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Local and state school boards grapple with critical race theory as national debate comes to Kansas

Haven, Kansas, is about the last place most people would expect a debate on critical race theory. The small town of 1,200 people halfway between Hutchinson and Wichita is a far cry from New York City or Chicago or other larger districts that have rethought the teaching of issues of race and American history — moves that have embittered conservative lawmakers nationally. But as the debate surrounding CRT, primarily taught at institutions of higher learning, has divided educators, legislators and parents, one member of the Haven Unified School District 312 board decided they needed to take a stand.
Source: CJonline.com.

2021-07-16T07:04:43-05:00July 16, 2021|News|

Panel: Review use of American Indian mascots

A commission tapped by Gov. Laura Kelly to probe racial equity in Kansas has recommended schools in the state “review and eliminate” the use of American Indian mascots, nicknames or imagery. The guidance from the Commission on Racial Equity and Justice is voluntary but comes as many schools throughout the state are reevaluating mascots that many consider to be offensive and derogatory. The move wasn’t unexpected, as many members advocated for the recommendation during a recent meeting of the commission dedicated to the subject.
Source: Salina Journal.

2021-07-16T06:58:47-05:00July 16, 2021|News|

The mystifying bond market behavior could last all summer

The bond market is defying Wall Street forecasters, as long-term Treasury yields continue to head lower despite a strong economy and rising inflation. A decline in bond yields, which move opposite price, can be a sign of expectations for a weaker economy. But strategists say it’s not just slower growth concerns that’s driving the move. Momentum and positioning are also playing a role, as are some technical factors. “It’s confounding,” said Michael Schumacher, director of rates strategy at Wells Fargo. “You’ve got some number of big players who for various reasons are pretty comfortable with the thought that economic growth is, I would not say weak, but not as spectacular as some people expected.” The most closely watched U.S. interest rate metric — the 10-year Treasury note yield — again skidded below 1.3% Thursday, a level where it last traded in February, prior to last week.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

2021-07-16T06:56:42-05:00July 16, 2021|News|

City agrees to pay $900K to family of man killed in 2012 Wichita police shooting

The family of a 23-year-old Wichita man who was fatally shot by police in 2012 has reached a $900,000 settlement in their lawsuit against the city of Wichita. The settlement comes just weeks before claims in an excessive force lawsuit filed by the parents of Marquez Smart were set for jury trial in federal court. Smart’s parents, Brenda and Randall Smart, sued the city over the shooting in 2014, alleging Wichita police officers Lee Froese and Aaron Chaffee violated their son’s Constitutional rights on March 10, 2012, when they shot him five times from behind as he ran away from an Old Town club where someone had fired into a crowd at closing time. Evidence suggests three of the bullets hit Smart in the back while he was unarmed and lying face down on the ground with his arms outstretched. He died later at a Wichita hospital.
Source: Wichita Eagle

2021-07-16T06:53:44-05:00July 16, 2021|News|

Kansas law allowing suits against local COVID rules unconstitutional, JoCo judge rules

Expansive changes to Kansas’ emergency management laws, which allow citizens to sue over public health measures, are unconstitutional and promote “the equivalent of legal anarchy,” a Johnson County judge said in a scathing ruling Thursday. As COVID-19 cases rise again, driven by the highly contagious delta variant, the ruling restores, for the moment, at least, the ability of local health officials to unilaterally issue orders requiring masks and restricting gatherings. It also allows Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to issue new emergency orders without approval from Legislative leaders. Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican who is a running for governor and who advised the GOP-controlled Legislature as it drafted the bill, already plans to appeal the ruling.
Source: Kansas City Star

2021-07-16T06:45:38-05:00July 16, 2021|News|

Johnson County animal shelters struggle to cope with surge in ‘pandemic pet’ returns

Local animal rescue groups say they are facing an influx of “pandemic pet” returns along with a sudden drop in adoptions as the world begins to return to normal. … three rescue groups experienced a dramatic increase last year in pet adoptions, a trend seen across the country as people stuck at home during the early months of the pandemic rushed to find pets to keep them company or break the monotony of stay-at-home orders. Now, these same groups are seeing the reverse effects. As families re-establish some of their pre-pandemic routines and people return to in-person work, pets are being returned at alarming rates.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

2021-07-16T07:22:55-05:00July 16, 2021|News|

Cowley County animal shelter full as surrenders increase, adoptions decrease

The Cowley County Humane Society has had to start a waiting list for people wanting to surrender animals due to several factors, including a big increase in kittens and fewer adoptions. The shelter has had 51 intakes and 18 adoptions for the month as of July 11, according to a post on the CCHS Facebook page. CCHS released a statement July 8, saying that they are aware of community members who are frustrated because the shelter cannot immediately take in animals they need to surrender. Kitten season, the time of year when a large number of kittens are born, has hit the shelter hard, the statement reads. People have left animals at the shelter door after hours, including entire litters of kittens and a pregnant cat. There is currently a waiting list of people who need to drop off kittens and cats, the statement reads.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

2021-07-16T06:36:19-05:00July 16, 2021|News|

City of Lawrence Waste Workers Ratify First Teamster Contract

Sanitation workers employed by the City of Lawrence unanimously ratified their first Teamster contract yesterday. The three-year agreement contains a modernized wage scale and substantial benefits as well as strong seniority language, grievance procedure, consistent work rules and improved working conditions. The group of more than 70 sanitation workers is represented by Local 696 in Topeka, Kan. “We are thrilled to be working under contract. This agreement contains countless improvements that sanitation workers in Lawrence have gone too long without. We are proud of what we have accomplished,” said Jody Norcross, a sanitation driver for the City of Lawrence and chief steward at Local 696. “This is a huge win. We hope this win will encourage other workers for the City of Lawrence to join us and build on our momentum to continue bringing real change to this city.”
Source: Hiawatha World Online

2021-07-16T06:36:55-05:00July 16, 2021|News|

EMS service has been a bargain for Scott County, but how much longer?

When recently addressing the county’s support of emergency medical services in the 2022 budget, Scott County Hospital CEO Mark Burnett pointed out to commissioners that he’s requesting an additional $60,000 in next year’s budget. That would boost the county contribution to $260,000, compared to $200,000 this year and $180,000 two years ago. EMS, which covers staff and general operations for the ambulance service, is not a money-maker for the hospital, Burnett points out. “Even with this budget request, it will still operate at about a $27,000 loss,” says Burnett.
Source: Scott County Record.

2021-07-15T21:30:09-05:00July 15, 2021|News|
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