Jeff Kahrs is regional director for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
By JEFF KAHRS U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Pockets of our country are experiencing a significant uptick in the number of measles cases.
Measles is not a harmless childhood illness. It is actually a highly contagious, dangerous disease that can even be deadly. But measles is also easily preventable with a vaccine.
There’s a lot of misinformation swirling around, so let me provide the facts: vaccines save lives. Vaccines protect our children from debilitating and deadly disease, and they promote the overall health of our communities. Vaccines are safe and highly effective. Large studies undertaken over the years have confirmed their safety again and again.
Vaccines do not cause autism and do not contain toxic chemicals. Any serious side effects from vaccines are exceedingly rare, and the protection from disease that vaccines provide far outweighs any potential risks.
If you’re a parent, talk to your child’s doctor to make sure your child is up to date on all of his or her scheduled vaccinations. This is especially important if you have an infant, because vaccinating your baby on the recommended immunization schedule provides protection against 14 serious childhood illnesses.
For measles, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children get two doses of the MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age.
If you’re an adult, check with your doctor about whether you’re up to date on your vaccines, too.
We all want our children to grow up in a world that is free from preventable diseases. The single most important thing each of us can do to achieve that goal is to get fully vaccinated – for ourselves, our families, and our communities.
You can find out more about the measles vaccine and other vaccines at Vaccines.gov.
Jeff Kahrs is regional director for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. South southwest wind 6 to 13 mph.
Tonight
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. South southeast wind 7 to 11 mph becoming east northeast after midnight.
Monday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Northeast wind 8 to 13 mph.
Monday Night
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 7pm. Cloudy, with a low around 49. Northeast wind 10 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 63. Northeast wind 11 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday Night
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 53. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 68. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 42. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s effort to expand Medicaid in Kansas this year died Saturday when enough moderate Republicans bowed to the wishes of the GOP-controlled Legislature’s conservative leaders and ended an impasse that had tied up the state budget.
The House voted 79-45in favor of an $18.4 billion spending blueprint for state government for the budget year beginning in July. Democrats and moderate Republicans held the budget hostageFriday and much of Saturday, hoping to force the Senate to vote on an expansion planpassed by the House and favored by Kelly. Republican leaders did not budge on putting off actionuntil next year and kept meeting with GOP moderates throughout the day to bring them back to the fold.
It helped them that the budget was a good one for Kelly, fellow Democrats and the GOP moderate, providing extra money for higher education and pay raises for state employees, though her administration had problems with how it allocated extra dollars for prisons.
Expansion supporters initially were willing to risk those gains to fulfill Kelly’s goal of expanding Medicaid health coverage to an additional 150,000 Kansas residents now. Some became more nervous as the day wore on, though, particularly with the Senate’s top Republicans determined to wait until next year.
Top GOP senators strongly opposed the House’s expansion bill. Rep. Don Hineman, a moderate Republican from western Kansas in the center of ongoing talks with GOP leaders, said he was reassured by public promises from Senate leaders that a bill would be drafted later this year and considered early next year, though Kelly’s office urged them to keep blocking the budget.
“Their message was, ‘Hold tough. We think we can get this,'” Hineman said. “Enough of us disagreed with that or became uncomfortable enough that the votes were there to adopt the budget.”
Kelly’s election last year raised hopes that Kansas would join 36 other states that have expanded Medicaid or seen voters pass ballot initiatives. But like North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, two other Democrats, a GOP-controlled legislature can thwart expansion plans.
“For many of our neighbors struggling with illness or disability, time is something they do not have,” Kelly said in a statement after the House’s budget vote. “Due to the failure tonight, thousands of Kansans will go without health care for another year.”
Republicans leaders argue that the expansion plan Kelly backed would be more expensive for the state than her administration projected — $34 million in net costs for the state in its first full year. They also contend that lawmakers need more time to get the details right, control health care costs, and consider work requirements for people covered by the expansion.
GOP leaders also said their focus during the impasse was in getting a budget passed, so that state government could operate past June and lawmakers could wrap up their business for the year. The spending blueprint contained more spending — a 6.5 percent over the current budget year — than many conservatives wanted, GOP leaders said.
“Our ultimate goal was to make sure that we funded core government and that our schools were funded,” said House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., a conservative Kansas City-area Republican.
The budget bill went next to the Senate, where the expected favorable vote would send the measure to Kelly. The House budget vote also cleared the way for it to vote on a GOP tax billdesigned to provide relief to individuals and businesses paying more in state income taxes because of changes in federal tax laws at the end of 2017.
Democrats did not hide their bitter disappointment.
“We all stayed and a bunch of you strayed,” said Rep. Tim Hodge, a Wichita-area Democrat. “I can’t believe we can’t stay solid for a few hours.”
During the budget vote, Democrats briefly played rocker Tom Petty’s song, “I Won’t Back Down” as GOP leaders held the roll open for more than 90 minutes to get the last necessary yes votes — and then nearly all Republicans jumped aboard.
“They had everything going for themselves,” said Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat. “They had all the momentum and they just can’t put up with the pressure.”
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and have a suspect in custody.
Bonewell -photo Sedgwick Co.
Just after 11 p.m. Thursday, police responded to a robbery call at the Dollar Plus store located in the 1100 block of South Hydraulic in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
A 26-year-old female employee told police the suspect later identified as 27-year-old Christopher Bonewell entered the store, made threats and demanded money. The employee refused to give Bonewell money. Bonewell damaged items in the store and fled on foot.
Police were checking the area, located Bonewell and took him into custody without incident. There were no injuries. Bonewell is being held on requested charges of robbery, criminal damage to property and an outstanding warrant, according to Davidson.
Investigators will present the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.
A Buick passenger vehicle driven by a 19-year-old man was northbound on McLean at 9th Street in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler. The vehicle left the road and struck a light pole. The driver was transported to a local hospital where he died.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Wheeler did not release the driver’s name Saturday.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and have two suspects in custody.
Mendez-photo Shawnee Co.
Just before 10:30p.m. Tuesday, police responded to the 1400 Block of SW Central Park in Topeka in reference a report of an armed robbery to individuals, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.
Four adult victims told police they were just robbed at gun point by four or five suspects. One of the victims was struck by the suspects, causing a minor laceration and as the victims tried to escape, the suspects fired a gun at them.
On Wednesday police apprehend 18-year-old Francisco Alejanero Mendez, Topeka, at a residence in the 1200 Block of SW Wayne.
Police also arrested an alleged 17-year- old accomplice at a home in the 1900 Block of SW 36th Street, according to Beightel. Mendez and the juvenile teen were taken to the Shawnee Co Jail and booked in on requested charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated battery and criminal discharge of a firearm.
Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.
Friends,
This week people across the country gathered with their friends, families, and churches to celebrate the National Day of Prayer, we also remembered the six million lives lost under the Nazi regime, for Holocaust Remembrance week. Every work week that we’re in D.C., I attend a bipartisan weekly prayer group with other members. In those meetings we give thanks to the Lord and pray that he continues to protect and guide us and this great nation. We must continue above all else to pray and to love each other, always standing firm against hated and antisemitism in all forms and never forget what evil this type of destruction caused during the darkest days of our world’s history.
We also received a great pro-life ruling from the Trump Administration this week. The HHS ruled that no physician or nurse should be forced to perform an abortion. This is great news, and I am thankful that the Trump Administration is standing up for the pro-life community’s religious liberties.
Holocaust Remembrance
This week we Honor the 6 million Jewish men, women, and children who were violently murdered by the Nazi regime for their religious beliefs. We remembered the victims that lost their lives to this evil regime with a bipartisan candle lighting ceremony in the Capitol, and we celebrated with survivors that beat the unthinkable odds and stood before us and shared their stories.
As the most well-documented genocide in human history, the evil and unimaginable torture throughout the Holocaust will forever haunt us. We must never tolerate or overlook antisemitism in any form.
In 2017, I had an emotional experience at the Holocaust Museum in Israel with my wife. There we heard from other survivors and walked through the hall of names honoring the six million victims of the Holocaust.
The Holocaust showed that a society that tolerates antisemitism is susceptible to other forms of racism, hatred, and oppression. We must make it abundantly clear to those with this deep hatred in their heart, that this country has zero tolerance for this type of evil.
This week I addressed the House floor to tell the story of a Kansas survivor of the Holocaust.
National Day of Prayer
This week millions of Americans gathered and celebrated the National Day of Prayer. This year’s theme, based upon the words of Jesus in John 13:34, “Love one another. Just as I have loved you.” As we are met with challenges, we must continue to seek his guidance and wisdom through prayer and always above else, love one another.
Every week I sit down with other members of our bipartisan prayer group and we pray together for his continued direction and wisdom when serving this country. As we are met with challenges, we must continue to seek guidance through prayer.
Community Bankers in DC
We had a full house on Tuesday when the Kansas Community Bankers came through the office! We talked about the importance of community banks across Kansas, and how they’re working to protect consumer data privacy and ensure access to capital for our farmers, ranchers, and main street businesses. As a former community bank board member myself, I understand the importance of these institutions to our small communities, and appreciate the work they’re doing to help rural America thrive!
Meeting with the Ambassador to Paraguay
This week I met with the new Ambassador from Paraguay, Mauel María Cáceres, to discuss the long-standing friendship between Paraguay and Kansas. In 1968, Kansas-Paraguay Partners Inc. (KPP) and the Comité Paraguay Kansas (CPK) developed hundreds of community-based partnership projects in both Kansas and Paraguay as part of the Partners of the Americas program. Since its creation nearly 2,000 Paraguayan’s have attended Kansas Universities as a result of the exchange. Today our partnership continues and the relationship remains as strong as ever.
The educational exchange seeks to benefit both sides of the partnership through learning opportunities covering agriculture, education, the cultural arts, health, international trade, natural resources, citizen participation, emergency preparedness, and much more.
In our meeting, we discussed the exchange between Paraguay and Kansas, and the bond we have through this program. We have a lot in common with Paraguay, they too rely heavily on their farmers, agribusiness, and selling of commodities through international trade. Also much like Kansans, the majority of Paraguayans are Christian and care deeply about god, family, and their country.
I was glad to meet with the Ambassador and look forward to building upon the Kansas-Paraguay relationship in the future!
Agriculture Subcommittee Hearing
The US dairy industry has faced a multi-year period of low margins and challenging market conditions. To address these issues the Livestock and Foreign Agriculture subcommittee, on which I proudly serve, held a hearing this week to hear directly from dairy farmers and experts from different regions on ways Congress can help address these issues. We discussed the ongoing labor shortage on farms, the importance of passage of USMCA and other trade deals, and the role that dairy cooperatives owned by family farmers play in assisting dairy producers back home.
Cooperatives, like Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), guarantee producers have a place to sell their milk, even if it means taking it at a loss. They also provide many other services for their members that producers rely on for making the right decisions on their farms. DFA recently relocated its headquarters from Missouri to Kansas and has a large milk powder processing plant located in Garden City. The plant is owned by twelve of its member farms in Southwest Kansas and is helping to support the industry’s continued growth in the region, as well as meet rising demand for U.S. dairy both domestically and globally.
Grain Inspection and Weighing Agency
Earlier this week I had the opportunity to meet with and address the American Association of Grain Inspection & Weighing Agencies. AAGIWA represents the state and private partners, authorized by the Federal Grain Inspection Service, to provide official inspection and weighing services to the grain industry on their behalf.
We discussed the importance of pending trade deals, farm bill implementation, foreign aid, and the need to repair and modernize our country’s aging infrastructure system. There were several Kansans in the group representing the Kansas Grain Inspection Service, which is responsible for providing official grain inspection services for all of Kansas, Colorado, western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming. KGIS maintains offices in Colby, Concordia, Dodge City, Garden City, Salina, Sidney, Kansas City, Wichita, and Topeka where they are responsible for grading samples representing roughly 500,000,000 bushels of wheat (57%), sorghum (19%), corn (15%), soybeans (7%), and other grains (2%) annually.
We are blessed to have farmers who produce the safest, most plentiful, and highest quality grains in the world. The work being done by AAGIWA and KGIS allow the fruits of that labor to get to market safely and efficiently. I look forward to continuing to support this important work and appreciate them inviting me to speak!
Electric Cooperatives
Many representatives from electric cooperatives across the district were in town this week to discuss issues impacting their industry. From the importance of upgrading and maintaining infrastructure to innovations helping our co-ops deliver energy more cleanly and efficiently to consumers, these companies understand the unique challenges facing rural America and are working hard to keep their members at the forefront of the conversation.
Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.
Join the Fort Hays State University community at 3 p.m. on Monday, May 6, on the main floor of Forsyth Library to celebrate the first award winner of the Lynn Haggard Undergraduate Library Research Award.
This $500 cash award will recognize a Fort Hays State undergraduate student for research that incorporates the use of Forsyth Library resources and demonstrates exemplary information literacy and research skills. The award is based on the student’s ability to find, evaluate and use library resources effectively in research and creative projects.
“The Lynn Haggard Undergraduate Library Research Award honors Lynn Haggard, retired Forsyth Librarian, and the 18 years of passionate service to the FHSU community and highlights the role of libraries as partners in student learning,” said Deborah Ludwig, dean of Forsyth Library.
Speakers at the event will include Ludwig, Nathan Elwood, librarian at Forsyth Library, Thomas Lippert, instructor of management, Haggard, and the award winner.
The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce will also be present to perform a ribbon cutting.
The public is welcome to attend. Refreshments will follow the program.
KANSAS CITY (AP) — Minority employees at Harley-Davidson’s plant in Kansas City have been subjected to years of harassment and discrimination — including having swastikas and nooses posted in the plant, frequent racial epithets and at least one assault, several employees said at a news conference organized by the NAACP-Kansas City on Friday.
“All the time I worked there it’s been there, it’s just ridiculous,” said Emmanuel Matthews Sr., who worked at the plant for more than two years. “This is 2019. This stuff has to stop. Something needs to be done.”
Matthews and other employees who spoke at the news conference work for Syncreon.US Inc., an affiliate of Syncreon, which supplies contract workers to the Harley-Davidson plant, but they said the harassment was directed at all minority employees. Matthews said he was assaulted by another worker at the plant but declined to discuss the details.
Harley-Davidson said in a statement that it does not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination and actively enforces its code of conduct and anti-harassment policy along with well-established processes for employees to report concerns.
“Complaints that we were aware of were thoroughly investigated and action was taken based on the findings,” the statement reads. “As appropriate we also referred incidents and complaints to third-party employers who share our factory.”
Oswald Reid, president and CEO of Syncreon.US said in a statement Friday that the company doesn’t tolerate any of the alleged actions. He said the company provides many avenues to report harassment or discrimination, including a confidential “ethics line.” No complaints of racially discriminatory behavior have been reported to that line in the last two years, Reid said.
“Over the last three years, all alleged policy or Code of Conduct violations that we are aware of have been swiftly and effectively addressed,” Reid said. “As of this moment, there are no open investigations with regards to discriminatory behavior.”
Harley-Davidson plans to close the Kansas City plant this year and shift those operations to York, Pennsylvania. The Milwaukee-based company said the closing would eliminate 800 jobs in Kansas City.
Employees said the harassment has happened for years but has intensified as the plant’s closing approaches. They said they have seen graffiti telling black employees to die or to go back to Africa. The workers said when swastikas or racial epithets were reported, the images were sometimes left for days before being covered with spackle. They alleged management would say the incidents were being investigated but nothing ever happened and the perpetrators were rarely punished.
Rochelle Anthony, who was a union representative for the Steelworkers at the plant for nearly three years before she was fired, said she ran into constant roadblocks when she tried to file grievances and could never get a straight answer or feedback when she asked about her complaints.
“I tried,” she said. “I felt like I was fighting by myself. I couldn’t help them. It’s getting worse. We need help.”
Steve Nelson, general manager at the Kansas City plant, sent a letter to Harley-Davidson employees Thursday saying the company wanted to reassure them that the company is taking “all necessary steps” to enforce its policies. He said harassment of any kind “cannot and will not be tolerated at Harley-Davidson.” The letter included details of the company’s policies for reporting and investigating complaints.
The Rev. Rodney Williams, president of NAACP-Kansas City, said the national NAACP plans to ask Harley Davidson to launch an investigation at all of its plants to determine if discrimination is part of the company’s culture or is isolated to Kansas City.
“Whether it is closing or not, this is not acceptable,” Williams said in an interview. “We need to send a message that this not acceptable anywhere. Many employees came to us to complain so we felt it was our duty to give them a platform that they might be heard.”
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A published report says a regulatory ombudsman hired by former Gov. Jeff Colyer billed Kansas taxpayers thousands of dollars for travel and food after his official workstation was quietly switched from a state office building near the Capitol to his Salina home.
Tom Arpke
Former Republican senator Tom Arpke was chosen by Colyer last year to serve as a link between nine state agencies, the governor’s office and Kansas businesses.
Documents obtained by the newspaper through an open records request show his annual salary was about $80,000. One month after starting the job, officials in the Colyer administration changed his office location to his residence.
That designation was used to justify Arpke’s monthly claims that taxpayers should pay him extra every time he drove to Topeka for work.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — The Manhattan-Ogden School Board has approved guidelines for transgender students in the school district.
The board voted 6-1 Wednesday to approve the guidelines, after discussing the issue since December.
The guidelines give students the right to be addressed by the name and pronoun they choose. It also allows students to use the restroom that corresponds to their gender identity, and it allows students to play for sports teams of their gender identity.
The board heard comments from 21 people expressing both support and opposition.
Some opponents cited religious reasons and others criticized allowing students to play for teams of their gender identity.
Board members who supported the policy said they wanted to do what they thought was best for the students.
Today
