TOPEKA —A winter storm system has started moving into Kansas and major impacts will occur late this afternoon, evening and during the overnight hours into Monday, Jan. 22, the Kansas Division of Emergency Management is urging Kansans to make sure their emergency supplies are ready.

Starting at noon on Sunday, Jan. 21, KDEM is activating the State Emergency Operations center in Topeka to a partial level, to monitor the weather and coordinate any state emergency response operations that might be requested.

The Kansas National Guard will have Stranded Motorists Assistance Response Teams with a total of 30 Kansas Army National Guardsmen prepositioned in northwest Kansas, ready to deploy to patrol roads in those regions to search for stranded motorists if the need arises.

“The National Weather Service is forecasting significant snowfall accumulations in the western portions of the state, especially the northwest region,” said Angee Morgan, deputy director of KDEM.  “Some areas will see gusting winds which will cause blizzard like and whiteout conditions with areas of blowing and drifting snow.  This could cause extremely hazardous traveling conditions.  If you plan to travel, use caution and make sure your car emergency kit is stocked.”

A car emergency kit should include bottled water for everyone; nonperishable, high-energy snack items; flashlights and batteries; a battery-operated radio; blankets; a compact snow shovel; extra medications; signal flares and other emergency supplies to allow you to survive until help can arrive. Morgan said it is also advisable to fill your gas tank before you start, check engine fluid levels and tire pressure, and to make sure your cell phone is fully charged.

If you plan to stay home, it is a good idea to make sure your home emergency kit is well-stocked, too. Although the storms are not expected to affect power lines, the possibility of power failures always exists.

“Keep your family safe by making sure you have your emergency supplies up-to-date, including a safe alternative heat source,” said Morgan.

Morgan said kerosene heaters are generally safe when used properly and a fireplace can provide some warmth, provided it is drawing properly. She said never attempt to use a charcoal grill as a heat source.

“Charcoal generates carbon monoxide, which can be deadly in enclosed spaces,” said Morgan. “Outdoors, in a barbecue, charcoal is fine, but never use it indoors.”

In the event of power outages, Morgan suggested checking on neighbors to make sure they are all right, particularly older neighbors.

After the storm, when shoveling snow, Morgan urged continued caution.

“Dress in layers. Use many thin, warm layers rather than a few thick layers,” she said. “Be smart as you work. Don’t over-exert yourself and take frequent warming breaks. Work as a team or at least have someone inside to keep an eye on you as you work.”

Outdoor pets are especially vulnerable to bitter cold and extreme wind chills. Bring outdoor pets inside if possible or ensure that they have a draft-free enclosure with straw type bedding that is large enough to sit and lie down, but small enough to hold their body heat if they must remain outside. Always make sure that your pets have access to food and non-frozen water.

For additional pet safety information, go to www.avma.org.

For more winter weather preparedness tips, go online to to www.ksready.gov, www.ready.gov or call your county emergency management office.

State road and travel conditions may be accessed at the Kansas Department of Transportation KanDrive website www.kandrive.org or on a mobile device, go to 511mm.ksdot.org. You may also call 5-1-1 from any phone.

Information on winter driving tips is available from the Kansas Highway Patrol at www.kansashighwaypatrol.org/press/news_info/winter_drive.html You may also follow the Kansas Highway Patrol on Facebook and Twitter at www.kansashighwaypatrol.org

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN

When 18-year-old Columba Herrera walks across the graduation stage this May, she’ll leave Topeka Public Schools with two things — a high school diploma and the beginnings of her college transcript.

Herrera will have a semester’s worth of college credit — courses offered at Topeka West High School in conjunction with Washburn University.

Each freshman-level college class that the aspiring computer science major knocks out of the way while in high school gets her closer to her goal.

“That way,” she said, “I can actually get into the classes that are specific for my major.”

Herrera paid for those classes by working at a hospital. Even with the discount Topeka West students enjoy, Washburn tuition costs $141 per credit hour. At that rate, 15 credit hours — a typical semester — adds up to $2,115.

For future students, Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer wants the state to pick up the tab. He is calling for 15 credit hours of free college classes for high-school students who want them.

That would expand a 2012 program that already lets Kansas high school students study at technical colleges on the state’s dime.

“Those kids that take dual-credit hours, they’re more likely to attend college,” Colyer said Friday. “Helping them get launched is really important.”

Colyer — the front-runner in fundraising for the governor’s race — threw his weight behind the agenda of Kansas’ state education agency.

It features prominently in Gov. Sam Brownback’s state budget proposal, which the outgoing governor has said he let Colyer prepare.

Among the board’s goals is easing the jump from high school to higher education.

“This will contribute greatly to Kansas meeting its post-secondary goals,” education commissioner Randy Watson said in an email about the proposal.

State education officials broadly want more Kansans to get something beyond a high school diploma — in large part to ready them for a changing job market. The state lags behind its own goals on that front.

So to speed that progress, there’s a push to start that post-high school work in high school. The Brownback/Colyer plan shoots for 75 percent of high school students pursuing post-secondary studies by 2023.

About 44 percent of the class of 2015 did.

Blake Flanders, president of the Kansas Board of Regents, which oversees state universities, said higher education officials believe increasing dual-enrollment could remove barriers to college for students whose parents didn’t attend. Likewise, it could build confidence for students who doubt their academic abilities.

“Some students may not believe college is in their future,” Flanders said, “Then they take a course in high school. They’re successful. And see that they can actually do it.”

Success of the program would depend on long-term funding, expanding course offerings and making sure high school students who enroll are ready to tackle college-level work.

“What we’ve seen is more of a rough outline,” Flanders said. “We want to learn more.”

Educators are concerned that five years after its inception, the existing 2012 initiative that grants tuition-free access to technical colleges is underfunded by several million dollars a year. That development reflects the state’s revenue woes of recent years, which hit as the number of high school students participating tripled to more than 11,000 this year.

It’s unclear how much the college credit proposal would cost because it’s unknown how many students would take the state up on its offer.

Access to dual-credit classes varies by school. Topeka West gradually built up to the 47 credit hours now available to its students. Doing so required faculty with advanced credentials and approval for teaching each course to college-level specifications.

“I’d be a little curious about what plans there are to help with credentials for teachers to be able to do that,” Topeka West principal Dustin Dick said.

But if logistics can be resolved and the Kansas Legislature proceeds, Dick is convinced more of his students will sign up for dual-credit. Topeka West students clocked 314 credit hours last semester alone — $44,274 in tuition.

Herrera, the Topeka West senior, hopes students like her younger sister, Kate, can dodge the tuition fees she faced. Columba Herrera had to work a job 20 hours a week on top of her course work. If tuition were free, she said, students could just focus on their studies.

“Not only would it benefit them financially,” she said. “I feel like it would also not stress them out as much.”

Celia Llopis-Jepsen is a reporter for the Kansas News Service. You can reach her on Twitter @Celia_LJ.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects in connection with an aggravated robbery.

Just after 2p.m. Friday, police responded to report of a disturbance in the 300 Block NW St John Street in Topeka, according to Lt. Colleen Stuart.

Officers contacted two individuals in a gray 4-door vehicle. A firearm was located in the vehicle and after being provided false identifying information, both individuals were taken to the Law Enforcement Center for further interviews.

Kurtis Schwanz, 40, was transported to the Department of Corrections on charges of Felon in possession of a firearm, felony obstruction and drug charges.

Hunter Hosler, 23, was transported to the Department of Corrections on charges related to a Dec. 20th aggravated robbery in the 3800 Block South Topeka Blvd.

Schwanz has ten previous convictions for drugs, theft, flee/attempt to elude, obstruction, assault of a law enforcement officer, forgery and more. according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.