A public hearing on the Unified Government’s proposed solid waste management plan will be held tonight, according to a UG committee agenda.
The public hearing will be held during the 5 p.m. April 25 meeting of the UG Public Works and Safety Committee.
According to the UG agenda, the state requires the UG to have a review of the solid waste management plan and update it every five years. A public hearing is part of the process.
The plan is included in the Public Works committee agenda at https://www.wycokck.org/Departments/Clerks-Office/Agendas-Minutes.
The plan also is online at https://www.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/public-works/solid-waste-management/documents/2020-wyandotte-county-solid-waste-management-plan.pdf.
The UG Administration and Human Services Committee meeting scheduled for April 25 has been canceled because of a lack of items, according to an agenda note.
The Public Works Committee meeting will be on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85463742723?pwd=bVY5ZkYrQWUyT3VaYjVrM1RxZEFEUT09.
The passcode is 904089.
To connect by telephone, dial 888-475-4499 toll free or 877-853-5257 toll free.
The webinar ID number is 854 6374 2723.
The public also may view the meeting in the fifth floor conference room, Suite 515, at City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas.
Topeka — Wyandotte County District Judge Bill Klapper ruled Monday that Kansas Republicans violated the state constitution by targeting residents on the basis of politics and race when drawing new congressional districts.
Klapper’s order, which is certain to be appealed to the Kansas Supreme Court, blocks the state from preparing for the congressional election until a new map is drawn. The judge ordered the Legislature to come up with “a remedial plan” as soon as possible.
Republicans drew a map that divides the Kansas City metro along Interstate 70, separating a diverse community in the northern part of Wyandotte County from the 3rd District, making it more difficult for the state’s only Democrat in Congress, U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, to win reelection. The map avoids giving Democrats an edge in the 2nd District by carving Lawrence out of Douglas County and placing the liberal-leaning community into the highly conservative 1st District that extends to the Colorado border.
The ruling follows a consolidated trial for three lawsuits that were filed in response to a new congressional map passed by the Legislature this session. The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, former federal prosecutors Barry Grissom and Stephen McAllister, and the D.C.-based Elias Group and Campaign Legal Center were involved in challenging the map.
“We are thankful that Judge Klapper saw this map for what it was — a deliberate attempt to silence the political voices of Democratic and minority Kansans,” said Sharon Brett, legal director for the ACLU of Kansas. “Although we know this case is not over yet, we look forward to settling this issue and securing the rights of our clients in the Kansas Supreme Court.”
This is the first time a gerrymandering cases has been litigated in Kansas courts.
The Kansas Supreme Court tasked Klapper with determining whether the Kansas Constitution contains protections against dividing communities of color and partisan gerrymandering, with the understanding the ruling would be appealed regardless of the decision. Federal courts previously handled these disputes, until a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2019 determined federal courts should have no say on the topic.
Plaintiffs pointed to comments made in 2020 by former Senate President Susan Wagle, who said a Republican supermajority in the Legislature would allow the party to draw congressional districts that ensure the state only elects Republicans. As Wagle predicted, the two-thirds majority allowed the Legislature to override a veto by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.
In a statement, House Republican leadership said “it is not surprising that a partisan Democrat judge sided with Laura Kelly’s East coast special interest groups to usurp lawfully enacted maps approved by a supermajority of the people’s representatives. We look forward to the Attorney General’s appeal of this erroneous decision.”
Attorneys hired by Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who faces Kelly in this year’s gubernatorial race, argued that the redrawn map still gives Davids a chance to win reelection.
Klapper agreed with the argument that lawmakers produced maps that dilute the voting power of residents in Wyandotte County and Lawrence, violating multiple protections found in the state constitution’s Bill of Rights.
“No surprise,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, a Republican from Andover. “On to the next step.”
Senior reporter Tim Carpenter contributed to this story. This story is developing and will be updated.
Kansas Reflector stories, www.kansasreflector.com, may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
Clouds and contrails over Wyandotte County on Sunday morning. Temperatures are cooler today, and a frost advisory was issued for Tuesday morning. (Photo by Steve Rupert)The low could be 37 tonight and Tuesday morning in Wyandotte County, and a frost advisory has been issued. (National Weather Service graphic)
A high of 60 today will be followed by a low of about 37 tonight, according to the National Weather Service.
Cool temperatures on Tuesday morning will lead to frosty conditions for most areas, the weather service said.
A frost advisory is in effect for Wyandotte County from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tuesday, according to the weather service.
Residents are advised to cover sensitive plants that could be affected by a frost, the weather service said.
Showers and thunderstorm chances will return Thursday through Saturday, according to the weather service. The threat of severe weather is low at this time.
Today, it will be sunny, with a high near 60, the weather service said. A north northwest wind of 6 to 13 mph will gust as high as 23 mph.
Tonight, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 37, according to the weather service. A north northwest wind of 5 to 10 mph will become light north in the evening. Winds may gust as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday, it will be sunny, with a high near 66, the weather service said. A calm wind will become south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 45, according to the weather service, and a south wind of 7 mph.
Wednesday, it will be sunny, with a high near 74, the weather service said. A south wind of 7 to 12 mph will increase to 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon, and winds may gust up to 25 mph.
Wednesday night, there is a slight chance of showers before 11 p.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 a.m., according to the weather service. The chance of rain is 60 percent. The low will be around 53. New rainfall amounts will be between a tenth and quarter-inch.
Thursday, there is a 60 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 p.m., then a chance of showers. The high will be near 67.
Thursday night, there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 8 p.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 56.
Friday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 73, the weather service said.
Friday night, there is a 60 percent chance of showers before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 57.
Saturday, there is a 60 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm, with a high near 71, the weather service said.
Saturday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers with a low of 48, according to the weather service.
Sunday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 70, the weather service said.
