Kansas
President’s Day protesters call out Donald Trump and Elon Musk at Kansas Capitol
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 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.
The Detroit Tigers were beaten by the Kansas City Royals 5-1 on Saturday night.
Michael Wacha pitched seven scoreless innings, Bobby Witt Jr. hit an inside-the-park home run on a grounder and Michael Massey had a three-run homer for the Royals, who will go for the series sweep on Sunday night.
Witt hit the ball down the right-field line in the first inning that bounced off the wall and eluded right fielder Kerry Carpenter. Witt motored around the bases and beat the relay throw to the plate for a two-run homer.
It was the Royals’ first inside-the-park home run since Witt did it in August 2023.
Carpenter left the game later with left shoulder soreness.
Wacha (4-2) gave up two hits, walked two and struck out six. It was his longest scoreless outing since throwing eight scoreless innings against the Chicago White Sox on April 11.
Burch Smith (0-2) took the loss. He retired only one of the four batters he faced, allowing two runs on three hits in one-third of an inning.
Massey’s homer in the fourth inning came with runners on first and third with two outs. He lined the ball over the right-center field fence for his third homer of the season.
Wacha had at least one strikeout in each of his first four innings. The Tigers loaded the bases in the fifth on a double, a walk and a hit batter, but Wacha got Matt Vierling to ground out to end the inning.
The Tigers scored in the eighth on a two-out double by Riley Greene.
Up next
The teams conclude the three-game series Sunday. The Tigers have not announced a starter, though manager AJ Hinch said it will be a bullpen game. Kansas City will send LHP Noah Cameron (2-2, 5.40 ERA) to the mound.
Bullet point summary by AI
- The Chiefs are exploring long-term solutions at tight end beyond Travis Kelce’s expected 2026 retirement.
- One potential move involves targeting a veteran player from a team transitioning to a new starter at the position.
- The deal’s structure hinges on future playoff performance, creating a high-stakes incentive for both franchises.
While the 2026 draft is just in the books, it’s never too early to start thinking about the 2027 season — and if there’s one team that’s already looking that far ahead, it’s the Kansas City Chiefs.
Star tight end Travis Kelce is almost certainly retiring after the 2026 campaign despite an inflated new deal, and looking at the Chiefs’ depth chart, backup Noah Gray is not starting-caliber material. You could argue the team can scout for star talent in next year’s draft, but that would come with significant risk and opportunity cost if a prospect isn’t immediately NFL-ready.
Instead, there’s a potential solution general manager Brett Veach can utilize by acquiring an excess asset from another team.
This Chiefs-Bears trade solves Kansas City’s Travis Kelce problem
The Chicago Bears are clearly moving forward with 2025 first-round pick Colston Loveland as their TE1, in addition to taking blocking specialist Sam Roush out of Stanford in this year’s draft. All of which leaves backup — and previous starter — Cole Kmet on the outside looking in. The 27-year-old still has a lot of high-quality football left to play, and he’d certainly sign off on the opportunity to get starting snaps for a team with a championship window still wide open.
The problem is going to be convincing Chicago to pick up the phone in the first place. Kmet signed a restructured deal in April which disincentivizes the Bears from moving him until next year. A pre-June 1 deal would cost Chicago $4.1 million against the salary cap, while any swap after that date only saves the team $1.4 million.
So, with the present season not really an option, these two teams would need to be negotiating with next year in mind as Kmet is projected to cost the Bears $15.4 million against the cap in 2027. That’s the incentive Chicago needs to move him.
At the moment, Kmet is worth a conditional 2027 fifth-round pick — which may sound cheap, but the devil is in the details. Chicago will certainly dictate that an escalator be attached to the pick: For example, if Kansas City misses the playoffs in 2027, then it remains a fifth-rounder but may be deferred until 2028. If they qualify for the postseason then it could stay in 2027. A championship could push it up a round or two (though that would be a tough sell for the Chiefs).
Kmet has topped 500 receiving yards in three of his six seasons in Chicago, so there’s a good reason for Kansas City to inquire about his availability. The Bears, in turn, used a third-round pick to select Stanford’s Sam Roush – signaling they too are preparing for Kmet’s eventual departure.
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Stormont Vail Healthcare is in a legal battle with the state government, alleging the Medicaid program was wrong to refuse payment for the hospitalization of a pregnant patient with complications.
At issue is a disagreement between the Topeka hospital and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment over whether inpatient health care services were medically necessary for the Medicaid patient’s last two weeks of pregnancy.
The Kansas Court of Appeals did not resolve that dispute, but it did side with Stormont Vail in a May 8 decision. The unanimous three-judge panel reversed a decision by Shawnee County District Court Judge Thomas Luedke and vacated an order from KDHE’s State Appeals Committee. The matter now goes back to the appeals committee for reconsideration.
The appellate panel was comprised of Judges Jacy Hurst, Thomas Malone and Stephen Hill, which heard oral arguments on Aug. 5. Hurst wrote the court’s opinion.
The lawsuit stems from a 2018 case of a pregnant patient, who is not named in appellate court documents. She was 28 years old at the time and had an intellectual disability among other complications, including rapid weight loss caused by hyperemesis gravidarum.
The woman was originally admitted at Newman Regional Health in Emporia before she was transferred to Stormont Vail. Part of the hospitalization during her third trimester was covered.
But the final two weeks were not because Sunflower Health Plan, one of the managed care organizations in the state’s privatized Medicaid program known as KanCare, refused to reimburse for the patient’s continued hospitalization through the day the child was born via cesarean section.
“We are here because the Kansas Medicaid program has wrongfully refused to pay for some of an inpatient hospitalization while a Medicaid beneficiary was at Stormont Vail,” said Amanda Wilwert, an attorney for the hospital, during oral arguments. “Stormont believes the inpatient care was medically necessary as defined by the Kansas Medicaid regulations.”
Court records and oral arguments show the state expected Stormont Vail to look into having a home health agency care for the patient in Emporia instead of continued hospitalization — even though home health generally does not take care of pregnant patients and her doctors believed the expectant mother was not stable enough to discharge.
“The way it’s supposed to work,” said Darren Sharp, an attorney representing KDHE, “is the managed care organization, in this case Sunflower Health, on behalf of KDHE reviews the medical records, asks about the appropriate level of care and whether there’s any other interventions that would be more cost effective or appropriate depending on the level of or depending on the patient’s records and the patient’s status.”
Sharp argued medical records showed the patients was getting better because of total parenteral nutrition, or TPN.
“This is when a tube, a PICC, is inserted and your minerals and your electrolytes and all of your nutrition is then intravenously provided,” Sharp said.
He said the treatment “was eliminating her vomiting, her diarrhea, she had no fever, her glucose levels were stabilized.”
In their ruling, the judges indicated the KDHE appeals committee primarily cared about the cost saving of using home health versus hospitalization while disregarding the treating physician for insufficient reasons and ignoring evidence on potential benefits or harms to the patient.
But the judges declined to resolve the dispute. Rather, unless the decision is appealed to the Kansas Supreme Court, the matter goes back to the KDHE administrative process.
There, the agency’s appeals committee must reconsider the case consistent with the Court of Appeal’s ruling. The published decision sets new precedent interpreting state laws and regulations on the Medicaid program.
“While this court provides no opinion on whether the disputed inpatient healthcare services met the definition of medical necessity,” Hurst wrote, “the record shows that some of the (appeals committee’s) factual findings were not supported by the record as a whole and that the (appeals committee) inaccurately applied the law when it failed to consider (the patient’s) individual characteristics and assess the harms and benefits of the healthcare intervention.
“In making a medical necessity determination, the reviewing agency must make an individualized determination based on the record as a whole.”
Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.
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