Month: August 2020

Congresswoman favors infrastructure funds

by Murrel Bland

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., said she hopes the U.S. Senate will take up a bill that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed – $500 billion for infrastructure. This would provide funds for such things as roads and bridges. The House is controlled by Democrats and the Senate is controlled by Republicans.

Rep. Davids spoke to members of the Congressional Forum, via Zoom Friday, Aug. 21. The forum is a committee of the Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce.

Mike Smallwood, the legislative chairman for the chamber, said he hopes Congress could provide more help for small businesses such as another round of the Paycheck Protection Program.

Rep. Davids said, although she is the lone Democrat in the Kansas Congressional delegation, she communicates with her fellow Republican legislators when it is in the best interest of the state of Kansas.

Rep. Davids said she favors federal legislation that would provide funds for state and local governments that have suffered a loss in revenue because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Rep. Davids voted with the majority Saturday, Aug. 22, to provide extra funds for the U.S. Postal Service so there would be no delay in processing mail ballots in the general election this fall. However, the bill will face opposition in the U.S. Senate; President Donald Trump said he would veto such legislation.

Louis DeJoy, the recently appointed postmaster general, said the U.S. Postal Service doesn’t need the money. DeJoy raised campaign funds for President Donald J. Trump and other Republican candidates.

In other matters, Dr. Jane Winkler Philbrook, a Unified Government commissioner, reported that a little more than $37 million in federal funds has been designated for various nonprofit organizations in Wyandotte County because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The money is provided through CARES — standing for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. The amounts and the agencies still have to be approved by the state of Kansas government. These organizations include various local social service agencies that serve the poor.

Murrel Bland is former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.

Police notes

Victim shot while driving on I-70

A victim was eastbound on I-70 near 18th about 9:15 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, when a suspect began tailgating him, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

The suspect pulled along the victim and began firing at him, striking him, according to the report.

The victim drove to 7th and Central where he met an EMS unit and was then taken to a hospital, where he was in stable condition, the report stated.

Assault and battery reported near 10th and Splitlog

After victims had a verbal argument with suspects about 12:10 a.m. Aug. 23 near 10th and Splitlog, one victim was hit in the head with a beer bottle, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department..

A gun was pointed at the second victim, according to the report. The suspects fired one round as they left, the report stated.

Victim beaten until unconscious in parking lot

A victim was beaten until unconscious about 12:40 a.m. Aug. 23 in the 2100 block of South 34th Street, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

The victim said he was jumped in the parking lot, then punched and kicked until he lost consciousness, according to the report. He was taken to a hospital, where he was in stable condition, the report stated.

Business robbed on State Avenue

A suspect walked into a business around 4:30 p.m. Aug. 23 near 37th and State Avenue and took a large amount of cash from the register, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

The suspect acted like he had a gun, according to the report. He fled after the robbery, the report stated.

Drive-by shooting reported near 61st and Nogard

A drive-by shooting was reported about 8:55 p.m. Aug. 23 near 61st and Nogard Avenue, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

The victims were at the address when the suspects drove by and began shooting at the residence and the vehicle, according to the report.

Battery reported at 6th and Ohio

Officers were sent to 6th and Ohio Avenue about 9:26 p.m. Aug. 23 on a report of a shooting, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

The caller said she heard a fight outside and then heard a gunshot, according to the report. She located a victim in the yard, who was taken to a hospital. Officers learned later the victim was not shot but had been struck with an object, causing serious injuries, according to the report.

Victim pushed out of moving vehicle

A victim was pushed out of a moving vehicle about 12:33 p.m. Aug. 23 near 32nd and Coronado, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

Police were told that the victim was unresponsive after being pushed out of the vehicle, the report stated. He was taken to a hospital and was in critical condition, according to the report.

UG committees to meet tonight

Unified Government committees are scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, in remote meetings.

On the agenda for the Public Works and Safety Committee meeting is a management agreement for Metro 24 Fitness at the Joe Amayo Community Center. The fitness program would pay $22,777 a year to the UG under the new agreement.

Also on the PWS Committee agenda are an update on the illegal dumping program; an agreement with the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville school district to provide a school resource officer; and an application for an $88,514 federal Justice Assistance Grant for the comfort canine program.

The UG Administration and Human Services Committee meeting will follow.

On the agenda for the AHS meeting is a presentation from the UG CARES Act team about progress concerning the first state reporting deadline and plans for distribution of funds to educational organizations, nonprofits and governmental entities.

Also on the agenda is a request to approve the public transit agency safety plan, requiring some operators of public transportation systems that receive federal funds to develop safety plans to implement safety management systems.

Also on the AHS agenda is approval for grants from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, $732,567 Enhancement Act – Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Grant for COVID-19 staffing and infrastructure support, and $800,000 ELC optimal care resource coordination and expanded testing for COVID-19. No match is required.

The meetings will be on Zoom on the internet, on telephone and also on the UG cable television channel and on YouTube.

For more information about how to connect to the meetings, visit https://www.wycokck.org/Clerk/Agendas.aspx