Month: February 2017

Fog reduces visibility on roads

National Weather Service graphic

Dense fog and freezing fog reduced visibility this morning to a quarter or mile or less in places, according to the National Weather Service.

The fog advisory is in effect through 9 a.m. today, the weather service said. Freezing fog also may produce slick road conditions especially along bridges and overpasses, according to the weather service.

This evening, strong storms may be possible to the south of the Kansas City area.

Tuesday evening, strong to severe storms will be possible along and south of a Unionville to Trenton to Kansas City line, according to the weather service. The main threats will be large hail and damaging winds.

High fire danger also is possible on Tuesday, the weather service said.

Today’s forecast contains a 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 5 p.m., the weather service said. There may be areas of fog before 11 a.m. The high will be near 61, with a light east wind becoming south southeast 9 to 14 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Tonight, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, the weather service said. The low will be around 53. A south southeast wind of 9 to 14 mph may gust as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday, there is a 20 percent chance of showers after noon, according to the weather service. There will be a high near 72, with a south southwest wind of 10 to 13 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon, and gusting up to 25 mph.

Tuesday night, there is a 70 percent chance of showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, the weather service said. The low will be around 37. A northwest wind of 9 to 11 mph is in the forecast.

Wednesday, expect a high near 51 with mostly cloudy skies, gradually clearing, according to the weather service. A west northwest wind of 9 to 15 mph may gust as high as 25 mph.

On Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear with a low of 31, the weather service said.

Thursday’s forecast is sunny with a high near 53, according to the weather service.

Thursday night, the low will be around 27 with mostly clear skies, the weather service said.

Friday, the high will be near 54 with mostly sunny skies, according to the weather service.

Friday night, the low will be around 42 with mostly clear skies, the weather service said.

Saturday, it will be sunny with a high near 65, according to the weather service.

Saturday night, it will be mostly clear with a low around 46, the weather service said.

Sunday, the high will be near 68 with partly sunny skies, according to the weather service.

Victim dies of wounds in shooting near 18th and Cleveland

A man in his early 50s died Sunday night from an apparent gunshot wound in the 1800 block of Cleveland Avenue in Kansas City, Kan.

A police spokesman stated that when police officers responded to a shots fired call, about 10 p.m. Sunday, they found the man deceased outside of a residence near 18th and Cleveland.

The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division is investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

Legislative update from Rep. Pam Curtis, D-32nd Dist.

by Rep. Pam Curtis

It was a very busy week as members of the Kansas House of Representatives spent most of the time on the floor debating and voting on various bills and amendments before turnaround day. We have reached the mid-way point of the 2017 session and the Kansas Legislature will resume work on March 6 after a short week-long break. There is still a lot of work to do.

It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I both value and need your input on the various issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. My office address is Room 452-S, Kansas Statehouse, 300 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612. You can reach me at 785-296-7430 or call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. Additionally, you can email me at [email protected].

House overturns governor’s veto on tax bill, Senate fails

After both the House and Senate formed bipartisan coalitions to pass a bill last week that largely repealed Sam Brownback’s failed tax experiment implemented in 2012, the governor issued a veto on Wednesday morning.

In order to overturn a veto, a body needs two-thirds of the vote. In the House, that two-thirds number is 84. After the initial vote came up just one vote shy, two legislators on the Republican side flipped their votes, surpassing the required number with a total of 85 votes in favor of the veto override.

Later that day, the Senate took up the veto override bill. With 40 members, the Senate needed 27 votes in favor. Unfortunately, they came up just three votes short, and the overturn failed.

Democrats will continue to work for the will of the people to resolve this issue.

Due process passes through House

Due process for teachers was stripped in 2014 in a vote occurring in the dark of night. This removed protections for Kansas educators. Wednesday morning, the Kansas House passed the first step toward restoring due process rights. Due process ensures a fair dismissal process.
In a final action vote, House Bill 2186 passed with a 72 – 53 vote. This bill included the due process amendment. Next, the bill will go to the Senate for a vote.

Medicaid expansion passes House after killed by committee

Last week, the Health and Human Services committee made a motion to table Medicaid Expansion, effectively killing the bill for the 2017 session.

On Wednesday, however, a Medicaid Expansion amendment was added to House Bill 2044. After a long debate, both the amendment and the bill passed. Kansas has refused millions of federal dollars that could have been spent on bettering our hospitals and clinics, and taking care of our citizens that need it the most.

On Thursday, the House took final action on the Medicaid expansion amendment, passing with a vote of 81 – 44. This marks the first movement towards expansion of the program.