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Colyer’s first executive order as Kansas governor: fight sexual harassment

by Stephen Koranda, Kansas News Service

Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer used his first executive order Monday to tighten sexual harassment rules for thousands of state workers.

Accusations of sexual misconduct have surfaced around the Kansas Legislature in recent months, much like the #MeToo movement that’s swept the country.

Colyer’s order requires that executive branch employees under his control undergo annual sexual harassment training.

“We are going to have a positive, professional environment for everyone to work,” Colyer said. “Sexual harassment will not be tolerated, period.”

Colyer said harassment policies should be reviewed and updated at least every three years. Those rules will contain reporting guidelines, he said, including options for anonymously reporting harassment.

The rules will also apply to interns and contractors working for the state.

“In light of the recent deluge of victims of sexual harassment who bravely stepped out, what are we going to do about it?” asked Colyer. “We’re going to act decisively. We’re going to respond.”

The governor said his office will urge leaders in other parts of state government to consider similar policies.

The Kansas City-based Women’s Foundation hailed the announcement. President and CEO Wendy Doyle said she was glad to see a strong message coming from the governor’s office.
“It really starts at the top,” she said, “in the leadership role.”

Doyle said Kansas is one of the first states to have an executive order like this to fight sexual harassment.

Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio, a partner in the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @kprkoranda. Kansas News Service stories and photos may be republished at no cost with proper attribution and a link back to the original post.
See more at http://kcur.org/post/colyers-first-executive-order-kansas-governor-fight-sexual-harassment.

Snow may arrive in two waves today

Snowfall timing (National Weather Service graphic)

Snowfall is expected to arrive in two waves today, according to the National Weather Service.

While flurries are possible early today, the first wave of snow is expected mainly after 4 p.m., the weather service said. Then another wave of snow is likely, from after sunset to before 11 p.m., according to the weather service.

Areas to the north of Kansas City area, north of the Missouri River, including St. Joseph, Missouri, to Kirksville, Missouri, may see the highest possible totals of 2 to 4 inches, with a possible 4-plus inches in localized areas. South of the Missouri River, there will be anywhere from a trace to 2 inches, and amounts were not certain as of this morning, according to forecasters.

In the Kansas City area, daytime snowfall could be less than 1 inch, after 4 p.m. Another inch of snow is possible in the Kansas City area before 11 p.m.

Snow will move in from the west, and while the morning commute in the Kansas City area may be unaffected by snow, the afternoon or evening commute could see a significant amount north of the Missouri River, according to the weather service.

There may be issues with travel between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. today during the extended evening commute in the Kansas City area, the weather service said. The snowfall may end from west to east tonight, around midnight.

Today, the high will be near 21 with wind chill values between zero and 10, the weather service said. A calm wind will become northeast 5 to 8 mph in the morning. There is a 60 percent chance of snow. Less than one inch of snow is expected during the daytime hours.

Tonight, there is a 60 percent chance of snow, mainly before 11 p.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 10 with a northeast wind of 5 to 7 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Around an inch of snow is possible tonight.

Wednesday, the high will be near 30 with sunny skies and a northwest wind of 6 mph, the weather service said.

Wednesday night, the low will be around 19, with a calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph after midnight, according to the weather service.

Thursday, the high will be near 47 with mostly sunny skies and a south southwest wind of 8 to 13 mph, gusting as high as 24 mph, the weather service said.

Thursday night, the low will be around 25 with mostly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.

Friday, the high will be near 30 with mostly cloudy skies, the weather service said.

Friday night, the low will be around 20 with a 30 percent chance of snow, according to the weather service.

Saturday, there will be a 40 percent chance of snow with a high near 29, the weather service said.

Saturday night, expect a 30 percent chance of snow before midnight, with a low of 17, according to the weather service.

Sunday, the high will be near 30 with partly sunny skies, the weather service said.

Sunday night, the low will be around 17 with mostly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.

Monday, the high will be near 41 with mostly cloudy skies, the weather service said.

Expected snowfall (National Weather Service graphic)

Winter weather advisory (National Weather Service graphic)

Vermes shows off new training complex on Parallel

Pinnacle, at 99th and Parallel in Kansas City, Kan., is a national training center for Sporting KC and USA Soccer. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Sporting KC head coach and technical director Peter Vermes showed off the embodiment of his vision for a state-of-the-art complex for training soccer players, coaches and officials.

The training complex is located on over 50 acres near the intersection of 99th Street and Parallel Avenue in Kansas City, Kan. It features three full-size soccer fields, along with advanced sports training, sports medicine and rehabilitation capabilities. A sports medicine center for Children’s Mercy Hospital is adjoining and will share some facilities.

Named Pinnacle, the complex contains team areas for both Sporting KC and the U.S. national teams. Sporting will use Pinnacle as its primary training location, starting this week when the team is in Kansas City for preseason work. The national teams do not yet have a scheduled date for training at the facility.

Coach licensing courses will begin in March, and nearly 200 advanced coaching students from around the country will be trained there by the end of the year. In addition to their classroom work, coaching students will gain practical experience by working with elite youth teams from the Kansas City area, along with Sporting KC academy players.

USA Soccer officials believe that the hotel, shopping, and entertainment infrastructure in the Legends area will be used by trainees and players and will complement the soccer complex by their proximity.