Month: October 2021

Kansas hospitals receiving funding to retain frontline workers

Hospitals in Kansas are receiving a total of $50 million in grants through the Frontline Hospital Workers Retention Plan.

According to Gov. Laura Kelly’s office, the federal funding is coming through the SPARK Committee, based on the number of licensed, acute and intensive care beds in each facility.

“This $50 million will help us retain and attract more frontline hospital workers as we continue to fight his virus,” Gov. Laura Kelly said. “For over 18 months, our heath care workers have risked their lives every day to protect Kansans from COVID-19 – it’s our responsibility to make sure they have the support they need to continue. In the meantime, I encourage all Kansans to do their part to beat this virus by getting vaccinated immediately.”

According to the announcement, the University of Kansas Health System will receive $5.4 million and Providence Medical Center will receive $1.7 million from the retention program.

The funds may be used for either premium pay as designed in the American Rescue Plan Act or for funding a custom program designed by the facility to improve the retention of nursing resources and support personnel.

To see the list of Kansas hospitals receiving funding, visit https://covid.ks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FLHW-Allocations-10.7.21-Final.pdf.

Today is a federal holiday

Today, Oct. 11, is a federal holiday for some workers.

The U.S. Postal Service is observing the Columbus Day holiday today, which marks the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492.

It is not a state holiday in Kansas.

The Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office is honoring Indigenous People’s Day today with a diversity, equity and inclusion training at Memorial Hall, according to a news release. The guest speaker for the training was Henry Lyons, Olathe NAACP Branch president.

According to the United Nations, Oct. 11 is also the International Day of the Girl.

National Coming Out Day also is Oct. 11, according to LGBTQ Nation.

Homicide in 2100 block of West 42nd under investigation

A homicide in the 2100 block of West 42nd is under investigation, according to a Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department spokesman.

Officers responded at 3:42 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, to the 2100 blcok of West 42nd Street, on a report of a shooting, the spokesman stated.

They found evidence of a crime but were unable to locate the victim.

At about 7 a.m., officers were contacted by detectives with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department, advising them that a shooting victim had presented himself at a local hospital, according to the spokesman.

That victim later died from his injuries, the spokesman stated.

Detectives later were able to confirm that the individual was the shooting victim from the West 42nd Street call, according to the spokesman. It was the 38th homicide of the year in Kansas City, Kansas.

The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department’s Major Case Unit is investigating, the spokesman stated. Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477) or KCCrimestoppers.com, according to the spokesman. All tips remain anonymous.