WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

 

Governor Kelly Discusses Keeping Kansans Healthy and Kansas’s Economy Open for Business at 2020 County Health Rankings

 

 

Watch the Full Event

 

• “But regardless of political consequences, I will continue advocating for the strategy that will best keep Kansans healthy, and keep our economy open for business and our schools open for learning.

 

Press:

 

• Panel: Education and health policies go hand in hand for improving outcomes for Kansans

Topeka Capital-Journal

 

• Kansas Education officials discuss health, education and COVID-19

WIBW

 

 

Governor Kelly Honors Kansas Gold Star Families

 

 

Read the Press Release and Proclamation

 

• “Our country has fitting tributes to the members of our military who answer the call of duty, put service above self, and the many who have made the ultimate sacrifice. But the loved ones our fallen servicemembers leave behind – our Gold Star Families – have endured the loss of these brave men and women, often without the recognition they deserve. This new monument is an appropriate honor for their courage and resilience.”

 

Press:

 

• Gov. Kelly attends Gold Star Families Memorial Monument unveiling

WIBW

 

 

Governor Kelly Proclaims September 22^nd as National Voter Registration Day in Kansas

 

 

Read the Press Release

 

• “Opportunities for in-person voting registration are among the many normal routines that have become more difficult as a result of COVID-19,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “But an active and engaged citizenry is critical to the success of our democracy on any level. We must do all we can to protect and expand Kansans’ voting rights and encourage all people – particularly young people – to vote in November and beyond.”

 

Press:

 

• Gov. Kelly proclaims National Voter Registration Day in Kansas

WIBW

 

• Kansas Governor Laura Kelly Proclaims Sept. 22 as National Voter Registration Day

KSHB

 

 

Governor Kelly Provides Words of Wisdom for Women Leaders

 

 

• “While the pandemic and the past several months have brought immense challenges, it has also made it clear what we’ve known all along: Despite being historically excluded from leadership positions, women are natural leaders.”

 

Learn More About Kansas Association of School Boards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Governor Kelly Kicks Off United Way Nancy Perry Day of Caring

 

 

Read the Press Release

 

• “However volunteers choose to give back today – whether it’s painting a house, writing notes of encouragement, or entering data – please know that these efforts make our families, our neighborhoods, our city, and our state stronger.”

 

Press:

 

• Today is Nancy Perry Day of Caring

KSNT

 

• United Way’s Nancy Perry Day of Caring kicks off with Gov. Kelly, Nancy Perry

WIBW 

 

ICYMI

 

• Kansas Governor Laura Kelly Talks Covid-19 And Ag Workers

WIBW News

 

• Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Medicaid expansion: ‘We have become an island in the Midwest”‘

KSHB

 

• Why Reggie Robinson should be a household name in Kansas

Kansas Reflector 

 

• Editorial: Hispanic Heritage Month highlights integral contributions

The Topeka Capital-Journal 

 

• Without federal help, Kansas faces ‘nasty cocktail’ of budget choices next year

Kansas Reflector

 

• Gov. Kelly extends Driver’s License expiration dates

WIBW

 

• Kansas agencies mailing 277,000 voter registration applications

Kansas Reflector

 

 

Governor Kelly Announces Webinars available for School-age Programs and Providers to Learn about Eligibility for $40 Million of Grant Programs

 

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly invites school-age programs and providers to participate in a series of webinars to learn about grant opportunities provided by the $40 million of CARES Funding recently approved by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) taskforce and the State Finance Council.

 

“We’re committed to providing all Kansas children a safe learning environment and these grants help ensure that will occur even in the midst of a pandemic,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I encourage all eligible providers to participate in these webinars and learn about the resources that will soon be available to them.”

 

The webinars, hosted by the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, will be available at the following times:

• Saturday, September 26 at 11:00 am for Remote Learning Grants. This webinar will focus exclusively on the specifics of the upcoming Remote Learning Grant opportunity, which will help address the remote learning and supervision needs of school-age children. School-age programs, KDHE-licensed child care providers, and those with demonstrated experience and success developing and delivering quality, safe, out-of-home care and education services/programs for school-age children are encouraged to attend.

 

• Tuesday, September 29 at 6:30 pm for Remote Learning Grants and Resources for Child Care Providers. This webinar will feature a brief recap of the Remote Learning Grant opportunity, as well as provide an overview of specific resources currently available to support child care providers including the Child Care Health Consultant Network. School-age programs, KDHE-licensed child care providers, and those with demonstrated experience and success delivering quality, safe, out-of-home care and education services/programs for school-age children are encouraged to attend.
• Saturday, October 3 at 11:00 am for Resources for Child Care Providers. This webinar will focus exclusively on the specific resources currently available to support child care providers, including the Child Care Health Consultant Network. KDHE-licensed child care providers are encouraged to attend to hear guidance on eligibility, key dates, and available consultant and funding resources.

 

Potential applicants can participate live in the webinars through a simple registration process. Visit https://kschildrenscabinet.org to register. The webinars will also be available on demand within 24 hours following each live date on the Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund website (https://kschildrenscabinet.org).

State Finance Council approves $290 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds for Child Supervision, Public Health, Other Essential Services

 

TOPEKA – The State Finance Council (SFC) today unanimously approved a total of $290 million for the public health, essential needs and services, and business resiliency and workforce development programs previously recommended by the Executive Committee of the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce.

 

“These funds will provide child supervision for parents with school-age children to ensure they can keep working, reduce evictions, and provide tools to help slow the spread of COVID-19,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I commend the SPARK taskforce and the State Finance Council, who crafted and approved these recommendations that will strongly support Kansans’ health and keep our state on the path economic recovery.”

 

Recognizing the constantly evolving health and economic needs created by the pandemic, the recommendations do not allocate all the funds immediately. Rather, the Office of Recovery will monitor demand for the funds from approved programs and submit additional allocations to the State Finance Council for approval.  Each program requires a minimum be invested in an area of emphasis, which include COVID-19 testing, housing stability, and remote learning centers for school-age children.  If those areas of emphasis do not require more funding, the remaining dollars in the reserve fund can be allocated to previous programs approved by the SFC in round 2.

 

“It was important to the SPARK taskforce to ensure there was flexibility and to not overcommit funds too early and be unable to respond should needs shift again this fall,” SPARK Chairman Lyle Butler said. “I want to thank SFC for sharing this concern and supporting a dynamic approach that will serve Kansas well.”

 

The $290 million approved today is for the third and final round of funding of the Coronavirus Relief Fund, which is part of the federal CARES Act.  Previously, SFC approved $400 million to Kansas counties (round 1) and $314 million for statewide priorities of public health, education, economic development, and connectivity (round 2).

 

“I want to thank both SPARK and the State Finance Council for providing the flexibility to deliver timely investments and ability to respond to shifting needs,” Recovery Office Executive Director Julie Lorenz said.  “With flexibility comes an even greater need for transparency and accountability for how these funds are utilized and we remain committed to reporting our progress to SPARK, SFC, and Kansans so they can see how their tax dollars are being spent.”

 

Below is a breakdown of the minimum investment requirements and allocations approved for each program.

 

	Public Health	Essential Needs & Services	Business Resiliency & Workforce Support
Minimum investment required for emphasis area	$52.7 M COVID-19 testing	$35M Housing Stability	$40M Child Supervision
Allocations	$10M KDEM/FEMA Match $10M PPE for Adult Homes	$30M Continuity of Ops. $30M KDOL	$5M HIRE Fund
Reserve Fund	$30.3 M	$25 M	$20M
Program total	$105M	$120M	$65M

 

Governor Laura Kelly Issues Executive Order Allowing Continued Delivery of COVID-19 Recovery Supplies

 

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced she has signed Executive Order #20-65, which extends temporary relief for motor carriers from certain rules and regulations allowing them to quickly deliver supplies necessary to assist Kansas in its COVID-19 recovery efforts.

 

“I want to thank motor carriers across the nation who have been working diligently throughout the pandemic to make sure medical supplies, food shipments, and other critical items reach those who need them,” Governor Kelly said. “I will continue following the lead of our federal partners to decrease the burden on our motor carriers, and ensure these supplies reach their destinations as quickly as possible.”

 

Executive Order #20-65 extends temporary relief for motor carriers from certain rules and regulations until rescinded, until December 31, 2020, or until the statewide State of Disaster Emergency expires, whichever is earlier. It is an extension of measures put in place by Executive Order #20-62. 

   

The order lifts certain weight restrictions and permitting requirements to allow needed medical supplies, food shipments, and other items to move through Kansas as quickly as possible. These exceptions apply only to motor carriers actively participating in COVID-19 response efforts.  

  

View E.O. #20-65 here.

Governor Laura Kelly Announces $500,000 Grant to Protect Historic Kansas Properties

~National Park Service awards $500,000 Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant to the Kansas Historical Society~

 

TOPEKA—Governor Laura Kelly today announced a new program that will assist Kansans who own historic properties in communities with populations under 30,000. The National Park Service has awarded the $500,000 Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant to the Kansas Historical Society. The Historical Society’s Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will develop this new sub-grant program, Kansas Rural Preservation.

 

“Kansas is home to many historical and cultural sites that tell the story of our state and our country’s past,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Thanks to the National Park Service and the Kansas Historical Society, we can be assured that markers that are part of our history will be protected for future generations to learn from and enjoy.”

 

More details about the sub-grant program and applications will become available this winter at kshs.org/20430. Or contact Katrina Ringler, SHPO grants manager, at 785-272-8681, ext. 215; [email protected]; to be placed on a notification list for further details.

 

Kansas was among eight recipients to receive the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants this year. A total of $4.8 million was awarded in 2020 to support the preservation of historic buildings in rural communities across America. Now in its second year, the Paul Bruhn Historical Revitalization Grants are named for a former executive director of the Preservation Trust of Vermont.

 

Congress appropriates funding for various programs, including the Paul Bruhn Revitalization Grant, through the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). The HPF uses revenue from federal oil leases on the Outer Continental Shelf to assist preservation projects in all states, territories, and many tribal lands. For more information about the Paul Bruhn Revitalization Grant, find more at go.nps.gov/revitalization.

 

Agriculture Marketing and Promotions Advisory Board to Hold Virtual Meeting on September 17

 

MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Marketing and Promotions Advisory Board will meet at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 17. This is a regularly scheduled board meeting that will be held via virtual meeting or by utilizing a call-in option.

 

The mission of the KDA Agricultural Marketing, Advocacy and Outreach Team is to serve all Kansans through innovative programming and delivering solutions designed to create an environment that facilitates growth and expansion in agriculture while increasing pride in and awareness of the state’s largest industry — agriculture.

 

The meeting is open to the public. To request a copy of the agenda or directions on how to participate in the virtual meeting, please contact Kerry Wefald, agriculture marketing director, at 785-564-6758 or [email protected].

 

Persons who require special accommodations must make their needs known at least two days prior to the meeting.

 

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WHO:            Marketing and Promotions Advisory Board

Kansas Department of Agriculture

 

WHAT:          Regular Board Meeting

 

WHEN:          September 17, 2020, at 9:00 a.m.

 

 

 

Topeka – Phone and internet services are vital for online learning, applying for jobs, accessing healthcare, and calling for help in an emergency. The Lifeline program offers discounts to help eligible low-income and unemployed Kansans connect to those services. More than 10 million Americans, including 35,000 in Kansas, are currently enrolled in the program.

As part of National Lifeline Awareness Week, September 14-18, the Kansas Corporation Commission wants to make Kansans aware of this valuable resource. Depending on the services provided and your provider, residents may be eligible to receive up to $17.02 in monthly federal and state discounts. Subscribers living on tribal lands qualify for additional discounts.

This year, a new National Verifier program helps speed up the approval process for applicants enrolled in assistance programs by quickly confirming Lifeline eligibility. Residents enrolled in any of the following assistance programs may be eligible for the Lifeline program: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FHPA), Veterans Pension & Survivors Pension Benefit, Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Head Start Tribal Programs (only those meeting its income qualifying standard), and the Food Distribution Program on Tribal Lands.

Those at 135% of the federal poverty level also qualify with income documentation. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the requirement of three months of income documentation was waived until November 30, 2020 to allow recently unemployed individuals to apply for the program by submitting an official document, including notice of unemployment benefits to confirm their income-based eligibility.

More information about Lifeline eligibility, participating providers and the enrollment process is available on the KCC’s website at: https://kcc.ks.gov/telecommunications/lifeline.