Kansas Democrats, Republicans React to Joe Biden's Withdrawal from Presidential Race
UNDATED (KPR) - Kansas Republicans and Democrats are reacting to President Joe Biden's decision to drop his re-election campaign. Governor Laura Kelly and Congresswoman Sharice Davids were among the Kansas Democrats who praised Biden's dedication to public service. Kansas Republicans, including Senator Roger Marshall and Congressman Ron Estes, questioned the president's ability to complete the final six months of his term. Senator Marshall joined other Republicans, including the Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, in calling for Biden to resign, saying if Biden's not fit to campaign for president, he's not fit to serve as president.
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Kansas Democratic Party Chair Supports Kamala Harris Candidacy
UNDATED (KCUR) – Some elected officials in the Kansas City region have now put their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency, after Joe Biden ended his campaign. KCUR reports that many local elected officials who endorsed Biden have now shifted their support to Harris. Jeanna Repass chairs the Kansas Democratic Party. She supports Biden’s decision to withdraw, and says that Harris is ready for the presidency. “We all signed off that she was not only capable, but vetted. She was the person that we knew that, God forbid, if something happened to Biden, she's our president. So I full-throatedly endorse her,” she clarified. Repass says she’ll meet with her local Democratic delegation to take the next steps.
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Prosecutor Announces Additional Charge in Super Bowl Parade Shootings
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCUR) – Jackson County, Missouri, Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker on Monday announced another charge against the man suspected of starting the Super Bowl parade shootings. KCUR reports that Baker says 23-year-old Lyndell Mays was indicted by a grand jury on a new felony charge for his role in the February 14th shooting at Union Station. It’s called “causing catastrophe” and alleges that Mays knowingly caused death or serious physical injury to 10 or more people when the shooting created a crowd surge and stampede. Prosecutors say Mays was the first to pull a gun. He already faced four felony counts including second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Lisa Lopez-Galvan.
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Federal Agency Delivers $63 Million Grant to Replace Kansas River Bridge in KCK
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Kansas Reflector) — Federal money will be used to help replace a bridge over the Kansas River in Kansas City, Kansas. A $63 million grant will be used to replace the aging 18th Street Bridge over the river. The Kansas Reflector reports that the bridge was built in 1959, as part of U.S. Highway 69. The Kansas Department of Transportation determined that repairing the bridge would not be cost effective. The grant, from the U.S. Department of Transportation, will allow the replacement project to proceed. The 18th Street project would provide accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians at both ends of the bridge. Construction is set to begin in 2025 and will take about two years.
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Rural Parts of Kansas Get More Naloxone, Thanks to DCCCA Grant
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS/KMUW) - Rural Kansas schools, local health departments, community centers and colleges are being equipped with naloxone. DCCCA (also called "Decca"), provides social and community services designed to improve health, safety and well-being. The organization recently placed boxes filled with naloxone in high schools in Clay County. Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses opioid overdoses. Matt Weller, with the Clay County School District, says the boxes have helped raise awareness about the opioid crisis in the community. “Knowing more about it can save lives, and it is happening close to home," he said. "And so, I think just being transparent about it, being honest about it, is important.”
Cara Anderson, who works for DCCCA, says they are distributing the lifesaving drug statewide. “So, a big part of our job is to work on stigma reduction and help people understand that this is something that we do see in Kansas, and this is what we can do to combat it," she said. Other communities interested in being equipped with naloxone can contact DCCCA to learn more. DCCCA received a grant to distribute the lifesaving medicine, as well a personal protective equipment and instruction on how to use the medicine and equipment.
Other communities interested in being equipped with naloxone can contact DCCCA to learn more.
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Miss Kansas Draws Praise for Highlighting Domestic Abuse
UNDATED (KPR) - The current Miss Kansas, Alexis Smith, is getting praise for highlighting the problem of domestic violence. A recently posted video of Smith, calling out her own abuser on stage, is whipping up a lot of support on social media. Smith was crowned Miss Kansas on June 8, but only recently posted the video of her on stage comments. In the video, she announced from the stage that her abuser was in the audience - but that her abuser would not stop her from being in the pageant. She did not identify her abuser by name. Contestants in the pageant have a platform or cause they champion. Smith's platform is combating domestic violence. Smith, an ICU nurse, will represent Kansas in next January's Miss America pageant.
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Smoky Hill River to Flow Through Downtown Salina Once Again
UNDATED (KNS) – Downtown Salina will have a flowing river by the end of 2030 – along with trails and boat launches. The Kansas News Service reports that sixty years ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers protected Salina from flooding by building a channel that bypassed seven miles of the Smoky Hill River. Now the Army Corps will help Salina safely restore flow to that stretch in the downtown area – and add wetland habitat. Martha Tasker leads the project for the city of Salina. She says residents miss the river where many grew up fishing, boating and picnicking. “Many people would like to have the ability to connect with the river again and just enjoy that life again,” she explained. The U.S. Department of Transportation will help the city pay for new bridges, a boardwalk, boat launches and other amenities.
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Lawrence Man is Topeka's Latest Homicide Victim
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) - A Lawrence man has been identified as Topeka's 11th homicide victim of the year. KSNT reports that 31-year-old Earon Cooper was found Saturday morning with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
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Train Derails in Franklin County, Spilling Corn
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Kan. (WIBW) - A Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) train carrying corn derailed over the weekend in Franklin County. No one was injured in the early Saturday morning derailment west of Ottawa. WIBW TV reports that a large amount of grain was spilled. The cause of the derailment is under investigation. It was the second BNSF to derail Saturday morning. Earlier that morning, another BNSF train derailed Saturday morning, this time in Minnesota. CBS News reports that the train slid off the tracks about 48 miles northwest of the Twin Cities. No one was injured.
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Study: Increasing Risk to Kansas Oil and Gas Wells from Wildfires
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KNS) - A new study finds oil and gas wells in Kansas are increasingly in the path of wildfires. Scientists at the University of California Berkeley say wildfires have struck areas in Kansas with hundreds of active and inactive oil and gas wells in recent years. David Gonzalez is a professor of public health. “We are concerned that this is something that’s going to get worse as climate change progresses. And I think that’s particularly a concern, given that oil wells are going to be with us for a long time.” He says more research is needed because this raises the concern that fires affecting wells could damage oil and gas infrastructure or generate toxic air pollution. Major wildfires are becoming more frequent on the Great Plains.
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Worlds of Fun Roller Coaster Halted
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A roller coaster came to a halt at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. The Mamba stopped unexpectedly Saturday, due to technical difficulties. KCTV reports that riders were forced to deboard. A spokesperson for the amusement park said the roller coaster's stoppage is a built-in safety feature to stop the ride if something unexpected happens.
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City Commission Considers Open Carry of Alcohol in Downtown Lawrence
LAWRENCE, Kan. (Daily Kansan) — Lawrence city commissioners are considering whether to allow the open carry of alcohol in parts of downtown Lawrence. So far, the idea is just a proposal, but the city is thinking about creating a Common Consumption Area, a designated public area where individuals can openly carry and consume alcohol. The University Daily Kansan reports that the idea was discussed at last week's meeting and is still in the early stages of consideration. While the idea is gaining some traction, some commissioners, business owners and residents have expressed concerns.
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Lawrence Municipal Court Will Accept $15 of School Supplies to Pay for $50 in Fines
LAWRENCE, Kan. (Lawrence Times) — Lawrence Municipal Court is holding a school supply drive that will allow people to pay off $50 in fines with $15 worth of school supplies. This is the second year the court has held the drive for school supplies. The Lawrence Times reports that last year, the court brought in more than 900 items. The new school supplies must come from an approved supply list, along with the receipt to get credit toward traffic and/or parking fines.
Here’s the list of specific supplies that will apply toward fines:
- Washable markers (thick; Classic 8-pack)
- #2 Pencils, colored pencils, highlighters
- Dry erase markers (wide; blue/black)
- 24-pack Crayola Crayons
- Glue sticks/liquid glue
- 2-pocket folders
- Composition notebooks/spiral notebooks (wide rule)
- Scissors
- Index cards (100 ct.)
- Ream of paper (500 sheets; white)
- Pencil box
- Fine or ultra fine point black Sharpie
- Headphones (over the ear; no earbuds)
- Backpacks
- Antibacterial wipes
- Kleenex
- Play-Doh
People can also choose to donate toward fines on another person’s account. Anyone with questions can call the court at (785) 832-6190.
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Wichita Med School Teams with Western Kansas Hospitals to Train Student Doctors
LIBERAL, Kan. (KNS) – A Wichita medical school has teamed up with hospitals in western Kansas to give student doctors the opportunity to experience health care in rural areas. The Kansas News Service reports that it’s hard to keep hospitals in rural southwest Kansas open, let alone fully staffed. It’s not uncommon for patients to travel hours to see a specialist, or to change doctors every few years. That’s why the Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine is letting student doctors shadow health professionals in rural areas. Officials there hope this will encourage more future physicians to consider practicing in western Kansas. Chris Cervantes recruits physicians for Common Spirit, which has three hospitals in southwest Kansas. “Providers want to know, why they should move into an isolated area, and just the different benefits that we can provide to these people,” Cervantes says. He added that the benefit of working in health care in western Kansas is that it allows doctors to stay busy and learn quickly.
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State Health Officials: Kansans At-Risk for West Nile Virus
UNDATED (KNS) – Residents in a large swath of Kansas are at high risk for being bitten by a mosquito carrying West Nile virus. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued warnings across the state. The Kansas News Service reports that the central and northwest portions are at high risk, while the east and southwest areas of Kansas are at moderate risk. Health officials say people over 50 and those who are immuno-compromised should adjust outdoor activities to avoid peak mosquito hours, which are from dusk to dawn. The West Nile virus can cause flu-like symptoms. About one in 150 infected people develop swelling of the brain, which can be fatal.
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