Month: October 2020

BPU to meet Wednesday

The Board of Public Utilities will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 21, in a virtual meeting.

A work session will begin at 4:30 p.m., followed by a regular meeting at 6 p.m.

On the agenda for the work session are a board update, general manager update, a reporting on 2021 staffing and a report on 2021 fuel and purchase power.

On the agenda for the regular meeting at 6 p.m. will be a visitors’ time, a COVID-19 update, internal audit update, a report on 2021 annual delegates for Western Fuels, miscellaneous comments and board comments.

The meeting will be conducted through telephone and the internet.

To join the Zoom meeting for the virtual board meeting, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84523139724.

The public also may call toll free: 1-888-475-4499, meeting ID: 845 2313 9724.

To access the Board meeting information packet, click the link: https://www.bpu.com/Portals/0/pdf/board-information-packet-10-21-20.pdf

Members of the community who wish to speak to the board must be logged in to the Zoom meeting via the internet using their browser or the Zoom application. Members of the public will be asked to raise their hand to signal they wish to address the board.

During the public comment section of the agenda, community members will be asked to provide their name and address and will then have 5 minutes to speak.

The zoom application is free and can be downloaded from zoom for the following platforms

PC – https://zoom.us/support/download

Mac – https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zoom-cloud-meetings/id546505307

Android – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=us.zoom.videomeetings&hl=en

iOS – https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/zoom/id530594111

You may also join from any web browser -https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84523139724

Chamber sponsors forums for Congressional candidates

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., left, faces a challenge from Amanda Adkins, right, Republican nominee. (Candidate photos)

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Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

The two candidates for U.S. Representative, Third District in Kansas, attended separate forums via Zoom sponsored by the Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce.

The challenger, Republican Amanda Adkins appeared Thursday, Oct. 15; the incumbent, Democrat Sharice Davids, appeared Friday, Oct. 16, the usual time for the monthly meeting of the Congressional Forum. The chamber sponsors the Congressional Forum. The chamber had hoped that the two could come together for a debate.

Stephen Duerst, a lobbyist for the chamber, asked questions of the candidates. It was obvious that the candidates have political differences based on the responses to Duerst’s questions and other recent interviews.

Adkins wants the Affordable Care Act repealed, but favors saving the provision that allows keeping the pre-existing condition coverage. Rep. Davids favors Medicaid expansion; she has introduced legislation that would help people avoid large out-of-network costs.

Adkins favors well-funded police departments; Rep. Davids favors a ban on no-knock warrants and choke-holds. Adkins favors making the 2017 tax cuts permanent; Rep. Davids said the tax cuts favored the wealthiest and special interests.

Political ads that support Adkins tie Rep. Davids to the very liberal wing of the Democratic party including U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California, who is the speaker of the House. Political ads favoring Rep. Davids tie Adkins to the “failed administration” of former Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican.

Both candidates said they agree on one thing—they both favor the Kansas City Chiefs winning the 2021 Super Bowl.

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

Police notes

Report: Shots fired on Central Avenue

Shots were reportedly fired at 12:54 a.m. Oct. 18 in the 500 block of Central Avenue, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

A victim told police an unknown suspect began firing a weapon, according to the report. There were no injuries.

Burglary reported near 100th and Parallel

Officers responded to a dispatched call at 1:30 a.m. Oct. 18 about a commercial burglary and auto theft in the 10000 block of Parallel Parkway, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

Officers discovered apparent property damage, according to the report. Officers also were sent by dispatch call to an additional location regarding an armed disturbance involving property that had been stolen during the burglary, the report stated.

Evidence was collected, and suspects were taken into custody, the report stated.

Burglary reported near 39th and Rainbow

Officers responded to a dispatched commercial burglary alarm call at 5:42 a.m. Oct. 18 in the 3900 block of Rainbow Boulevard, according to a social media note by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

Officers reported that an unknown male suspect entered the location through an unsecured front door and took property, according to the report. The suspect then fled before police arrived, the report stated.

Battery on law enforcement officer reported at 60th and Leavenworth Road

Officers responded to a disturbance call at 5:09 p.m. Oct. 18 in the 6000 block of Leavenworth Road, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

After obtaining information about the incident, officers tried to take the suspect into custody, according to the report. The suspect began to fight officers, the report stated. The suspect was taken into custody and issued criminal citations, according to the report.

Shooting reported at home on North 47th

Police responded to a dispatched call about a shooting at an occupied dwelling at 8:38 p.m. Oct. 18 in the 2100 block of North 47th, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

Victims told police that an unidentified suspect shot into their home, the report stated. There were no injuries, according to the report.