Kansas Republicans Are Letting Democrats Destroy Ballot Integrity Safeguards
When legislators refuse to stand behind election rules, voters notice and confidence in the system begins to erode. Voters in Kansas deserve better.When legislators refuse to stand behind election rules, voters notice and confidence in the system begins to erode. Voters in Kansas deserve better.These 4 States Already Enacted SAVE Act Look-Alikes While John Thune Does Failure Theater
Other states are set to vote on amendment language clarifying that 'only' U.S. citizens can vote in elections.Judge delivers bad news for ladies who sued to keep trans-identifying driver's licenses, use men's restrooms
A pair of trans-identifying women enjoying the support of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit last month in hopes of forcing Kansas to indulge their delusions by letting them use men's restrooms and false sex markers on state-issued IDs.
'This bill protects girls and women.'
Rather than oblige the plaintiffs in thwarting the will of voters as expressed by supermajorities in both chambers of the Kansas legislature, a state judge denied the women's most pressing request on Tuesday.
The bill, the veto, the law
Kansas Republicans passed a bill earlier this year requiring the designation of restrooms and locker rooms in public buildings for use by only one sex and mandating certain official state-issued documents to reflect the ID-holder's actual sex.
This, of course, enraged radical LGBT activists such as Kansas state Rep. Abi Boatman (D), a man pretending to be a woman, who suggested that the reality-affirming bill was dehumanizing; Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson, who called the bill an act of "cruelty"; and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who vetoed the bill last month.
Kelly's veto proved fruitless as the state Senate overrode it in a 31-9 vote on Feb. 17. Their Republican colleagues in the state House followed suit the next day in a decisive 87-37 vote.
The governor bemoaned the override, claiming that "this is a poorly drafted bill with significant, far-reaching consequences."
State Rep. Carolyn Caiharr (R), among those who voted to override the veto, stated, "Our young women deserve to have restrooms and locker rooms where they can undress without men in the room. This bill protects girls and women, the ones feminists used to claim to stand for," reported the Kansas Reflector.
Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins (R) stated, "This isn’t about scoring political points, but doing what’s right for women and girls across our communities."
The new law took effect once it was published in the register on Feb. 26, resulting in the invalidation of roughly 1,700 driver's licenses and 1,800 birth certificates.
The lawsuit
A pair of trans-identifying women represented by attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on Feb. 26, alleging that the law "violates the Kansas Constitution’s guarantees of personal autonomy, privacy, equality under the law, due process, and free expression. It also violates the Kansas Constitution’s single-subject and clear title requirements."
The lawsuit claimed that the two biological women, identified by the pseudonyms Daniel Doe and Matthew Moe, would suffer harm "because they will not be able to utilize a driver’s license with their correct gender marker or access public restrooms that accord with their gender identity."
The trans-identifying ladies requested that Douglas County District Judge James McCabria block and declare the new law both unconstitutional and unenforceable.
The response
Judge McCabria refused on Tuesday to grant the women a temporary restraining order against the law while their case proceeds, writing, "A court that is too quick to assume too much about the facts or possible impacts of a law risks the appearance of either political bias or a lack of appreciation for the value and importance of the full, fair deliberative process in such circumstances."
The judge apparently didn't buy the plaintiffs' claim that they may face "reprisal by employers and acquaintances that may not know their biological gender but learn of it by forced use of assigned restrooms or incidental disclosure by use of their identification documents."
McCabria declined "the invitation to presume" that every employer or acquaintance would in every instance respond to the discovery of the women's true sex with harassment or disfavor. He also rejected the assumption that "every restroom visit is fraught with the potential for violence or embarrassment if this law is not immediately suspended."
The judge directed the parties involved in the case to appear in court later this month.
Harper Seldin, an attorney for the ACLU's LGBTQ & HIV Project, stated, "This is a devastating, but hopefully temporary, setback for our clients and transgender people across the state of Kansas."
Although the law merely prevents individuals from carrying untruthful driver's licenses and invading private spaces intended for members of the opposite sex, Seldin claimed it threatens trans-identifying individuals' "ability to hold a job, go to school, or go about their daily lives."
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Jesus, Trump, Charlie Kirk reportedly named role models by elementary students — but school staffer allegedly squashes picks
Elementary school students in Kansas reportedly chose the likes of Jesus, President Donald Trump, and Charlie Kirk as role models during an assignment — but a guidance counselor reportedly squashed those picks, KWCH-TV reported.
The incident at Marshall Elementary School in Eureka took place in late October, the station said, citing a civil rights complaint the American Center for Law & Justice filed Tuesday.
'This action undermines trust between schools, students, and parents.'
The ACLJ is representing a parent and an elementary school student in the case, KWCH said.
The station reported that a guidance counselor assigned sixth-grade students to call out their role models in a project called “Find Your Voice" while one student designated as a "student teacher" wrote the names on a board.
The ACLJ provided the following narrative of what it said happened, KWCH noted:
"When a student identified Charlie Kirk as a role model, [the guidance counselor] got very uncomfortable and refused to allow this name to be written on the board, yelling that he was 'not a hero,' and that he was not a role model. The student teacher had already started writing Charlie Kirk's name on the board, and was ordered by [the guidance counselor] to remove it. When another student selected President Donald J. Trump as a role model, [the guidance counselor] reiterated her prohibition even more angrily, stating that students could not write political or religious figures on the board, and in fact excluded political and religious topics altogether. However, [the guidance counselor] permitted other controversial figures to be listed as heroes."
The station said it spoke with a Eureka parent of a sixth-grade student who recalled that another student wanted Jesus as a role model, but that choice also was not allowed as part of the assignment.
RELATED: Yet another SoCal HS teacher allegedly embroiled in anti-Trump controversy — this time it's over a student's MAGA clothing
The ACLJ's complaint accuses the school district of religious discrimination, political/viewpoint discrimination, violation of free speech rights, and retaliation, KWCH noted.
Oh, and the law firm also accused the powers that be of encouraging students to not tell their parents about the incident, the station said.
Specifically, the ACLJ called out "egregious conduct in engaging in viewpoint-based discrimination against students who identified conservative political figures as role models, and the subsequent directive instructing students not to report concerns to their parents," KWCH reported.
In addition, the ACLJ maintained that while students were allowed to list whomever they wanted in their written assignments, they were prohibited from calling out the names of "religious or political heroes publicly on the board," the station said.
The ACLJ further argued that "the selective prohibition created immediate confusion among students about whose voices were valued and whose were not," KWCH said.
More from the station:
The group also called out school's response to what happened, saying that the administration claimed that prohibiting political and religious figures from being discussed in the "Find Your Voice" activity was in the name of being "inclusive and neutral."
The American Center for Law & Justice particularly took issue with an alleged instruction for students to bring concerns to teachers or the principal first, not directly to their parents.
The ACLJ said the directive "instructing children not to report concerns to their parents ... violates fundamental principles of parental rights, educational ethics, and child safety," KWCH added.
The Eureka school board reportedly addressed the issue during a Dec. 8 meeting and met in executive session, the station said. However, the ACLJ said "no public response was provided, no corrective action has been announced, and the violations continue to remain unaddressed," KWCH reported.
U.S. Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas' 4th Congressional District, which includes Eureka, shared the following on social media about the controversy, the station said:
"It's alarming to hear of a Kansas teacher silencing students' voices in the classroom. Schools shouldn't be a place where a teacher's political beliefs are forced onto students. This is a violation of their constitutional rights and does not represent Kansas schools' fundamental principles.
"Parents should have the confidence in schools to allow their children to grow and engage in classrooms that support their children's ideas and opinions. This action undermines trust between schools, students, and parents. I do not condone this type of political censorship in any school."
Marshall Elementary School Principal Stacy Coulter noted the following in response to the civil rights complaint and a request to discuss the issue, KWCH reported:
"We are aware of this incident and are always working with families and our school staff to make sure every learning activity is a positive and encouraging experience for every student.
"We are unable to comment on the individuals involved because of our commitment to the privacy of our students and employees. This information is also protected by confidentiality laws. Thank you for your understanding."
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Noncitizen Kansas mayor accused of voter fraud has cast dozens of ballots since 2000, documents show
A Kansas mayor who is not a U.S. citizen, despite residing in the state for most of his life, has been accused of illegally voting "multiple times" — and documents obtained by Blaze News seem to support those allegations.
Last month, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach (R) held a press conference to announce that Coldwater Mayor Jose "Joe" Ceballos, 54, had been charged with three counts of voting without being qualified and three counts of election perjury, all felonies.
He could face more than five years behind bars if convicted. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, added that a conviction would also prompt "removal proceedings" for Ceballos.
Ceballos appears to have cast a ballot at least once every year or every other year, beginning on August 1, 2000.
"In Kansas, it is against the law to vote if you are not a U.S. citizen. We allege that Mr. Ceballos did it multiple times," Kobach said.
Voter registration applications and voting history records sent to Blaze News in response to a public records request seem to confirm Kobach's allegations.
The two voter registration applications for Ceballos, one dated April 1999 and the other December 2012, indicate he established Kansas residency all the way back in 1986.
Both documents asked the applicant to confirm U.S citizenship. "I Swear or Affirm that I am a citizen of the United States," the 1999 application states.
On the 2012 application, the "yes" box next to the question "are you a citizen of the United States of America?" is marked. The signature section then reiterates: "I swear or affirm that I am a citizen of the United States and a Kansas resident."
Ceballos appears to have signed the 1999 application as "Joe" Ceballos and the 2012 application as Jose. He did not register for a party on either application.
RELATED: Noncitizen Kansas mayor accused of illegally voting 'multiple times' after winning re-election
The criminal complaint filed November 5 stated that Ceballos is "not a citizen of the United States," and DHS noted that he received a green card in 1990 but remains a citizen of Mexico.
He was convicted of battery in 1995, according to DHS.
Moreover, Ceballos' voting history revealed that he participated in dozens of primary and general elections since 2000, the earliest records the Comanche County clerk claimed to have.
According to the records, Ceballos cast a ballot at least once every year or every other year, beginning on August 1, 2000. The records indicate Ceballos voted in November 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024.
It is unclear why a Republican Party affiliation was recorded for votes cast in the November 2004 and 2024 general elections.
RELATED: Thousands of possible illegal aliens found on Texas voter rolls, officials say
Allegations that Ceballos had voted first made headlines after he won re-election as Coldwater mayor on November 4, and City Attorney Skip Herd claimed that Ceballos had applied for U.S. citizenship just this year.
"He applied for citizenship in February of this year and, through that, raised the issue of whether he was a legal citizen," Herd said.
Ceballos admitted to the Wichita Eagle that he did come to America as a child — the outlet described him as being "undocumented" at the time — and that he has since voted in every local, state, and federal election since 1991. However, he explained that he simply misunderstood the law, believing that the "permanent resident" designation on his green card meant that he was a citizen.
"I haven’t seen Mexico since I was four," he said. "I don’t speak Spanish anymore. If I get deported, it would wreck my life."
His attorney, Jess Hoeme, indicated that since Ceballos did not intend to vote illegally, "he’ll beat this" case with the jury.
Records from the Comanche County clerk's office revealed that Ceballos' voter registration was canceled on October 17, 2025. Those records further showed that he had been registered to vote in federal elections since at least February 2003, that he was at some point registered as a Republican, and that he filed a change of address in 2013.
Ceballos told the Eagle that he "probably" voted for Kobach to be state AG and for Donald Trump to be president every time they ran, even though in general, the twice-elected mayor is rather indifferent to politics.
"If politics comes up in Coldwater, I generally just get up and walk out," Ceballos said.
RELATED: Trump plans major shake-up of how Americans vote ahead of 2026 midterm elections
Ceballos, who received nearly 83% of the vote from fellow Coldwater residents just a few weeks ago, enjoys continued support from his community.
"As a mayor, he’s done a wonderful job," said Britt Lenertz, president of the Coldwater City Council. "As a city councilmember, he’s done a wonderful job. He’s always put our community first in everything he does."
In an official statement, Lenertz acknowledged that the allegations were "concerning" but called for patience as the legal process unfolds: "We will allow the proper legal process to take its course before making any further comments. It’s important that we respect both due process and the integrity of our local government."
Longtime friend Ryan Swayze described Ceballos as good-hearted and well-intentioned but also a bit naive. Swayze and his dad as well as Ceballos' old special-education teacher all partially blame themselves for not explaining to Ceballos during his formative years the differences between permanent residents and U.S. citizens.
Ceballos did not respond to Blaze News' request for comment, but he did hint to the Wichita Eagle that the charges have greatly affected his well-being.
"I’m scared," he told the outlet. "I’m not sleeping."
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Someone Needs To Explain How An Illegal Alien Wanted On Terrorism Got A CDL License
Incredibly, the gold star on his license shows that he had enough documentation for PennDOT to issue a Real ID.ICE takes down alleged 'wanted terrorist' illegal alien trucker
Federal agents arrested an illegal alien truck driver who is wanted in his home country for allegedly belonging to a terrorist organization.
Akhror Bozorov, a 31-year-old from Uzbekistan, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security announced Monday.
'This issue extends far beyond the trucking industry and represents a profound national security crisis.'
Bozorov reportedly entered the United States illegally in February 2023. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested him but later released him into the country.
Uzbekistan authorities issued an arrest warrant in 2022, claiming that Bozorov had distributed terrorist propaganda online that called for jihad. He also allegedly recruited others to join the movement.
On November 9, ICE agents arrested Bozorov in Kansas while he was working as a truck driver.
The DHS blamed Pennsylvania for issuing Bozorov a CDL after the Biden administration granted his work authorization in January 2024.
A photograph of Bozorov's license, shared by the DHS, showed that Pennsylvania issued him a non-domiciled CDL with REAL ID in July.
"Not only was Akhror Bozorov — a wanted terrorist — RELEASED into the country by the Biden administration, but he was also given a commercial driver's license by Governor [Josh] Shapiro's Pennsylvania. This should go without saying, but terrorist illegal aliens should not be operating 18-wheelers on America's highways," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated.
"Biden and [former DHS Secretary Alejandro] Mayorkas allowed countless terrorists to come into our country," McLaughlin continued. "President Trump and [DHS] Secretary [Kristi] Noem unleashed ICE to target these national security threats."
Shannon Everett with American Truckers United reacted to ICE's recent arrest.
"At American Truckers United, our longstanding concern has been that this issue extends far beyond the trucking industry and represents a profound national security crisis," Everett told Blaze News. "The driver in question is just one of several we have identified in possession of not only non-domicile commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) issued by rogue states, but also REAL IDs."
"These individuals have been found transporting critical assets, including U.S. Mail, U.S. defense shipments, and our nation's food supplies. This situation is untenable, and our administration must take immediate and decisive action to ban and revoke all non-domicile CDLs improperly issued to noncitizens over the past five years," Everett said.
“Pennsylvania issues both commercial and non-commercial driver’s licenses only to non-U.S. citizens who can provide documentation proving their lawful presence in the United States,” PennDOT told Blaze News. “When noncitizen applicants appear at a Driver License Center in Pennsylvania, PennDOT reviews immigration and naturalization documents, which are confirmed in real time against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) website before issuing any driver’s license. PennDOT is prohibited from publicly disclosing information about an individual’s driver record due to state and federal privacy laws.”
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Reelected Kansas Mayor Faces Charges Of Voting As Noncitizen
When registering to vote, the only proof of citizenship is checkmark on a postcard, indicating yes or no, “Are you a U.S. citizen?”Today's top stories
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