There is a slight chance of rain and storms on Tuesday afternoon. (National Weather Service graphic)Thursday’s maximum heat index may be around 97 degrees in Wyandotte County. (National Weather Service graphic)
Isolated to scattered storms are possible this afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service forecast.
Severe weather is not expected, and the chance of rain is around 10 percent, the weather service said.
Brief heavy downpours and gusty winds are possible with this storm, according to the weather service.
The heat index may range from the middle 90s to nearly 100 degrees both Thursday and Friday afternoon, the weather service said.
Today, there is a 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m., with a high near 87, the weather service said. A calm wind will become east around 6 mph.
Tonight, there is a 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7 p.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 69 with a light east wind.
Wednesday, it will be sunny with a high near 90 and a light east northeast wind, the weather service said.
Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 71 and a light southeast wind, according to the weather service.
Thursday, it will be sunny, with a high near 93 and a calm wind becoming east southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon, the weather service said.
Thursday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 73, according to the weather service.
Friday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 91.
Friday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 71, according to the weather service.
Saturday, it will be sunny, with a high near 90, the weather service said.
Saturday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 65, according to the weather service.
Sunday, it will be sunny with a high near 91, the weather service said.
Sunday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 66, according to the weather service.
Monday, it will be sunny, with a high near 89, the weather service said.
More than half of Kansas residents 18 and older are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
According to Gov. Laura Kelly, many of the state’s residents still need to get vaccinated.
“I’m pleased at our state’s consistent progress in getting shots in arms – but we still can’t take our foot off the gas,” Gov. Kelly said in a recent news release. “Every Kansan must get vaccinated to protect our communities, our schools, and our economy from future outbreaks, and maintain our steady return to normal.”
To date, the CDC reports that 50% of Kansans 18 and older have been fully vaccinated, and 59.9% of Kansans 18 and older have been vaccinated with one dose. Additionally, 38.5% of all Kansans are reported as vaccinated, with 46.9% of Kansans having received one dose.
“While vaccinating half of all Kansans 18 and older is a significant milestone, hospitalization rates among young people are rising nationwide. It’s critical that all Kansans age 12 and older get vaccinated,” Gov. Kelly said. “Health experts continue to demonstrate a thorough, deliberate review process when it comes to vaccines, making safety the number one priority in vaccine approval. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and free – I encourage all Kansans to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated.”
At the University of Kansas Health System news conference Monday morning, Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control, said Kansas is doing better than many states, but could be doing a lot better.
He said during a discussion that the demand is down because everyone who wanted the vaccine has had it.
He lamented that there is still a lot of hesitancy and gave the example of a recent patient in his clinic who said he didn’t want the government telling him what to do. He said that thinking is based on opinion and not science. He asked those who don’t believe in coronavirus because they haven’t had it if they believe in AIDS or cancer because they have not had those either.
Right now anybody 12 and older should get vaccinated, he said.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer, said he’s not sure the United States will reach the 70 percent by July 4 national vaccination goal set by the president.
Currently, the KU Health System is discussing new approaches to get more people vaccinated, he said.
He said this has been “a year of absence, unlike any other, that has to be one of the hardest things we’ve all experienced collectively.” He urged people not to bury their heads in the sand and say, “It’s not going to get me,” and to recognize that the way out of this crisis is the same way they’ve been able to conquer polio, smallpox and other deadly scourges of mankind and, that’s through vaccination.
Free walk-in vaccinations available
The former Kmart store site at 7836 State Ave. will be open for free walk-in vaccinations for everyone 12 and older from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8.
The Health Department is holding mobile vaccination clinics at schools this month.A mobile vaccination clinic will be at Bonner Springs High School, 100 McDanield St., from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 8. It is open to the public. Anyone over age 12 may be vaccinated. Walk-ins are welcome.
People may also schedule vaccinations at WycoVaccines.org. Residents may request rides to the vaccination clinic through a form on the same website.
Those who receive COVID-19 vaccinations are asked to consider bringing an ID to make the process go faster.
The Health Department is doing more mobile COVID-19 vaccinations, and people may request vaccines to be given at different sites in the community by going to WycoVaccines.org and clicking on “mobile vaccine request.” People also may request a ride to vaccination sites on the same page.
Those who wish to schedule an appointment may use the Health Department’s self-scheduling tool at WycoVaccines.org and click on a blue button that says, “Click here to schedule an appointment online.” The page is available in Spanish by clicking at the top of the page. Walk-in appointments also are welcome.
Those who don’t have an internet connection may call 3-1-1 or 913-573-5311 for assistance in scheduling their vaccination appointment time and date.
To see more information about Health Department vaccinations and next week’s schdule, visit WycoVaccines.org.
Other sites available for vaccinations
Vaccinations at KU Health System are open to the public. Current patients may use MyChart to make an appointment. Others may call 913-588-1227 or visit kansashealthsystem.com/vaccine to make an appointment to get vaccinated. KU Health System currently is vaccinating residents of Kansas and Missouri who are 12 or older, by appointment only. Those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the appointment.
There are also pharmacies giving free COVID-19 vaccinations in Wyandotte County by appointment, when available. These include Price Chopper and Hen House pharmacies, which are now also accepting walk-in vaccinations or appointments, and are starting vaccinations for age 12 and up at those pharmacies that are giving Pfizer vaccine (see https://www.ballsfoodspharmacy.com/).
CVS has announced walk-in appointments for COVID-19 vaccine at some of its stores. Those interested in getting a vaccination at a CVS pharmacy are asked to visit a CVS website in order to make sure there is vaccine available. The website is at www.cvs.com/. Walgreens and Walmart also were listed on www.vaccines.gov as giving vaccinations.
Other pharmacies and sites giving vaccines are listed at www.vaccines.gov. The website also tells whether vaccines are in stock at the locations.
Case numbers reported
Dr. Hawkinson reported the COVID-19 case numbers at the University of Kansas Health System were lower on Monday morning. Four active COVID-19 patients were being treated at the hospital, a decrease of two from Friday. One patient was in the intensive care unit, a decrease of one from Friday. Six other patients were still in the hospital, but were out of the acute infection phase, no change from Friday. There were 10 total COVID-19 patients, a decrease of two from Friday.
Wyandotte County reported an increase of 19 COVID-19 cases on Monday, June 7, for a cumulative 18,878 cases, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There was a cumulative total of 299 deaths reported, an increase of one since Friday.
The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 174,848 cumulative, COVID-19 cases on Monday in the Kansas City region. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 39.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 315,099 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Kansas on Monday, June 7, an increase of 244 cases since Friday, June 4. There were a total of 5,100 cumulative deaths reported statewide, an increase of 16.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Monday night reported 33,377,696 cumulative COVID-19 cases in the United States, with 597,949 total deaths reported nationwide. There were 5,395 new cases nationwide and 251 new deaths nationwide. States with high numbers of new cases were California, 653; Texas, 539; Arizona, 507; New York, 507; and Colorado, 374. Countries with high numbers of new cases were India, 100,636; 39,637; Colombia, 24,050; Argentina, 16,415; and U.S., 5,395, according to Johns Hopkins information..
Free testing available
Free COVID-19 testing will be offered from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 8, at the former Kmart, 7836 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. This is the Health Department’s central site.
Changes to the STAR bond district in the redeveloped Schlitterbahn area received committee approval and will go to the full UG Commission for approval Thursday. (Drawing from UG agenda documents) The eastern part of the STAR bond district, between State and Parallel east of 94th Street, includes project areas 4 and 5. (Drawing from UG agenda documents)
An expanded STAR bond district for the Village East area was approved at the June 7 Unified Government Economic Development and Finance Committee meeting.
The STAR bond district expansion was “fast-tracked” and added to the 7 p.m. Thursday, June 10, agenda for the full UG Commission.
According to developers for the Homefield project at the old Schlitterbahn property, a 300-acre area is being extended to 350 acres.
Some projects formerly in one part of the development are being moved to another part of the development in this amended project, according to Robb Heineman, with the Homefield development. Heineman also is the co-owner of Sporting KC.
There is an extended area east of 94th Street between Parallel and State Avenue.
According to UG Administrator Doug Bach, the developer has already spent more than $20 million in land acquisition and demolition costs so far.
He said they want to bring in a new development called Perfect Game.
Heineman said Perfect Game is a very high quality operator that runs tournaments throughout the country. He said developers were able to attract Perfect Game to the Kansas City area.
Twelve baseball fields will be built for Perfect Game events, and a 13th will be built for some events, he said. The attraction will add 75,000 room nights a year for hotels in the next 12 years, he said.
Heineman said they have closed on property for the new Fairfield Inn, a 90-room hotel.
They have signed a letter of intent with a water-themed resort-style hotel to have more than 300 rooms, he added. It would be a full-service hotel. Another hotel is possible, with around 100 rooms.
Also in the STAR bond area, two more car dealerships are slated to open in mid-2022.
According to UG officials, the STAR bonds for this project affect only sales tax. Property taxes are not affected.
The EDF Committee also approved an ordinance on the amended project plans for areas 2B, 3 and 5 within the Village East STAR Bond District. This action set a public hearing for the project on June 24.
The committee also approved a resolution authorizing the execution of a supplemental indenture with regard to an industrial revenue bond issue from 2017 for the Dairy Farmers of America project.
In other action, the Neighborhood and Community Development Committee killed a proposal for a development that would have been built with shipping containers at 3119 Strong Ave. The proposal died when no one made a motion for it. It could be brought back again later, according to commissioners.
The applicant, Oliver Tanner, wanted to use Land Bank property to build an area ringed by decorated or painted shipping containers, with an open courtyard in the middle including picnic tables. There would be a food truck, with pizza available.
The idea was held over from a past meeting so that commissioners could hear about it.
Commissioner Jim Walters said he’s not a fan of shipping containers being used for building projects in Wyandotte County. It is a prominent corner at 32nd and Strong, and it would not be the highest and best use of this land, he said.
Ramon Murguia, an attorney, told the committee he had an office across from this location. He said there had been several investments in the area in recent years, including a new library nearby. Offices and a bank are very close to the location.
He said this is not a warehouse or industrial district, where projects with shipping containers have been built, but a business district. Shipping containers are not up to the standards of the business district, he said.
Tanner said he has been looking at ways to bring up the appearance of the shipping containers. He said he wanted to work with the community. He said he would do whatever was needed to accommodate the community and keep up the professional appearance.
Jeff Bryant agreed it was more of a brick-and-mortar neighborhood and not an industrial or warehouse neighborhood. Commissioner Brian McKiernan agreed there were other places where this project would fit in better.
