Category Archives: Kansas

Government, Kansas

Kansas Adjutant General Resigns

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Governor announces planned resignation of Kansas Adjutant General

 

Governor Laura Kelly today announced the planned resignation of Kansas Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli.

 

Tafanelli, who has served as the state’s Adjutant General since Jan. 8, 2011, will step down from his current post on March 31.

 

The Adjutant General is the principal military advisor to the Governor. As the Adjutant General, Tafanelli oversees the activities of the Adjutant General’s Department, which includes the Kansas Army and Air National Guard. He also serves as the director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management and director of Kansas Homeland Security. For budgetary and administrative purposes, he is responsible for the Civil Air Patrol.

 

Tafanelli also served in the Kansas House of Representatives.

 

“I want to thank Major General Tafanelli for his outstanding service to the people of Kansas and our nation, and for his steadfast leadership of such a critical part of our government operations,” Governor Kelly said. “His efforts have aided Kansans in many ways, to include his direction of the state’s response in communities impacted by disasters such as tornadoes, flooding and more recently wildfires. He has served his state and nation well, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

 

“As I look back on the past 39 years of my career in uniform, I have been blessed to work on a team of the most outstanding and dedicated professionals and I am extremely proud of the men and women of our Department,” Tafanelli said in his letter of resignation to the Governor. “They work tirelessly to carry out our Agency mission, working in public service for a greater cause and have proven always willing to sacrifice to make our state and nation a better place.”

 

Tafanelli also thanked Governor Kelly for her leadership and support.

 

“It has truly been an honor and privilege to serve as a member of your Cabinet as the Adjutant General of this great State,” he said in the letter.

 

The Governor will release details on a succession plan later this month.

 

Government, Kansas

Rural Prosperity Listening Tour Report

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Governor, Lt. Governor announce release Office of Rural Prosperity listening tour report

 

Governor Laura Kelly and Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers announced at a press conference today the release of the Office of Rural Prosperity Listening Tour report.

 

The Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP), housed within the Kansas Department of Commerce, was created by Governor Kelly as a way to help revitalize and highlight rural Kansas communities.

 

The Office’s new report includes details regarding the unique needs and strengths of rural communities across Kansas that were gathered during a listening tour conducted this summer by Lt. Governor Rogers and outlines the Office’s recommendations for fostering growth and prosperity in these areas.

 

“I am proud of the work Lt. Governor Rogers has done to identify rural communities’ barriers to long-term prosperity,” Governor Kelly said. “We are committed to partnering with rural communities, to develop policies that help Kansans succeed.”

 

The report is a summary of conversations and public listening sessions with hundreds of Kansans about what prosperity means to their community.

 

“Through our discussions with rural communities, we learned a lot about rural Kansans’ unique challenges,” Lt. Governor Rogers said. “Which include housing; physical and digital infrastructure; economic and workforce development; high property taxes; and access to quality, affordable health care and child care.”

 

The report outlines several areas ORP will be focusing on in the coming months to begin addressing these challenges. It includes plans to create three Interagency Work Groups that will develop tools to help address the unique challenges facing rural communities in the areas of housing; childcare; and workforce recruitment, retention and education. These groups will bring together state and federal agencies to help identify what our state can be doing better when it comes to each area, find available resources and make recommendations for administrative changes.

 

“While the creation of the Office of Rural Prosperity and my listening tour were great first steps, we know there is much more work to do in order to facilitate growth and prosperity in rural communities,” Lt. Governor Rogers said. “I am excited to continue working to improve rural Kansans’ quality of life one step at a time.”

 

To access to full report, click here.

 

Government, Kansas

Kansas gets new personalized license plate design: wind turbines are featured

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Topeka – Beginning January 15, 2020, a new personalized license plate design will be seen on Kansas roads. The plate, featuring wind turbines on a Kansas sunrise, is aptly named “Powering the Future.” It will serve as a reminder of the state’s long history of embracing the natural energy resource of wind.

“Kansas is a leader in alternative energy and this plate helps feature the fact the state has a long history of adopting technology that shapes the future,” Secretary of Revenue Mark Burghart said.

“I am pleased that this license plate design comes on the heels of Kansas being ranked first in the nation for percentage of electricity produced by wind,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “At the same time, it is a display of an expanding industry that contributes so much to the economic fabric of our state.”

“The new personalized plate design has been highly anticipated,” David Harper, Director of Vehicles, said. “We are happy that people continue to take pride in and show interest in the option for personalized plates.”

Customers will need to go into their local county treasurer’s office to place the order for the personalized plate.

To obtain the personalized plate, county treasurers will require customers to have their current registration receipt, photo ID, and proof of insurance.

Customers who currently don’t have a personalized plate can go to their local county treasurer’s office with those documents and pay the plate fee and any additional fees associated with the plate order. They will receive a temporary vehicle tag and the metal plate will arrive in the mail. This can be done ahead of the regular renewal month.

Kansas gets new personalized license plate design

Topeka – Beginning January 15, 2020, a new personalized license plate design will be seen on Kansas roads. The plate, featuring wind turbines on a Kansas sunrise, is aptly named “Powering the Future.” It will serve as a reminder of the state’s long history of embracing the natural energy resource of wind.

“Kansas is a leader in alternative energy and this plate helps feature the fact the state has a long history of adopting technology that shapes the future,” Secretary of Revenue Mark Burghart said.

“I am pleased that this license plate design comes on the heels of Kansas being ranked first in the nation for percentage of electricity produced by wind,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “At the same time, it is a display of an expanding industry that contributes so much to the economic fabric of our state.”

“The new personalized plate design has been highly anticipated,” David Harper, Director of Vehicles, said. “We are happy that people continue to take pride in and show interest in the option for personalized plates.”

Customers will need to go into their local county treasurer’s office to place the order for the personalized plate.

To obtain the personalized plate, county treasurers will require customers to have their current registration receipt, photo ID, and proof of insurance.

Customers who currently don’t have a personalized plate can go to their local county treasurer’s office with those documents and pay the plate fee and any additional fees associated with the plate order. They will receive a temporary vehicle tag and the metal plate will arrive in the mail. This can be done ahead of the regular renewal month.

For customers with the current 2015 personalized plate, a letter will be in the mail 45 days before the regular due date of the registration telling them they have the option to switch their current personalized combination to the new plate. Customers will be able to keep their 2015 personalized plate.

An application for a personalized plate can be printed and completed prior to the visit to the respective county treasurer’s office by clicking the following link: https://www.ksrevenue.org/pdf/tr715.pdf.

The cost of the plate will be $45.50 in addition to other registration fees and taxes normally due.

For customers with the current 2015 personalized plate, a letter will be in the mail 45 days before the regular due date of the registration telling them they have the option to switch their current personalized combination to the new plate. Customers will be able to keep their 2015 personalized plate.

An application for a personalized plate can be printed and completed prior to the visit to the respective county treasurer’s office by clicking the following link: https://www.ksrevenue.org/pdf/tr715.pdf.

The cost of the plate will be $45.50 in addition to other registration fees and taxes normally due.

Government, Kansas

Office of Rural Prosperity to hold press conference Monday

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Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers will hold a press conference at 10:30 a.m. Monday in the Lt. Governor’s Conference Room. The Office of Rural Prosperity will be announcing the release of its report after a year of traveling throughout the state, and the formation of the office.

 

Who:              Lt. Governor Rogers, Governor Laura Kelly, ORP Team

What:             Press Conference – Office of Rural Prosperity: Release of ORP Report

When:            10:30 a.m. Monday, January 13, 2020

Where:           Kansas Statehouse

Lt. Governor’s Conference Room 252-S

Topeka, KS

Government, Kansas

Governor’s State of the State address to be broadcast live on TV

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For the first time since 2015, the Governor’s State of the State address will be broadcast on live television in Kansas.

 

During the annual State of the State speech, Governor Kelly will report to the Kansas Legislature and to the state on her administration’s priorities for the 2020 Legislative Session.

 

When: Live broadcast: Wednesday, January 15, at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Smoky Hills Public Television; KTWU in Topeka; KPTS in Wichita; Check your local PBS network listings for information on the live and replayed State of the State broadcast on those stations and others throughout Kansas.

 

Government, Kansas

Kansas Animal Health Board to Meet January 16

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MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Board will meet via conference call at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 16, 2020. This is a regularly scheduled board meeting.

 

The meeting is open to the public. Individuals who have questions about the meeting, including how to access call-in information, should contact Animal Health Commissioner Justin Smith at 785-564-6601 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:            Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas Animal Health Board

 

WHAT:         Regular board meeting via conference call

 

WHEN:         7:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 16, 2020

 

WHERE:       Conference call
Government, Health Care, Kansas

Medicaid Expansion In Kansas

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Governor, Senate Majority Leader announce compromise
proposal to lower healthcare costs for Kansas families

Bipartisan agreement paves way for both Medicaid expansion and reinsurance

TOPEKA – After weeks of negotiations, Democratic Governor Laura Kelly and Republican Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning today announced a compromise proposal to expand Medicaid while lowering health insurance premiums for Kansas families.

 

“This process is far from over, as there are still several critical steps to be taken by the Kansas Legislature,” Kelly said. “But today, Senator Denning and I are proud to stand together to propose a bipartisan compromise that will expand Medicaid and lower healthcare costs for Kansas families. This proposal includes elements of my plan, of Senator Denning’s plan, of the 2019 House plan, and of the bipartisan plan that passed both chambers in 2017.”

 

The compromise proposal includes key elements to address concerns raised from both parties, in both chambers:

 

    • Full Medicaid Expansion: The proposal includes a full expansion of Medicaid to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) with a 90/10 match, to be effective no later than January 1, 2021.
    • Reinsurance: Pending Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approval of a 1332 waiver and release of funding by the State Finance Council, the proposal includes a reinsurance program to be effective no later than January 1, 2022. The agreement also requires the Kansas Insurance Department to complete an actuarial study of the reinsurance proposal and submit to the State Finance Council.
    • Medicaid Funding: The proposal includes an annual hospital Medicaid expansion support surcharge of up to $35 million, which has been endorsed by the Kansas Hospital Association, to be effective July 1, 2021. This compromise proposal does not require a tax increase.
    • Promoting Personal Responsibility: The agreement includes a robust work referral program that promotes self-reliance for non-working Medicaid beneficiaries, while limiting costly administrative red tape that drives up overall costs to taxpayers. Enrollees within the expansion population will make a modest contribution for health services through monthly premiums of up to $25 per month, or $100 for a family of four, as proposed in House Bill 2066.  The bill does not contain any lockouts. Instead, it collects unpaid premiums through the state’s debt setoff program. A hardship provision is also included.
    • Rural Health Care Innovations: The proposal creates an advisory committee within the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to support rural hospitals in assessing viability and identifying new delivery models, strategic partnerships and implementing financial and delivery system reform to improve the health of rural communities.

 

“My top priority is to lower the cost of healthcare for Kansans across the board. We want to give as many Kansans health care coverage as we can, in the Medicaid market and the non-Medicaid market,” Denning said.

While this proposal is the most sweeping compromise offered since the debate over Medicaid expansion began in 2013, both Kelly and Denning underscored that more work remains.

 

“We’ll both be working with our respective caucuses in the coming days to get their feedback and buy-in,” Denning said. “But all sides can find something in this bill to like. That means it’s probably about as middle of the road as it can get.”

 

“This compromise was an important first step, but our work is not over yet,” Kelly said. “Legislators, many of whom were here today, have the ability to bring this over the finish line in the early days of the 2020 session. I am calling on them to do just that.”

 

Government, Kansas

New Kansas Department of Human Services

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Governor Kelly Announces Reorganization Creating

Kansas Department of Human Services

New agency to include DCF, KDADS and KDOC Juvenile Services

 

Governor Laura Kelly today announced her intent to submit an executive reorganization order to the Kansas Legislature creating the Kansas Department of Human Services (KDHS). The new agency will include the current programs at the Department for Children and Families (DCF), Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) and the juvenile services division of the Department of Corrections.

 

Current Secretary of DCF and KDADS, Laura Howard, will lead the new KDHS.

 

“I ran for office, in part, to ensure that our most vulnerable citizens were protected and that somebody in Topeka was advocating for them,” Kelly said. “One of my key priorities since taking office has been fixing our broken safety net and ensuring that we have a system that is worthy of our citizens. The creation of this new, combined agency reinforces my commitment to our children and families in need and ensures they have access to critical services.

 

“The creation of the new agency allows us to focus on prevention, so that we can get to these families before their situation becomes a crisis,” Kelly said. “The Department of Human Services will partner with communities across the state to create a single point of entry for those who need access to services for things like child welfare, mental health, economic support and juvenile justice.”

 

Programs included in the new agency will include:

  • Adult protective services
  • Adult behavioral health
  • Long-term services and supports
  • Economic supports
  • Employment supports
  • Children’s mental-health supports
  • Child protective services
  • Juvenile justice and crossover youth
  • Foster care
  • Prevention
  • Licensing, credentialing, survey and certification
  • Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex
  • Larned State Hospital
  • Parsons State Hospital
  • Osawatomie State Hospital
  • Kansas Neurological Institute

 

Governor Kelly recognizes juvenile justice reform has resulted in a reduced need for incarceration while at the same time improving county community corrections case management. Including juvenile services in the new agency continues the improvement process.

 

“Given the needs of families for community collaboration and overlap, it makes sense to organize juvenile services and child welfare resources under one agency,” Kelly said.

 

“This is not going to be business as usual,” Howard said. “This combination of services gives us an opportunity to think differently about service delivery. We want Kansans to have seamless access to programs and services that will allow them to thrive. KDHS will be known for its innovation and willingness to work with community partners.”

 

“Secretary Howard is the perfect person to lead the new agency,” Kelly said. “I am confident that she has the vision and experience to launch an organization of this magnitude and ensure that all Kansans are well served by a commitment to continuous improvement and accountability.”

 

Governor Kelly will submit the ERO to the legislature within the first 30 days of session. The ERO becomes effective on July 1, following its transmittal to the Legislature, unless either the Senate or the House takes action on the ERO within 60 calendar days after submission.

Area News, Government, Kansas

Toland to Speak at Kansas Crossing Casino Jan. 23

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SEK, Inc. will host guest speaker Secretary David Toland of the Kansas Department of Commerce at its annual meeting on January 23rd at the Kansas Crossing Casino south of Pittsburg on US highway 69.

Members and non-members alike are all welcome to join SEK, Inc. as the Kansas Crossing Casino is hosting our annual meeting, dinner and social for the first time since the Casino/hotel was completed in 2017. Cost is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Activities begin at 5 pm with a social hour followed by dinner at 6 and the Secretary’s remarks and other annual meeting items thereafter.

To register, please call, text or email Executive Director Steve Davis at 620-235-9990, [email protected]. Please register by close of business on Friday, January 17th.

Southeast Kansas, Inc (SEK, Inc.) is a regional alliance of business leaders from a diverse economy. The organization represents manufacturing, retail, and service businesses along with county and city governments from 12 counties in Southeast Kansas.

Government, Health Care, Kansas

KDHE Offers Healthy Habits to Adopt this New Year

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Topeka – As 2020 begins, the Kansas Department of Health and Environments (KDHE) offers 10 healthy habits to begin or to continue this new year!

 

“We want to help Kansans live their best lives, so we have compiled a list of simple things every one of us can do starting today,” said Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of KDHE.

 

  1. Move more, sit less. Benefits of regular physical activity include maintained weight, reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, reduced high blood pressure and reduced arthritis pain. It also reduces your risk for many long-lasting (chronic) conditions, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke and several forms of cancer.
  2. Eat healthy. Good nutrition is key to good health. It can help sicknesses from happening and assist in healthy growth. So, reach for healthy options like fruits and vegetables instead of salty or sugary treats.
  3. Lose weight or keep a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases your risk for multiple, long-lasting (chronic) diseases. People who lose and keep a healthy weight can improve not only their physical health, but also their energy levels, general mood and self-confidence.
  4. Quit smoking. You are never too old to quit. Benefits include: lowered risk for lung cancer and many other types of cancer; reduced risk for heart disease and stroke; reduced heart disease risk within 1 to 2 years of quitting; reduced respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath and more money you will save! To get started, call the Kansas Tobacco Quitline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free support.
  5. Rethink your drink. You can substitute water for sugary or alcoholic drinks to reduce calories and stay safe. This simple change can reduce your risk of weight gain/obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney diseases, non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay and cavities and gout, a type of arthritis.
  6. Get screened for cancer. Regular screenings may find breast, cervical, colorectal (colon) and other cancers early, when treatment is likely to work best. Talk with your health care provider to see which ones you should have. Women, call Early Detection Works, 1-877-277-1368 to see if you qualify for support in paying for breast and cervical cancer screenings.
  7. Keep kids healthy and safe — talk to them about the dangers of vaping. Children develop their habits and behaviors at an early age and those habits can impact their life-long health. According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey data, e-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among both high school and middle school youth. Vaping is putting young people at risk for developing lifelong nicotine addictions.
  8. Get vaccinated. The best way to prevent common illnesses is to get and stay up-to-date on vaccinations. A complete immunization schedule for children and adults can be found at http://www.kdheks.gov/immunize/schedule.htm. For adolescent females, this includes getting vaccinated against HPV cancer.
  9. Get enough sleep. Get at least 7 hours of sleep per night. Lack of sleep can be a risk factor for many long-lasting (chronic) diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and depression.
  10. Maintain mental health. Mental health is an important part of overall health and well-being. While everybody has the blues, feels anxious or gets stressed at times, if you cannot shake these feelings, it’s important to get help. Poor mental health increases the risk for long-lasting (chronic) physical conditions like heart disease, stroke and cancer. Call the National Alliance on Mental Illness for resources 1-800-539-2660.

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Government, Jobs, Kansas

KANSASWORKS.com Introduces Live Chat Feature

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TOPEKA, Kan. – KANSASWORKS and the Kansas Department of Commerce announced today the addition of the live chat feature on KANSASWORKS.com.

 

The new feature allows Kansas residents unable to visit a physical Workforce Center location to interact with and seek help from the program’s qualified, professional staff. The live chat feature is maintained by employees around the state who are prepared to assist both job seekers and employers.

 

The feature will offer assistance with the full catalogue of KANSASWORKS services, including help with uploading resumes, locating Workforce Centers, creating job openings/job orders, helping to apply for jobs and more.

 

The live chat staff can also provide customers with referrals to relevant resources and services across Kansas, including other state programs which may be helpful for finding employment.

 

Individuals can stay connected with the KANSASWORKS program on its social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter) and the KANSASWORKS app, available on iOS and Android devices.

 

Government, Kansas

Larned Correctional Mental Health Faciltiy Visitations Cancelled

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Weekend Visitation and Programs Cancelled at Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility

 

Due to increased flu activity within the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility, all weekend visitation and religious programs will be cancelled at both the Central and West units for the dates of Jan. 4-5.

 

The health and safety of our inmates, staff and visitors is a top priority and we appreciate the community’s cooperation during this time. For questions regarding visitation, please call (620) 625-7658.