Snow Coming to Eastern Kansas
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - Snowy weather is headed toward eastern Kansas. Chelsea Picha, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Topeka, says they are tracking two different storm systems in Kansas over the next several days. Snow is expected Friday, but little - if any - accumulation is expected in the Lawrence, Topeka, Manhattan and Emporia areas. Picha says the better chances for snow on Friday will be in south-central Kansas. The next round of snow for northeast and east-central Kansas is expected Monday into Tuesday. Monday's forecast includes a 90% chance of snow or rain.
(Read more about expected snowfall in Kansas.)
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Business Lobbying Group Announces Priorities for Coming Legislative Session
TOPEKA, Kan.. (KNS) – Tax reform remains a top priority for the Kansas Chamber as lawmakers return to Topeka on Monday, January 8th, for the 2024 session. The Kansas News Service reports that the Kansas Chamber will once again lobby for the passage of a single-rate tax of 5 percent for annual income above $15,000. Proponents say replacing the current multi-tiered tax rate would help taxpayers and the state can afford it. But critics have said the change would favor wealthier people and cost around $1.5 billion in revenue per year. The plan would need a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate to override a likely veto from the governor.
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Wastewater Indicates High Levels of COVID-19 Virus in Kansas, Other Midwestern States
UNDATED (Midwest Newsroom) – Kansas is among several Midwestern states where wastewater is showing elevated levels of COVID-19. The Midwest Newsroom reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describe virus levels as “very high,” which is an indicator that COVID-19 is spreading again. So far, there has not been a spike in hospital cases. The latest COVID-19 variant accounts for about half of the current COVID-19 cases in the country. The variant is highly infectious, but it does not make most people any sicker. Wastewater testing started in 2020, as an early warning system to alert public health officials about possible outbreaks. The CDC urges people to get tested if they think they may be infected.
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2024 Kansas Legislative Session Begins Monday
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - Kansas lawmakers return to Topeka next week for the start of the 2024 legislative session. The House and Senate are scheduled to gavel in at 2 pm Monday for what is expected to be a largely ceremonial first day.
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Kansas Governor Still Opposed to School Vouchers
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Kansas Governor Laura Kelly says she will continue to oppose plans to shift state tax dollars to private schools. Republican lawmakers have said they will continue pushing school choice measures when they return to Topeka next week. They got close last year with a plan to let parents open state-sponsored education savings accounts to use at private or home schools. But the Democratic governor has vowed to keep her veto pen handy. Kelly says public schools are crucial to the state’s overall economy and its future. “That’s what Kansans want funded, and that’s what we will continue to do. And I will oppose vouchers, from now until eternity.” Supporters of school choice say Kansas families need alternatives to failing public schools. Opponents say voucher programs hand out tax dollars without much accountability.
One GOP proposal would let parents open state-sponsored education savings accounts to use at private or home schools. The Democratic governor says vouchers don’t make sense because more than half the counties in Kansas don’t have private schools. “It’s just not a good idea. And particularly in a state like Kansas - we are not private school rich. We really don’t, particularly as you get out into our more rural areas," she said. Supporters of school choice say it’s a way to give families more educational freedom. Critics claim there’s no evidence that voucher programs work or that students do better in private schools.
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Advocates Hope to Persuade Legislators to Use Part of State's Budget Surplus to Reduce Disability Services Waiting List
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KNS) – More than 7,000 Kansans with disabilities are on a waitlist to receive state financial support for in-home medical care. The Kansas News Service reports that advocates for Kansans with developmental and physical disabilities say the state has fallen behind on providing financial assistance for in-home services. The money covers services such as a nurse who could help someone using a wheelchair get out of bed. Sara Hart Weir of the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities says the state has plenty of funds available in its budget to begin chipping away at the waitlist. “Now is the time, with where our state budget is, to invest in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” she added. Disability rights advocacy groups estimate the state would need to increase funding by roughly $85 million to decrease the waitlist by 20% this year.
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Two Substitute Teachers File Lawsuit Against Lansing School District
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS) – Two teachers are suing the Lansing school district in Kansas for alleged free-speech violations. The Kansas News Service reports that Vera Daniels and Celeste Hoins worked as substitute teachers in Lansing until last summer, when the school board fired them. The teachers say it’s because they spoke out against district policies, including book bans and a new Parents’ Bill of Rights. The teachers addressed the board several times during public forums over the past year. Arthur Benson is the teachers’ attorney. He says board members retaliated against them for voicing their opinions.
“They had both been outstanding teachers and in great demand as substitute teachers. Everyone loved them and prized their work,” he added.
Lansing school officials could not be reached for comment. The district has until late February to respond to the lawsuit.
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Federal Funds Coming to Kansas for Six Fast-Charging EV Locations
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) – More than $4.6 million in federal funds is coming to Kansas to create fast-charging stations for electric vehicles. Governor Laura Kelly says the money will be directed to six locations in the state. Along with existing charging stations spread across the I-70 and I-135 corridors, these new charging stations will fill gaps along the state’s major highways and interstate system. “As more electric cars and trucks make their way onto Kansas roadways, they will need access to adequate charging facilities,” Kelly said.
Locations of the six new direct current fast charging stations in Kansas:
Emporia, Flying J, 4215 W Hwy 50 (I-35)
Garden City, Love’s, 3285 E U.S. 50 (U.S. 400)
Cherokee, Pete’s, 20 U.S. 400
Fredonia, Pete’s, 2400 E Washington St. (U.S. 400)
Belleville, Love’s, 1356 US Highway 81 (U.S. 81)
Pratt, Casey’s, 1900 E 1st St (U.S. 400)
The governor says the charging stations must always be accessible to the public and provide other amenities such as restrooms, food and beverage and shelter from inclement weather.
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Kansas Tax Collections Fall in December; 3.4% Below Estimate
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) – The State of Kansas took in less tax money than expected in December. Total tax collections for the last month of 2023 came in around $1 billion, about $37 million below the estimate. Revenue Secretary Mark Burghart said corporate income tax receipts were lower than expected. Overall, December tax collections were 3.4% less than predicted.
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Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas Could See More Days of Extreme Wildfire Risk in Next 100 Years
UNDATED (HPM) – A new study says climate change is increasing the risk of fire in Kansas and nearby states. Harvest Public Media reports that Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas are projected to get 30 more days per year of extreme wildfire risk by the end of this century. The region has already seen more major wildfires in recent decades. In March 2017, a series of blazes burned more than 2 million acres in these states. Changes to the landscape are one reason. For example, junipers are invading prairies and making it harder to control fires. But the new analysis from the Desert Research Institute shows that climate change will exacerbate the problem.
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Congressional Bill Seeks to Boost Bio-Refinery Industry
UNDATED (HPM) - Backers of bio-fuels and bio-manufacturing are looking to a bill in Congress as a way to develop the industry in the U.S. The Ag BIO (bye-oh) Act would expand an existing aid program to provide more financing for facilities that make corn and soybean-based biofuels and other biotech products, such as textiles and cosmetics. Beth Conerty is with a bio-processing research lab at the University of Illinois. She says new financial aid could help ensure that the U.S. keeps pace with other countries in the bio-manufacturing field. “If you’re looking at the more traditional manufacturing processes, a lot of that has been off-shored," she said. "But using biology as a manufacturing tool, I wouldn’t say that anybody has won that yet. And it is an opportunity for the U.S.”
Harvest Public Media reports that the Ag BIO Act was introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate this fall with bipartisan backing. Lloyd Ritter is with the Agriculture Energy Coalition. He says if the bill passes, the U.S. could produce more biofuels and other crop-based alternatives to products - from plastics to detergents that are now made from petroleum. “Anything that we produce or have produced from traditional refineries for the last hundred years or so can be made by our farmers and our clean technology and biotechnology companies," he said. The Ag BIO Act would create a new grant for building and expanding biorefineries. Backers hope to get the legislation attached to the new Farm Bill.
(Read more on this story from Harvest Public Media.)
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Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes Won't Play in Regular-Season Finale Against Chargers
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes will sit out the Kansas City Chiefs' regular-season finale against the Chargers on Sunday in Los Angeles with their eighth straight AFC West title secured and the No. 3 seed in the playoffs already locked up.
The Chiefs can do no better or worse in their postseason positioning after last week's win over Cincinnati clinched the division, so coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Mahomes would get a week of rest. Veteran backup Blaine Gabbert will start and second-year pro Chris Oladokun, who has spent the season on the practice squad, will be the primary backup.
Gabbert was signed in the offseason to replace Chad Henne, who retired after last year's Super Bowl triumph. The Chiefs have long valued having a veteran behind Mahomes, and Gabbert has started 48 games and appeared in 68 over 12 NFL seasons. “He works so stinking hard in practice. It's great to have that opportunity to go out and play,” Reid said. “He's been a starter in the league. We have confidence he knows what to do, and he'll go in there and do well.”
The Chiefs (10-6) have struggled with offensive consistency this season, whether because of dropped passes, penalties or missed assignments. But while they finally played well in a 25-17 victory over the Bengals — despite drives fizzling and Harrison Butker kicking six field goals — Reid said he didn't consider giving Mahomes any snaps to keep the momentum going.
Mahomes instead will turn most of his attention to the five potential opponents that Kansas City could face the following week, and Gabbert and Oladokun will split practice reps as they prepared to head to Los Angeles. “Ultimately the reason we play football is to play in the games, right? And it's a great opportunity not only for myself but others to play in different positions than they have been in throughout the year,” Gabbert said. “It's great to get reps under your belt so when your number is called in the playoffs, if it is called, you're ready to go.” Reid indicated he was aware of some looming milestones, but he declined to say whether they would matter in playing time.
The biggest might belong to Travis Kelce, who needs 16 yards receiving for his eighth straight 1,000-yard season. That would extend his own club record and the NFL record for a tight end, and be the fourth-longest streak in NFL history. “That's now how Travis plays. He wants team success first and he's always been that way," Gabbert said. “If it's Coach Reid's decision to have him rest, he'll rest. But if he's out there, we'll do our damn best to get him those yards.”
Wide receiver Rashee Rice needs 58 yards receiving to break Dwayne Bowe's franchise record for a rookie, while defensive tackle Chris Jones needs a half sack to trigger a $1.25 million bonus in the revised contract he signed prior to the season.
Asked how the conversations about those milestones might go, Reid said with a smile: “Probably one-sided.”
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Royals Hire Longtime Nationals Executive DiPuglia in Shakeup to International Scouting
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals hired longtime Washington Nationals executive Johnny DiPuglia as their special assistant of international scouting and Fred Guerrero as their coordinator of player evaluation on Thursday in two important additions to their front office.
The Royals have been overhauling their player evaluation system since J.J. Picollo took over as general manager more than a year ago. The decision to hire DiPuglia, who spent 11 seasons with the Boston Red Sox before his run with the Nationals, will give Kansas City a fresh approach to international scouting.
DiPuglia was responsible for signing Juan Soto, Xander Bogaerts and Hanley Ramírez during his career.
Guerrera is joining the Royals from AL Central-rival Minnesota, where he had been director of Latin American scouting for nearly a decade. He was involved in the signing of such players as Luis Arráez, Yennier Cano and Danny Santana.
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