WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday unveiled a series of regulatory actions designed to effectively ban gender-affirming care for minors, building on broader Trump administration restrictions on transgender Americans.

The sweeping proposals — the most significant moves this administration has taken so far to restrict the use of puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgical interventions for transgender children — include cutting off federal Medicaid and Medicare funding from hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to children and prohibiting federal Medicaid dollars from being used to fund such procedures.

“This is not medicine, it is malpractice,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said of gender-affirming procedures on children in a news conference on Thursday. “Sex-rejecting procedures rob children of their futures.”

Kennedy also announced Thursday that the HHS Office of Civil Rights will propose a rule excluding gender dysphoria from the definition of a disability.

In a related move, the Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to a dozen companies that market chest-binding vests and other equipment used by people with gender dysphoria. Manufacturers include GenderBender LLC of Carson, California and TomboyX of Seattle. The FDA letters state that chest binders can only be legally marketed for FDA-approved medical uses, such as recovery after mastectomy surgery.

Proposed rules would threaten youth gender-affirming care in states where it remains legal

Medicaid programs in slightly less than half of states currently cover gender-affirming care. At least 27 states have adopted laws restricting or banning the care. The Supreme Court’s recent decision upholding Tennessee’s ban means most other state laws are likely to remain in place.

Thursday’s announcements would imperil access in nearly two dozen states where drug treatments and surgical procedures remain legal and funded by Medicaid, which includes federal and state dollars.

The proposals announced by Kennedy and his deputies are not final or legally binding. The federal government must go through a lengthy rulemaking process, including periods of public comment and document rewrites, before the restrictions becoming permanent. They are also likely to face legal challenges.

But the proposed rules will likely further intimidate health care providers from offering gender-affirming care to children and many hospitals have already ceased such care in anticipation of federal action.

Nearly all U.S. hospitals participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the federal government’s largest health plans that cover seniors, the disabled and low-income Americans. Losing access to those payments would imperil most U.S. hospitals and medical providers.

The same funding restrictions would apply to a smaller health program when it comes to care for people under the age of 19, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, according to a federal notice posted Thursday morning.

Moves contradict advice from medical organizations and transgender advocates

Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, on Thursday called transgender treatments “a Band-Aid on a much deeper pathology,” and suggested children with gender dysphoria are “confused, lost and need help.”

Polling shows many Americans agree with the administration’s view of the issue. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey conducted earlier this year found that about half of U.S. adults approved of how Trump was handling transgender issues.

Chloe Cole, a conservative activist known for speaking about her gender-transition reversal, spoke at the news conference to express appreciation. She said cries for help from her and others in her situation, “have finally been heard.”

But the approach contradicts the recommendations of most major U.S. medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, which has urged states not to restrict care for gender dysphoria.

Advocates for transgender children strongly refuted the administration’s claims about gender-affirming care and said Thursday’s moves would put lives at risk.

“In an effort to strongarm hospitals into participating in the administration’s anti-LGBTQ agenda, the Trump Administration is forcing health care systems to choose between providing lifesaving care for LGBTQ+ young people and accepting crucial federal funding,” Dr. Jamila Perritt, a Washington-based OB/GYN and president and CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health, said in a statement. “This is a lose-lose situation where lives are inevitably on the line. “

Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, senior vice president at The Trevor Project, a nonprofit suicide prevention organization for LBGTQ+ youth, called the changes a “one-size-fits-all mandate from the federal government” on a decision that should be between a doctor and patient.

“The multitude of efforts we are seeing from federal legislators to strip transgender and nonbinary youth of the health care they need is deeply troubling,” he said.

Actions build on a larger effort to restrict transgender rights

The announcements build on a wave of actions President Donald Trump, his administration and Republicans in Congress have taken to target the rights of transgender people nationwide.

On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order that declared the federal government would recognize only two immutable sexes: male and female. He also has signed orders aimed at cutting off federal support for gender transitions for people under age 19 and barring transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.

On Wednesday, a bill that would open transgender health care providers to prison time if they treat people under the age of 18 passed the U.S. House and heads to the Senate. Another bill under consideration in the House on Thursday aims to ban Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care for children.

Young people who persistently identify as a gender that differs from their sex assigned at birth are first evaluated by a team of professionals. Some may try a social transition, involving changing a hairstyle or pronouns. Some may later also receive hormone-blocking drugs that delay puberty, followed by testosterone or estrogen to bring about the desired physical changes in patients. Surgery is rare for minors.

___

Shastri reported from Milwaukee. Associated Press writer Geoff Mulvihill contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

TOKYO, Dec. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: LFS) (the “Company” or “Leifras”), a sports and social business company dedicated to youth sports and community engagement, today announced its unaudited financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2025. 

Financial Highlights for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025

• Revenue was JPY8.6 billion ($57.8 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, an increase of 15.3% from JPY7.4 billion for the same period last year.
• Gross profit was JPY2.4 billion ($16.3 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, an increase of 18.1% from JPY2.0 billion for the same period last year.
• Gross margin was 28.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, which increased from 27.5% for the same period last year.
• Net income was JPY226.7 million ($1.5 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, an increase of 0.7% from JPY225.1 million for the same period last year.
• Basic and diluted earnings per share was JPY9.1 ($0.06) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to basic earnings per share of JPY9.0 and diluted earnings per share of JPY8.3 for the same period last year.

Operational Highlights for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025

• Number of members in the sports school business was 71,529 for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, an increase of 2.3% from 69,924 for the same period last year.
• Average membership duration in the sports school business was 1.84 years for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, an increase of 1.1% from 1.82 years for the same period last year.
• Revenue per capita in the sport school business, which we define as the sales revenue of the sports school business divided by the number of employees involved in that business, was JPY9.6 million ($0.06 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, an increase of 6.2% from JPY9.0 million for the same period last year.
• Number of schools served under the social business segment was 360 for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, an increase of 53.2% from 235 for the same period last year.
• Revenue per capita in the social business, which we define as the sales revenue of the social business divided by the number of employees involved in that business, was JPY7.6 million ($0.05 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, an increase of 18.6% from JPY6.4 million for the same period last year.

Mr. Kiyotaka Ito, the Representative Director and Chief Executive Officer of Leifras, commented, “We delivered solid financial results in the first nine months of fiscal year 2025, with meaningful growth across our key financial and operational metrics. Revenue increased 15.3% and net income grew 0.7% from the same period last year. By segment, sports school business achieved revenue growth of 8.9% and social business revenue increased by 36.4% year over year. Our performance shows continued strength of our sports school business and expanding demand for our social business. Notably, revenue per capita in our social business rose by 18.6% year over year, highlighting the increasing value and impact of our community-based services. Looking ahead, we see meaningful opportunities in Japan’s shifting policy landscape. The government’s ongoing Club Activity Reform, which focuses on shifting school-based club activity management to regional and private organizations, is expected to create an important long-term growth pathway for Leifras. We recently secured a new contract with the City of Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, to manage facilities at municipal junior high schools in Nagoya, marking an important step in our expansion strategy. We intend to actively pursue additional opportunities as municipalities seek specialized partners to deliver high-quality sports and community programs. In the future, we remain committed to cultivating the non-cognitive skills of children, strengthening community well-being, enhancing our service offerings, and delivering sustainable value to our shareholders and society.”   

Financial Results for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025

Revenue

Total revenue was JPY8.6 billion ($57.8 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, an increase of 15.3% from JPY7.4 billion for the same period last year.

Sports school business revenue was JPY6.2 billion ($41.9 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, an increase of 8.9% from JPY5.7 billion for the same period last year. The increase in revenue was mostly driven by: (i) an increase in the number of members by 1,605, from 69,924 as of September 30, 2024 to 71,529 as of September 30, 2025, resulting in an increase in revenue of JPY315.7 million ($2.1 million) and (ii) an increase in the number of customers who joined events hosted by the Company from 136,695 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 to 142,843 for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, leading to an increase in the sports school business revenue by JPY112.6 million ($0.8 million).

Social business revenue was JPY2.4 billion ($15.9 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, an increase of 36.4% from JPY1.7 billion for the same period last year. The increase in revenue was mostly driven by: (i) an increase in the number of schools by 125, from 235 as of September 30, 2024 to 360 as of September 30, 2025, resulting in an increase in revenue of JPY505.1 million ($3.4 million), and (ii) an increase in after-school daycare service revenue by JPY86.1 million ($0.6 million).

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue was JPY6.1 billion ($41.5 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, an increase of 14.2% from JPY5.4 billion for the same period last year.

Gross Profit

Gross profit was JPY2.4 billion ($16.3 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, an increase of 18.1% from JPY2.0 billion for the same period last year.

Gross margin was 28.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, which increased from 27.5% for the same period last year.

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general, and administrative expenses were JPY2.1 billion ($13.9 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, an increase of 14.0% from JPY1.8 billion for the same period last year. The increase was attributed to (i) the increase in salaries and welfare expenses of JPY137.5 million ($0.9 million) due to business expansion as well as an increase in headquarters personnel in preparation for the Company’s initial public offering (“IPO”), (ii) the increase in promotion fees of JPY8.2 million ($0.06 million) due to business expansion, (iii) the increase in office rental fees of JPY14.1 million ($0.1 million) due to business expansion, (iv) the increase in system maintenance fee expenses of JPY17.3 million ($0.1 million) incurred due to the increase in the number of employees, and (v) the increase in recruitment fees of JPY53.8 million ($0.4 million) due to business expansion as well as an increase in headquarters personnel in preparation for the Company’s IPO.

Other Income (Expenses), Net

Other expenses, net were JPY1.9 million ($0.01 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to other income, net of JPY28.7 million for the same period last year. The decrease was attributed to: (i) net franchise income collected (returned) of JPY27.4 million ($0.02 million), which was the payments refunded to the franchisees in connection with the transfer of certain business rights, (ii) an eviction compensation of JPY5.5 million ($0.04 million) received in connection with the vacating of a leased building. Interest expenses, net were JPY9.7 million ($0.07 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, a decrease of 21.8% from JPY12.4 million for the same period last year.

Net Income

Net income was JPY226.7 million ($1.5 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, an increase of 0.7% from JPY225.1 million for the same period last year.

Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share was JPY9.10 ($0.06) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to JPY9.04 for the same period last year.

Diluted earnings per share was JPY9.10 ($0.06) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to JPY8.32 for the same period last year.

Financial Condition

As of September 30, 2025, the Company had cash of JPY2.4 billion ($16.5 million), compared to JPY2.5 billion as of December 31, 2024.

Net cash provided by operating activities was JPY326.7 million ($2.2 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to net cash used in operating activities of JPY105.4 million for the same period last year.

Net cash used in investing activities was JPY48.5 million ($0.3 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to JPY45.7 million for the same period last year.

Net cash used in financing activities was JPY380.1 million ($2.6 million) for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to JPY224.1 million for the same period last year.

Financial Guidance

The Company is projecting total revenue to be between JPY11.6 billion and JPY11.9 billion ($78.1 million and $80.5 million) for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, an increase of approximately 11.9% to 15.3% from JPY10.3 billion ($69.8 million) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

Income from operations is projected to be between JPY580.0 million and JPY696.5 million ($3.9 million and $4.7 million) for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, an increase of 11.6% to 34.0% from JPY519.8 million ($3.5 million) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

These projections are based on the assumption that no business acquisitions, restructuring activities, or legal settlements will take place during the period.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain Japanese Yen (“JPY”) amounts into U.S. dollars (“USD,” or “$”) for the convenience of the reader. Translations of amounts from JPY into USD have been made at the exchange rate of JPY147.97 = $1.00, the exchange rate on September 30, 2025 set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the United States Federal Reserve Board.

About LEIFRAS Co., Ltd.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Leifras is a sports and social business company dedicated to youth sports and community engagement. The Company primarily provides services related to the organization and operations of sports schools and sports events for children. As of December 31, 2024, Leifras was recognized as one of Japan’s largest operators of children’s sports schools in terms of both membership and facilities by Tokyo Shoko Research. The Company’s approach to sports education emphasizes the development of non-cognitive skills, following the teaching principle “acknowledge, praise, encourage, and motivate.” The holistic approach that integrates physical and mental development sets Leifras apart in the industry. Building upon deep experience and know-how in sports education, Leifras also operates a robust social business sector, dispatching sports coaches to meet various community needs with the aim to promote physical health, social inclusion, and community well-being across different demographics. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: https://ir.leifras.co.jp/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may,” or other similar expressions in this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks, including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions, and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the registration statement and other filings with the SEC. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov.

For more information, please contact:

LEIFRAS Co., Ltd.
Investor Relations Department
Email: [email protected] 

Ascent Investor Relations LLC
Tina Xiao
Phone: +1-646-932-7242
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE LEIFRAS Co., Ltd.

photo by: Contributed

Volunteers serve hot meals Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, for Lawrence’s annual Community Christmas Dinner.

Friday, Dec. 19

Christmas Through the Ages: Historic Lecompton’s Annual Christmas Tree Display, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Territorial Capital Museum, 640 E. Woodson Ave., Lecompton.

“Holiday Reflections” walk-through village, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Grand Plaza, Union Station, 30 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, Mo.; see unionstation.org for tickets.

“Adornment” Holiday Art Show & Sale, 1-6 p.m., Van Go, 715 New Jersey St.

Lawrence Lights: Making Spirits Bright, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Youth Sports Complex, 4911 W. 27th St. See lawrence-lights.com.

Knights of Lights, 5:30-10 p.m., KC Ren Fest, Queen’s Gate Entrance, 628 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs.

Moving screening: “Trading Places” (1983), 7 p.m., Liberty Hall Little Theater, 644 Massachusetts St. See liberty-hall.com for ticket information.

Kansas City Symphony Presents: Christmas Festival, 7 p.m., Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.

Wine and Carols, 7-9 p.m., Trivedi Wine, 1826 E. 1150 Road. $5 cover charge.

Kansas City Ballet Presents: “The Nutcracker,” 7:30 p.m., Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.

KC Rep: “A Christmas Carol,” 8 p.m., Spencer Theatre, UMKC Campus, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.

Saturday, Dec. 20

Festivus Fun Run, 9 a.m., Ad Astra Running, 837 Massachusetts St. See connect.garmin.com/modern/course/239297421 for course.

“Holiday Reflections” walk-through village, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Grand Plaza, Union Station, 30 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, Mo.; see unionstation.org for tickets.

Christmas Through the Ages: Historic Lecompton’s Annual Christmas Tree Display, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Territorial Capital Museum, 640 E. Woodson Ave., Lecompton.

“Adornment” Holiday Art Show & Sale, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Van Go, 715 New Jersey St.

Silent Book Club meeting, 10:30 a.m., Tous les Jours, 525 Wakarusa Drive. Bring whatever book you’re reading. No assigned reading; readers quietly gather to enjoy their various books in silent companionship.

Festival of Nativities, noon-4 p.m., Centenary United Methodist Church, 245 N. Fourth (corner of Fourth and Elm), North Lawrence.

Holiday Bake Sale to benefit Sunrise Project, noon-4 p.m., 245 N. Fourth St.

Kansas City Symphony Presents: Christmas Festival, 1 p.m., Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.

KC Rep: “A Christmas Carol,” 2 p.m., Spencer Theatre, UMKC Campus, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City Ballet Presents: “The Nutcracker,” 2 p.m., Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.

Winter Wonderland, 5-8 p.m., Prairie Park Nature Center, 2730 Harper St. Pre-register at lprd.org.

Lawrence Lights: Making Spirits Bright, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Youth Sports Complex, 4911 W. 27th St. See lawrence-lights.com.

Knights of Lights, 5:30-10 p.m., KC Ren Fest, Queen’s Gate Entrance, 628 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs.

Miller Marley Performing Companies: “Clara’s Dream and a Holiday Musical Revue,” 6 p.m., Lied Center, 1600 Stewart Drive. See lied.ku.edu for tickets.

Kansas Ballet Presents “The Nutcracker” featuring the Topeka Symphony, 7 p.m., Topeka Performing Arts Center, 214 SE 8th St., Topeka.

Kansas City Symphony Presents: Christmas Festival, 7 p.m., Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City Ballet Presents: “The Nutcracker,” 7:30 p.m., Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.

Movie screening: “Spaceballs” (1987), 8 p.m., Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St. See liberty-hall.com for tickets.

KC Rep: “A Christmas Carol,” 8 p.m., Spencer Theatre, UMKC Campus, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.

Sunday, Dec. 21

“Holiday Reflections” walk-through village, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Grand Plaza, Union Station, 30 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, Mo.; see unionstation.org for tickets.

Festival of Nativities, noon-4 p.m., Centenary United Methodist Church, 245 N. 4th (corner of 4th and Elm), North Lawrence.

Holiday Bake Sale to benefit Sunrise Project, noon-4 p.m., 245 N. Fourth St.

“Adornment” Holiday Art Show & Sale, 1-5 p.m., Van Go, 715 New Jersey St.

Miller Marley Performing Companies: “Clara’s Dream and a Holiday Musical Revue,” 2 p.m., Lied Center, 1600 Stewart Drive. Tickets at lied.ku.edu.

Knights of Lights, 5:30-9 p.m., KC Ren Fest, Queen’s Gate Entrance, 628 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs.

Kansas Ballet Presents “The Nutcracker” featuring the Topeka Symphony, 7 p.m., Topeka Performing Arts Center, 214 SE 8th St., Topeka.

KC Rep: “A Christmas Carol,” 1 p.m., Spencer Theatre, UMKC Campus, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City Ballet Presents: “The Nutcracker,” 1 p.m., Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.

Christmas Through the Ages: Historic Lecompton’s Annual Christmas Tree Display, 1-5 p.m., Territorial Capital Museum, 640 E. Woodson Ave., Lecompton.

Kansas City Symphony Presents: Christmas Festival, 2 p.m., Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.

Drunken Fiddles Holiday Music, 3 p.m., Lucia’s, 1016 Massachusetts St.

Kansas City Ballet Presents: “The Nutcracker,” 5:30 p.m., Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.

Lawrence Lights: Making Spirits Bright, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Youth Sports Complex, 4911 W. 27th St. See lawrence-lights.com.

KC Rep: “A Christmas Carol,” 6 p.m., Spencer Theatre, UMKC Campus, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.

Movie screening: “Home Alone” (1990), 7 p.m., Liberty Hall Main Theater, 644 Massachusetts St. See liberty-hall.com for tickets.

Kansas City Symphony Presents: Christmas Festival, 7 p.m., Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.

Monday, Dec. 22

“Holiday Reflections” walk-through village, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Grand Plaza, Union Station, 30 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, Mo.; see unionstation.org for tickets.

Kansas City Ballet Presents: “The Nutcracker,” 2 p.m., Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.

Knights of Lights, 5:30-9 p.m., KC Ren Fest, Queen’s Gate Entrance, 628 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs.

Lawrence Lights: Making Spirits Bright, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Youth Sports Complex, 4911 W. 27th St. See lawrence-lights.com.

Movie screening: “Holiday” (1938), 7 p.m., Liberty Hall Main Theater, 644 Massachusetts St. Tickets at liberty-hall.com.

Kansas City Ballet Presents: “The Nutcracker,” 7:30 p.m., Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.

Tuesday, Dec. 23

“Holiday Reflections” walk-through village, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Grand Plaza, Union Station, 30 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, Mo.; see unionstation.org for tickets.

Kansas City Ballet Presents: “The Nutcracker,” 2 p.m., Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.

Knights of Lights, 5:30-9 p.m., KC Ren Fest, Queen’s Gate Entrance, 628 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs.

Lawrence Lights: Making Spirits Bright, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Youth Sports Complex, 4911 W. 27th St. See lawrence-lights.com.

Kansas City Symphony Presents: It’s a Wonderful Life in Concert, 7 p.m., Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.

KC Rep: “A Christmas Carol,” 7 p.m., Spencer Theatre, UMKC Campus, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.

Movie screening: “Gremlins” (1984), 7 p.m., Liberty Hall Main Theater, 644 Massachusetts St. See liberty-hall.com for tickets.

Kansas City Ballet Presents: “The Nutcracker,” 7:30 p.m., Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.

Wednesday, Dec. 24

“Holiday Reflections” walk-through village, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Grand Plaza, Union Station, 30 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, Mo.; see unionstation.org for tickets.

Christmas Through the Ages: Historic Lecompton’s Annual Christmas Tree Display, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Territorial Capital Museum, 640 E. Woodson Ave., Lecompton.

Kansas City Symphony Presents: It’s a Wonderful Life in Concert, 11 a.m., Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.

KC Rep: “A Christmas Carol,” 1 p.m., Spencer Theatre, UMKC Campus, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City Ballet Presents: “The Nutcracker,” 1 p.m., Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.

KC Rep: “A Christmas Carol,” 5 p.m., Spencer Theatre, UMKC Campus, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.

Knights of Lights, 5:30-9 p.m., KC Ren Fest, Queen’s Gate Entrance, 628 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs.

Lawrence Lights: Making Spirits Bright, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Youth Sports Complex, 4911 W. 27th St. See lawrence-lights.com.

Movie screening: “The Shop Around the Corner” (1940), 7 p.m., Liberty Hall Main Theater, 644 Massachusetts St. See liberty-hall.com for tickets.

Thursday, Dec. 25

Community Christmas Dinner, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont St. Home deliveries also available.

Lawrence Lights: Making Spirits Bright, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Youth Sports Complex, 4911 W. 27th St. See lawrence-lights.com.

Movie screening: “While You Were Sleeping” (1995), 7 p.m., Liberty Hall Main Theater, 644 Massachusetts St. Tickets at liberty-hall.com.

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announced Thursday that it is donating $6.3 million in grants to school districts across metro Atlanta to help grow youth sports programs.

DeKalb County Schools received a grant from the foundation to help fill gaps in its middle school flag football teams, said Myss Jelks, executive director of athletics for the district.

“Our goal is to have all 19 middle schools playing flag football next year,” Jelks said.

This year, all 19 high schools in DeKalb County participated in flag football, along with 13 middle schools and almost 70 elementary schools, Jelks said.

The sport’s pilot program was started seven years ago by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation with 19 schools in Gwinnett County. More than 300 high schools in Georgia now participate in flag football, with 45 schools starting programs in 2025. About 7,000 girls participated statewide this year.

The Georgia High School Association sanctioned girls’ flag football in 2020.

Jelks said she believes her athletic background could have translated to flag football success if the opportunity had existed when she was younger.

“In my head, I think I would have been a great running back,” Jelks said.

Instead, she specialized in sports medicine.

“Well, number one, football is my favorite sport,” Jelks said when asked about her aversion to the historical perception of football as a men’s sport.

Schools are currently classified by location rather than by size, unlike tackle football, which Jelks expects to change soon. She anticipates continued growth in the sport’s popularity.

“It is an everybody sport,” Jelks said.

Copyright 2025 WANF. All rights reserved.

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that in addition to the headline-grabbing UFC fight on the National Mall next year to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary, a host of other events will also be scheduled, including a parade and an athletic competition for high school students.

“We will host the first-ever ‘Patriot Games,’ an unprecedented, four-day athletic event featuring the greatest high school athletes — one young man and one young woman from each state and territory,” Trump said in a pre-recorded video shot from the Oval Office. “But I promise there will be no men playing in women’s sports.”

Trump said that a new nonpartisan organization called Freedom 250 would be responsible for hosting the events and coordinating with the federal agencies to deliver on events nationwide through 2026.

One of the main events will be “the first-ever Patriot Games,” which were first announced in July as part of a slate of anniversary celebrations championed by the Trump administration.

Critics of the Trump administration were quick to point out the plan mirrored the plot of the fictional “Hunger Games” series, which depicts teenage representatives from each district of a country who are forced to fight to the death in a televised event, as part of an annual celebration of their nation’s revolution.

In a post to X on Thursday, the national Democratic Party shared a clip from the movie along with a quote: “And so it was decreed that, each year, the various districts of Panem would offer up, in tribute, one young man and woman to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage and sacrifice.”

The Democratic governors of California and Illinois, Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker, also reposted the White House’s announcement with clips from the film showing the country’s fictional dictator.

“May the odds be ever in your favor,” Newsom wrote, reprising the phrase told to young Hunger Games participants in the fictional series.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment on Democrats’ “Hunger Games” comparison.

In addition to the Patriot Games, one of Freedom 250’s planned initiatives is a full illumination of the Washington Monument between New Year’s Eve and Jan. 5, “marking the start of this once-in-a-generation anniversary year,” a press release reads.

Memorial Day will be celebrated with a “Spirit of America parade” and a “National Prayer Event on the National Mall will rededicate the nation as One Nation Under God.”

In June, Flag Day will be marked with a first-of-its-kind UFC event, and toward the end of month the National Mall will be converted into the “Great American State Fair” featuring pavilions from each state.

“The event will feature a spectacular flyover by our Nation’s Military, roaring over the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial,” reads a Thursday press release. “A major address by the President of the United States will precede Salute to America: The Nation’s 250th Birthday Fireworks Celebration — the largest fireworks display in the world, illuminating the Mall in a breathtaking finale.”

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – The Siouxland Sports Academy is planning to rock out at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino during a benefit concert event.

The benefit concert featuring Above the Covers is expected to take place on Friday, Dec. 19.

“We are very excited to be able to host this event in this great facility with this great local band to raise money for kids in need. It is very important to us that we are able to provide opportunities to kids regardless of socioeconomic status,” said SSA Executive Director Dustin Cooper.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a silent auction and social. The band performs at 7:30 p.m.

The Siouxland Sports Academy says its organization is a 501c3 nonprofit that works to create opportunities for young people in Siouxland.

The nonprofit also says 100% of the proceeds in ticket sales and at the auction will go towards financing local youth sports scholarships.

“During the concert, there will be silent auction items up for grabs that include priceless autographed sports memorabilia, unbelievable sports experiences, and at intermission of the concert, a trip to Turks and Caicos will be live auctioned!” said Siouxland Sports Academy.

Tickets are available on the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino’s website.

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