Month: March 2022

More rain in forecast today

Rain is possible through Friday afternoon, according to the forecast. (National Weather Service graphic)

After some overnight rain and thunderstorms, more rain is in the forecast for Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

A cold front moved through the area, dropping temperatures into the 40s overnight. Friday’s high will be near 41, the weather service said. Windy weather is in the forecast, with wind gusts up to 32 mph on Friday.

Friday night’s low will be around 32, according to the forecast, and Saturday’s high will be 61, according to the weather service. Temperatures will bounce back to 72 on Sunday. Look for more rain in the forecast next week.

Friday, there is a 100 percent chance of rain, mainly before 3 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 43 with a north wind of 17 to 20 mph, gusting to 32 mph. Between a quarter and half-inch of rain is possible.

Friday night, there is a 30 percent chance of rain before 10 p.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 32. A northwest wind of 7 to 9 mph will gust up to 30 mph.

Saturday, it will be sunny, with a high near 61 and a west northwest wind of 7 to 9 mph, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be clear, with a low of 40, according to the weather service. A calm wind will become south around 5 mph after midnight.

Sunday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 72, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 52, according to the weather service.

Monday, there is a 50 percent chance of rain after 1 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 64.

Monday night, there is a 90 percent chance of rain before 1 a.m., then showers after 1 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be 48.

Tuesday, there is an 90 percent chance of showers, with a high near 57, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, there is a 70 percent chance of showers, with a low of 39, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, there is a 30 percent chance of rain, with a high near 50, the weather service said.

Wednesday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 33, according to the weather service.

Thursday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 55, the weather service said.

Will a fourth COVID shot be recommended?

COVID-19 case numbers have declined recently in the United States and in Wyandotte County, but they are on the rise in parts of Europe and Asia.

That is giving rise to questions about a fourth COVID vaccine in the future, a topic that health experts are currently studying.

At the University of Kansas Health System, Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer, said on Wednesday that more data was needed before deciding on whether there should be a fourth COVID shot.

Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at KU Health System, said increasing numbers of COVID cases in Europe were concerning. Although it’s a positive sign that COVID numbers are down in the Greater Kansas City area, he urged residents to keep their guards up because COVID is still out there.

Brandi Dickerson, site lead for the Unified Government Health Department at the COVID-19 vaccination facility (the Kmart site) in Wyandotte County, said studies evaluating the efficacy of an additional booster shot are currently underway.

“Once completed those must be reviewed at the federal level before another booster shot is recommended by the CDC and FDA,” she said. “The UGPHD receives its guidance from the FDA, CDC and KDHE. If those entities eventually recommend another booster shot, we will let Wyandotte County residents know where and how to get one. Protection of our community has always been and always will be our number one priority.”

On Thursday, the countries with the highest increases in COVID cases, according to the Johns Hopkins COVID website, were South Korea, 387,280; Vietnam, 254,060; Germany, 205,570; and the United Kingdom, 75,051. The United States had 31,826 additional cases reported on Thursday.

On Thursday, the UG Health Department reported a cumulative total of 39,814 positive COVID cases in Wyandotte County, and 487 deaths. It was an increase of eight cases and three deaths since Tuesday.

Wyandotte County is currently listed by the CDC as a “high risk” county for COVID-19, and the CDC recommends that residents wear masks in indoor public spaces. Testing is recommended for persons who have symptoms. For more information, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html.

The University of Kansas Health System reported 85 total COVID patients on Thursday, a slight increase of 13 from Wednesday. There were 18 patients with the active COVID virus, an increase of nine since Wednesday; one patient in the intensive care unit, an increase of one since Wednesday; and one on a ventilator, an increase of one since Wednesday. There were 67 other COVID patients who were in the hospital but were not in the acute infection phase, an increase of four from Wednesday.

For a list of COVID testing and vaccine sites, visit https://www.wycokck.org/covid-19.

For more sites where vaccines are available, visit www.vaccines.gov.

Rep. Davids participates in White House signing ceremony for Violence Against Women Act reauthorization

Rep. Sharice Davids at the White House for the signing of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization of 2022. (Submitted photo)

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., joined President Biden in the White House on Wednesday as he signed into law the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022, sending crucial resources to victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

This marks the first time the landmark law has been reauthorized in nearly a decade.

The updated Violence Against Women Act passed with bipartisan support as part of the broader government funding bill, reauthorizing the law through 2027.

The reauthorization expands prevention efforts, enhances survivor services, and strengthens law enforcement response. In addition, it builds on the original legislation to deliver more resources for rural, Tribal, and LGBTQ+ communities, provide additional tools to hold perpetrators accountable, and support prevention programs on college campuses.

“After three years of working across the aisle to modernize and renew the Violence Against Women Act, of working to protect survivors and ensure their path to justice—it’s an honor to see this bill signed into law today,” Rep. Davids said. “And with comprehensive measures that empower Tribes, we are finally starting to shine a light on the disproportionate levels of violence against Native women.”

“The Violence Against Women Act helps us provide safe shelter, counseling, and advocacy services to survivors of domestic violence and their dependents when they are at their most vulnerable. For years, we have been working towards reauthorization so that we can continue to help women and children in our community feel safe and supported. This is a proud day and we thank Rep. Davids for using her voice on behalf of survivors,” said LaDora Lattimore, former executive director-CEO of Friends of Yates.

“Safehome is thankful for the support of Kansas legislators in reauthorizing VAWA. We are also thankful for the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence and our partner domestic violence and sexual assault agencies in the state of Kansas for coming together to advocate for this legislation,” said Heidi Wooten, president and CEO of Safehome Kansas. “The reauthorization of VAWA will save lives. This reauthorization means ongoing financial support for Safehome’s legal advocacy program for survivors. We look forward to continuing to work together to serve survivors in our community.”

Rep. Davids presided over the floor during House passage of VAWA in 2019 and helped secure strong measures to addresses the crisis of violence against Native women and girls in the final reauthorization, including by:
• Expanding special Tribal jurisdiction and restoring Tribes’ ability to hold non-Native perpetrators accountable if they commit sexual assault, child abuse, staking, sex trafficking, or assault a Tribal law enforcement officer in Indian Country.
• Improving information sharing between federal and Tribal law enforcement and allowing greater access to criminal databases.
• Creating new positions within the Department of Justice to coordinate culturally specific VAWA programs
• Providing greater technical assistance for Tribes and communities applying for related grants

“Since its establishment in 2003, the NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Women has advocated alongside survivors, Tribal Nations, and domestic violence advocates to restore tribal jurisdiction and protect our communities from the highest crime victimization rates in the country,” said President Shannon Holsey, NCAI treasurer and NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Women co-chair. “This VAWA reauthorization goes beyond just restoring our inherent tribal jurisdiction to protect our communities, it creates another powerful tool to address the epidemic of Missing Murdered Indigenous Women across Indian Country.”

  • Information from Rep. Sharice Davids’ office