The Kansas Low-Income Energy Assistance program began accepting applications on Monday, Jan. 4.
The program provides an annual benefit to help qualifying households pay their winter heating bills. Persons with disabilities, older adults and families with children are the primary groups who are assisted.
Kansas will be accepting applications for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program from Monday, Jan. 4, until Wednesday, March 31.
Last year about 34,000 households received received an average of $600 in financial relief, according to the Kansas Department for Children and Families, which offers the program.
Kansas energy customers can apply for LIEAP program funds on the Kansas Department for Children and Families Energy Assistance website. Applicants will need utility account numbers, proof of income and Social Security numbers for all members of their household.
“We have customers in need of help right now and are pleased funds may be available to them with the opening of the LIEAP applications window,” said David Mehlhaff, BPU chief communications officer. “When we are connecting with our customers to provide helpful resources and services, sharing information about LIEAP is a meaningful way to help, especially now when times are challenging for so many.”
In response to the challenging times, in December the Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities suspended disconnects of utility service for non-payment and extended this temporary moratorium through Feb. 28.
LIEAP is a federally funded program that helps eligible households pay a portion of their home energy costs by providing a one-time per year benefit.
To qualify, applicants must be responsible for direct payment of their heating bills. The level of benefit varies according to household income, number of people living in the home, type of residence, type of heating fuel and utility rates. Eligibility is based on an applicant’s heating bill. If an applicant needs assistance covering electric costs, they need to request the benefit be split between the two utilities.
Applicants need to have made payments on their heating bill two out of the last three months. Those payments must be equal to or exceed $80 or the total balance due on their energy bills, whichever is less.
To learn more about eligibility requirements or fill out a LIEAP application, visit the Kansas Department for Children and Families website or call 1-800-432-0043. LIEAP applications are on the Kansas Department for Children and Families website at Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) beginning Monday, Jan. 4, until Wednesday, March 31.
Funding for the Low-Income Energy Assistance program is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Service through the Federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Customers are encouraged to stay current with their bills to avoid getting too far behind and if anyone has any BPU billing or customer service questions, they can call 913-573-9190 and a utility representative is available to assist.
Information from David Mehlhaff, BPUchief communications officer
Today, temperatures may reach a high near 50, according to the National Weather Service forecast.
Freezing temperatures overnight could lead to some slick spots for motorists this morning, the weather service said.
A new storm system will move into the area midweek, bringing a chance of rain on Wednesday and the possibility of a little snow late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, according to the weather service.
Today, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 50 and a light south wind becoming southeast 5 to 9 mph in the morning, the weather service said.
Tonight, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 33 and a southeast wind of 9 mph, according to the weather service.
Wednesday, there will be a 50 percent chance of rain, with a high near 42 and a southeast wind of 6 to 9 mph, the weather service said. New precipitation could be less than a tenth of an inch.
Wednesday night, there will be a 40 percent chance of rain before 2 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow, according to the weather service. The low will be around 32 with an east northeast wind of 5 to 7 mph. Between a tenth and quarter-inch of rain is possible.
Thursday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 39 and an east northeast wind of 8 mph, the weather service said.
Thursday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 25, according to the weather service.
Friday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 37, the weather service said.
Friday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 25, according to the weather service.
Saturday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 37, the weather service said.
Saturday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 23, according to the weather service.
Sunday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 36, the weather service said.
Sunday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 23, according to the weather service.
Monday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 40, the weather service said.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the University of Kansas Health System, received a COVID-19 vaccination on Monday morning. (Photo from KU Health System)
COVID-19 cases were increasing in the hospitalization totals reported Monday morning at the University of Kansas Health System, while the rate was decreasing in Wyandotte County Monday.
The KU Health System saw lower hospitalization rates last week, but on Monday morning, it reported 70 active COVID-19 cases in the hospital, an increase from 56 last Wednesday.
According to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control, of the 70 active inpatients, there were 28 in the intensive care unit, an increase of one, and 15 of the ICU patients were on ventilators, a decrease of five.
There were an additional 56 patients in the recovery phase, but still in the hospital, a decrease of 15 since Wednesday. The total number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital was 126, a decrease of one since Wednesday.
According to Dr. Hawkinson, there might be a surge of patients now coming to the hospital who were infected between Thanksgiving and Christmas. One patient he saw was infected from a Christmas gathering, he said.
Dr. Hawkinson said it isn’t correct to think that those who have had COVID-19 are now immune and don’t have to wear a mask. He said while there may be a window, thought to be 60 to 90 days, where you can’t be reinfected, you could become infected again after that. Also people could infect others during that time, which is why they should keep wearing a mask, even after vaccination, he said.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer, said that skipping the COVID-19 vaccine would be like telling COVID-19, “Go ahead, step ahead of me.” It puts yourself and your loved ones at risk, according to Dr. Stites. He emphasized the need to keep social distancing, wearing a mask and avoiding gatherings.
Dr. Stites also received his COVID-19 vaccine during the news conference.
At the Monday doctors’ news conference, Dr. Kevin Ault discussed vaccine recommendations for expecting mothers, and Dr. Angela Myers discussed COVID-19 and the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.
The doctors believe it is safe for expecting mothers to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Ault believes it is safe for women to conceive during this time, and recommended that women ask their doctors’s advice.
Dr. Myers said there has been an increase in multisystem inflammatory syndrome among children. According to Dr. Myers, younger children are not as likely to transmit the disease, compared with older children.
Also, school-age children who did contract the virus are not getting it in the classroom, she said. Instead, they are getting infected at private gatherings, parties and play dates, according to the doctor.
COVID-19 cases were not going up as fast as they did last week in Wyandotte County and the state, in the Monday reports.
Wyandotte County reported an increase of 21 COVID-19 cases on Monday, Jan. 4, according to the Unified Government’s COVID-19 webpage. There were a cumulative 14,947 cases. There were no additional deaths reported Monday, for a cumulative total of 198.
The Mid-America Regional Council Kansas City Region COVID-19 hub on Monday reported 125,498 total cumulative cases, with, 1,182 total cumulative deaths in the nine-county Kansas City region. The average number of new hospitalizations was 158.
The state of Kansas reported 231,317 total cumulative COVID-19 cases on Monday, an increase of 3,572 statewide since Friday, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. There were 2,897 deaths, an increase of 18 since Friday.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Sunday reported 20,817,188 total cumulative cases in the United States, with 353,484 total deaths.
Free COVID-19 testing available Tuesday
The Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 test site at the former Kmart building at 78th and State will be open on Tuesday, Jan. 5, with testing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tests are free for those who live or work in Wyandotte County. The tests are nasopharyngeal swab tests. The Health Department no longer uses saliva tests.
The tests now are open to asymptomatic people as well as those who have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19. Check with the UG Health Department’s Facebook page to see if there have been any changes in the schedule. Bring something that shows that you live or work in Wyandotte County, such as a utility bill.
More COVID-19 tests will be available Tuesday at the Pierson Community Center, 1800 S. 55th St., Kansas City, Kansas. These tests are through WellHealth Management. For more information and to schedule a test, visit www.GoGetTested.com/Kansas.
Cards and letters of encouragement for caregivers at KU Health System may be sent to Share Joy, care of Patient Relations, 4000 Cambridge St., Mailstop 1021, Kansas City, Kansas, 66160. Emails can be sent to [email protected].
