Category Archives: Kansas

Government, Kansas

Early Childhood System Transformation

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Kansas receives grant to transform the Kansas early childhood system 

 

Governor Laura Kelly and other early childhood leaders from across Kansas announced today that an $8.9 million grant from the Administration for Children and Families has been awarded to continue efforts to strengthen the early childhood system in Kansas. The funding is the first installment of a 3-year renewal of Kansas’s Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) initiative.  

 

“These funds will be imperative in helping to keep up our current momentum as we work to improve our state’s early childhood system,” Governor Kelly said. “This grant is particularly welcome now, as the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an additional degree of stress on early childhood in Kansas. With it, we will continue to fight for the health and safety of children and families in our state.”  

 

Leaders from the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, the Kansas State Department of Education, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Children and Families began this collaborative work with a PDG B-5 planning grant in January 2019. The initial grant funded a comprehensive statewide needs assessment, which illuminated what Kansans need and want from their early childhood care and education system.  

 

Over 6,100 parents, early childcare and education professionals, civic and business leaders, and community members provided input. Addressing the findings from these efforts is the foundation of a new statewide strategic plan for early childhood, which was finalized earlier this month.   

 

“After touring the state throughout 2019, it’s clear that although Kansans recognize the importance of high-quality early childhood programs and services, we have work to do,” said Melissa Rooker, Executive Director of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund. “This grant will allow us to focus on implementation of our strategic plan as we work to strengthen our system and achieve our vision that every Kansas child has the best possible start in life.” 

 

Funding from this grant will support systems-alignment, infrastructure, and innovation at the local and state level. Kansans can expect to see investments in activities that build a sustainable infrastructure for the early childhood system. 

 

Visit the Systems Building tab at www.kschildrenscabinet.org for more information and to stay engaged in the work to strengthen the early childhood system in the coming years. 

    

Funds for this project are provided through the Department of Health and Human Services (HSS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five 90TP0016-01-00 ($4,482,305) was awarded to the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE).  The Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, the Kansas Department for Children and Families, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are leading this work with KSDE. This information or content and conclusions should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HHS, ACF, or the U.S. Government.  

 

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Government, Kansas

Driver’s License Offices Reopen May 12

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Kansas Department of Revenue announces plan to reopen driver’s license offices

 

TOPEKA – Since March 24, 2020, extensions to driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations have been made through Executive Order 20-12 signed by Governor Laura Kelly. While those extensions are still valid, the Kansas Department of Revenue will start to reopen driver’s license offices on Tuesday, May 12, 2020.

 

Under Ad Astra: A plan to reopen Kansas, presented at the end of April by Governor Kelly, steps will be made to ensure the health and well-being of all who enter Kansas Department of Revenue offices. This includes requiring appointments and screenings before entering offices and implementing all social distancing guidelines.

 

“Following the procedures of the Ad Astra Plan and data presented by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, we are making concerted efforts to open in a thoughtful and safe manner,” Secretary Mark Burghart said.

 

“This is done by looking at the county COVID-19 case data and applicable guidelines on social distancing to make the necessary decisions to reopen and possibly temporarily reclose offices.”

 

Only essential services will be conducted in reopened driver’s license offices. These include:

  • Drivers needing to transfer a license from another state
  • Teen drivers receiving a license for the first time
  • Drivers turning 21 or turning 50 years-of-age
  • Applications for a new state identification card
  • If there is no online access to the customer or other restriction to online service apply by statute, including not having an eye exam within the last 12 months

 

“It is important to note that Governor Kelly’s Executive Order 20-12, which allows extensions on driver’s license renewals and vehicle registrations, is still in effect,” David Harper, Director of Vehicles said.

 

“We encourage customers who can perform these services online to do so as we continue to evaluate the reopening of the more than 100 office locations with the partnership of county governments.”

 

Renewals to Governor Kelly’s extensions must be completed within 60 days of the expiration of the State of Disaster Emergency Proclamation, originally made in March, and extended due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19 to the state.

 

To schedule an appointment, customers are asked to call their driver’s license office or use the already established scheduling program, Q-Flow, for offices with that availability.

 

Beginning on May 12, the following offices will reopen by appointment only:

 

County Office Appointment method
Sedgwick 1873 W. 21st N.

Wichita Twin Lakes

CDL ONLY

 785-940-1353
Johnson 30750 W. 193rd Street
Edgerton

CDL ONLY

 785-581-2864
Shawnee 3907 SW Burlingame Road

Topeka

CDL ONLY

 785-940-1309
Douglas 1035 N. 3rd Street, Suite 119

Lawrence

 QFlow
Ellis 1222 Canterbury Drive

Hays

 785-625-6917
Riley 8200 S. Port Drive, Suite 105

Manhattan

 QFlow
Thomas 990 S. Range Street, #3

Colby

 785-462-3620
Barton 1400 Main Street, Room 207

Great Bend

 620-793-9531
Franklin 225 S. Walnut Street

Ottawa

 785-242-1276
Nemaha 203 N. 8th Street, Suite 2

Seneca

 785-336-6454
Crawford 202 E. Centennial Drive, Suite C11A

Pittsburg

 620-231-0711

 

Moving forward, the reopened office listing is available at https://www.ksrevenue.org/reopening.html.

 

Online renewals of identification cards, driver’s licenses, and vehicle tag renewals can be done online at ikan.ks.gov or in the iKan app available in the Apple iTunes or Google Play stores. Some statutory restrictions apply. For those restrictions, an office visit will need to be scheduled.

 

To contact the Division of Vehicles about issues relating to a title, registration, or driver’s licenses, phone and email information can be found at ksrevenue.org/dovcontact.html.

 

Government, Kansas

KDHE, KU Study COVID-19 Detection in Wastewater

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TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) recently teamed up with the University of Kansas School of Engineering (KU) to determine if genetic remnants of COVID-19 can be detected in wastewater.

 

The concept originally tested in Massachusetts and the Netherlands, and now throughout the United States, is that people infected with the virus shed it through their urine and feces. The genetic material can be extracted from wastewater and matched against genetic markers keyed to COVID-19. The virus itself does not survive in wastewater, and therefore wastewater is not a significant means of disease transmission.

 

Detecting the genetic material in wastewater is indicative of COVID-19 being present and may give local health officials knowledge of how widespread it is in their community, allowing them to take proactive measures to mitigate its spread. While drinking water is not part of this ongoing study, it’s important to note disinfection by all Kansas public water suppliers inactivates the virus and drinking water remains safe for consumption.

 

The Kansas project is still in its preliminary stages. KU collected samples from 12 wastewater plants in Kansas in late April. Some indication of the genetic material was found in the wastewater in 10 of those plants. Results are too variable and uncertain to make actual estimates of the extent of infection in those communities. The results were communicated to officials in cities that participated in the study.

 

“The initial results do show genetic indications from COVID-19 in wastewater; however, at best, we are at the presence/absence stage of evaluation process,” Tom Stiles, KDHE’s Bureau of Water director, said. “There is much more we need to refine in the methodology to assure quality control and that will start with further testing of samples. We don’t know how quantitative this approach can be, but we are hoping it gives us a means to corroborate our COVID testing of individuals, particularly in counties where positive cases have been low. Additionally, we may employ it as early warning surveillance should the virus come back in the fall or winter to give us a chance to get ahead of it.”

 

Samples were taken from a large city and a small town, each in five northeast Kansas counties with multiple wastewater facilities and sampled in Lawrence and Topeka. KDHE and KU are still evaluating the results and formulating plans for next steps in using the detection techniques.

Government, Kansas

Flags At Half-Staff For Fallen Officer Mosher

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Governor Laura Kelly to order flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Overland Park Officer Mike Mosher

 

Governor Laura Kelly today announced she will order flags throughout the State of Kansas to be flown at half-staff in honor of Mike Mosher, Overland Park Police Officer who lost his life while on duty Sunday.

 

Flags will be flown at half-staff on the day of Officer Mosher’s memorial service. The flag order will be distributed once the date is announced.

 

“I was deeply saddened to learn of Officer Mike Mosher’s death,” Kelly said. “When our officers sign up to protect and serve our communities, they are putting their lives on the line for us. The sacrifices he and his family have made will certainly not be forgotten. Officer Mosher was an outstanding officer, and I offer my sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time.”

 

Overland Park Police Department: Officer Mosher was a 14-year veteran of the department, a field training officer and a community policing officer. Officer Mosher was involved in an ambush shooting in 2018 and received a Metropolitan Chiefs and Sheriffs Association Officer of the Year award for his actions during that incident. He was also the president of the Overland Park Fraternal Order of Police.

 

In addition to ordering the flags to be flown at half-staff for Officer Mosher, Governor Kelly today signed Executive Order #20-30, which amends a previous order to add first responders to the list of those who are to be officially recognized through this posthumous honor. The new Executive Order replaces Executive Order #10-12, which was originally signed under Governor Mark Parkinson. The original order did not provide guidance for first responders who are killed in the line of duty. The new order covers members of the law enforcement, fire and emergency response communities.

 

To view EO #20-30, click here.

 

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

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Governor Kelly announces recovery team leadership

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As part of her continued commitment to protecting the health and safety of Kansans and the state’s economy, Governor Laura Kelly today announced the appointment of two individuals who will head the team charged with leading Kansas forward in recovery from the far-reaching effects of COVID-19. 

 

Kelly selected Cheryl Harrison-Lee as the Recovery Office’s executive director and Lyle Butler as the chair.

 

Harrison-Lee has more than 30 years of experience in strategic leadership positions in a variety of corporate, entrepreneurial, private and public environments. Previously, she served in leadership roles for several cities to include Gardner, Kansas and Orlando and Daytona Beach, Florida.

 

Last year, Governor Kelly appointed Harrison-Lee to serve on the Kansas Board of Regents.

 

“Cheryl has a robust, national reputation as an extraordinary manager,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “She made an instant positive impact in her new role on the Kansas Board of Regents, and I have every confidence that she will provide big-picture insight during the recovery effort, while also paying necessary attention to detail.”

 

“I am honored to support Governor Kelly and the citizens of Kansas as we recover from unprecedented challenging times,” Harrison-Lee said. “I look forward to developing a strategy to help us regain and enhance our future and long-term economic sustainability.”

 

Butler recently retired from his position as the President and CEO of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, a position he held since July 2000. He has also served as the Chamber President and CEO in Dodge City, Kansas, and Greeley, Colorado.

 

“Lyle is a proven coalition builder who will be a strong contributor as we move forward in the recovery from COVID-19,” Kelly said. “He brings years of experience working with the business community and in economic development. We are going to need Lyle’s expertise as we move into the recovery phase of the pandemic.

 

“In these unprecedented times with numerous challenges facing the citizens of Kansas, I look forward to working with Governor Kelly and her leadership team to provide assistance and guidance to help get Kansas moving forward,” Butler said.

 

“Both Lyle and Cheryl have a keen understanding of the needs of local communities in Kansas, which will be paramount during the recovery effort and in the statewide distribution of CARES Act funding,” the Governor said.

 

Kelly will soon announce the remaining members of the recovery team, which will include involvement from members of the Kansas Legislature.

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Kansas Farmer Honored For Mask to New York Disaster

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Farmer honored by Gov. Kelly. Submitted photo.

Governor Kelly, K-State President Myers confer degree upon Kansas farmer who sent N95 mask to New York

Ruhnke shows the best in humanity, encapsulates what it means to be Kansan

Editor’s note: Please take time to view the video from the presentation. I think you will find it inspiring.

A video of the presentation can be found here.

 

Governor Laura Kelly today joined Kansas State University President Richard Myers to confer a bachelor’s degree upon Dennis Ruhnke, of Troy, Kansas.

 

Ruhnke recently garnered national attention when he sent a letter to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, in which he enclosed an N-95 mask to give to a nurse or doctor in New York.

 

Ruhnke wrote to Governor Cuomo: “I am a retired farmer hunkered down in Northeast Kansas with my wife who has but one lung and occasional problems with her remaining lung. She also has diabetes. We are in our 70s now and frankly, I am afraid for her.

 

“Enclosed find a solitary N-95 mask left over from my farming days. It has never been used. If you could, would you please give this mask to a nurse or doctor in your city. I have kept four masks for my immediate family. Please keep on doing what you do so well, which is to lead.”

 

“Dennis’ donation, at the height of our country’s protective gear shortage, showed us the best in humanity when we needed it the most,” Governor Kelly said. “I would like to thank Dennis for the example he’s set on how to serve – and how to be thoughtful and generous in an extraordinary way.”

 

In 1971, Ruhnke was studying agriculture at Kansas State University when his father passed away. At that time, he was two credits away from earning his degree, but chose to leave school to take care of his mother and the family farm.

 

“After speaking with President Myers, we both agreed that Dennis perfectly encapsulates K-State’s democratic mandate to be of service to people,” Governor Kelly said. “Which is why I am very honored that I was able to help present Dennis with his well-deserved bachelor’s degree in agriculture.”

 

“Along with his fantastic demonstration of kindness and generosity, Mr. Ruhnke’s academic work at K-State in his chosen field of agriculture qualifies him to receive his degree,” President Richard Myers said. “Kansas State University is proud to officially recognize Mr. Ruhnke as an alumus and valued member of the Wildcat family.” 

 

. A video of the presentation can be found here.

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Utility Disconnects Suspended Until May 31

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KCC extends emergency order suspending utility disconnects until May 31

 

This morning, the Kansas Corporation Commission approved extending its emergency order suspending utility disconnects for nonpayment until May 31.   The action, taken during a Commission business meeting, will offer continued relief to those experiencing hardship from the COVID-19 virus. The directive covers all electrical, natural gas, water and telecommunications utilities under the KCC’s jurisdiction.

 

The Commission’s original suspension order was issued on March 16 to expire on April 15. On April 14, Commissioners extended the order to May 15. Today’s order runs concurrently with Executive Order 20-28 issued last week by Governor Laura Kelly. The Governor’s order prohibits utilities, not under the jurisdiction of the KCC, from disconnecting customers until May 31.

 

“Even as the state begins the phased reopening process, Kansans continue to deal with the financial challenges brought about by COVID-19.  Maintaining utility services is critical to ensure public health and safety as the state works toward recovery,” said Commission Chair Susan Duffy.

 

The Commission may elect to extend the suspension order in a subsequent order if conditions warrant.

 

Today’s order can be viewed at: http://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx?Id=b6d84c9c-e3f3-487a-bbd2-95eec6d895fe

 

 

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Aging and Disability Services Implements Steps For COVID 19

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KDADS Implements New Steps to Safely Maintain State’s Psychiatric Hospital Services

TOPEKA – Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Secretary Laura Howard announced proactive steps to keep the state’s two psychiatric hospitals operating while keeping patients and staff safe during this pandemic. The principle behind these steps is to manage the state’s critical mental health infrastructure while creating capacity to quarantine any new patients in a single room for symptoms monitoring for up to 14 days after admission. Additionally, the hospitals have planned for isolation of any symptomatic or COVID-19 positive patients.

To implement this plan at Larned State Hospital (LSH), KDADS will work with the courts and providers to temporarily adjust hospital occupancy and actively manage a waiting list in response to COVID-19 as part of the hospital’s Pandemic Response Plan. Voluntary patients to Larned’s psychiatric services program will be diverted to community hospital resources under a diversion plan. Involuntary admissions will be accepted. Should the reduced occupancy require it, a waiting list will be established and those admissions will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Because this plan involves a reduction in the number of state hospital beds available at Larned, resulting in a possible delay in the ability to admit people, we are making a formal notification to the court of our plan to establish a managed moratorium,” Secretary Laura Howard said. “To help alleviate the effects of this reduction, we are tapping into the strong partnerships we’ve established with community partners like community mental health centers, private hospitals and law enforcement to identify community-based resources for voluntary admissions and beds.”

Pursuant to KSA 59-2968, the Secretary of KDADS is authorized to declare a moratorium on admissions to a state psychiatric hospital and must make a formal notification to the Chief Justice.

Osawatomie State Hospital (OSH) is also taking steps to safely manage patients through a shift to single patient rooms, the creation of a triage unit and the creation of isolation units to quarantine admissions and safely isolate COVID-19 positive or suspected positive patients. This results in a small census reduction that may have a slight impact on the hospital’s current waiting list.

The goal is to keep the state’s behavioral health hospitals open to receive patients referred for treatment in a way that protects staff and other patients from exposure to COVID-19. The principle is to manage the state’s critical mental health infrastructure while creating capacity to quarantine a new patient or offender in a single room where they can be monitored for symptoms for up to 14 days after admission to determine his/her risk of COVID-19 infection. For forensic cases ordered to the State Security Hospital at LSH, during the pandemic, very limited evaluations are being conducted to minimize opportunity for exposure to possible COVID-19, especially from jail settings. KDADS has used mobile competency with success over the last several months and will request that courts consider allowing mobile competency evaluations and treatment orders as a viable alternative to inpatient evaluation when the pandemic subsides.

The proposed shift to single rooms and active quarantine of new patients in the intake and treatment units reduces each hospitals’ capacity to admit referred patients at the same pace, resulting in longer waiting times for admissions but will improve their ability to manage the inflow of patients that could potentially be infected with COVID-19 and assess impact on other patients and staff. The impact of the capacity changes at LSH reduce available psychiatric services beds from 90 to 72 for patients and at OSH from 60 to 58.

The ability to create quarantine rooms at Larned and Osawatomie involves arranging what are now most often double-occupancy rooms into single rooms in units that receive new patients or adding bed space on campus to house incoming patients during the 14-day quarantine period.

“Both hospitals are actively screening admissions for COVID-19 symptoms,” Deputy Secretary of Hospitals and Facilities Scott Brunner said. “Implementing this temporary census management protocol allows us to effectively isolate new admissions to improve the ability of the medical staff to monitor and manage health conditions while reducing the chance of exposure of hospital staff and other patients.”

LSH began actively screening staff, including taking temperatures, on March 27, 2020. At OSH, these safety measures for staff were implemented March 24th.

Throughout the period that a moratorium is in effect, a district court or Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) may request that an individual be placed on a waiting list for involuntary admission. When the census drops below the new occupancy level, an admission will be arranged with a court or CMHC according to the chronological order in which individuals were entered on the waiting list maintained by the respective hospital. If there is no waiting list, the hospitals may admit the next individual who meets admission criteria

COVID-19 has also reduced the options for patients ready for discharge. Many of the programs, shelters and nursing facilities that prior to the COVID-19 outbreak would have accepted state hospital patients on discharge are closed to new admissions. KDADS is working with partners to create discharge paths to ensure the adult mental health system can function across the continuum of care.

 

KDADS plans to engage help from HealthSource Integrated Solutions (HIS) to identify regional diversion beds for patients that could be referred to LSH. HIS currently does this for OSH. The Larned staff will continue to move patients through treatment and moving them back into community services.