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Governor Laura Kelly Signs “Axe the Food Tax” Bill, Providing Relief for Kansans Bill Will Completely Eliminate the State’s Sales Tax on Groceries by 2025, Putting Money Back into Kansans’ Wallets TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly signed bipartisan legislation, House Bill 2106, that will “Axe the Food Tax,” eliminating the state sales tax on groceries. Cutting the food tax will provide Kansans with much-needed fiscal relief, especially as costs continue to rise. House Bill 2106 will completely eliminate the food sales tax by 2025. https://governor.kansas.gov/governor-laura-kelly-signs-axe-the-food-tax-bill-providing-relief-for-kansans/

Kansas Governor: Dec 22, 2021 Governor Laura Kelly Announces Proposal to Provide $250 Tax Rebate to Kansas Resident Taxpayers Governor Laura Kelly today announced a new proposal for a one-time $250 tax rebate to all Kansas residents who filed a tax return in the 2021 calendar year. “Since 2019, my administration has carefully worked to get Kansas’ budget back on track after years of mismanagement,” Governor Kelly said. “Thanks to our fiscal responsibility and record economic development success, we can return money to taxpayers and give every Kansas resident who filed taxes in 2021 a $250 rebate. These are significant savings for every family to be delivered by summer of 2022.” Governor Kelly is calling for a one-time rebate in the form of a non-taxable direct payment of $250 for every Kansas resident tax filer. Resident tax filers who filed as married and filing jointly will be eligible for a $500 direct payment. All other filing types will be eligible for a $250 direct payment. Under the Governor’s plan, Kansas will return approximately $445 million to over 1.2 million Kansas resident taxpayers. Additionally, as a one-time payment, this will have no impact on the state’s ongoing ability to collect revenues that fund critical services. The proposal will be paid for with Kansas’ current budget surplus and is intended to provide relief to tax filers who are Kansas residents. https://governor.kansas.gov/governor-laura-kelly-announces-proposal-to-provide-250-tax-rebate-to-kansas-resident-taxpayers/

KOAM-Local: Posted: July 15, 2021 Kansas implements changes for people to receive unemployment benefits TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas state legislature passed the “My Reemployment Plan.” It’s aimed at getting out-of-work Kansans back in the workforce. People receiving benefits for three continuous weeks must submit their résumé through Kansasworks.com. They also must complete and submit a job search plan form. koamnewsnow.com/kansas-implements-changes-for-people-to-receive-unemployment-benefits I had thought compelling people to seek employment as a condition of continuing to receive unemployment benefits, was considered improper and revoked as prejudicial or something...

Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center. 4101 4th Street Trafficway Leavenworth, KS 66048 913-682-2000 | 800-952-838 https://www.leavenworth.va.gov/

FOX news: "Here's a look at what the states have planned, according to each state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan submitted to the CDC." https://www.foxnews.com/health/coronavirus-vaccine-distribution-plans-state-by-state-breakdown coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1533/COVID-19-Vaccination-Plan-for-Kansas-Version12-1142020

Topeka Capital Journal: Kansas has a new mask mandate. Here’s what you need to know. On Wednesday, Gov. Laura Kelly implemented a second executive order mandating face coverings in response to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. https://www.cjonline.com/news/20201119/kansas-has-new-mask-mandate-herersquos-what-you-need-to-know Individual Kansas counties have the ability to opt out of the order. The specifics of the Governor's mandate are: One must wear a mask when inside, or in line to enter, any indoor public space; when obtaining services from the healthcare sector; when waiting for or riding on public transportation or while in a taxi, private car service, or ride-sharing vehicle; and when outdoors and unable to socially distance 6 feet. Businesses and organizations must also require face masks for employees who are working in spaces visited by the public, working in spaces where food is prepared or packaged, working in or walking through common areas or in any room where social distancing is not possible. Members of the public visiting the business must wear masks, unless seated at a restaurant and socially distanced. Those under five and those with medical conditions affecting mask-wearing are exempt. How provisions of the mask mandate are enforced depends on how individual counties decide the mask mandate will be enforced. Some have gone with financial penalties, while many have emphasized educating and offering a mask to the violator first. Regardless, enforcement is still very difficult, and success of any mask mandate will rely heavily on Kansans voluntarily following the order.

Due to COVID-19, in-person services may have limited availability. Contact your local election office to confirm. See CDC guidance on safe in-person voting. Vote on Election Day Voters registered in Kansas can look up where to vote on Kansas's Voter View website. The early voting period runs from Wednesday, October 14, 2020 to Monday, November 2, 2020 at 12 p.m., but dates and hours may vary based on where you live. Kansas voters can also vote at the local polling locations on November 2nd Election Day. Check with your local County election official for complete information. What to bring You will need to show photo ID to vote in Kansas. Acceptable forms include: a driver's license or non-driver's ID card issued by Kansas or by another state; a concealed carry handgun license; US passport; government employee badge or ID; military ID; student ID from an accredited postsecondary institution of education in Kansas; government-issued public assistance ID; or Indian tribal ID. Persons age 65 or older may use expired photo ID documents. Voters without ID: If you are unable to provide ID, you will be able to vote a provisional ballot and provide your ID to the county prior to the county canvass (7-10 days after the election) in order for it to be counted. You have to register to vote before Election Day in Kansas. You can find the deadline to register to vote in the "Dates and deadlines" section. To register in Kansas you must: be a citizen of the United States be a resident of Kansas be 18 by the next election have completed the terms of your sentence if convicted of a felony; a person serving a sentence for a felony conviction is ineligible to vote not claim the right to vote in any other location or under any other name not be excluded from voting by a court of competent jurisdiction *find more information on voting rights restoration here Election contact information for Kansas Address: Secretary of State Memorial Hall, 1st Floor, 120 SW 10th Avenue Topeka, KS 66612 Phone Number: 785-296-4561

TOPEKA --- A modified version of Gov. Laura Kelly's plan for expanding Medicaid health coverage to as many as 150,000 more Kansans has passed the state House. On Thursday morning, state Representatives approved the measure by a 69-54 vote after supporters forced their fellow lawmakers to take up the debate on Wednesday. Kelly quickly praised members of both parties who backed the bill, calling {Medicaid} expansion "one of the most critical issues impacting our state's futures." “Over 70 percent of Kansans support Medicaid expansion. I encourage the Kansas Senate to join me, this bipartisan coalition, business leaders and the overwhelming majority of Kansans in support of Medicaid expansion. The time for blocking progress has long since passed. Now is the time to expand Medicaid,” she continued. Kelly’s administration has projected $34 million in net costs for the state in the first full year of expansion, but the nonpartisan, nonprofit Kansas Health Institute projected $47 million in net costs. https://www.wibw.com/content/news/Kansas-House-passes-Medicaid-expansion-plan-507470141.html

https://www.koamnewsnow.com/news/money/kansas-bill-is-introduced-to-raise-minimum-wage-to-15-by-2021

According to a KOAM special report over 75% of the firefighters in Kansas are volunteers with most of those volunteer departments severely understaffed and right here in Crawford County many of those firefighters an estimated 40 to 50%, are 50 years old or older. “You can't get kids to devote their time for free anymore. So kind of us old people are the last of a dieing breed,” Arma Fire Chief Mike McLeod said. At one point, Arma had as few as 10 volunteer firefighters. He’s had to recruit outside the district to stay fully staffed. KOAM TV: Special Report: Cause For Alarm {Volunteer Firefighters in Kansas) http://www.koamtv.com/story/33627423/special-report-cause-for-alarm *I'm thinking if anyone may be trying to find a way to make a meaningful contribution to their communities and the people in the community, looking into what it would take to be a volunteer firefighter might be a really good place to start.

KWCH-TV Wichita: Teen injured in Council Grove officer-involved shooting COUNCIL GROVE, Kan. The KBI confirms a 17-year-old was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries following an officer-involved shooting Thursday morning in Council Grove. The KBI says that at about 9 a.m., police responded to the report of a man firing at vehicles. When officers arrived, the KBI says they started giving the teen commands, but he fired at the officers. A Council Grove officer fired back, hitting the teen. The 17-year-old was taken to a Topeka hospital for treatment to his injuries. No officers were hurt. The KBI will investigate and turn over findings to the Morris County Attorney, who will then determine if the shooting was justified. http://www.kwch.com/content/news/Teen-injured-in-Council-Grover-officer-involved-shooting-400753521.html http://cjonline.com/news/2016-11-10/man-shot-police-officer-thursday-morning-council-grove