|
|
Category Archives: Kansas
Gov. Kelly Recognized for Bipartisan Leadership
Governor Laura Kelly Named “Common Ground Champion” for Bipartisan Leadership
Nonpartisan Scorecard Ranks Kelly Highest in Kansas,
Second-Highest Governor in US
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly has been named a “Common Ground Champion” for her bipartisan leadership and commitment to working across the aisle to deliver results for Kansans. This recognition comes from the Common Ground Committee (CGC), a nonpartisan organization devoted to improving public discourse in politics, as part of their Common Ground Scorecard of elected officials. She is the highest-ranking elected official in Kansas and the second highest-ranking governor in the country.
In her first term, Governor Kelly signed 286 bipartisan bills into law.
“I have worked with Kansans of all political stripes to balance the budget, fully fund our schools, build a record-breaking economy, axe taxes, and invest in our law enforcement and infrastructure,” said Governor Kelly. “I am proud that my record reflects my commitment to working across the aisle to find common-sense solutions, and I thank the Common Ground Committee for this recognition.”
The scorecard assesses the degree to which elected officials and candidates for office seek points of agreement on social and political issues through listening and productive conversation. Governor Kelly has affirmed the “Common Ground Attributes,” which include listening first, staying respectful, and seeking progress.
“Americans are divided over the direction of the country and how to solve many issues we currently face. To make progress, leaders must be committed to working across the aisle and finding solutions that address all our citizens’ concerns,” said Erik Olsen, co-founder of CGC. “But while they are divided on issues, Americans agree that they want to see their representatives work together and solve problems. We hope that more lawmakers follow Gov. Kelly’s lead and make a commitment to finding common ground.”
Governor Kelly’s score of 80 out of 100 is 51 points higher than the national average score of 29 and 48 points higher than the Kansas average score of 32.
Click here For more information on the Common Ground Scorecard and Governor Kelly’s score.
For more information about the Common Ground Committee, contact Jim Luetkemeyer at [email protected].
Kansas Buffalo Being Auctioned on Nov. 2
|
KS Virtual Job Fair Oct. 19
|
KS Lifetime Hunting, Fishing License’s Available for Kids
|
Fort Scott Get $1.5 Million For U.S. Hwy. 54
Governor Laura Kelly Announces 34 Cities
Across Kansas to Receive $28M
for Local Highway Improvements
FORT SCOTT – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that 34 cities across Kansas have been selected to receive a total of $28.65 million for improvements to the State Highway System located within city boundaries. The funds will be directed to preserve and improve pavement, add turn lanes, and modify intersections along essential roadways in both rural and urban areas throughout the state.
The grants are administered through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s City Connecting Link Improvement Program (CCLIP). The program is an important component of the state’s bipartisan transportation program, IKE, passed under the Kelly Administration.
“By making this investment, we’re improving the safety and accessibility of Kansas roadways that are local centers of community life,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Through these grants, we’re delivering economic opportunities throughout rural and urban Kansas.”
Governor Kelly and Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz announced the CCLIP awards in Fort Scott, where $1.5 million in CCLIP funds will be directed to improvements on U.S. 54, also known as Wall Street.
KDOT was able to increase CCLIP funding level for this selection cycle by more than $10 million over previous years due to additional federal funds coming to Kansas as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation (BIL). Both federal and state funds are designated for the CCLIP program and local matching funds are required based on city population.
“With the Connecting Link program, KDOT partners with communities to find solutions to support local transportation priorities,” Transportation Secretary Lorenz said. “I very much appreciate the power of the state and communities pooling funds to make improvements.”
A City Connecting Link is defined as any routing of the State Highway System located with the corporate limits of a city, not including the Interstate System. For this CCLIP cycle applying to state fiscal years 2024-2025, KDOT received 54 applications requesting $38 million.
There are three categories of CCLIP projects: Surface Preservation (SP), which extends the life of the driving surface; Pavement Restoration (PR), which rehabilitates or replaces pavement; and Geometric Improvement (GI), which addresses safety or capacity by improving roadway turn lanes, intersections, or modifying lane configurations.
For each project – the category, city, highway, and amount awarded include:
|
Category |
City |
Highway |
CCLIP Funds |
|
Northeast Kansas |
|||
|
SP |
Atchison |
US-59 |
$400,000 |
|
SP |
Bonner Springs |
K-32 |
$400,000 |
|
SP |
Emporia |
US-50 |
$400,000 |
|
SP |
Kansas City |
US-169 |
$400,000 |
|
SP |
Lawrence |
US-59 |
$400,000 |
|
PR |
Marysville |
US-77 |
$1,250,000 |
|
North Central Kansas |
|||
|
SP |
Clay Center |
K-15 |
$400,000 |
|
SP |
Concordia |
K-9 |
$400,000 |
|
PR |
Herington |
US-56B |
$1,250,000 |
|
PR |
Moundridge |
K-260 |
$800,000 |
|
PR |
White City |
K-4 |
$1,250,000 |
|
Northwest Kansas |
|||
|
SP |
Colby |
K-25 |
$400,000 |
|
PR |
Smith Center |
K-204 |
$1,300,000 |
|
PR |
Smith Center |
K-204 |
$1,300,000 |
|
PR |
Stockton |
US-24 |
$1,100,000 |
|
Southeast Kansas |
|||
|
PR |
Baxter Springs |
US-69A |
$1,000,000 |
|
GI |
Fort Scott |
US-54 |
$1,500,000 |
|
SP |
Independence |
US-160 |
$400,000 |
|
SP |
Independence |
US-160 |
$400,000 |
|
GI |
Madison |
K-58 |
$1,500,000 |
|
PR |
Parsons |
US-59 |
$1,250,000 |
|
South Central Kansas |
|||
|
PR |
Anthony |
K-44 |
$900,000 |
|
SP |
El Dorado |
US-77 |
$400,000 |
|
SP |
Great Bend |
US-281/US-56 |
$400,000 |
|
PR |
Hoisington |
K-4 |
$1,250,000 |
|
PR |
Kingman |
US-54 |
$1,250,000 |
|
SP |
Larned |
US-56 |
$400,000 |
|
PR |
Pratt |
US-281 |
$750,000 |
|
PR |
Wellington |
US-81 |
$1,250,000 |
|
SP |
Winfield |
US-160 |
$400,000 |
|
Southwest Kansas |
|||
|
SP |
Dodge City |
US-50 |
$400,000 |
|
PR |
Lakin |
K-25 |
$1,250,000 |
|
PR |
Ness City |
K-96 |
$1,000,000 |
|
GI |
Ulysses |
US-160 |
$1,500,000 |
|
TOTAL: |
$28,650,000 |
Governor Kelly In Fort Scott Oct. 12 For a Transportation Announcement
Governor Laura Kelly will join the Kansas Department of Transportation in Fort Scott on Wednesday to announce funding for multiple transportation projects happening throughout the state.
She along with Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz will be at Fort Scott National Historic Site at 11 a.m. on Oct. 12 to make the announcement.
Survey to begin on K-52
Survey to begin on K-52
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) plans to start a survey at the Little Sugar Creek drainage culvert on K-52 in Linn County the week of Oct. 17. The culvert is approximately 1 mile west of the K-7/K-52 junction (see map).
The survey area of 2,500 feet is based on the existing alignment. Survey crew members will gather information for a future culvert replacement project. KDOT expects the survey to be complete by Dec. 30.
Activities include the use of survey instruments on the ground to determine locations of existing features within the corridor. A member of the survey crew will contact property owners or tenants for permission to enter private property. John Lilak of Bartlett & West will manage the survey for KDOT. Persons with questions may contact KDOT Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen, (620) 902-6433.
KanDrive App now available on cell phones
|
|
|
Governor Kelly in Fort Scott at KDOT on Oct. 12
Governor Laura Kelly to Announce Transportation Project Funding in Fort Scott on Wednesday
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly will join the Kansas Department of Transportation in Fort Scott on Wednesday to announce funding for multiple transportation projects happening throughout the state.
Who: Governor Laura Kelly, Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz
What: Transportation Grant Announcement
When: 11:00 a.m.; Wednesday, October 12, 2022
KS Sports Betting Generates $1.3 Million Dollars Since Sept. 1
Governor Laura Kelly Announces Kansas Sports Wagering is Off to a Winning Start
~~In One Month, Sports Wagering Generates $1.3M in Total Revenue,
$130k for State~~
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that in the single month that sports wagering has been legal, it has generated a total of $1.3 million in revenue, including nearly $130,000 for the State of Kansas.
“These revenues reinforce what we already knew: Legal sports betting is a common-sense solution that keeps Kansans’ money in Kansas and supports Kansas businesses,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “While legal wagering is just in its infancy, these revenues will continue to grow and benefit the state over time.”
On May 12, 2022, Governor Laura Kelly signed Senate Bill 84, bipartisan legislation making it legal to wager on sports at casinos, on digital platforms, and other venues in Kansas. Sportsbooks opened in record time on September 1, with Governor Kelly placing the first legal bet.
“Sports betting has successfully kicked off in Kansas, and players could not be more excited to get in on the action,” Stephen Durrell, Executive Director of the Kansas Lottery, said. “The launch went smoothly thanks to the efforts of our casino partners, the sports wagering platforms, the KRGC, and our staff at the Kansas Lottery. We will continue to work to make sports betting in Kansas safe, secure, and fun for all players as we expand and grow.”
|
Sports Wagering Revenues |
|||
|
Casino Facility |
Platforms |
Revenues |
State Share |
|
Kansas Star |
FanDuel |
$207,722 |
$20,772 |
|
Hollywood |
Barstool Sports |
$762,305 |
$76,230 |
|
Kansas Crossing |
BetMGM, Caesar’s, PointsBet |
$326,147 |
$32,615 |
|
Boot Hill |
DraftKings |
$ – |
$ – |
|
Totals |
$1,296,174 |
$129,617 |
|
Revenues reported by the Kansas Lottery are from settled and completed bets and don’t account for ‘future wagers’ placed like the Super Bowl, World Series, or MVP awards. Facilities or platforms presenting a zero-revenue are due to promotional play and player acquisition, in which those platform providers are responsible for payment until there is net positive revenue.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Returns to Kansas
MANHATTAN, Kansas — Fall has brought a resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) nationwide, and this week the Kansas Department of Agriculture identified HPAI in two Kansas counties: Johnson County and Neosho County.
Both new HPAI locations are in non-commercial mixed species flocks, and KDA is working closely with USDA–APHIS on a joint incident response. KDA officials quarantined the affected premises, and birds on both properties will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease.
Anyone involved with poultry production from the small backyard chicken owner to the large commercial producer should review their biosecurity activities to assure the health of their birds. Find guidance on biosecurity on the KDA Division of Animal Health webpage at agriculture.ks.gov/
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a highly contagious viral disease that can infect chickens, turkeys and other birds and can cause severe illness and/or sudden death in infected birds. This outbreak has seen illness and mortality in a wider scope of bird species than past outbreaks, including wild and domestic waterfowl. Attentively monitor your birds for symptoms of HPAI which include: coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, and other signs of respiratory distress; lack of energy and appetite; decreased water consumption; decreased egg production and/or soft-shelled, misshapen eggs; incoordination; and diarrhea. Avian influenza can also cause sudden death in birds even if they aren’t showing other symptoms.
If these symptoms are observed in your birds, immediately contact your veterinarian. If you don’t have a regular veterinarian, contact KDA’s Division of Animal Health office toll-free at 833-765-2006.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections do not present an immediate public health concern. Birds and eggs from the infected flock will not enter the food system. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F is recommended as a general food safety precaution.
As part of existing avian influenza response plans, federal and state partners are working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in areas around the affected flocks. The United States has the strongest avian influenza surveillance program in the world, and USDA is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in commercial poultry operations and live bird markets and in migratory wild bird populations.
For more information about HPAI, including current status of the confirmed cases in other states as well as more information about biosecurity for your flock, go to KDA’s avian influenza webpage at agriculture.ks.gov/