Month: March 2022

Kansas House map plan raises concerns about Leavenworth County, LGBTQ representation

Democratic Rep. Tom Burroughs, 33rd District, left, praised the process the House was taking to consider feedback provided in a hearing on Freestate 3, a Republican-backed proposal for redrawing the Kansas House District maps. (Photo by Noah Taborda, Kansas Reflector)

by Noah Taborda, Kansas Reflector

Topeka — Kansas representatives began deliberation Wednesday on a proposed map redrawing House districts, taking a slower approach to the task than their counterparts across the rotunda.

More than 50 people submitted testimony to the House Redistricting Committee urging modifications to the map titled Freestate 3, with debate largely centered around Leavenworth County districts, LGBTQ representation, and the need for further analysis. Unlike the Senate redistricting panel, which approved the maps after a single hearing on Tuesday despite requests to give more time for map analysis, the House committee indicated it would take feedback into account and amend the map.

“This is a difficult process that we’re going through, but I really do appreciate the dialogue today from the committee members and from the community that did have input,” said Rep. Tom Burroughs, the ranking Democrat, from Kansas City, Kansas. “In reference to working bills, looking at amendments, I know there have been some comments about people that still want to visit with you. I think that’s extremely important after we take testimony.”

Kansas legislators are tasked with redrawing congressional, legislative and school board districts every 10 years. The brand-new 125 House Districts may have a less dramatic impact on the state’s political landscape, but the new proposal would see a wave of incumbents swept out of office.

The maps, introduced Monday, pair House Speaker Ron Ryckman with Rep. Megan Lynn, R-Olathe, in the 49th House District. Ryckman has held office since 2012 and is in his third term as speaker.

Ryckman’s current district is trending less conservative. Ryckman won reelection by five points over a Democrat challenger in 2020, but in 2016 that margin was 23 points.

The new maps also would drastically alter the district served by Rep. Steven Johnson, an Assaria Republican who is not seeking reelection, campaigning instead for state treasurer. Johnson’s 108th District constituents would be scattered among several other central Kansas districts held by Republicans that lost population.

Reps. Kyle Hoffman, R-Coldwater, and Boyd Orr, R-Fowler, would be placed together in the 115th District.

Jeffrey Howards, chairman of the Leavenworth County Democratic Party, took issue with how the map dealt with districts in his county. He said input provided in town halls last year was ignored and the city is subject to “gross gerrymandering” under the Freestate 3 proposal.

He said the city was still divided between two districts, and now a finger runs from the southern end of the county to relocate one precinct from the center of Leavenworth into another district.

“Coincidentally, that one precinct happens to be the precinct that I and vocal opponents of Rep. (Pat) Proctor happen to live in,” Howards said. “If I were paranoid, I might believe that our precinct was purposely cherrypicked so as to remove a majority of the opposition from District 41.”

He urged the committee to revisit and ensure the population changes were adequately distributed rather than one precinct being removed. Howards and others testifying echoed complaints heard in the Senate hearing that ample time was not extended to the public for review. The House maps were introduced Monday.

Tom Witt, executive director at Equality Kansas, took issue with the approach the committee took to House District 30 in Johnson County, stretching it westward instead of south. He said this unnecessary alteration would alter the partisan balance of the district represented by the first openly gay man elected to the Kansas Legislature, Rep. Brandon Woodard.

“Drawing one of the first LGBTQ legislators out of their districts is the latest legislative attack against our community and follows the gerrymandered redrawing of the 3rd Congressional District,” Witt said. “We have spent nearly two decades working to earn our seats at the table, finally succeeding in 2018 and again in 2020. Now, instead of allowing voters to choose LGBTQ candidates to represent them in Topeka, Freestate 3 proponents have decided to choose new voters for him.”

Kansas Reflector stories, www.kansasreflector.com, may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
See more at https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/16/kansas-house-map-plan-raises-concerns-about-leavenworth-county-lgbtq-representation/.

Chance of rain for St. Patrick’s Day

The high will be around 72 on Thursday in Wyandotte County. (National Weather Service graphic)
Rain is in the forecast for Thursday evening and Friday. (National Weather Service graphic)

There is a slight chance of rain and storms after 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

Rain is predicted to begin Thursday evening in Wyandotte County, with isolated thunderstorms and no severe weather, the weather service said. Temperatures could reach a high of 72 today, but Friday’s high will be 46.

Overnight Thursday into Friday, the rain will continue, according to the weather service. Snow that was in the weather service forecast for Friday morning in Kansas City, Kansas, has now been taken out of the forecast, with the low on Thursday night predicted to be 38 degrees. Snow will be possible in areas far north of the Kansas City area, the weather service said.

According to the weather service, the slower forward speed of a southeastward cold front will allow the Kansas City area to remain in warmer temperatures through much of the daylight hours on Thursday, according to the weather service. The slower speed of the cold front also will mean a change in the timing for precipitation that might have been snow Friday morning. The slower speed also will provide a longer duration of precipitation across the area, the weather service said. Rainfall will end much later, now Friday afternoon and evening.

Today, there is a 20 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms after 4 p.m., with a high near 72, the weather service said, and an east wind of 5 to 7 mph.

Tonight, there is a 100 percent chance of precipitation, with rain and thunderstorms likely before 10 p.m., according to the weather service, then ain between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., followed by rain and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 a.m. The low will be around 38 with a north northeast wind of 15 to 17 mph, gusting as high as 30 mph. Between a half and three-quarters inch of rain is possible.

Friday, there is a 90 percent chance of rain and possibly a thunderstorm, with a high near 46, the weather service said. A north wind of 17 to 20 mph will gust as high as 34 mph. Between a quarter and half-inch of rain is possible.

Friday night, there is a 20 percent chance of rain before 1 a.m., with a low of 33, according to the weather service. A north northwest wind of 5 to 14 mph will gust as high as 25 mph.

Saturday, it will be sunny, with a high near 64, the weather service said, and a west southwest wind of 5 to 8 mph.

Saturday night, it will be clear, with a low of 41, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 71, 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 40 percent chance of rain after 1 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 66.

Monday night, there is an 80 percent chance of rain, with a low of 48, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, there is a 70 percent chance of rain, with a high near 64, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, there is a 60 percent chance of rain, with a low of 41, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, there is a 30 percent chance of rain, with a high near 52, the weather service said.

Residents urged to test their homes for radon

EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister joined Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor and CEO Tyrone Garner and Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas for a special proclamation signing to fight radon exposure and to encourage all citizens to test their homes regularly for the presence of radon.

The ceremony was held on Wednesday, March 16, at Ilius W. Davis Park, 11th and Oak Street, across from City Hall, Kansas City, Missouri.

Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri, are both in EPA Radon Zone One, meaning that both cities have the highest potential to have homes test higher than the recommended radon level assigned by EPA.

“This event today is a significant step forward as we work together to limit unnecessary radiation exposure and achieve healthier indoor air quality in homes, especially for vulnerable populations, McCollister said. “We are working with communities to enhance and leverage EPA funding for states to reduce exposure to radon through home testing and mitigation.”

With the signing, the cities of Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri, are encouraging the placement of EPA radon posters in city buildings to raise awareness of the cancer risks of radon exposure.

This partnership also challenges local hospitals and medical health networks in the Kansas City metropolitan area to place EPA radon posters in their medical buildings, waiting rooms, and exam rooms to help raise awareness of the importance of radon testing and mitigation to help prevent lung cancer caused by radon exposure.

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers and is responsible for 21,000 deaths in the U.S. every year. In Kansas and Missouri, one in four homes have elevated levels of radon, according to the EPA.

The only way to know if your home has elevated levels of radon is to test it, according to officials. EPA recommends that homes apply some level of mitigation if the radon level is 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) or more.

  • information from EPA