A severe ice storm wreaked havoc upon power lines throughout the region as the work week began. Midwest Energy is reporting outages in portions of its coverage area could last for days. Click HERE for that story.
Above is a slideshow of photos from Midwest crews working to restore power. Click HERE for the most updated outages.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have pledged to cut federal taxes to boost the economy. But some GOP-controlled states have already adopted similar strategies, only to see growth falter and budget gaps widen.
The situation is particularly worrisome in Kansas, Oklahoma and Indiana, where lawmakers are now debating whether to reverse course and raise taxes.
And in states that have seen expanded Republican control, such as Arkansas and Iowa, political leaders are signaling caution about any new tax-cut proposals.
The reforms show that tax changes always carry an element of uncertainty — about the economy, government needs and even the prices of commodities such as oil. Although the federal and state tax systems are significantly different, both are subject to forces beyond lawmakers’ control.
KDCF
TOPEKA – During the cold winter months, heating a home can be a financial strain. In order to ensure Kansans keep warm this winter, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) will begin accepting applications for its Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) on Tuesday, Jan. 17.
“Kansas winters have the potential to bring brutally cold temperatures, snow and ice,” said DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore. We want to make sure families don’t go cold due to financial concerns. Our LIEAP staff is trained and ready to begin processing applications, so families have warm homes this winter.”
LIEAP provides an annual benefit to help qualifying households pay winter heating bills. Persons with disabilities, older adults and families with children are the primary groups assisted. In 2016, nearly 44,000 households received an average benefit of a little under $500.
To qualify, applicants must be responsible for direct payment of their heating bills. Income eligibility requirements are set at 130 percent of the federal poverty level. The level of benefit varies according to household income, number of people living in the home, type of residence, type of heating fuel, and utility rates.
Applicants must demonstrate that they have made payments on their heating bill two out of the last three months. Those payments must be equal to or exceed $80 or the total balance due on their energy bills, whichever is less.
Applications for the program have been mailed to households that received energy assistance last year. LIEAP applications are also available at local DCF offices and through partnering agencies. They can be requested by calling 1-800-432-0043. For more information or to apply online, visit www.lieap.dcf.ks.gov.
Applications will be accepted from Jan. 17 to March 31.
Holly Dickman, Ellis County Horticulture Agent with K-State Research and Extension, advised residents to resist the urge to knock ice off their trees.
“If your trees look like this, please DO NOT try to beat the ice off with a broom, etc.! You will only end up doing more damage. Leave them alone, and let Mother Nature take its course,” Dickman said.
She offered this advice from the University of Missouri Extension for first aid for storm-damaged trees.
Anyone with questions about storm-damaged trees or plants can contact Dickman at the Ellis County Extension office, 601 Main, Ste. A, or by calling (785) 628-9430.
WASHINGTON -President-elect Trump is working to reveal a replacement for “Obama Care.” that will cover everyone.
Votes in the House and Senate last week were the first steps to eliminate Obama’s health-care reform law.
Freshman Congressman Dr. Roger Marshall, an obstetrician, knows there are changes coming but some benefits from the old system will remain.
“I think we are very comfortable keeping kids on a parent’s plan until they turn 26,” he said. “We also have to help those with pre-existing conditions. We have to supply high-risk pools which most states have. The federal government will have to help fund those to help keep the cost down for those with pre-existing conditions.”
Marshall also made it clear that whatever happens with healthcare, Americans in need will not be forgotten. “We are not pushing anyone off the cliff or are we going to pull the rug out from under you,” he said.
He did say discussions among congressional leaders are focused on rising premiums for plans sold in state marketplaces, high deductibles and taxes.
GOP lawmakers are set to gather in Philadelphia later this month to discuss specifics for the alternative, according to Marshall.
Midwest Energy
Midwest Energy is working through the largest ice storm to hit our area in nearly a decade. It is possible that it could take days before all customers have power restored.
If your home does not have power, consider making alternate arrangements for shelter with a family member, neighbor, co-worker or friend who has power.
At 3 p.m. Monday, Midwest has more than 8,500 customers without power, in outages stretching from Lyons to the Colorado border. Melting ice and increased wind is causing additional outages. Falling tree limbs have taken down hundreds of service lines to individual homes and businesses.
All Midwest Energy crews, as well as a dozen contract crews from Ward Electric and PAR Electric, are deployed and working on restoration. Our restoration priorities are transmission lines first, distribution feeder lines second, and service lines to individual homes or businesses last. This ensures we bring the largest number of customers back on with each line as we put circuits back in service.
Click HERE for an updated listing of outages.
Three things to remember:
1) If you see downed lines, please DO NOT touch them or move them yourself. Call them in to Midwest Energy at 1-800-222-3121.
2) Please DO NOT connect portable generators into your home’s wiring unless your home has a double-throw disconnect switch. Connecting a generator directly can be a fire hazard, as well as puts our linemen at risk.
3) If you’ve not called in your home’s outage, please do so at 1-800-222-3121.
Thank you, and we appreciate your patience as we work to safely restore power.
PETTIS COUNTY, MO. – A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 4:30a.m. on Monday in Pettis County Missouri.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Chevy Uplander driven by Ethan R. Jackson, 25, Warsaw Mo., was northbound on U.S. 65 just north of Anderson School Road.
The SUV rear-ended a 2011 Harley Davidson ridden by Richard J. Moore, 57, Shawnee, Kansas.
Moore was ejected from the motorcycle. Both vehicles became entangled and traveled into the ditch.
Moore was transported in serious condition to Research Medical Center in Kansas City, according to the MSHP.
Jackson was not injured. The accident remains under investigation.
By ANDY MARSO
The Brownback administration has increased advance payments to nursing homes while a backlog of Kansas Medicaid applications persists.
The administration instituted advance payments of 50 percent for nursing homes residents with pending applications last spring, when almost 11,000 applications backed up past the 45-day federal processing limit.
The backlog of application for the state’s privatized Medicaid program known as KanCare was whittled to about 1,500 in September but is on the rise again.
Mike Randol, director of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Division of Health Care Finance, told legislators this week that the administration would increase the advance payments from 50 percent to 90 percent.
“That’s going into effect immediately,” Randol said.
The backlog started about a year ago after the rocky rollout of a new computer system, an executive order that funneled all applications through a single KanCare Clearinghouse and the Affordable Care Act’s 2016 open enrollment period.
Nursing homes have been hit particularly hard by coverage delays because about half of Kansans in nursing homes rely on KanCare to pay for long-term care.
The long-term care applications are the most complex within Medicaid, and Randol told legislators they make up most of the backlogged applications at this point.
“We’re successful with the other populations,” he said during a legislative hearing. “What we have to focus on is that different business model relative to the long-term care, and that’s our responsibility.”
Randol said the state is making a number of changes to smooth communication with long-term care applicants, including bringing in help from Kansas Department for Children and Families employees who processed those applications before the clearinghouse was established.
Nursing home representatives told legislators they’ve been due hundreds of thousands of dollars for care of residents awaiting Medicaid coverage for more than a year.
They said they’ve had to take out lines of credit, absorb penalties for late payments to vendors who provide food and other essentials, and find temporary sources of emergency cash.
Rodney Whittington, the CEO of Villa St. Francis, said his 170-bed facility in Olathe has leaned heavily on its affiliation with the Catholic Church.
“We’re indebted to them for $1 million now, for things not to make our building beautiful but simply to make payroll, keep the lights on and buy groceries,” Whittington said. “We wouldn’t have made it without that safety net.”
Andy Marso is a reporter for KCUR’s Kansas News Service, a collaboration of kcur.org, Kansas Public Radio and KMUW covering health, education and politics in Kansas. You can reach him on Twitter @andymarso.
Stacy Campbell talks about a program coming up on Monday, February 6, 2017 called, “Top 10 Considerations to Navigate a Struggling Farm Economy!”
https://www.hayspost.com/wp-admin/post-new.php#edit_timestamp
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs coach Andy Reid doesn’t believe the holding penalty on left tackle Eric Fisher that cost Kansas City a tying 2-point conversion against Pittsburgh on Sunday night should have been called.
After watching film of the decisive play in the Steelers’ 18-16 playoff victory, Reid said Monday that “I don’t want to be fined any money, but I’d lean a different way.”
Fisher appeared to hook Steelers pass rusher James Harrison on the conversion attempt with less than 3 minutes left in the game.
But the play was not cut-and-dried: Harrison dipped especially low and may have been losing his balance, and he likely would not have gotten to the quarterback anyway.
Still, the flag negated the successful 2-point conversion. And when the Chiefs tried again from the 12-yard line, Alex Smith’s throw fell incomplete and the Steelers were able to run out the clock.
Royals.com
The Kansas City Royals announced today that they have agreed to a five-year contract with Danny Duffy. The deal will begin in 2017 and run through the 2021 season.
Duffy, 27, set career highs in wins (12), starts (26), innings pitched (179.2) and strikeouts (188) in 2016, while also leading Royals starting pitchers in ERA (3.51). The Royals were 17-9 (.654) in his 26 starts. His 12-3 record (.800) matched Larry Gura in 1978 for the best single-season winning percentage in Royals history (min. 15 decisions).
Click HERE for more.
STAFFORD COUNTY – Officials in many areas of southwest Kansas are working to help citizen keep warm while energy company crews work to restore power.
Stafford County Emergency Management opened up a temporary shelter at the First Christian Church 100 block of North Boston in Stafford. They encouraged residents to bring blankets and snacks.
Victory Electric, that serves Ford and Gray Counties and parts and portions of Kiowa, Edwards, Hodgeman, Finney, Haskell, Meade, and Clark counties reported they are getting hundreds of messages that customers cannot through to them on phone lines.
The company said they have more than 5000 outages right now, maybe closer to 10,000.
The damages are so bad that it’s likely going to be a while before power is restored.
Outside crews and contractors are helping.
It might be 2 hours or 2 days before power is restored, according to Victory Electric.
They advised that Dodge City Community college dome is open as a warming station for anyone who needs a place to go.
