Kansas

Two conservative Kansas lawmakers sue Republican leadership over convention of the states

Published

2 years ago

January 2, 2024

Two conservative Kansas lawmakers sue Republican leadership over convention of the states

Two conservative Republican legislators are suing their own GOP leadership in federal court as part of an effort to call a convention of the states to amend the U.S. Constitution.

Sen. Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee, and Rep. Michael Murphy, R-Sylvia, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Topeka last month against Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita.

The lawsuit alleges that Masterson and Hawkins were wrong to say that concurrent resolutions last session didn’t pass because they did not have supermajority support.

“Defendants’ decisions as the presiding officers of each Chamber to reject the passage of these concurrent resolutions pursuant to Article 2 Section 13 of the Kansas Constitution were incorrect as a matter of law,” the lawsuit alleges. “Accordingly, these concurrent resolutions should be declared to have passed both Chambers by majority votes and thereby to have been adopted.”

Kansas Legislature hasn’t been able to get supermajority

Conservative Republicans have tried for the past several years to add Kansas to the backers of a convention of the states to amend the U.S. Constitution. Past efforts have succeeded in getting simple majorities of lawmakers, but the Kansas Constitution requires supermajorities.

“The lawsuit is about resolving a longstanding question about whether the Kansas Constitution can require a higher threshold of votes to adopt measures envisioned by Article V of the United States Constitution, including the Convention of States,” said Mike Pirner, a spokesperson for Masterson.

A spokesperson for Hawkins didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The vote on last session’s House resolution was 74-48, or 10 yes votes short of two-thirds, while the Senate’s vote was 22-16, or five yes votes shy of a supermajority.

“This super-majority requirement violates the federal Constitution,” Thompson and Murphy allege in their lawsuit.

“When state legislatures act pursuant to their authority under Article V, they exercise a federal function from federal law,” the lawsuit states. “States cannot, whether through their constitutions or state law, impose limitations or additional procedural requirements on state legislatures acting pursuant to this federal authority.”

Ty Masterson and Dan Hawkins expected to be represented by AG

Thompson and Murphy are being represented by the law firm Graves Garrett and are seeking “declaratory judgments that Article 2 Section 13 of the Kansas Constitution is unconstitutional,” thus resulting in the resolutions having passed last session.

The civil cover sheet indicates that Thompson and Murphy expect Masterson and Hawkins to be represented by the Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach’s office.

The Kansas resolutions had called for amending the U.S. Constitution to “impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and limit the terms of office for officials of the federal government and members of Congress.”

Some conservatives have opposed such efforts, raising fears that it could backfire politically with liberals advancing their own preferred amendments.

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.

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Kansas

Kansas Lottery Pick 3, 2 By 2 winning numbers for Dec. 21, 2025

Published

10 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

The Kansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 21, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

Midday: 3-5-4

Evening: 8-2-2

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

Red Balls: 06-20, White Balls: 08-25

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

11-24-27-38-46, Lucky Ball: 15

Check Lucky 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.

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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Kansas

3 hospitalized in Kansas City after Sunday morning house fire

Published

23 hours ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

3 hospitalized in Kansas City after Sunday morning house fire

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three people were taken to the hospital after a house fire in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday morning.

The Kansas City Fire Department was called to the 3300 block of Askew around 10:37 a.m., when crews reported smoke on the second floor of a two-story house.

All residents in the house were able to evacuate the home on their own. The fire was quickly brought under control and contained to a single room.

KCFD transported all three residents to the hospital. Their condition is currently unknown.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by KCFD.

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Kansas

Kansas Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for Dec. 20, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

The Kansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 20, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 20 drawing

04-05-28-52-69, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 20 drawing

Midday: 2-0-6

Evening: 3-9-2

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from Dec. 20 drawing

Red Balls: 13-26, White Balls: 08-21

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 20 drawing

08-21-30-41-47, Lucky Ball: 15

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Dec. 20 drawing

09-12-34-45-50, Star Ball: 01, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Super Kansas Cash numbers from Dec. 20 drawing

07-08-17-20-32, Cash Ball: 19

Check Super Kansas Cash 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

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.

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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