaty obligations.
“I love all of you for being here for us to be able to stand here and say, ‘Hey, this is not right,’” she said. “This is not who we are as a community. We’re supposed to take care of each other, not bring each other down.”
Peterson said she is “horrified about Haskell losing 30% of their staff.”
“Unfortunately, our our country is going toward fascism,” said Christy Desti, a protester from Prairie Village. “Germany’s warning us; everyone’s warning us. Nazis are bad. It’s a scary time. I never thought I’d see anything like this. It happens slow. It’s under our nose, but it’s clear. It’s happening, and we have to gather, we have to do something. We have so much at stake for everyone. I’ve never even been political in my life, but we don’t have a choice.
She teared up as she said she is scared and disheartened.
“A lot of people are scared about what’s happening, and people feel helpless,” Desti said. “So I don’t know that this is the most effective thing, but it’s the thing I’m going to do, because it feels better than doing nothing.”
What Kansas politicians said about President’s Day
As protesters marched outside the Statehouse, several Kansas politicians made social media posts about President’s Day.
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, posted: “On Presidents’ Day, we recognize the service and sacrifice made by our nation’s presidents. Kansas’ own President Eisenhower left a lasting legacy on Kansas and the nation serving as both President of the United States and the Supreme Allied Commander in World War II.”
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, posted: “Happy Presidents’ Day! I’m grateful for the remarkable presidents who have gone before us — including Kansas’ own President Eisenhower — and President Trump. Strong leadership matters.”
U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt, R-Kansas, posted: “Wishing you a Happy Presidents’ Day! (And happy birthday to you, George Washington!)”
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, posted: “I’ve always said I’ll work with any administration when it benefits Kansas. But I’ll also stand strong against extreme policies that threaten our state’s future. That’s my promise to you this #PresidentsDay — putting Kansas first, always.”
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly: “This Presidents’ Day, we reflect on the past and present leaders who have shaped the United States. Let’s continue to work together and strive for the greater good of Kansas and our nation.”
Republican Secretary of State Scott Schwab: “It’s on days like #PresidentsDay2025 when you realize how young of a country America is — and we’re only forty-seven presidents in. America has a bright future ahead with @POTUS. Happy Presidents’ Day.”
House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, posted: “Today we honor our past presidents and their service to America, the greatest country on earth. Happy Presidents’ Day!”
House Majority Leader Chris Croft, R-Overland Park, posted: “Today, we honor the leaders who have shaped the greatest nation on earth, from its founding to the present. Happy President’s Day!”
Evert Nelson of The Capital-Journal contributed reporting.
Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.
Kansas
Bill Self takes Kansas’ loss to Utah personal: “I’ve obviously done a s— job’
![Bill Self takes Kansas’ loss to Utah personal: “I’ve obviously done a s— job’ Bill Self takes Kansas’ loss to Utah personal: “I’ve obviously done a s— job’](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2879,h_1619,x_0,y_227/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/all_utes/01jm8y8hmem0cdpw36ew.jpg)
Kansas head coach Bill Self didn’t mince words after his team’s frustrating 74-67 loss to Utah on Saturday night in Salt Lake City.
The Jayhawks never led at any point in the game, marking a troubling trend for a team that has now lost four of its last seven contests. Self, in his 22nd season at the helm, took responsibility for Kansas’ struggles, admitting, “I’ve obviously done a s*** job getting these guys to understand the way we have to play in order to give us a chance to win.”
“We were awful,” Self said in his postgame radio interview. “They killed us on the glass, and they killed us off of our turnovers and then, of course, we didn’t create much havoc ourselves at all. So it was tough.”
Kansas (17-8, 8-6 Big 12) struggled from the start, falling behind 10-3 early after a highlight-reel alley-oop dunk by Utah’s Ezra Ausar. The Jayhawks clawed their way back, tying the game at 32-32 late in the first half before Utah entered the break with a narrow 39-37 advantage. However, the Utes came out strong in the second half, pushing their lead to 11 points with just under 12 minutes remaining.
The Jayhawks showed resilience, using an 11-0 run to tie the game at 60-60 with 4:31 to play. However, Utah responded immediately, going on a 7-0 run punctuated by a step-back three-pointer from Gabe Madsen. That shot not only gave Utah a cushion but also etched Madsen’s name into school history as the program’s all-time leader in made three-pointers.
Kansas struggled on the boards, getting out-rebounded 42-32, including a 16-6 deficit in offensive rebounds. Turnovers also proved costly, as the Jayhawks committed 12 while Utah had just seven. Those mistakes led to a 22-7 advantage in points off turnovers for the Utes, a major factor in the outcome.
Madsen led all scorers with 24 points, including five three-pointers. Ausar added 12 points and eight rebounds, while Jake Wahlin secured his first career double-double with 10 points and 12 boards. Utah (14-11, 6-8 Big 12) snapped a four-game losing streak against No. 17-ranked opponents and earned its first home victory over a ranked conference foe since 2022.
Kansas will need to regroup quickly as it fights to stay in contention in the Big 12, while Utah prepares for a quick turnaround against Kansas State on Monday night.
Kansas
Inside Kansas basketball’s latest road disappointment, a loss against Utah in Big 12 play
![Inside Kansas basketball’s latest road disappointment, a loss against Utah in Big 12 play Inside Kansas basketball’s latest road disappointment, a loss against Utah in Big 12 play](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2025/02/16/NCDT/78809955007-usatsi-25430473.jpg?auto=webp&crop=3741,2104,x0,y0&format=pjpg&width=1200)
This isn’t where Kansas basketball is supposed to be.
The Jayhawks entered this season as one of the favorites to win not just a Big 12 Conference title, but a national championship. In fact, they were the preseason No. 1 team in the country. They entered the campaign with an enviable collection of returning veterans, and added quite a bit of talent to that group through the transfer portal and elsewhere.
But on Saturday, after a road game against Utah, No. 20 Kansas is having to grapple with a 74-67 defeat that could have been a win had it executed better late. It’s a loss that both forces the Jayhawks (17-8, 8-6 in Big 12) to deal with the reality that they are not just drifting away from relevance in the Big 12 regular season title race, but dropping down in where they could be seeded in both the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments. Utah (14-11, 6-8 in Big 12) became the latest team to force an analysis of where Kansas should stand in the national landscape.
“We were awful,” Kansas coach Bill Self said on the Varsity Network postgame show. “They played really well early, and then of course we didn’t have any answers for them defensively. And obviously it was, I mean — people that are listening probably watched it. So, we didn’t do very well. And then we had the game tied and they beat us on every toughness play down the stretch.”
To call this loss for Kansas a stunning moment would be an understatement, because it came in a stretch in which the Jayhawks were supposed to put together multiple victories due to an advantageous schedule. For all of the issues of consistency KU dealt with in recent weeks, there seemed to be a realization of what needed to happen next ahead of the current road trip. Whatever was said during the discussions that were had about what should happen next, the message clearly did not get across and the team never led in this game.
It seems unlikely at this point that Kansas will be ranked in the top 25 by the time the team plays again on Tuesday, on the road against BYU. It seems unlikely the Jayhawks will be favored to beat BYU either, which would have been a surprising thought some weeks ago. If soul-searching is the accurate way to describe what’s going on in the locker room at this point, that search better find its answers quickly.
On Saturday against Utah, Kansas couldn’t overcome forward KJ Adams fouling out late in a close game. The Jayhawks couldn’t overcome an uncommon offensive performance from center Hunter Dickinson, who still nearly led his team in scoring — collecting 12 points on 4-for-12 shooting from the field and 3-for-4 shooting from the free-throw line. It wasn’t just that guard Rylan Griffen had another quiet performance, it was that when KU went to its bench it didn’t get much beyond him either.
Kansas is 0-3 in its last three Big 12 road games, with each one, stretching to defeats at Kansas State and Baylor, coming by their own disappointing reasons. The Jayhawks were lackluster when it came to turning the ball over and allowing offensive rebounds. Kansas turned the ball over 12 times and allowed 22 points off of that, while scoring just seven points off of seven Utah turnovers, and allowed 14 second chance points off of 16 Utah offensive rebounds while scoring only nine points off of its own six offensive rebounds.
“I’ve obviously done a (expletive) job getting these guys to understand the way we have to play in order to give us a chance to win,” said Self, who described the team as frustrated and not being ready to play when the game began. “We left a lot of points on the board, especially in the first half, and then catching the ball in tight and not delivering. But even with all that being said, we still had a chance to win on the road and didn’t close. So, that is — that’s disappointing. And certainly we’re going to stay out here three more days and we need to — I’m tired of regrouping. We don’t need to regroup. What we need to do is basically be men as an entire organization and go out and do what our job is to do and accept responsibility for everybody — players, coaches, everybody — when we don’t do it well.”
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
-
Politics1 week ago
Trump removes Antony Blinken, Letitia James, Alvin Bragg's security clearances among others
-
World1 week ago
Israeli air strike kills 6 in eastern Lebanon amid fragile ceasefire
-
News1 week ago
Motley Crue lead singer Vince Neil's plane rams into parked jet at Arizona's Scottsdale Airport – The Times of India
-
Culture1 week ago
Inside the Chiefs’ top 10 postseason blitzes unleashed by Steve Spagnuolo
-
Health1 week ago
A Swearing Expert Discusses the State of Profanity
-
Politics1 week ago
‘Put down the bong’: Senator smokes UK prime minister on Senate floor
-
Politics7 days ago
USAID inspector general fired days after publishing report critical of aid pause
-
World1 week ago
Russian city's mayor says over 70 flats damaged in Ukrainian attack