Kansas Reflector: READ AND REFLECT, Morning eNewsletter, April 24, 2021

 

Morning newsletter of the Kansas Reflector

Sherman Smith | Editor in chief Good morning. "Voting is a right, not a privilege conferred on a favored faction able to traverse a bureaucratic, statutory maze calibrated to weaken turnout. These measures rammed through the last session are intended to make voting more difficult." — Nadine Johnson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, responding to the governor's veto of proposed election reforms

Advocacy groups push for transparency in Evergy’s $8.9 billion ‘sustainability’ plan KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Environmental and consumer groups are raising alarms about what they claim is limited transparency as Kansas regulators review Evergy’s plan to spend more than $8.9 billion on the utility provider’s infrastructure across the state. “The (plan) represents the direction of the energy future that our monopoly utility is saying we should go, and the people who that’s going to affect should have a say in that process,” said Ty Gorman, Kansas representative for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. The Kansas Corporation Commission is reviewing Evergy’s “sustainability transformation plan,” which it announced last year after Elliott Management Corporation, a major Evergy shareholder, told the utility company it should either develop a plan to invest in its infrastructure or sell. The plan, which Evergy says will help speed its transition to renewable energy and improve grid reliability after widespread outages during a severe cold snap this winter, doesn’t need KCC approval. But a third-party consultant’s analysis that helped form the plan — and some information about the plan itself — aren’t publicly available. Evergy has marked them confidential through the KCC review process, claiming they contain sensitive information and plans that are still evolving. It says the KCC case gives environmental and customer groups a window into its planning, but shouldn’t require as much disclosure as a normal KCC case. And while the name indicates Evergy’s plan is about sustainability, only a sliver of the spending is dedicated to generating new renewable energy. Consumer and environmental groups worry the plan, developed under pressure by Elliott, is meant to boost shareholder profits, not customer benefits. Read more.

Democratic Kansas governor vetoes GOP-inspired voting, firearm and flag bills Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed two bundles of election reform measures Friday that would have restricted advance voting, eliminated emergency powers to alter voting procedures, added a new crime for turning in others’ ballots, and strengthened penalties for existing election crimes. Kelly also vetoed a bill allowing teenagers to carry concealed firearms after obtaining a state permit. Read more.

Gov. Kelly signs legislation creating workforce development scholarship program Gov. Laura Kelly signed bipartisan legislation Friday authorizing a scholarship program aimed primarily at encouraging Kansas community college and technical college students to develop skills in high-demand areas of the state’s economy. Read more.

Kansas has a chance to close the digital divide — but only if we invest wisely Opinion from Jade Piros de Carvalho, director of industry and community relations at Ideatek, a company that focuses on bringing fast broadband to underserved Kansans: Kansas has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build broadband infrastructure that will meet our needs for years to come. Read more.

Federal health regulators urge states to restart use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday evening that they were urging states to end the sudden, 11-day suspension of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine’s use. Read more.

Support one-of-a-kind Kansas journalism  with a tax-deductible donation to the Reflector. Help us grow

Ann Mah eNewsletter, April 19, 2021

 

State Board News from Ann Mah Dear Michael Caddell, Wanted to share the latest from the state board of education and legislature. Visit Our Website Opportunites for organizations The state board received funds from the most recent federal CARES bill to provide after school and summer programs statewide. Some of it is to be used to help students with learning loss. We are also looking at offering free experiences for families to help with social/emotional recovery and give families a chance to "get out of the house" and reconnect. So...if you are part of an organization that provides quality after school or summer programs for students, or you are an organization that provides experiences for families and want to be considered, be on the lookout for the upcoming RFP process. The money we have is to take us through 2024, but we believe that COVID recovery will take years for some students and families. Let me know if you have any questions. Civic engagement award Congratulations to the students and staff at North Fairview Elementary School for being a 2020 Civic Advocacy Network award winner. The Seaman School District has been a leader in civic engagement, as Seaman High School was an award winner in 2019. Well done! Area districts recognized Last week school districts across the state were recognized for achieving goals set by the state board for student success. The seven areas recognized were: Academic Preparation; High School Graduation; Postsecondary Success (how many students went on to study beyond high school); Social-emotional growth; Kindergarten Readiness; Individual Plans of Study for all students; and Civic Engagement. Here are our area schools recognized for accomplishments: Auburn-Washburn: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; and Academic Preparation Atchison County Community Schools: Postsecondary Success; Civic Engagement; and Commissioner's Award Baldwin City: Academic Preparation Burlingame: Graduation and Academic Preparation Easton: Graduation and Academic Preparation Holton: Postsecondary Success and Academic Preparation Jefferson County North: Academic Preparation Jefferson West: Postsecondary success; Graduation; and Academic Preparation Kansas City Catholic Diocese (includes Topeka schools): Postsecondary Success; Graduation; Academic Preparation; and Commissioner's Award Kaw Valley: Postsecondary Success and Graduation Lawrence: Academic Preparation Lyndon: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; and Academic Preparation McLouth: Postsecondary Success; Graduation North Lyon County: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; Academic Preparation; Civic Engagement; and Commissioner's Award. Osage City: Academic Preparation Oskaloosa: Academic Preparation Perry-Lecompton: Social-Emotional Growth and Kindergarten Readiness Rock Creek: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; Academic Preparation; and Kindergarten Readiness Seaman: Academic Preparation; Civic Engagement; Social-Emotional Growth; and Individual Plans of Study Shawnee Heights: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; and Academic Preparation Silver Lake: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; and Academic Preparation Valley Falls: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; Social-Emotional Growth; Individual Plans of Study; and Commissioner's Award Wabaunsee: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; and Academic Preparation Wamego: Postsecondary Success; Graduation; and Academic Preparation West Franklin: Academic Preparation Congratulations to these schools, students, and staff for their accomplishments! This is just the first year for the awards. Looking forward to their continued progress. For more information and a list of awards statewide, go to: Kansans Can Star Awards 2020 Legislative action The Legislature sent several education-related bills to the Governor's desk, including new curriculum and graduation requirements, the education budget, and rules about transgender athletes. The Governor has 10 days after receipt of the bills to sign the bills, veto them, or allow them to become law without her signature. She has not acted on any of these bills yet. When she does, I will send out a notice to let you know what's going on. CCommunity Events If you have community events coming up, let me know. This email goes to nearly 3000 homes in Shawnee, Osage, Jefferson, Wabaunsee, Pottawatomie, and Douglas counties. I'd love to help you get the word out!  Just remember to send your activities well ahead of time.   For things to do in Topeka and surrounding area, check out the Visit Topeka calendar, Topeka 365 at: Topeka 365 (topekapartnership.com) Sincerely, Ann Mah www.annmah.org Paid for by Ann Mah for Kansas, Nancy Griffin, Treasurer

Women for Kansas, eNewsletter, April 18, 2021

 

I am incredibly saddened to see so many Republicans in the Kansas legislature overtly continuing their opposition to Medicaid expansion in Kansas. While 38 other states have expanded Medicaid, our legislative leaders have always had an excuse for not extending health care coverage to as many as 165,000 low-income Kansans. First, they said the Affordable Care Act would soon be overturned. Then, as more and more states signed on, they complained that residents of neighboring states would cross over borders and use our health care services, costing Kansas. Of course, all our neighboring states have now expanded, and Kansas stands alone. Why, when some Republican legislators are privately open to expansion? Why, when so many conservative organizations like chambers of commerce, the Kansas Catholic Conference, Kansas Catholic Bishops and numerous churches and businesses support expansion? Kansas has already lost billions to other states because of stubbornness and devotion to Republican party funders. To turn away from this incentive now is foolishness and an embarrassment to Kansas. We must be united in demanding that this year we expand Medicaid in Kansas. Susan Osborne, kansasreflector.com Read full article here: WHO REPRESENTS YOU? If you want to take action and do more than vote, the first step is knowing who represents you in Topeka. Brought to you by Mainstream Coalition, ksleglookup.org is there to help you find your State Representative and Senator, and how to contact them. HOW DOES YOUR LEGISLATOR VOTE? Read biographies, issue positions, ratings and funders, and track how they vote on the issues important to you. Visit Vote Smart's I Spy for more information. The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Susan Osborne is a member of the state leadership team of Women for Kansas and president of the Women for Kansas Education Foundation.  CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE. TELL THEM "EXPAND MEDICAID NOW!"