Month: August 2014

UG commissioners take ice bucket challenge

Tonight Unified Government Commissioners Mike Kane and Angela Markley took the ice bucket challenge in front of City Hall to raise funds for ALS. “I didn't even cuss,” Kane said after ice water was poured over his head. “It was really a lot of fun. It really felt good,” Markley, who challenged the other commissioners, said. The heat index was 99 degrees at 7 p.m. Aug. 25. This was done as part of the national ALS challenge, raising funds to fight the disease. (Photo by William Crum)
Tonight Unified Government Commissioners Mike Kane and Angela Markley took the ice bucket challenge in front of City Hall to raise funds for ALS. “I didn’t even cuss,” Kane said after ice water was poured over his head. “It was really a lot of fun. It really felt good,” Markley, who challenged the other commissioners, said. The heat index was 99 degrees at 7 p.m. Aug. 25. This was done as part of the national ALS challenge, raising funds to fight the disease. (Photo by William Crum)

State backs out of putting parole office in Argentine area

by William Crum

The state Department of Corrections has backed out from a proposal to put a state parole office in the Argentine area, Unified Government commissioners learned tonight at a standing committee meeting.

The project now goes back to the UG’s administration to see if something else can be worked out with other entities for the public safety building, UG officials said.

The proposed project was to build a new South Patrol station for the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department on the site of the former Structural Steel plant. A parole office was to be part of a public safety building there.

The proposed public safety building location is on a remediated brownfield site. A Walmart neighborhood market that is also on the former Structural Steel site will be ready to open next month.

The state backed out because of funding issues, according to the UG.

UG Commissioner Mike Kane said it was not known where the state now will plan to put the parole office. Earlier the state had tried to put a parole office next to a daycare building in downtown Kansas City, Kan., which was met with heavy community and legislative opposition.

Ozone alert issued for Tuesday

The Mid-America Regional Council Air Quality Program has issued an orange Ozone Alert for Tuesday, Aug. 26.

This alert indicates that an unhealthy level of ground-level ozone, also known as smog, is expected Tuesday in the Kansas City region.

Vehicle emissions are a major contributor to regional ozone pollution, a MARC spokesman said. Residents can help reduce pollution by carpooling or using public transportation, according to MARC.

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority’s Regional Call Center offers assistance in planning trips by bus. Contact the call center at 816-221-0660 weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The center provides route information for The Metro, The JO and Unified Government Transit. A trip planner is also available online at www.kcata.org. Most fares on regional buses are reduced to 75 cents on Ozone Alert days.

“Taking fewer trips in your car and choosing alternative forms of transportation, especially on Ozone Alert days, can help everyone breathe easier during the summer months,” said Amanda Graor, MARC air quality program manager. “Even small actions can make a difference.”

MARC issues the SkyCast, the region’s daily ozone season air quality forecast, on its website, www.marc.org, and on Twitter, www.twitter.com/airQKC. SkyCast information is also available via the air quality Facebook page, www.facebook.com/airQKC, and the information line at 913-383-7557.