Category Archives: Kansas

Vivint Home Security Will Pay State of Kansas For Pressuring Consumers

Home security company will pay state $500K, Kobach says

TOPEKA – (May 3, 2024) -A Utah company will pay the state of Kansas $500,000 after agreeing to a consent judgement with the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, Attorney General Kris Kobach said. The allegations in the petition filed in Shawnee County District Court included that the company, Vivint, used deceptive business practices to pressure Kansas consumers into long-term contracts.

“Protecting Kansas consumers is our highest priority. Door-to-door transactions are an easy way for suppliers to take advantage of consumers through high-pressure sales tactics. We encourage every consumer solicited through a door-to-door transaction of any kind to thoroughly read and take the time to understand the contract before signing,” said Assistant Attorney General Sarah Dietz.

In addition to the monetary payment, Vivint agreed to change a number of its business practices including not allowing its employees to fill in customers’ names on electronic forms, allowing consumers to cancel their month-to-month services by phone or email, and providing customers with a copy of their extension or renewal agreements within three business days.

Attorney General Kobach encourages consumers who have questions about door-to-door sales or any consumer protection matter to call the Kansas Attorney General’s Public Protection Division at (800)432-2310 or email [email protected].

Read the consent judgment here.

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Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson

Caryn Tyson

 

May 3, 2024

 

Veto Session is over and so is the 2024 session.  The House was able to override the Governor’s veto of CCR 2036, but it failed in the Senate by one vote.  There were two Senators who voted for the CCR but voted No on the override.  They turned around and voted for the next tax package – CCR 37, which was similar to CCR 2036.  It is the mega-tax relief package that would exempt Social Security from state income tax; take the grocery state sales tax to zero July 1, 2024 instead of Jan 1, 2025; provide some property tax relief; lower income taxes for all taxpayers; lower the privilege tax; and remove the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction (LAVTR) language.  The difference is the tax brackets.  The top bracket would be 5.57, instead 5.55 and the other bracket would be 5.2 instead of 5.15.  It is around a $3 million fiscal note from the Governor’s proposed legislation.  The Governor is considering a special session costing $84,600 a day for what one accountant called, “a rounding difference”.  Keep in mind, over $4 billion is in the state coffers.  It makes no sense not to let this legislation become law.

 

Legislative Post Audit Committee had the Ford and Chase County Clerks answer questions regarding a previous audit on elections.  Ford County sealed all of the election material and didn’t cooperate with the audit staff.  After questioning, the Committee decided to request audits of Ford County for this year’s primary and general elections.  Chase County had sealed election material also but had worked with audit staff during the audit.  The Committee also asked that the election material be unsealed so that they can be audited.  A copy of the audit is posted at https://www.kslpa.org/audit-report-library/reviewing-kansass-rocedures-for-election-security-part-2/

 

Lies are rampant in the Capitol.  First, I was not blocking any tax relief, especially for veterans.  In fact, I have been and will continue to lead the charge on tax relief.  Some legislators told me, “we wouldn’t have any tax relief if it weren’t for you.”  Remember Property Tax Relief in CCR 2096 that I wrote about a couple of weeks ago?

  • Expand the property tax freeze for seniors and disabled veterans so more people qualify
  • Eliminate personal property taxes on items not used for business purposes, such as off-road ATVs, 15,000 lbs. trailers, motorized wheelchairs, bicycles, scooters, watercraft, and golfcarts
  • Veterans’ Valor property tax relief program providing for totally disabled and unemployable
  • Provide the current year and a four-year lookback on property valuation notices
  • Allow payment under protest and appealing valuation in the same year if new evidence is provided
  • Stop government competing with business property tax exemption
  • Clarify 1031 exchange, build-to-suit, or sale/leaseback are not used establishing fair-market value

The House sent the CCR back to conference committee and a state representative has put out “fake news” that I am blocking or won’t attend a conference committee.  CCR 2096 is a House Bill so I cannot call a conference.  I have been working diligently to find a solution that leadership, Senate and House members will support.  The House called a conference and we made changes to the legislation.  One of the changes was to add a childcare tax credit to the package.  It would help families keep more of their hard-earned money.  Both chambers passed the legislation, so it up to the Governor if these provisions become law.

 

Again, Tom Petty’s words say it well, “I won’t back down.  Well I know what’s right; I got just one life; In a world that keeps on pushin’ me around; But I’ll stand my ground; And I won’t back down.”

 

I have worked diligently to pass tax relief for disabled veterans and all Kansans.  I will not back down in my support for the Kansas taxpayers.

 

Good News! The legislature overrode CCR 2098 with several sales tax provisions.  It creates new program for disabled veterans (50% or more), exempts custom meat processing services, and exempts manufacturer coupons from sales tax and other provisions.  The CCR is posted at  https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2098/

 

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.

Caryn

KS Tax Collections Are Above Estimate

Governor Kelly Announces April Total Tax Collections Nearly 8.0% Above the Estimate

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that total tax collections for April were $1.42 billion. That is $101 million, or 7.7%, more than the monthly estimate. Total tax collections are up 9.6% from April 2023.

“These revenue numbers underscore how important it is to provide responsible tax relief now,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I remain committed to cutting taxes in a fiscally responsible, comprehensive manner that doesn’t jeopardize the progress we’ve made.”

“The overage for April is largely due to the fact that we are processing 63,000 more ‘balance due’ checks from taxpayers this year than we were at the same time last year,” Secretary of Revenue Mark Burghart said. “A combination of two additional processing days and recently upgraded check remittance technology at the Department of Revenue have allowed payments to be processed faster and much more efficiently.

Secretary Burghart went on to say, “the spike in processed payments for April is really just a carrying forward of payments that would normally be processed in May. As a result, individual income tax receipts for May will likely be lower than the estimate.”

Individual income tax collections were $740.3 million in April 2024. That is $91.0 million, or 14.0%, more than the estimate, and up 24.7% from April 2023.

Corporate income tax collections were $338.2 million last month, which is $6.3 million, or 1.9%, more than estimates. It does, however, reflect a 4.5% drop from corporate income tax collections at this same time last year.

Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $295.1 million, which is $3.1 million, or 1.1% more than the estimate but down $13.5 million, or 4.4%, from April 2023.

The Consensus Revenue Estimating group met on April 19 to revise estimates for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

Click here to view the April 2024 revenue numbers.

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K.R.I. is Fully Staffed, Licensed and Ready for Patients

401 Woodland Hills Blvd., the former Fort Scott Mercy Hospital, now is home to Kansas Renewal Institute, Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, the Ashley Clinic, I Am Rehab Physical Therapy, Diamonds in the Market Place Hair Salon, and Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc.

Kansas Renewal Institute signed a lease on the building at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd., Fort Scott. on February 1, 2024, and celebrated the grand opening of Kansas’ newest mental health treatment center on April 18. The institute received its licensure on April 25.

“The License is specifically for Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) – 50 beds for adolescents,” Joe Tinervin, MSW, president of operations said. “We are starting with adolescents and intend to expand on our PRTF license to include other age groups at a future date.”

Their current license allows work with individuals no less than 6 years of age and not older than 21.
“However, any current resident may continue to receive treatment until that resident reaches 22 years of age,” Tinervin said. “Preadolescents (ages 6-10), adolescents (ages 11-17), and adults (ages 18 and older) will program and reside in separate units with no co-mingling between those groups.”
Joe Tinervin, from his LinkedIn site.
“Now that we are licensed, we have begun the enrollment/credentialing process with the Managed Care Organizations and expect to start serving their members within the next two weeks,” Tinervin said. “All referrals are generated by the MCOs who work in conjunction with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services in coordinating appropriate placement.”
“At this time, we are fully staffed to accommodate a census of 20,” he said. “We will continue to hire additional personnel as our growth ramps and we’re always keeping our eye out for talented individuals to join our organization.”

They received their license to specialize in Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) level of care, according to a press release.

“The Fort Scott facility boasts state-of-the-art amenities and a multidisciplinary team of experts dedicated to addressing the unique needs of each individual. From therapeutic interventions to educational and recreational activities, every aspect of care is tailored to foster healing, growth, and resilience.”

 

Mike Sharpmack, from his LinkedIn page.

Mike Sharpmack is the Executive Director of  Kansas Renewal Institute and can be reached at 620-644-1195 or

[email protected]  for more information on employment.

To view the KRI website:

www.Kansasrenewal.com

Birdseye view of 401 Woodland Hills Blvd. from Mike Sharpmack’s Linkedin site.

 

 

SEK Library Newsletter

The SEKnFind Newsletter
April 2024

We hope you enjoy this newsletter sent as a courtesy to adult patrons of a southeast Kansas library using the SEKnFind catalog.
This selection of titles are NEW at a SEKnFind library and available for a hold.
Need assistance? Your local librarian can show you how!
Happy Reading!

New Fiction

Just for the summer
by Abby Jimenez

With every person they date finding their soulmate the second they break up, Justin and Emma decide to date each other and break up to cancel each other’s curse out, but their quick fling turns into something more when their families get involved and they catch real feelings for each other. Original.

The unquiet bones : a novel
by Loreth Anne White

When human remains are found, reopening a decades-old case, a group of friends, highly respected, affluent members of their communities, begins to fracture as homicide detective Jane Munro and forensic anthropologist Dr. Ella Queen get closer to the truth of what happened on an autumn night 47 years ago.

The best way to bury your husband
by Alexia Casale

After killing her husband—a truly terrible man, Sally finds herself leading an extremely unusual self-help group of women who have come together to heal the damage their husbands have done—and to work out a plan to get rid of the bodies and get away with it. Original.

Victim : a novel
by Andrew Boryga

A hustler from a family of hustlers, Javi Perez, after college graduation, writes a viral essay embellishing his life story, which lands him a gig at a legendary magazine, but when his childhood best friend is released from prison, Javi offers to cut him in on the deal in exchange for his silence.

Crow talk : a novel
by Eileen Garvin

The best-selling author of The Music of Bees returns with the story of the unlikely friendship between a lonely ornithologist and an Irish musician working to save an injured crow in the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Happy medium
by Sarah Adler

Gretchen Acorn, a fake spirit medium, is hired to cleanse a skeptical goat farmer’s property where she is shocked to find herself face-to-face with a very real ghost who wants to help the landowners avoid a long-standing curse. Original.

Night falls on Predicament Avenue
by Jaime Jo Wright

“In 1910, Effie joins forces with an English newcomer to discover what lies behind the doors of the abandoned house on Predicament Avenue. In the present day, Norah reluctantly inherits the house turned bed and breakfast, where her first guest, a crime historian and podcaster, is set on uncovering the truth about what haunts this place”

I cheerfully refuse : a novel
by Leif Enger

In a climate-ravaged America, a grieving musician sails a sentient Lake Superior, seeking his lost love amidst rising corpses, crumbling empires, and an unexpected rebellion sparked by his own gentle spirit.

Ghost station
by S. A. Barnes

While part of a small space exploration crew on an abandoned planet, a psychologist confronts a gruesome murder and twisted secrets as she races to prevent history from repeating itself in the form of space-borne madness. 125,000 first printing.

Moon of the turning leaves : a novel
by Waubgeshig Rice

When a community of Anishinaabe people, with their natural resources dwindling, needs to find a new home, Evan Whitesky leads a dangerous mission back to their ancestral home in the Great Lakes region, during which they encounter other survivors, some who thrive on violence.

Matterhorn
by Christopher Reich

When his son Will dies following in his footsteps, former CIA agent Mac Dekker, forced into hiding after being framed for treason, returns to the field to uncover the secrets Will was hiding and finds himself working to stop a terrorist plot that threatens thousands.

The man from Waco
by William W. Johnstone

Sacrificing his freedom by confessing to his desperate brother’s crime, John Bannack, while on work detail outside the prison, saves the judge who sentenced him from a bloody prison break, in return the judge releases him and employs him as his bodyguard and avenger. Original.

New Audiobooks

Darling Girls
by Sally Hepworth

Two women who escaped an overly-strict home with a foster mother on a farm are called back to their childhood home and into the orbit of their former guardian when human bones are discovered beneath the farmhouse. 300,000 first printing.

The County Line
by Steve Weddle

During the Great Depression, Cottonmouth Tomlin, after the death of his uncle, returns home to Columbia County to the broken-down outlaw camp—the sum of his family legacy, but soon pushes the boundaries of the community’s forgiving nature as he is faced with hard choices. Original.

The Morningside
by Téa Obreht

After being expelled from their ancestral home, Silvia and her mother finally settle at the Morningside, a crumbling luxury tower in Island City where Silvia’s aunt Ena serves as the superintendent. Silvia feels unmoored in her new life because her mother has been so diligently secretive about their family’s past. Silvia knows almost nothing about the place where she was born and spent her early years, nor does she know why she and her mother had to leave. But in Ena there is an opening: a person willing to give the young girl glimpses into the folktales of her demolished homeland, a place of natural beauty and communal spirit that is lacking in Silvia’s lonely and impoverished reality. Enchanted by Ena’s stories, Silvia begins seeing the world with magical possibilities and becomes obsessed with the mysterious older woman who lives in the penthouse of the Morningside. Silvia’s mission to unravel the truth about this woman’s life, and her own haunted past, may end up costing her everything.

New Nonfiction

Before it’s gone : stories from the front lines of climate change in small town America
by Jonathan Vigliotti

A veteran journalist embarks on a poignant American odyssey, tracing the human toll of climate change that is no longer just a warming future, guiding readers across our current wildfire-ravaged landscapes, hurricane-battered coasts and vanishing ecosystems.

The age of magical overthinking : notes on modern irrationality
by Amanda Montell

Utilizing her linguistic insights and sociological explorations, the best-selling author of Cultish and host of the podcast Sounds Like a Cult delves into the cognitive biases that run rampant in our brains, including“magical thinking,” offering a prevailing message of hope, empathy and forgiveness for our anxiety-riddled human selves.

The anxious generation : how the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness
by Jonathan Haidt

“After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on most measures. Why? In [this book], social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. Haidt shows how the ‘play-based childhood’ began to decline in the 1980s, and how it was finally wiped out by the arrival of the ‘phone-based childhood’ in the early 2010s.”

Briefly perfectly human : making an authentic life by getting real about the end
by Alua Arthur

“A deeply transformative memoir that reframes how we think about death and how it can help us lead better, more fulfilling and authentic lives, from America’s preeminent death doula”

Alien earths : the new science of planet hunting in the cosmos
by Lisa Kaltenegger

An astrophysicist unlocks the mysteries of alien worlds, from lava planets to multi-sun systems, using Earth as a key and humanity’s curiosity as fuel, in a thrilling quest to answer whether we are alone in the universe. 50,000 first printing.

A year full of pots : container flowers all seasons
by Sarah Raven

“Master the art of growing flowers in pots year round with inspiration from stunning full-color images and expert advice from the Sunday Times bestselling author of A Year Full of Flowers.”

Food Gifts : 150+ irresistible recipes for crafting personalized presents
by Elle Simone Scott

A food stylist and cast of America’s Test Kitchen offers an all-occasion guide to making 150 homemade, delicious food gifts including Fruits of the Forest Liqueur, Banana Caramel Pie in a Jar and Chocolate Ginger Truffles. Illustrations.

Kansas Responds to Concerns about HPAI in Dairy Cattle

FDA Studies Confirm Safety of Pasteurized Milk

MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture has been actively working with the Kansas dairy industry to respond to the nationwide concerns due to the discovery of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle. KDA has also been closely following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s testing of the commercial milk supply, which on Friday confirmed the effectiveness of the pasteurization process.

The KDA Division of Animal Health is helping dairies and veterinarians to understand and comply with the Federal Order from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA–APHIS) which took effect on Monday, April 29, 2024. The order requires lactating dairy cattle to receive a negative test for the virus prior to interstate movement. It also requires laboratories and state veterinarians to report positive results to USDA–APHIS.

These measures were instituted in an effort to further protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by HPAI. The Federal Order came two days after the Kansas Animal Health Commissioner, Dr. Justin Smith, issued a state order that expanded requirements for interstate or intrastate movement of lactating dairy cattle to include a recent health certificate (CVI).

In March, KDA announced that HPAI was identified in two commercial dairy herds, and early April there were two additional herds in Kansas that reported positive tests. Data appears to indicate that the virus is no longer present after 21-30 days, which has already passed for the positive Kansas herds.

Farmers and ranchers in Kansas have been advised to practice good biosecurity measures to protect their susceptible animals from being exposed to HPAI. This includes limiting movement of vehicles and visitors on and off the premises, separating domestic and wild animals as much as possible, minimizing movement of cattle, and monitoring animals for clinical signs of HPAI.

On Friday, the FDA reaffirmed its confidence that the commercial milk supply is safe. Their national commercial milk sampling study conducted over the last few weeks confirmed that pasteurization is effective in inactivating HPAI in milk. The pasteurization process of heating milk to a high temperature ensures milk and dairy products can be safely consumed. In line with long-standing policy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend consuming unpasteurized milk or raw milk. Dairies are also required to only allow milk from healthy animals to enter the food supply chain.

Updates on HPAI in Kansas, including the Commissioner’s Order issued on April 22, can be found on the KDA Division of Animal Health webpage dedicated to HPAI detections in livestock: www.agriculture.ks.gov/HPAI-Livestock. This page also provides a link to the USDA’s HPAI in Livestock webpage, which provides a variety of resources to assist livestock owners, a link to the Federal Order and affiliated guidance documents, and an ongoing report on confirmed cases in affected states across the U.S.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture is dedicated to serving Kansas farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and the consumers/customers they serve while promoting public health and safety, protecting animal health, and providing consumer protection and food safety to the best of our ability.

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Backyard Birding – Tips for Attracting Hummingbirds

In the last week or so, I’ve seen several posts on social media that the hummingbirds have arrived! Feeding the hummingbirds is one of my favorite activities. If you are an avid feeder or are just thinking about getting started, here is some information to attract more to your home.

Although there are approximately 360 species of hummingbirds between North and South America, 99.99% of all hummingbirds found in our area will be the Ruby-throated. Their furious spring migration starts in April and continues until early May. Once the migration is complete, hummingbirds settle into nesting mode.

Nests are built in June, with the female determining the site location. The Ruby-throated hummingbird nests will be built near the tip of a down-sloping tree branch with a fairly open area below and the canopy above. Popular tree species for nest building include oak, yellow birch, pine and hackberry. Hummingbirds generally prefer deciduous tree species over conifers. The nesting site will be determined based upon availability of nectar sources and insects. The nests are small – no larger than the size of a quarter!

When it comes to food sources, hummingbirds are attracted to the color red. It is like a flashing neon on sign to them. To prove this point, try putting on a red cap or shirt and sit quietly near a feeder. The hummingbirds will definitely check you out! However, hummingbirds do feed on more than just red flowers.

Any flowering plant that has a trumpet-style flower and is in the red/orange sector of the color spectrum will be quite attractive to hummingbirds. In his presentation, Chuck highlighted several plants to include in your landscape to bring in the most birds. The list included: traditional red Salvia, Agastache, Scarlet runner bean, Cardinal flower, Beebalm, Trumpet Creeper (only if you have lots of space), Butterfly Bush, Hollyhock, Rose of Sharon, Cardinal Climber and Canna.

In southeastern Kansas, our feeders need to be up and open for business by the second week of April. Here are several tips for feeder management:

  • You CAN’T have too many feeders!
  • Don’t fill feeders completely full – clean at each filling
  • If hummingbirds are not emptying feeder – change nectar and clean every 2-3 days
  • Do not dye the water red – just a small amount of red on the feeder is all you need
  • Artificial nectar – 4 parts water, 1 part sugar

One eight ounce feeder will fulfill the daily energy needs of 40 to 60 hummingbirds. By having more feeders available, this will allow the hummingbirds to feed more easily with less stress. Also, it will decrease the likelihood of territorial fighting. If you’ve fed hummingbirds in the past, then I’m sure you know all about the one that seems to be the gatekeeper at the feeder!

In casual conversations, you might hear someone say that they have no hummingbirds over the summer, while others seem to be overrun with hummers. This could be due to “neighborhood feeder saturation.” Basically, this is when the number of feeders within a geographic area exceeds the biological needs of the hummingbirds present which spreads the birds out. Populations of birds can be cyclical – you can have hummers for several summers and then those birds go elsewhere or don’t survive the winter. However, in a year or two, the population will probably cycle back around.

If you have no hummingbird activity by late May or early June, you may just want to take the feeders down until early August. The south bound migration usually starts in late July or early August. Many bird watchers indicate that August and September are actually their best months.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Horticulture agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826

 

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

 

KS High-Speed Internet Plan Offered to Underserved Areaas

Governor Kelly Announces Kansas Moving Forward with $451.7M High-Speed Internet
Deployment Plan


TOPEKA
— Governor Laura Kelly today announced federal approval of the state’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Initial Proposal Volume 2, providing an investment of more than $450 million to expand Kansas’ high-speed internet infrastructure. Funding will be granted to areas that have been identified as underserved through a competitive application process that will begin in July.

“Kansans, no matter their zip code, deserve access to reliable, high-speed internet,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The distribution of BEAD funds will break down the barriers that have prevented some from fully participating in a thriving digital economy.”

Becoming a top 10 state for broadband and connecting every Kansan by the end of the decade is a significant goal for the Kelly-Toland administration. Today’s announcement puts Kansas on the path to reaching that goal.

“We understand the importance of providing opportunities for all Kansans by setting up our communities for success now and in the future,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “With this federal approval, we can help ensure all Kansans have the digital tools they need to find jobs, work remotely, seek out telehealth options and more. High-speed internet access is key to supporting economic initiatives that drive state and local economies alike.”

Eligible homes and businesses within the predetermined funding areas will be made public for 60 days before the application process opens. This transparency ensures that applicants have adequate time to become aware of opportunities and to prepare for the process. Preregistration for BEAD applicants is set to begin Monday, May 13.

“For communities across Kansas, this announcement provides a timeline for solutions in areas that have long languished in the digital divide,” Office of Broadband Development Director Jade Piros de Carvalho said. “We recognize that reliable broadband is the foundation of modern life, and we are eager to put these dollars to work.”

Project funding applications will be accepted in rounds to enable equitable distribution of funds. The first 30-day application window tentatively opens July 8, offering interested stakeholders the opportunity to submit their proposals for consideration.

Learn more about the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program and dates for technical assistance webinars here.

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Governor Signs Kansas Budget Bill

Governor Kelly Signs Balanced Budget Strengthening Workforce and Economic Development Opportunities;
Addressing Water Issues

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today signed the state’s budget, Senate Bill 28, which allocates funding for Fiscal Years 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028. The budget makes expenditures to continue the Kelly administration’s progress to make Kansas the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

“Thanks to the work we have done to get our state’s economy where it is, we can use our record surplus to make a positive impact on communities across the state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The investments we make now in our infrastructure, our workforce, and our economic development put Kansas on a path of continued growth.”

The budget:

  • Makes critical investments in water projects and programs: The budget continues the state’s historic $35 million yearly investment in water infrastructure, conservation, and quality programs across Kansas. It also pledges an additional $10 million specifically for drinking and wastewater infrastructure projects in communities of less than 1,000. This funding will be essential to ensuring our small, rural communities have access to a clean and reliable water supply for years to come.
  • Strengthening economic development opportunities: The budget includes economic development projects that invest in communities in every region of the state. It also makes investment in industrial park projects, the infrastructure that is needed to get product to market, and moderate-income housing. These are key to attracting the jobs and workforce needed for communities looking to grow.
  • Ensures Kansas has a robust workforce and increases funding for post-secondary education: Provides historic funding to workforce training programs and post-secondary education to prepare students to enter the workforce for good-paying, in-demand jobs. When looking to put down roots or expand operations, businesses are looking for states that have a high-skilled, well-prepared workforce.
  • Invests in state employees: Provides pay raises to state employees to make state employment wages more competitive to the equivalent private sector work. Competitive wages are a step toward shrinking the number of unfilled state jobs and retaining employees.

Governor Kelly also line-item vetoed aspects of the budget. Find more information and her veto messages here.

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Veteran grant manager to lead Kansas Infrastructure Hub

TOPEKA – Matt Volz has joined the Kansas Infrastructure Hub (Hub) as Executive Director. His experience includes over 30 years in the transportation infrastructure industry in Kansas, nationally and internationally. An experienced grant application manager, Volz has developed and advanced over $300 million in successful federal grant applications for local and state agencies.

Formed in 2022, the Hub connects multiple state agencies to serve as a resource center for Kansas communities. The Hub offers free technical assistance to entities applying for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) grants.

Volz began his career with the Kansas Department of Transportation in 1991 as a roadway designer, and in 1997, became the first state Intelligent Transportation Systems engineer in Kansas. In consulting for the past 20 years, he has worked extensively in the Midwest and nationally on transportation technology projects, as well as internationally, having lived and worked in the United Arab Emirates.

“I am very excited to take on this role for the State of Kansas,” Volz said. “Helping our communities pursue federal funding to assist with infrastructure projects is critical to our state’s economic growth.”

Volz received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from North Dakote State University, his – master’s degree in civil engineering from Kansas State University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Kansas.

The Kansas Infrastructure Hub was established to maximize BIL opportunities for Kansas. The Hub does so by providing no-cost technical assistance and promoting infrastructure projects related to water, transportation, energy, broadband, cybersecurity and emergency management across Kansas. In addition, the Hub administers the Build Kansas Fund, which can support communities with match dollars for grant programs funded through BIL.  For more information or to find out how to apply to the Build Kansas Fund, visit www.kshub.org.

On April 24, the Kansas Infrastructure Hub will host an Infrastructure Summit in Salina. Cities, counties, tribal governments, regional planning organizations and the private sector are encouraged to attend. Topics include BIL funding opportunities, grant funding resources and project alignment. Summit agenda and registration are at www.kshub.org.

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– Matt Volz, submitted photo.

Volz

Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson

Caryn Tyson

 

April 19, 2024

 

Regular Session Ends with many pieces of legislation being sent to the Governor’s desk – too many to cover in this update.  All legislation can be found at www.kslegislature.org.  Here are some highlights of changes in law that have passed both chambers and signed by the Governor:

  • SB 336 removes the requirement that underground storage tank operating permits are renewed annually.  It passed the Senate unanimously.
  • SB 399 changes the deadline for vehicle sales reports from the 20th to the 25th of each month for vehicle dealers and for salvage dealers.  It passed the Senate unanimously.
  • SB 424 establishes the Kansas Plan Coordinate System by adopting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Geodetic Survey.  It passed unanimously.
  • SB 430 substantially increases workers compensation and provides coverage for members of the Kansas National Guard.  It passed unanimously.
  • HB 2453 puts Kansas in an interstate Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact so they could practice in other states that are in the program.  It is our state allowing another group to decide the parameters for Kansas.  I do not support these efforts, as Kansas is a sovereign state and we should govern as such.  The bill passed the Senate 38 to 2.
  • HB 2536 establishes SOUL as a permanency legal option for children who are 16 or older.  It passed the Senate unanimously.
  • HB 2604 increases the Small Claims court maximum from $4,000 to $10,000.  It hadn’t been changed since 2004.  It passed unanimously in the Senate.
  • HB 2783 prohibits any state agency, city, or county from restricting the use or sale of motor vehicles based on the energy source of the vehicle.  It passed the Senate 25 to 15.  I voted Yes.

Veto Session begins with 12 bills vetoed.  That number could increase as the Governor hasn’t responded to the mega tax relief bill or other legislation.  The legislature could start voting on veto overrides April 26th.  You would think it would be fairly easy to override the vetoes, but there are 165 legislators, and some are not always able to make it to the Capitol.  In my years of service, I have not missed a day of session.  It is not always easy because life happens, but I am committed to representing you.  Thank you for your support and the opportunity to serve.

 

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.

Caryn

KDOT videos series brings voice to work zone awareness

 

TOPEKA – April 15 through April 19 is National Work Zone Awareness Week. But for Kansas Department of Transportation crews and contract workers, their lives depend on work zone awareness every week of the year.

In highway construction zones across the state, workers are especially vulnerable. Many times they work just inches from passing traffic. Flaggers stand before oncoming traffic with only a sign to get motorists to slow down or stop.

“I’ve had more close calls than I can count,” said a veteran KDOT construction zone worker. “I’ve had people come up and actually hit the flagging sign I was holding before they put on the brakes.”

You can hear about similar close calls – in the workers’ own words – in a National Work Zone Awareness Week video series produced by KDOT. The four-part series begins today and will continue throughout this week. Click on the link for each day’s video – http://kansastransportation.blogspot.com/search/label/NWZAW%202024.

One video features members of KDOT workers’ families, who implore motorists to slow down and be alert in work zones.

“I worry every day,” said the spouse of a highway worker. “I always get up in the morning and say a prayer he comes home, that everyone stays safe.”

It’s not only the workers’ lives at stake. Most people injured in work zone crashes are motorists. In 2023, nine people died in Kansas work zone crashes and 498 suffered injuries, KDOT data shows.

The top contributing circumstance of Kansas work zone crashes is inattention. Nationwide over the past several years, speed was a contributing factor in about one-third of fatal work zone crashes, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. About one-fifth of all deadly work zone crashes involve rear-end collisions.

Highway work zones span the entire length of the construction area. The work zone begins with a Road Work Ahead sign and ends with an End Roadwork sign. Work zones are marked with additional signs, including a reduced speed limit.

By heeding those signs, motorists can help protect a whole community of people.

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