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Rural advocates pinpoint holes in Kansas mental health, multilingual services
TOPEKA — Rural health and education advocates say increased access to mental health care and improved cultural or linguistic services would go a long way toward addressing disparities between communities of color and their white counterparts in rural Kansas. Francisca Jimenez, a parenting coach and home visitor for Russell Child Development Center, said a lack […]
Incomplete data renders audit of Kansas mental health and substance abuse programs inconclusive
TOPEKA — State legislative auditors say data gaps and broad definitions limited the conclusions and recommendations they could provide in a recent review of Kansas’ most common mental health and substance abuse programs. The audit focused on 23 providers of about 200 total statewide. They receive funding through Medicaid or a criminal justice intervention law, […]
KDHE deploys COVID-19 testing strategies and funding for Kansas schools
TOPEKA — Onsite COVID-19 testing is underway at 75 schools across Kansas, and state health officials say more will join them soon. As children resume in-person learning across the state, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is working to ensure school districts have a testing plan to keep schools open and minimize absenteeism. Kansas […]
Kansas governor directs state employees to work from home
TOPEKA — Executive branch employees will return to working remotely amid a surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the delta variant, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Wednesday. The governor’s new guidance is a speedy change of direction after state employees began returning to state office buildings in June. Remote work will remain in place through Oct. […]
Kansas medical experts warn against rising self-use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19
TOPEKA — More people are calling a Kansas poison control hotline after self-medicating for COVID-19 with a drug intended to fight parasitic infections in animals. Ivermectin can cause severe health problems in humans, and medical experts warn against using the drug to treat or prevent COVID-19. Interest in the drug is being driven by disinformation […]
Criminal justice panel explores racial dynamics of traffic stops, gang lists in Kansas
TOPEKA — A Kansas criminal justice reform panel is highlighting the dynamic between communities of color and law enforcement during traffic stops as an area in need of immediate attention from lawmakers. Several members of the Kansas Criminal Justice Reform Commission subcommittee on race and the criminal justice system said last week that while traffic […]
Judge orders Kansas to pay nearly $2.3 million in legal fees and expenses in child welfare lawsuit
TOPEKA — Kansas must pay nearly $2.3 million in attorney fees and expenses to the groups that filed a lawsuit regarding problems with the state’s foster care system, a federal judge ruled Thursday. Parties involved in the lawsuit reached a settlement approved by U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree in January but continued to fight over […]
Kansas hospitals hesitate to require COVID-19 vaccine for staff before FDA approval
TOPEKA — Kansas health care providers aren’t ready to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for employees, despite rising COVID-19 case numbers and a desire to promote the efficacy of vaccines. Several hospitals say they will consider a mandate once the free, safe and effective vaccines receive formal FDA approval. So far, the FDA only has authorized the […]
Kansas housing advocates warn of looming eviction crisis beyond CDC reprieve
TOPEKA — A new eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should cover most Kansas renters, but stakeholders and advocates agree it is only a temporary solution demanding further action. The moratorium, issued Tuesday, replaces a prior federal ban on evictions that expired Saturday. The new ban will last until Oct.3 […]
Kansas pilot program provides $500K in child care funding for job-seekers
TOPEKA — Kansas parents seeking employment and scrambling to find child care will now have access to a state pilot program intended to connect these families with needed resources. In total, $500,000 in funds from the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act are available to eligible Kansans searching for a job and accessing services through […]
Kansas AG pushes state Supreme Court to maintain limit on COVID-19 powers
TOPEKA — Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt is asking the state’s highest court to intervene and clarify what he called an unnecessary and confusing ruling on new legislation concerning the Kansas Emergency Management Act. Schmidt announced Tuesday he had requested the Kansas Supreme Court put a hold on a recent lower court ruling and maintain […]
Kelly recommends mask policies, COVID testing and community partnerships for Kansas schools
TOPEKA — New guidance Friday from Gov. Laura Kelly ahead of the start of classes recommends schools actively plan vaccination clinics, implement universal masking policies and create a robust testing plan for faculty and students. The updated guidance also requests that students in classrooms and school other settings maintain 3 feet of physical distance, but […]