TOPEKA– Kansas Securities Commissioner John Wine has issued a cease and desist order against Price Financial Group and Gregory A. Price for alleged violations of the Kansas Uniform Securities Act (KUSA). Gregory Price was permanently barred from the securities industry in 2007. Price Financial Group operates in the Lawrence area.
The cease and desist order alleges that Price and Price Financial Group violated the KUSA by operating as an unregistered investment adviser and broker-dealer in the state of Kansas dealing in stocks and bonds. On October 3, 2017, the District Court of Douglas County, Kansas, entered an Agreed Journal Entry of Judgment against Price and Price Financial Group in civil court related to Price’s involvement with securities.
The Kansas Securities Commissioner urges any individuals who have had dealings with Gregory A. Price and Price Financial Group to contact the Office of the Securities Commissioner at 785-296-3307 or email [email protected]. The violations listed in the order are allegations at this point in time. Price and Price Financial Group have the opportunity to request a hearing on the matter within 30 days after service of the order.
TOPEKA — The Medicare open enrollment period always brings a number of questions to the Kansas Insurance Department, according to Ken Selzer, CPA, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance.
However, only Medicare Supplemental/Medigap insurance plans fall under the Kansas Insurance Department’s jurisdiction, and those can be purchased any time during the year, Commissioner Selzer said.
“We are able to direct many questions about Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Parts A &B to the appropriate agencies,” said Commissioner Selzer, “but consumers need to know that those plans are not regulated by KID. Questions about those programs need to be answered by experts in other places. Calling them first will save Kansans time and possible frustration.”
Medicare open enrollment for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans begins October 15 and ends December 7, 2017. Below are the contacts for particular Medicare-type plans:
Medicare Supplement/Medigap plans – Kansas Insurance Department’s Consumer Assistance Hotline-1-800-432-2484, or the online chat service on the department’s website, www.ksinsurance.org.
Medicare Part D/Medicare Prescription Drug coverage – Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) state help line, 1-800-860-5260; the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227); or go to www.medicare.gov.
Medicare Advantage coverage (Part C) – Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) state help line, 1-800-860-5260; the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227); or go online to www.medicare.gov.
Medicare Parts A & B – Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) state help line, 1-800-860-5260; the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227); or go online to www.medicare.gov (signup is actually through your local Social Security office).
Tips to avoid Medicare scams
As part of the Kansas Insurance Department’s mission to assist consumers, Commissioner Selzer offers these tips for protecting Medicare-eligible seniors from scam artists intent on taking advantage of open enrollment:
• Beware of door-to-door salespeople. Agents cannot solicit business for either Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage Plans at your home without an appointment (this does not apply to Medicare Supplement plans). Do not let uninvited agents into your home. Also, Medicare has no official sales representatives.
• Check with us at the Kansas Insurance Department (KID) to make sure the salesperson is a licensed agent. Call 800-432-2484 to speak with a Consumer Assistance representative.
• Realize no marketing is allowed in educational or care settings. Federal regulations prohibit the marketing of Medicare products in places where health care is delivered, or at an educational event.
• Understand that no free lunches are allowed, either. Federal regulations prohibit offers of free meals for listening to a sales presentation for a Medicare product or for signing up for a particular plan.
• Do not give out personal information, such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers or credit card numbers to anyone not verified as a licensed agent. Also, you must receive a bill as the beneficiary; no Internet or phone payments can be made.
• Verify that the Medicare plan chosen is an approved Medicare plan. All of the approved plans are available at www.medicare.gov under the “Finding Plans” section, or by calling 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227).
“Educating yourselves is very important in getting questions answered and fighting potential fraud,” Commissioner Selzer said.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to assist in its underground pipeline damage prevention efforts.
The grant will be used to fund one full-time employee dedicated to damage prevention inspections and enforcement for the Wichita metropolitan area as well as augment enforcement in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Excavation damage is the most common cause of damage to underground pipelines. The Wichita and Kansas City metropolitan areas account for 60% of the excavation activity in Kansas. Statewide, there were 1187 reports of gas lines damaged as a result of excavation activity in 2016. Of those, 50% occurred in the two metro areas.
“This grant opportunity has allowed the KCC to have a presence in the field at the site of the damage before repairs are complete,” said KCC Chief Engineer Leo Haynos. “The ability to interview the parties involved, to look at the locate marks, and to understand the type of excavating equipment involved, provides the inspector with the information needed to make a credible determination of the cause.”
In addition to compliance actions for violations, including the recommendation of civil penalties, the KCC’s enforcement strategy is coupled with a strong educational component that fosters communication among all parties. Using this approach, damages to underground natural gas pipelines with respect to excavation activity in the area have stabilized at 2 damages per every 1000 excavations.
Kansas was one among 24 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to receive a PHMSA grant.
TOPEKA – Through the work done in a dental lab at Topeka Correctional Facility (TCF) in conjunction with Kansas Safety Net Clinics, medically underserved Kansans are having their dental prosthesis needs met at a price they can afford.
Kansans without insurance or the financial means to meet their need for dentures are finding that through medical “safety net clinics” around the state, they have access to high quality products that Kansas Correctional Industries (KCI) is producing in the TCF Dental Lab at the women’s facility in Topeka at a reduced cost.
KCI, a subsidiary of the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC), teaches offenders new skills, and allows them to earn wages in preparation for life outside of a correctional facility. Among the programs overseen by KCI are some service enterprises such as the Wild Mustang Project, Inmate Canteen, Print Shop and the dental lab.
The KCI dental lab at TCF produces all the dentures and partials needed by offenders in KDOC facilities – several hundred per year. Additionally, the lab turns out about 150 dentures for needy Kansans as part of the mission of the Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved (KAMU).
Dr. Tomas Co spoke in Salina Thursday.
Dr. Tomas Co, the supervisor/instructor of the KCI/TCF Dental Lab since 2012, spoke Thursday at the Oral Health and the Safety Net dental directors training in Salina sponsored by KAMU. Dr. Co told the dental directors, clinic managers, executive directors, and dental and clinical staff from Kansas and Nebraska gathered for the training about the impact the lab is having on the medically underserved population in Kansas.
“If you are compassionate and you care, you can make a difference.” Dr. Co said. “In the work you are doing to help those in need in your clinics, you can know you are also making a difference in the lives of the women in the dental lab at TCF. You are contributing to these women having a sense of worth.”
People who visit one of the many Safety Net Clinics around Kansas and are identified as needing a dental prosthesis will have x-rays taken and impressions made of their mouths. Then the clinics will send the impression to the KCI/TCF Dental Lab which then will make a wax version of the denture. They will then send it back to the clinic for the patient to try in and to see if any adjustments need to be made. The wax set up is then sent back to the dental lab, where the final product is made and shipped back to the clinic.
The impact of these dentures on the recipients is often expressed to the women in the lab via thank you cards and photos.
“One of them even cried with joy,” one dentist wrote to the women in the lab. “Thought you’d like to know what a difference your work is making!”
Melody Martin, Director of Development and Training for KAMU, said she wanted safety net providers in Kansas and Nebraska to have a chance to meet Dr. Co and to hear from him about the service provided by the KCI/TCF dental lab.
“For a lot of the people who are treated in the clinics, they haven’t had access to oral health services for years,” Martin said. “For many of them, having access to high quality, affordable dentures can be life changing.”
Women at TCF who qualify for the dental lab program begin with classroom work and hands-on training before they begin working on products for actual use. The program, which takes about five years to complete, equips the participants to become competent dental technicians – a trade in high demand currently in Kansas and across the U.S.
“The lab is giving me the skills I need so that after my release, I can take apply for jobs at dental labs,” said one participant in the program. “They will help me make contacts and get placements to transition successfully. I will be able to develop a career and have a productive life.
“We do a good job and are needed by the people we are helping,” she added. “It makes me feel so much better about myself that I’m providing something to the community that I’ve taken so much from before.”
KANSAS CITY, MO – On Tuesday afternoon, Women’s Foundation celebrated 25 years at its We Work For Change annual event, attracting more than 1,300 people from across the political spectrum with the common goal of improving the lives of women of all ages in Missouri and Kansas. Central to this year’s event was promoting women’s civic engagement and promoting more women into positions of public leadership.
Keynoting the annual event was former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power who spoke about the importance of women’s civic engagement at all levels.
“For all of the bad news out there, women in 2017 are a major bright spot — we are stepping up more than ever,” said former U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power.
Missouri’s First Lady Sheena Greitens and Kansas City Mayor Sly James were also featured speakers who had special announcements related to women in leadership.
Mayor James announced Allison Pericich as the 50th appointment of the Women’s Foundation Appointments Project. Pericich will serve on the Kansas City Historic Preservation Commission.
Mayor James also shared that women’s representation on Kansas City boards and commissions has increased from approximately 33% to 42% since the Appointments Project launched three years ago.
First Lady Greitens announced that Governor Eric Greitens has committed to appoint 25 more women to Missouri state boards and commissions in 25 days, in honor of Women’s Foundation’s 25th anniversary.
Women’s Foundation President & CEO Wendy Doyle reinforced the importance of the Appointments Project during her remarks.
“The Appointments Project is at the heart of Women’s Foundation,” said Wendy Doyle, President and CEO of Women’s Foundation. “Perhaps more than any other work or project we do, the Appointments Project is getting results — moving the needle towards more women representation on public boards and commissions where decisions are made.”
The Appointments Project is an initiative that aims to increase the number of women serving on local and statewide boards and commissions in Kansas and Missouri. After only three years, the Appointments Project has had more than 700 applicants and successfully placed 50 women on boards and commissions in Missouri and Kansas. The Appointments Project is statewide in Missouri and Kansas and in Kansas City, Springfield, St. Louis, St. Louis County and Jackson County, Missouri as well as Olathe and Topeka, Kansas.
Women’s Foundation’s annual event was co-chaired by Christy and Bill Gautreaux and Yvette and UMKC Chancellor Emeritus Leo Morton. Proceeds from the event will sustain the work of the non-profit Foundation and advance its efforts to promote equity and opportunity for women of all ages, using research, philanthropy and policy solutions to make meaningful change.
PRATT – If you’ve dreamed of working as a game warden for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) the first step is completing testing and assessment, which will occur on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at the Crisis City Training Complex, 8 miles southwest of Salina. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources, or a bachelor’s degree with at least 24 semester hours of natural resources coursework. Accepted applicants will be screened, tested, and assessed for entry into the pool of qualified individuals who may receive offers for employment as a Natural Resource Officer I. Application packets must be postmarked no later than Friday, October 27, 2017 to be considered.
To apply for the upcoming testing and assessment, applicants must first register with the State of Kansas by completing the personal information registration form at www.da.ks.gov/ps/aaa/recruitment/. A State of Kansas Applicant ID Number will then be provided.
Next, applicants must submit an application packet containing each of the following items:
1) Letter of interest (include your State of Kansas ID Number)
2) Detailed resume
3) College transcript(s) (unofficial copies are acceptable as long as the degree is conferred)
5) Authorization to release information form found at ksoutdoors.com/KDWPTInfo/Jobs (This must be witnessed and signed by a KDWPT employee or signed in front of and notarized by a notary public.
6) Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate located at www.ksrevenue.org/taxclearance.html (A Tax Clearance is a comprehensive tax account review to determine and ensure that an individual’s account is compliant with all primary Kansas Tax Laws.)
Application packets should be e-mailed to [email protected] or mailed to Human Resources, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, 512 SE 25th Ave., Pratt, Kansas 67124. Applicants will be notified whether or not they have been selected to participate in the initial testing and assessment.
KDWPT reserves the right to conduct a background check on all qualified applicants.
For more information, contact the KDWPT Law Enforcement Division at (620) 672-5911.
Reeny Botros, 17, of Wichita is one of 10 Girl Scouts in the nation to be selected as a 2017 National Young Woman of Distinction by Girl Scouts of the USA. (Courtesy photo)
GSKH
WICHITA – Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland is proud to announce that Maureen “Reeny” Botros, 17, of Wichita, has been named by Girl Scouts of the USA as a National Young Woman of Distinction, the organization’s most prestigious honor. GSUSA selects 10 National Young Women of Distinction annually among Girl Scouts across the country who have earned their Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouts.
Botros is in Columbus, Ohio, this week, where GSUSA will be honoring the National Young Women of Distinction Oct. 6 through 8 during G.I.R.L. 2017, the Girl Scout National Convention and largest girl-led event in the world. Approximately 5 percent of all Girl Scouts in grades 9 through 12 go on to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, with only 10 girls in this high-achieving group receiving the National Young Women of Distinction honor.
For her Gold Award project, Botros invented “Illumi-cize” fashion accessories to promote physical activity among youth, attract more girls to STEM careers, and address negative stereotypes about women in technology. She designed the accessories to monitor heart rate and light up to incentivize exercise. But that was just the beginning – Botros went on to host a series of free “Catwalk Coding” camps teaching girls electrical and coding skills they could use to make their own light-up fashion accessories. During fashion runway shows, girls wore accessories they created.
Botros presented her invention to President Barack Obama during the White House Science Fair in 2015, and she received grants from the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) to host her free Catwalk Coding camps for local girls over the past year. Recently selected as a HerLEAD Fellow, she will conduct a Catwalk Coding camp for more than 100 girls over Thanksgiving weekend in Mexico City, where she will use repurposed shirt samples donated by Ann Inc.
“By taking an innovative approach to all-girl STEM education, I hope to contribute to closing the gender gap in STEM fields,” Botros said. “Too often, girls are led to believe that to pursue STEM requires that they adapt to the male-dominated field. The message of Catwalk Coding and G.I.R.L. is that STEM is already compatible with their interests.”
Her extraordinary leadership as a Gold Award Girl Scout and now, as a National Young Woman of Distinction, exemplifies how Girl Scouts take the lead like a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) to make a difference in their communities and the world.
The daughter of Dr. Maged S. and Maureen Botros, Reeny is a homeschooled senior in high school who is also enrolled in coursework at Friends University. A proud Girl Scout since Daisies, she earned the Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Awards before earning the Girl Scout Gold Award. She has been an active member of the Wichita Mayor’s Youth Council throughout high school, has competed in Lego Mindstorms and BEST Robotics, and was a NCWIT national runner-up three times. In the summer of 2016, she was selected to travel to Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California, for seven weeks of Apple Engineering Technology Camp.
Sylvia Acevedo, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of the USA, sits with Wichita Girl Scout Reeny Botros during a National Young Women of Distinction interview on Sept. 5 at the corporate office of Facebook in New York City. (Courtesy photo)
“All of us at Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland are extremely proud of Reeny’s selection as one of the 10 National Young Women of Distinction for 2017,” said Liz Workman, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland. “Her Catwalk Coding Gold Award project focuses on narrowing the gender gap in technology in a very innovative way – capitalizing on girls’ desire to add bling to their clothing as a way to engage them in technology. And now, Catwalk Coding is going global! Thanks to a HerLEAD grant, Reeny will bring the program this November to 100 girls in the community center, Centro Comunitario Santa Fe, in Mexico City.”
To honor Girl Scouts’ National Young Women of Distinction, the Kappa Delta Foundation grants the 10 girls a combined $50,000 in college scholarships, reflecting Kappa Delta’s commitment to girls’ leadership and their pursuit of education. This includes a $5,000 scholarship for Reeny. She will also receive a $10,000 scholarship from the Susan Bulkeley Butler Institute for the Development of Women Leaders, which is providing a total of $100,000 to the 10 National Young Women of Distinction.
Being named a National Young Woman of Distinction, earning the Girl Scout Gold Award, and receiving these generous scholarships are just a few of the countless experiences girls can have through Girl Scouts. To join or to learn more about volunteering, go to kansasgirlscouts.org.
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-KS, (2nd from left) received the World Food Program USA’s annual McGovern-Dole Leadership Award. (Photo by WFP USA/PAUL MORIGI)
OFFICE OF SEN. MORAN
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus – this week was awarded the World Food Program (WFP) USA’s annual McGovern-Dole Leadership Award for his bipartisan leadership to advance U.S. efforts to address global hunger.
“Addressing global hunger is important to providing economic stability worldwide and to strengthening American interests and our national security,” said Sen. Moran. “Access to food provides hope and opportunity; when parents have access to food, they can work to provide a better future for their children. When hunger no longer impedes children’s ability to learn, they can attend and remain in school, leading them down a path to greater economic opportunity. Providing international food aid and finding expedient, affordable and efficient ways to get food grown by U.S. farmers to those who need it most remains a priority.”
“Sen. Dole has long represented the compassionate spirit of Kansans and the farmers who feed the world, and this award was rightly named after him,” continued Sen. Moran. “I’m humbled to receive the World Food Program USA McGovern-Dole Leadership Award.”
“I am proud of Sen. Moran for his interest in world hunger issues,” said Sen. Bob Dole. “As a Kansan, he knows how greatly our state has contributed to combating hunger worldwide. I congratulate him for receiving this award.”
Sen. Moran has championed global hunger relief since the beginning of his Congressional career, first as a member of the House Hunger Caucus and now as co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus. His work on the Senate Agricultural Appropriations Committee has secured crucial funding for international efforts to eradicate global hunger.
About the McGovern-Dole Leadership Award and World Food Program USA
Since 2001, WFP USA has hosted an annual awards ceremony to recognize leaders who have played a critical role in the fight against global hunger. The McGovern-Dole Leadership Award bears the names of Senator Bob Dole and the late Senator George McGovern in recognition of their longstanding commitment to feeding families in need. Their bipartisan collaboration has become the model for continuing U.S. leadership to make sure no child goes hungry.
Past award recipients include U.S. Senators George McGovern and Bob Dole, U.S. Representatives Jim McGovern and Jo Ann Emerson, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Howard Buffett, Bill Gates, David Novak, Christina Aguilera, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow and Michael Kors. World Food Program USA supports the mission of the United Nations World Food Programme, the leading humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.
TOPEKA – It is with great pride and sincere appreciation that the League of Kansas Municipalities announces Representative Jim Kelly (R-Independence) has been selected to receive the 2017 Intergovernmental Leadership Award. Representative Kelly was selected for the honor for his outstanding leadership and support of issue affecting local governments. Since 1995, the Intergovernmental Award seeks to honor those who support cooperation between the various levels of government. Recipients of this award have demonstrated, in both promise and practice, an understanding that public servants at all levels serve the same citizens and should work together to provide the best service possible.
“Chairman Kelly is everything constituents and colleagues could want in a legislator,” said League of Kansas Municipalities Executive Director Erik Sartorius. “He listens, builds consensus and asks questions to root out issues that might not otherwise surface and be discussed. He wants to hear all views on a topic, and truly wants to make sure legislation avoids unintended consequences whenever possible.”
Representative Kelly is a life-long Kansan who was born and raised in Independence. In January of 2011, he was appointed to fill a Kansas House seat being vacated by Jeff King. Representative Kelly was re-elected in 2012, 2014 and 2016 to the Kansas House of Representatives.
Representative Kelly was chosen in 2017 to chair the House Financial Institutions and Pensions Committee (FIPC). He also serves on the House Health and Human Services Committee, Taxation and Insurance committees. As the chair of the FIPC, and a member of the committee for his full tenure in the House, Representative Kelly has extensively researched KPERS and knew changes were needed to address laws surrounding public employees and Working After Retirement legislation. His work, both leading up to and in the 2017 legislative session, led to significant changes in Working After Retirement legislation and allowed the same rules to apply to all levels of public employees at the state, local and school level.
“I wanted to make it easier for municipalities to hire qualified retirees and level the playing field for cities, counties and local government entities,” said Representative Kelly. “I feel that, by discussing the issues ahead of time and working together, we developed good legislation. I especially appreciate how gracious the League and the Kansas Association of Counties have been in helping me understand the issues.”
League Legal Counsel Amanda Stanley worked with Representative Kelly during the 2017 legislative session.
“Representative Kelly went above-and-beyond to identify potential pros and cons to the new rules for Working After Retirement,” said Stanley. “It was clear, through his actions, that his goal was to enact quality legislation that would benefit his constituents.”
During his time in the Legislature, Representative Kelly is proud of his work developing the Rural Opportunity Zone Program and his efforts to expand healthcare initiatives in rural Kansas.
“I consider it a big accomplishment that we were able to expand the Rural Opportunity Zone Program and I see the success of the program in Montgomery County regularly,” said Kelly.
Representative Kelly was also instrumental in passing a compact that allowed Kansas to participate with 12 other states for medical licensure. He also plans to work on healthcare issues in the 2018 session with a specific interest in expanding telehealth and payment parity in rural areas of Kansas.
“I live in a community where our local hospital closed,” said Kelly. “I am interested in looking for opportunities to ensure access to healthcare for Kansans, especially those in rural and small communities.”
Although Representative Kelly now serves the Montgomery County community in the Kansas Legislature, he spent six years in local government on the Independence City Commission and served eight years on the Independence School Board.
Outside of the legislature, Representative Kelly has worked in the banking industry since 1969. He has been active in economic development in his community and has worked throughout the communities of Coffeyville, Independence and Cherryvale.
“I have been very fortunate, and honored, to be able to serve my home community and county in various ways for over 40 years,” said Kelly. “Now, as a member of the legislature, I am truly blessed to represent everyone in District 11. I am very appreciative to have the opportunity to get to know and work with many other legislators, local and statewide leaders and many organizations, like the League, that are all truly striving daily to do their best for the State of Kansas and everyone we all represent.”
Representative Kelly is married to Eloise Meyer-Kelly and has one daughter, Beth. He holds degrees from Independence Community College and Emporia State University. Representative Kelly also graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) and K-State Engineering Extension are proud to support Energy Efficiency Day 2017 by providing energy education to K-12 schools and Kansas’ small businesses and government organizations year round. Through a partnership with the KCC, Engineering Extension’s Kansas Energy Program provides no-cost energy assessments for small businesses and assists in applying for federal funds to implement energy efficiency projects. Since 2016, the Kansas Energy Program has conducted 36 energy assessments, encompassing more than 284,000 square feet and identifying savings of more than 1,000,000 kWh of electricity. The Kansas Energy Program has also published articles and presented energy education at more than 26 public events, reaching nearly 10,000 people.
Energy Efficiency Day debuted in 2016 as a collaborative effort between regional and national organizations, businesses, utilities, and individuals working to promote energy efficiency, meet our energy needs, cut consumer bills and reduce pollution. This year’s theme is “Save energy, save money.” In 2016, more than 175 organizations actively supported the event.
K-State Engineering Extension’s Top Five Energy Efficiency Tips:
Turn it off! This is the simplest and lowest cost method of saving energy.
Programmable thermostats. Changing settings when a home is unoccupied results in significant savings.
Go LED. LED bulbs have come a long way in both technology and cost efficiency. The initial cost of an LED bulb is offset by its longevity and efficiency, because LEDs last 25 times longer and are 75% more efficient than incandescent bulbs.
Plug the leaks. A well-sealed and insulated building leaks less heat in the winter, and less chilled air in the summer.
Perhaps most importantly, increase your awareness of energy efficiency. One frequently cited mantra in the business world is “You can’t manage what you don’t measure.” Take a tour around your home and office and note where improvements can be made.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is launching a new grant program focused on recycling and composting.
The competitive Solid Waste grants are designed to support existing recycling and composting programs, and encourage the development of new programs.
Kansas counties, municipalities, solid waste management regions, and private entities may apply for grants to fund new or existing waste reduction projects and associated public education materials.
These competitive grants are authorized by state law and funded by the $1.00 per ton landfill tonnage fee. Hundreds of communities received waste reduction grants in the late 1990s and early 2000s to help start local programs. Those grants along with local commitments to reduce waste and years of technical training has yielded a statewide recycling rate of about 31 percent. This new round of grants is designed to help sustain community programs, especially small and medium-sized communities with limited resources. We are excited this opportunity is available for our communities.
The application period is October 1, 2017–December 15, 2017. Grant awards will be announced in March 2018. Forms and guides can be downloaded at https://www.kdheks.gov/waste/forms_grants.html. For more information call our Bureau of Waste Management at (785) 296-1600.
TOPEKA – Select movie theaters across Kansas will be showing an inspirational movie about a man who has dedicated his life to rescuing and helping orphaned children in Kenya. Mully will be shown at 7 p.m., Oct. 3-5, in Topeka, Lawrence, Wichita, Olathe and Merriam at the following theaters:
Topeka
Hollywood Stadium 14
6200 SW 6th Ave. Lawrence
Southwind Stadium 12
3433 Iowa St. Wichita
Warren Theatre East
11611 E. 13th St. N. Wichita
Theatre West Plus IMAX
9150 W. 21st St. N. Olathe
Studio 28 KC with IMAX
12075 S. Strang Line Rd. Merriam
Cinemark 20 Merriam
5500 Antioch
Mully tells the story of Charles Mully, who was just six-years-old when his family abandoned him in Kenya. Later in life, after becoming a millionaire entrepreneur, he sold everything he owned to rescue more than 12,000 homeless, abused or orphaned children.
Mully has since established a charity, Mully Children’s Family, dedicated to making a difference in the lives of thousands of children in need.
Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) staff will be onsite at each movie location promoting the need for foster families across the state of Kansas. Recruiters will have a booth available to address questions and help prospective foster families start the fostering journey.
TOPEKA – Kansas consumers will have choices of health insurance companies when open enrollment begins Nov. 1, according to the Kansas Insurance Department.
An online department document shows health plans available through the federally-facilitated marketplace (FFM) are from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas; Medica Insurance Company; and Sunflower State Health, Inc. All three companies signed agreements Sept. 27 with the federal government to offer 23 individual marketplace plans online through www.healthcare.gov. Also, all three companies will offer plans off the online marketplace as well.
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas products are available in all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte. Medica will have plans available in all counties, and the Sunflower State Health Plan coverage is for Johnson and Wyandotte counties only.
“The insurance department was instrumental in bringing new companies to the marketplace with offerings in 2017 and 2018,” said Ken Selzer, CPA, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance.
Approximately four percent of Kansans are covered by individual major medical insurance purchased either through the federal marketplace or off marketplace.
The federal government has not indicated whether consumers will be able to “window shop” for all plans on the federal website prior to November 1, 2017, the official date for 2018 open enrollment to begin.
“During open enrollment, Kansans need to evaluate whether to enroll in coverage, stay on their current policies, if available, or enroll in different policies,” said Commissioner Selzer. “It is also important for consumers to understand the network requirements of the various plans and to check that all of their providers of medical services are in the plan’s network.”
Open enrollment for the 2018 plan year ends December 15, 2017. This is a shorter open enrollment period than in years past. The federal government established this open enrollment period for coverage purchased on the FFM or off.
“We know that consumers will have questions about open enrollment,” Commissioner Selzer said. “We will assist callers through our Consumer Assistance Division by answering questions they have or by referring them to the proper agencies for help.”
The department’s Consumer Assistance Hotline is 800-432-2484. Questions can also be answered through the department’s online chat feature at www.ksinsurance.org.
KS SECURITIES COMM
