TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that the interim report from the Cybersecurity Task Force has been released with an initial set of recommendations.

“These recommendations will help secure our data, strengthen our digital infrastructure, and grow our cybersecurity workforce – all while protecting Kansans’ privacy,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “I want to thank the Cybersecurity Task Force for their hard work creating this report – I look forward to seeing the final recommendations this December.”

On July 13, 2021, Governor Kelly signed Executive Order No. 21-25, establishing the Governor’s Cybersecurity Task Force to protect Kansas’s digital infrastructure. Comprised of bipartisan members from across Kansas in both the public and private sectors, the Task Force has spent the last three months meeting with stakeholders and subject matter experts to collect input for recommendations that will improve the cybersecurity posture for the State of Kansas.

The Task Force is comprised of four subcommittees: Statewide Coordination and Collaboration, Workforce Development and Education, Cyber Incident and Disruption Response, and Strategic Vision and Planning.

Under the leadership of co-chairs Mike Mayta and Jeff Maxon, the Task Force met bi-weekly with subcommittees meeting on alternate weeks.

“Thank you to everyone who played a role in putting this interim report together. To the many associations, educational institutions, and our State and Federal partners who took time to meet with us, your input and ideas provided the framework for many of these recommendations. Without your engagement, this would not have been possible,” said co-chairs Mike Mayta and Jeff Maxon. “Organizations across Kansas are doing the hard work to protect their data, educate their employees and the public, and develop a robust cybersecurity workforce. Through these recommendations, we hope to leverage and build upon their success and see it come together in a more whole-of-state approach.”

The Task Force submitted its interim report to the Governor on October 5, 2021, with 45 recommendations for how entities from state and local government, education, the private sector, and other critical infrastructure sectors can address cybersecurity challenges from a whole-of-state approach. Recommendations include cybersecurity training, partnerships to support workforce development and cyber response, as well as education.

The Task Force and its subcommittees will continue to convene throughout the fall as they prepare their next report due in early December. The second report will include new recommendations while further developing some of the recommendations included in the interim report.

Members of the public can read the full report here and submit any feedback to [email protected].

Governor Laura Kelly Directs Flags be Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of Kansas Representative Russ Jennings

TOPEKA – In accordance with Executive Order #20-30, Governor Laura Kelly has directed flags be lowered to half-staff on all state buildings, grounds, and facilities effective immediately until sundown on Sunday, October 31, in honor of Kansas Representative Russ Jennings. Jennings, Lakin, has represented Kansas House District 122 since 2013.

“I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Representative Russ Jennings. Russ and I shared a commitment to reforming the Kansas criminal justice system, particularly our juvenile justice system,” Governor Kelly said. “His commitment to public service, his mastery of the subject matter, and his boundless tenacity made him a natural leader, well-respected by his colleagues and his constituents. I will miss him, and I know others in the State Capitol and throughout his district will too. I offer my sincerest condolences to his wife, Judy, their children and all who knew and loved him.”

Prior to being elected to the Kansas House of Representatives, Representative Jennings served as a deputy sheriff in Kearny County, director of the Southwest Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center, a district magistrate judge and as a member of Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority.

To receive email alerts when the governor orders flags to half-staff, please visit https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/kansas-flag-honors.

~ The Kansas Department of Health and Environment releases recommendations to enjoy Halloween while limiting the spread of COVID-19 ~ 

Governor Laura Kelly Announces $1 Million Federal Grant to Support Economic Development in Kansas

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration has awarded Kansas $1 million to accelerate economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and build up local economies.

“My administration set the stage for economic growth early on – and despite the challenges of the pandemic, we’ve achieved one business recruitment victory after another, experienced record-breaking investment, and earned national recognition for our successes,” Governor Kelly said. “These dollars will allow us to keep up that momentum, and support our efforts to build a better, more resilient economy for future generations of Kansans. I want to thank our federal partners for their investment in our communities.”

EDA awarded $24 million in grants to states and territories across the nation for statewide planning efforts to boost economic development, enhance U.S. competitiveness, combat the climate crisis, and recover from the pandemic. These are the first EDA American Rescue Plan grants announced.

All 59 states and territories have been invited to apply for a $1 million grant through EDA’s Statewide Planning program—one of six programs EDA developed to equitably distribute its $3 billion in American Rescue Plan funding. 24 grants were awarded yesterday, with the remainder being disbursed in the coming weeks and months.

For more about EDA’s Statewide Planning grant and other American Rescue Plan programs, please visit: https://www.eda.gov/arpa/.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov) The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.

PRATT – As the days get shorter and weather gets cooler, the breeding season for deer will begin. Traversing pastures, roadways, rivers and streams – male white-tailed and mule deer will begin a nearly month-long quest for suitable mates, stopping for very little, including motorists.

Commonly referred to as the “rut,” this time of year marks the distinct period when deer-vehicle collisions are most frequent, and the Sunflower State is no exception. That’s why the Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and AAA Kansas offer  helpful tips that can help drivers safely navigate Kansas roadways and potentially avoid collisions with deer.

“If you are unfortunate enough to have a deer enter the highway in front of your car, it is best to hit the animal and not swerve to avoid it,” said KHP Lieutenant Candice Breshears. “Often, we find more serious crashes occur when you swerve to miss the deer, potentially losing control of your vehicle, leaving the road or veering into oncoming traffic.”

While the vast majority of deer-vehicle collisions do not involve serious injury, data collected by KDOT indicates that from 2011-2019, 51 people have been killed in Kansas crashes involving deer.

“In addition to potentially causing human injuries and loss of life, deer collisions often cause significant vehicle damage that can lead to large expenses for the vehicle owner if not properly insured,” said Shawn Steward, public and government affairs manager for AAA Kansas. “Of the animal strikes reported by AAA Insurance policy holders in 2020, the average cost per claim was nearly $5,500, an increase of more than $1,000 per claim from 2019.”

Steward attributes the higher repair costs to advanced driver assistance technology and the expensive sensors and calibration requirements in newer vehicles.

To avoid incurring costly vehicle repairs, or worse, state experts offer these helpful tips:

• Be especially watchful at dawn and dusk, when deer are more active.
• If you see one deer, expect others, as deer seldom travel alone.
• Drive at a reduced speed and be extra vigilant near wooded areas or green spaces, such as parks and golf courses, and near water sources such as streams and ponds.
• Deer crossing signs show areas where high numbers of vehicle/deer crashes have occurred in the past; heed these warnings.
• Use bright lights when there is no oncoming traffic, and scan the road ahead for the reflective eyes of deer.
• Do not swerve to avoid hitting a deer – the most serious crashes sometimes occur when motorists veer and collide with another vehicle or run off the road and hit an obstacle.
• Always wear a seat belt and use appropriately-fitting child safety seats, as these are the best defenses in a crash.
• Honk the vehicle’s horn using one long blast, as this may frighten large animals, such as deer, away from the roadway.
• Lastly, if a collision occurs, move the vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway, if possible, and call law enforcement – KHP dispatch at *47, the Kansas Turnpike at *KTA and local law enforcement at 911.

Anyone involved in a deer-vehicle crash resulting in personal injury or property damage that totals $1,000 or more is required to immediately report the incident to the nearest law enforcement agency. Failure to report any vehicle crash is a misdemeanor and may result in suspension of driving privileges.

To remove a deer carcass, or any part of a deer, from a crash site, a salvage tag must first be obtained. Salvage tags can be issued by KHP troopers, sheriff’s deputies or KDWP game wardens.

This fall season, motorists can ensure the “holiday traffic” they encounter remains as safe as possible, for humans and deer, by staying alert and simply slowing down.

Click here to download the KDOT Motor Vehicle/Deer Crash Summary.

Fourth Annual Kansas Prevention Conference Scheduled for Next Week: “Strong for the Next Generation”

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) has partnered with the Kansas Prevention Collaborative (KPC) to host the fourth annual Kansas Prevention Conference October 21-22, 2021, with a pre-conference session October 20. This year’s conference, “Strong for the Next Generation,” is a virtual event and welcomes two nationally recognized keynote speakers. Last year, the conference drew more than 175 virtual attendees who joined for educational opportunities designed to help them in their prevention work throughout the state.

The KPC Conference will provide attendees with educational opportunities to increase awareness of emerging trends in prevention, build skills and knowledge to prevent suicide, alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse and advocate for best practices. Participants in the conference will also learn ways to connect and network with their community and advocate for best practices in prevention.

“Each year this conference attracts people across that state who understand that the work we do around prevention is a fundamental part of the larger public health conversation we must have in our state,” KDADS Secretary Laura Howard said. “Bringing everyone together is one of the ways we can share our knowledge with coalitions and communities across the state in an effort to empower them to move forward with some of the strategies presented in the diverse breakout sessions offered.”

The conference will kick off October 21 with opening remarks by Secretary Howard followed by a keynote address by speaker Dr. Wanda Boone, founder of Together for Resilient Youth (TRY). Dr. Boone’s presentation will reveal how traumatic events and experiences impact prevention as she also takes a dive into the importance of identifying trauma as a social determinant of health and how to apply a resilience-based, equity informed, and community driven lens to prevention.

National Director of Children’s Programs at Betty Ford Center, Jerry Moe, MA, will also give a keynote presentation, “Through a Child’s Eyes,” on the second day of the conference. He will discuss how children are impacted in a family with alcoholism and drug addiction and uncover specific prevention strategies that can make a real difference in their lives.

KDADS’ Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Commission and the KPC are excited to provide this learning opportunity to communities across Kansas. To learn more about the conference, view the schedule and read more about the keynote speakers, visit kansaspreventioncollaborative.org/conference.

KPC is a group of eight partner organizations funded by KDADS working to integrate and innovate behavioral health prevention efforts. This conference is part of KPC’s strategy to ensure that Kansans get the tools they need to prevent underage drinking, substance misuse, problem gambling and suicide. Partner organizations are KDADS, Kansas Suicide Prevention HQ, Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute, DCCCA, Learning Tree Institute at Greenbush, and Life Span Institute University of Kansas.

These eight partner organizations along with these nine conference sponsors make this year’s event possible: Aire Recovery Center, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, United Behavioral Health, Mirror, Opioid Response Network, Valeo, C.E. Mendez Foundation, Inc., Verde Environmental Technologies, Inc., Valley Hope Addiction and Recovery.

About the Kansas Prevention Collaborative: The Kansas Prevention Collaborative was created in 2015 in an effort to integrate and innovate behavioral health prevention efforts. A partnership of several different state, educational, and provider agencies, the KPC’s goal is to expand prevention efforts to be more inclusive of mental health promotion, suicide prevention, and problem gambling education and awareness, as well as to increase the availability of resources to adequately fund local-level prevention and promotion strategic plans. For interviews, media inquiries, or more information, please contact the Kansas Prevention Collaborative at [email protected].