Month: June 2022

Kansas foster care will pay $1.25 million after a child was sexually assaulted in a contractor’s office

A foster child was sexually assaulted while left unattended in 2018. Now, the state and its private contractor are settling in court.

by Blaise Mesa, KCUR and Kansas News Service

Topeka, Kansas — A court settlement Thursday will require the Kansas foster care system to pay $1.25 million after a child sleeping in a contractor’s office was sexually assaulted in 2018.

A foster child spent a month sleeping in the office of foster care contractor KVC Kansas before the assault. The child, who was 13 years old at the time of the assault, was removed from home as the state investigated allegations of child abuse.

An 18-year-old with a history of sexual abusing others was put at the same office, attorneys said in court documents. KVC was understaffed and didn’t have enough people to watch all the children at once, and the sexual assault happened while D.D. was left unattended.

KVC and DCF knew of the 18-year-old’s past and were warned by family not to put the juvenile with other kids, court documents show.

Mark Schloegel, a partner at Popham Law who represented the 13-year-old, said both KVC and DCF blamed one another. KVC said the foster care system was so unprepared they had few options while DCF said they aren’t to blame for the contractor’s mistake. Attorneys for the victim argued both organizations are liable.

“Defendants DCF and KVC are responsible for [the 13-year-old’s] sexual assault and a failure of the most basic legal responsibility under the federal and state laws and rules,” attorneys wrote in a court document.

DCF declined to comment and KVC said “the safety and wellbeing of children and families is always our highest priority.”

The assault happened in 2018 and a separate lawsuit settlement in 2020 was supposed to end the practice of putting children in offices, but it hasn’t stopped. One higher needs child spent a month in state offices because there was no home to put them in, the Kansas News Service reported.

Schloegel hopes this case will spur improvements in the Kansas foster care system.

“These kids, they don’t have advocates, they don’t have people looking out for their best interest,” he said. “I hope a case like this makes the state wake up; makes these contractors wake up. If you can hit them in the pocketbook, they’re going to change their behaviors.”

Blaise Mesa reports on criminal justice and social services for the Kansas News Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or email him at [email protected].
The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their connection to public policy.
Kansas News Service stories and photos may be republished by news media at no cost with proper attribution and a link to ksnewsservice.org.
See more at https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-06-30/kansas-foster-care-will-pay-1-25-million-after-a-child-was-sexually-assaulted-in-a-contractors-office

UG Commission to consider several zoning issues tonight

The Unified Government Commission will consider several zoning issues at its 7 p.m. meeting Thursday, June 30, at the Commission Chambers, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

The commission also will meet at 5 p.m. June 30 in the Commission Chambers on the lobby level of City Hall for a budget workshop.

Among the many items on the agenda is one that would extend temporary pandemic ordinances allowing sidewalk and outdoor business, dining and service, making them a permanent ordinance change.

Also scheduled for the 7 p.m. meeting is a resolution to extend the state of local health emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic through Oct. 1 in Wyandotte County. Also on the agenda:

• An update on the county administrator search process:
• Sales tax exemption for the Rock Island Bridge industrial revenue bonds;
• Termination of the foodie park development agreement for the former Indian Springs area;
• Repealing the Midtown redevelopment plan;
• Approving an application for a rebate on incremental property taxes for redevelopment of the Brotherhood Bank building, and IRB bonds for the project;
• A resolution to support the Mid-America Regional Council regional climate action plan;
• Allowing telecommunication towers in residential areas if they are in stadium and athletic field light towers;
• A resolution to issue IRBs for the Criterion multifamily project;
• An option contract for real estate purchase agreement between KDG and the UG for real estate at 742 Minnesota Ave.;
• An ordinance to adopt the building and safety code; adopting the life safety code and international fire code; and international residential code;
• Approval of the casino grant funds;
• An agreement between the UG and LiUNA Public Services Employees Local Union 1290;
• An update on grants and the grant process.

Two Land Bank yard extensions, one at 4967 Oak Ave. and one at 1522 S. 8th St., also are on the agenda.

Other zoning items on the agenda include:

• 4136 Springfield St., change of zone from planned single-family district to planned apartment district to build two triplex units, Open Door Homes;

• 3015 and 3020 Baltimore St., change of zone from planned apartment district to agriculture district to construct a single-family residence with urban farming, City Beautiful Enterprise.

• 3430 N. 115th St., change of zone from county agriculture district to city agriculture district to subdivide the lot.

• 3348 N. 115th, change of zone from county agriculture district to city agriculture district to subdivide the lot.

• 5044 Powell Ave., renewal of a home occupation special use permit for a beauty salon.

• 2205 S. 88th St., special use permit for auto sales, Elite Motor Group.

• 3015 and 3020 Baltimore St., home occupation special use permit to sell produce and farm goods grown on the property, City Beautiful Enterprise;

• 2205 S. 88th St., special use permit for auto repair, City Truck and Tire Repair;


• 8440 Gibbs Roads, renewal of a special use permit to continue to store boats, trailers, vehicles, construction equipment and farm equipment for retail sales, Copart of Kansas;

• 1900 N. 1st, special use permit to continue to keep storage containers and a movable high tunnel for a training farm and community garden, Cultivate Kansas City;

• 1810 N. 1st, special use permit to keep storage containers and a greenhouse, Cultivate Kansas City;

• 620 Tenny Ave., special use permit to operate a short-term rental, Purple Holdings;

• 3914 N. 59th St., special use permit to store construction equipment;

• 2724 N. 13th St., an ordinance rezoning property from limited business district to planned general business district;

• 2724 N. 13th, an ordinance authorizing a special use permit to operate a sports bar with event space and live entertainment;

• 10 S. Hallock, 525 Central Ave. and 529 Central Ave., ran ordinance rezoning property from single family and planned nonretail business districts to planned high-rise apartment district;

• 731 Tenny Ave., an ordinance vacating an alley;

• 3801 Lloyd St., an ordinance vacating right-of-way;

• 10 S. Hallock and 525 Central Ave., an ordinance vacating right-of-way;

• 1830 Quindaro Blvd., ordinance authorizing special use permit for a car dealership with automotive repair, auto detailing and auto stereo installation;

• 2002 S. 51st St., ordinance authorizing special use permit for a health clinic serving uninsured and under-insured persons;

• 4313 Rainbow Blvd, ordinance authorizing special use permit for continuation of a short-term rental;

• 4420 N. 107th St., ordinance authorizing special use permit for continuation of a modular classroom at Piper Middle School;

• 2618 S. 48th Terrace, an ordinance authorizing home occupation special use permit to operate a toy and gift merchandise sales shop;

• 1335 Quindaro Blvd., an ordinance designating property commonly known as the Antioch Baptist Church as a Kansas City, Kansas, historic landmark;

• Westheight Manor Historic District, an ordinance designating property listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Register of Historic Kansas Places, as a Kansas City, Kansas Historic District. Boundaries are on the north by Wood Avenue and Everett Avenue; on the east by North 18th Street; on the south by State Avenue; and on the west by North 22nd Street and North 25th Street.

Also on the agenda is the nomination of Daniel Serda to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, submitted by Mayor Tyrone Garner.

For information on how to connect to the meeting, visit https://www.wycokck.org/Engage-With-Us/Calendar-of-Events/Full-Commission-Meeting.

More information is on the agenda, online at https://www.wycokck.org/Departments/Clerks-Office/Agendas-Minutes.

Hot and dry weather in today’s forecast

National Weather Service graphic

Hot and dry weather is in today’s forecast from the National Weather Service.

Temperatures could reach a high near 92 today, the weather service said. Humidity is not a factor in the weather today.

Look for a cool-down on Friday after rain is possible before 7 a.m., according to the weather service.

Storms are in the forecast through Monday night. A few storms could be strong on Friday afternoon, with the main threats hail and strong wind.

The Fourth of July forecast for Monday is a 30 percent chance of showers, with a high of 92, according to the weather service.

Today, it will be sunny, with a high of 92 and a south southwest wind of 10 to 14 mph, gusting as high as 23 mph, the weather service said.

Tonight, there is a 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 a.m., with a low of 71, according to the weather service. A south wind of 5 to 10 mph will gust as high as 18 mph.


Friday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, the weather service said. Rain is possible both in the early morning and in the afternoon. The high will be near 88 with a calm wind becoming northeast around 6 mph in the morning. Between a tenth and quarter-inch of rain is possible.

Friday night, there is a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, followed by showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 70 with an east wind of 3 to 7 mph. Between a half and three-quarters of an inch of rain are possible.

Saturday, there is a 60 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 85 with an east southeast wind of 3 to 7 mph. Between a quarter and half-inch of rain is possible.

Saturday night, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 71, according to the weather service. Between a tenth and quarter-inch of rain is possible.

Sunday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with a high near 88, the weather service said.

Sunday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 a.m., with a low of 73, according to the weather service.

Monday, the Fourth of July, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 92, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 77, according to the weather service.


Tuesday, it will be sunny, with a high near 96, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers, with a low of 77, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers, with a high near 94, the weather service said.