Month: March 2020

Inmate escapes custody while being treated at the University of Kansas Hospital

Brandon Banister (Photo from Sheriff’s Department)
Brandon Banister (Photo from Sheriff’s Department)

An inmate escaped the custody of a Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Deputy while being treated at the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, about 3 a.m. Sunday, March 22, according to a spokesman for the sheriff’s department.

Brandon Banister, an inmate, had been sent for treatment to KU Hospital after being evaluated Thursday, March 19, by medical staff in the Wyandotte County jail, the sheriff’s spokesman stated. The sheriff’s spokesman could not release any information about his medical condition.

Banister was being held on local charges including distribution of controlled substances, possession of controlled substances and he has a parole violation hold out of the state of Missouri, the sheriff’s spokesman stated.

He is 34 years old, 5-11 and weighs about 220 pounds, according to the sheriff’s spokesman, and he was last seen wearing a hospital gown. His last known address was Riverside, Missouri.

The Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office is working with the KU Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies to locate Banister, according to the spokesman. Residents are asked to contact the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office or their local law enforcement agency if they see him.

Small Business Administration offering low-interest disaster loans for Kansas businesses

Gov. Laura Kelly announced Saturday that the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved her request to make loans of up to $2 million available to small businesses disrupted by coronavirus.

The disaster declaration applies to all 105 Kansas counties, making low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital available for Kansas small businesses suffering substantial economic injury.

“The COVID-19 outbreak and the uncertainty around its spread has had, and continues to have, a significant impact on Kansas businesses,” Gov. Kelly said in a news release. “I’m grateful for the combined efforts of businesses, the Department of Commerce and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management to quickly pull together the data that made it possible for Kansas to receive this designation and begin getting support to the small Kansas businesses that need it during this emergency situation.”

Kansas small businesses can begin applying for disaster loan assistance through the SBA at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. SBA customer service representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and explain the application process.

“SBA’s disaster loans are a powerful tool to help our state’s small businesses weather this temporary storm,” Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The Department of Commerce is grateful for the SBA’s quick action to make these resources available and for their commitment to keeping Kansas businesses strong.”

SBA loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills because of the disaster’s impact.

Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses and 2.75 percent for private non-profit organizations.

Businesses may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Faith news – Churches going online

Many church services in Wyandotte County have been canceled because of efforts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. An order Friday night by the chief medical officer of Wyandotte County lifted the exemption on churches and faith gatherings, and those that have meetings are under the guidelines of no more than 10 persons per gathering, spaced at least six feet apart. (Source: UG news release from Friday, March 20, above)

Residents are advised to visit the social media page of their church or faith organization, or to call them or email them, to see changes that have been made to regular schedules, or if there are video services planned on Sunday.

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas will post a video Mass for Roman Catholics on Sunday, March 22, at archkcks.com/coronavirus or https://www.facebook.com/archbishopnaumann/.

Open Door Baptist Church, Kansas City, Kansas, will have livestream services on Sunday, March 22, on the church’s website https://www.opendoorkc.com/, Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/opendoorkc/, on YouTube and on the church’s app.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Kansas City, Kansas, has posted a video Mass for Sunday at its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ourcroatianparish/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARBnqcZv9nlpueXT9pgwZtrfkcFQ2h9Pa7UuDnROLVOcs1FP4CMn_bfUcZfNl5UF1-KTMEjFMgPAjf_z .

Stony Point Christian Church, Kansas City, Kansas, is not having in-person services, but will have a children’s church ministry online on Sunday, March 22, at https://stonypointkidsmin.wixsite.com/blog?fbclid=IwAR0jZOQtdbnYqqPDjlyRIJkoxQJ5CFVc0qq52lEx6NU1Jp7d_0xDP8YWH-0.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Kansas City, Kansas, is planning to have a livestream video of its 10 a.m. Sunday service March 22 at https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsKCK.

Wyandotte United Methodist Church, Kansas City, Kansas, will not have in-person services on Sunday, March 22, but will have videos of its sermon posted Sunday afternoon on its webpage at http://wyandotteumc.com/.

To see the above videos, copy and paste the above web addresses into your browser.

Information about other church services in Wyandotte County may be available from the church’s social media page.

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