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Kansas law enforcement say legislation should be passed on fentanyl, mental health issues

info2023-01-18T22:59:21-06:00January 18th, 2023|

Kansas law enforcement officials have sounded the alarm about fentanyl and mental health crises across the state, saying fentanyl is now a greater threat than methamphetamines. Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeffrey Easter said he is still seeing a surplus of inmates suffering from mental illness, waiting in jail for long periods of time in order to receive treatment. During a House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee meeting Tuesday, he urged lawmakers to find solutions. Community hospitals and jails in western Kansas have had to pick up the slack, housing mentally unstable patients without state reimbursement because of shortages of mental health care [...]

WFD firefighters will carry Narcan, Whipple says

info2023-01-18T22:58:17-06:00January 18th, 2023|

A tweet from Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple says that firefighters with the Wichita Fire Department (WFD) will carry and distribute Narcan to victims of suspected opioid overdoses. "This policy change, combined with funding will save lives as we continue our fight against the fentanyl crisis," reads the tweet. A town hall meeting hosted by the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office and Wichita Police Department last week highlighted some of the dangers of fentanyl in Wichita. The Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center says the number of fentanyl cases has grown exponentially. Source: KSN-TV

New K-9s will serve in Saline County schools

info2023-01-19T07:48:38-06:00January 18th, 2023|

Two new K-9s are joining the Saline County Sheriff's Office to serve in public schools. The dogs are not the typical police dogs who assist officers in investigating crime. They are therapy dogs. Saline County Deputies Tyler Casteel and Braden Long recently traveled to Brevard County, Florida, where they trained with their new K-9 partners at the Brevard County Sheriff's Office Paws and Stripes College. The program uses rescued dogs who are then trained by inmates under the supervision of professional trainers to provide therapy dogs at no cost. Therapy dogs can provide a variety of assistance, including helping to keep [...]

Broadband access to improve in 15 Kansas counties, here’s where

info2023-01-18T22:56:26-06:00January 18th, 2023|

More than $40 million has been awarded to service providers in Kansas to extend high-speed internet across several underserved counties. Cassie Nichols, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Governor, said a total of $44.5 million has been distributed to nine service providers to extend internet access to 18,468 locations in 15 counties. This will be the third and final award phase of the Kansas Capital Project Funds (CPF) Broadband Infrastructure Program. Nichols said the CPF program provides funding to make broadband connections in critical areas of the state that don't have access to high-speed internet. The $83.5 million total CPF [...]

Sedgwick County commissioner joins meeting a day after giving birth to twins

info2023-01-18T22:55:21-06:00January 18th, 2023|

It was out of the ordinary for Wednesday’s Sedgwick County Commission meeting. County Commission chairman Pete Meitzner welcomed Commissioner Sarah Lopez via Zoom before the meeting began, and Lopez announced she had given birth to twin girls on Tuesday. “I’m really just excited to share that our daughters are here, they’re healthy and I’m doing good,” Lopez said. “I couldn’t really ask for anything better.” The twin girls, Alejandra Marie and Ana Lucia, were born prematurely at 33 weeks but are doing well. The twins are in the neonatal intensive care unit but will be moved to a different unit soon, [...]

Sedgwick County rolls out public alert system for emergencies, starting in these cities

info2023-01-18T22:53:36-06:00January 18th, 2023|

Sedgwick County government has rolled out a voluntary public alert system — Civic Ready — that can send text messages, e-mails or voice alerts of emergencies or important news. City governments in Wichita and Mount Hope are also able to send out more targeted and localized alerts through the system. Other cities in Sedgwick County are expected to join the program later this year. To use it, residents have to sign up and select how they want to be notified — and what kind of alerts they would like to receive. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

McPherson Police Chief Mikel Golden graduates FBI National Academy

info2023-01-19T07:44:10-06:00January 18th, 2023|

On Thursday, Dec. 8, McPherson Police Chief Mikel Golden graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Golden began training at the FBI National Academy 10 weeks ago, in mid-October, and successfully completed the training this week. Golden’s training included classroom instruction, physical fitness, and more. Golden has dedicated over 15 years of law enforcement service to the McPherson community. He joined the McPherson Police Department in October 2006 as a patrol officer. While attending the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, his classmates voted him class president. Source: McPherson Weekly News

Kansas teacher shortage prompts calls for higher salaries, paying student teachers

info2023-01-18T22:50:14-06:00January 18th, 2023|

As Kansas faces the worst teacher shortage it’s ever known, one group says the state needs to raise teacher pay, elevate the profession and offer student teachers a paycheck. “Part of the problem is our salaries in education stink,” said Rick Ginsburg, dean of education at the University of Kansas. “Add to that working conditions that are challenging, a public that is rather critical. … So what you end up with is something that is awfully challenging.” Source: Prairie Village Post

Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $45 Million to Connect Kansans to High-Speed Internet in 15 underserved counties

info2023-01-19T07:45:34-06:00January 18th, 2023|

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that $44.5 million will be awarded to nine service providers to extend high-speed internet to 18,468 locations in 15 underserved counties across the state. This is the third and final award phase of the Kansas Capital Project Funds (CPF) Broadband Infrastructure Program. The CPF program provides funding to make broadband connections in critical areas of the state that lack access to high-speed internet. The $83.5 million total CPF investment, combined with almost $42 million in matching funds, will result in more than 24,500 homes, businesses, schools, health care facilities, and other public institutions being connected to [...]

Days long ‘computer network disruption’ continues in Derby, under federal investigation

info2023-01-18T22:43:31-06:00January 18th, 2023|

Federal law enforcement is investigating what the City of Derby is calling a “computer network disruption.” City Manager Kiel Mangus said IT staff discovered the problem on Saturday, Jan. 14. The city’s email network is down. “They’re evaluating our system to see, you know, what occurred, how it occurred, you know, when can we get things back,” Mangus said. The FBI is investigating the disruption, along with third-party computer specialists. Mangus said this is causing delays in utility bill payments in Derby. Source: KAKE - News

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