Hello, fellow Kansans!

This week packed a month's worth of news into just seven days.

On Monday, the trial of Fish v. Kobach continued at the Dole Courthouse in Kansas City, KS. It will resume on Monday, March 19th and conclude this week. For a day-by-day recap, bookmark and check out "The Daily Developments Of The Kansas Motor-Voter V. Kobach Trial" (KCUR).

In Topeka, various amendments to bills on the House floor were offered in an attempt to expand Medicaid. However, these amendments were rejected by being ruled not germane -- that is, insufficiently related to the bill at hand. Congressional leadership continues to stifle bills to expand Medicaid, despite a majority of Kansans supporting the action.

And on Friday, the long awaited school funding study commissioned by the Kansas Legislature became public. While substantive debate has not yet begun, the initial read of the report indicates that schools are underfunded by much more than anticipated. Somewhere between $1.7 - $2 billion is needed, according to the study, and where lawmakers will find that money is anyone's guess. The study also clearly indicates "a strong, positive relationship between educational outcomes and educational costs" -- that is, when schools receive more money, students get a better education.

Read more:

• Kansas schools need massive funding increase, study says (Wichita Eagle)
• Kansas school funding report blows a hole in conservative doctrine (Kansas City Star Editorial Board)

As always, for the full rundown of state news, we invite you to watch the short weekly recaps produced by Loud Light. Here's Week 10, covering March 12 - 16 (3:48).

In national news -

Democrat Conor Lamb won election in Pennsylvania's 18th House district (NY Times), which went for Trump in 2016 by nearly 20 points. The victory in deep GOP territory suggests that any House district may be in play in 2018.

Around 1 million students walked out of school on March 14th to protest gun violence and demand legislative action. Students at several area schools (KC Star) participated.

Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (CNN) and tapped former Kansas congressman Mike Pompeo for the job. Read more about Pompeo and his rapid rise (Wichita Eagle)

And Friday night, Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe just ahead of his retirement. McCabe released a statement calling the action politically motivated, calling into question Sessions' recusal on issues related to the Russia investigation.  

...fired up and ready to act? We hoped you'd say that...

Calls to Action  

Take action on your own schedule! Use your phone and computer to make your voice heard.

Call your Senators to stop the NRA’s favorite lawyer from becoming a federal judge. Trump nominated Howard C. Nielson to a lifetime seat on the United States District Court for the District of Utah. Nielson has made a career out of regularly representing the NRA and fighting against common-sense gun safety measures. Click here for more details and a call script for your Senators.

Contact your Kansas legislators and tell them that you support fully funding our schools. Conservative legislators are already trying to downplay the study, pit funding recipients against each other, or build a boogeyman from increasing revenue. Make your voice heard! Look up your legislators here and email or call them with your strong support for school funding.

Upcoming Events

Take action with others! Build energy and connection among like-purposed people.

Wednesday, March 21st

Join JoCo MoveOn at 7:00 pm for a community discussion on fighting back against gun violence. Speakers will include area teenagers, and representatives from local activist groups and the Kansas legislature. Click here for more information and to RSVP.

Saturday, March 24th

Continue taking community action against gun violence by participating in the youth-organized March for our Lives in Kansas City, beginning at noon at Theis Park. Click here for more information and to RSVP.

Tuesday, April 3rd

At 2:00 pm, join the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas and other health coverage advocates from across the state for a Rally at the Capitol for Kancare Expansion. Click here for more information and to RSVP.

Reminder -

In light of this week's firing of Andrew McCabe, and the Trump's lawyer's response that Mueller's investigation should be shut down, we're re-upping the national call to take to the streets in the event of Mueller's firing. Click here to follow the event and get details on the location. Remember:

• If actions are triggered BEFORE 2 p.m. local time, events will begin at 5 p.m. local time.
• If actions are triggered AFTER 2 p.m. local time, events will begin at noon local time the following day.

The news can be overwhelming, even frightening or depressing, but the best thing we can do is link arms together, and bring each other forward, one step at a time. How will you resist this week?

In solidarity,

Indivisible KC