Month: July 2022

Heat advisory issued for Wyandotte County

The heat index for Friday could be in the mid-100s, according to the National Weather Service. A heat advisory will be in effect from noon Friday through 8 p.m. Sunday. (National Weather Service graphic)
Saturday could see a heat index of up to 105. (National Weather Service graphic)
Sunday could see a high in the mid-90s and a heat index in the low 100s. (National Weather Service graphic)
Wyandotte County is in an area that is abnormally dry, according to the National Drought Monitor. (National Weather Service graphic)

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Wyandotte County from noon Friday through 8 p.m. Sunday.

The heat index today may be as high as 107, the weather service said. On Saturday, the heat index may reach 105.

Residents are advised to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check on relatives and neighbors, according to the weather service. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles.

Those who work or spend time outside should take extra precautions, the weather service said. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke; wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing when possible. To reduce the risk of heat illness during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned places. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded area. Heat stroke is an emergency and persons may call 911.

The surrounding area including Johnson and Leavenworth counties also is under the heat advisory.

The weather service said heat and humidity will increase through the weekend.

Chances for rain and thunderstorms will be Sunday into Monday, bringing a brief respite from the oppressive heat, according to the weather service.

Today, it will be sunny and hot, with a high near 100, the weather service said. The heat index will be as high as 107. A south southwest wind of 5 to 11 mph will gust as high as 21 mph.

Tonight, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 78 and a south southwest wind of 7 to 10 mph, gusting as high as 21 mph, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be sunny and hot, with a high near 101 and heat index values as high as 105, the weather service said. A south southwest wind of 7 to 15 mph will gust as high as 25 mph.

Saturday night, there will be increasing clouds, with a low of 82, according to the weather service. A south southwest wind will be 10 to 14 mph, gusting as high as 29 mph.

Sunday, there is a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m., with a high near 96, the weather service said. A southwest wind of 6 to 8 mph will become north in the afternoon. Winds may gust as high as 20 mph.

Sunday night, there is a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, then more showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 a.m., according to the weather service. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 72. Between a tenth and quarter-inch of rain is possible.

Monday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with a high near 87, the weather service said.

Monday night, there is a 40 percent chance of showers after 1 a.m., with a low of 71, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers before 1 p.m., with a high near 94, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers after 1 a.m., with a low of 76, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers, with a high near 95, the weather service said.

Wednesday night, there is a 50 percent chance of showers, with a low of 70, according to the weather service.

Thursday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with a high near 84,the weather service said.

Closing reception to be Friday for KCKCC art gallery exhibit

The Kansas City Kansas Community College Art Gallery is holding a closing reception for its current exhibition, “Eco-Justice,” later this week.

The reception is from 4 to 6 p.m. July 22 in the art gallery, which is on the lower level of the Jewell Building on the KCKCC Main Campus, 7250 State Ave. The event is free and open to the public.

“Eco-Justice” by Susan Ferguson, reflects on the mingling of nature, ecological justice and climate change. Ferguson, who has worked for more than 40 years in agriculture, journalism, writing, editing and teaching, developed the ideas for many of the fiber collages after seeing news footage and photographs of wildfires in both California and Oregon in 2019.

A self-educated artist, she was a Fellow in the 2020 cohort of the Artist INC program of the Mid-America Arts Alliance and has had her work exhibited throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area as well as St. Louis.

Ferguson’s pieces use a variety of different fibers including yarn, linen, cotton, felted wool and deconstructed fabric and utilizes techniques such as knitting, weaving, felting and other fabric manipulation.

Pieces in the exhibit include “Camp Fire,” “Cave Fire,” “Kincade Fire,” “Piute Fire,” “Tick Fire,” “Mallacoota Bushfire,” “Victoria Bushfire,” “August Complex Fire” and others.

  • Story from Kelly Rogge, KCKCC public relations manager

KU research finds association between a state’s generosity with food benefits, child welfare

by Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Topeka — University of Kansas researchers and colleagues at two other universities reported every 5% increase in enrollment in the federal nutrition assistance program for low-income families could reduce the number of children a state placed in foster care or protective services from 7.6% to 14.3%.

The 50-state study of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, indicated an association between state-by-state policy decisions guiding enrollment in SNAP and movement of children into programs designed to protect their welfare. The study covering 2004 to 2016 found states with more generous SNAP policies had fewer children in child protective services and foster care.

The findings published in the journal JAMA Network Open suggested increasing availability and stability of SNAP may unlock population health returns by preventing child neglect or maltreatment and reducing costly government intervention.

In Kansas, eligibility for SNAP was narrowed under the administration of Gov. Sam Brownback during a period in which the volume of children in foster care grew to record levels. Brownback joined with legislators in arguing reform was necessary for states to help people break cycles of dependency.

“Having access to the social safety net has an effect on child abuse,” said Donna Ginther, professor of economics at KU. “With so many children in low-income households, poverty is what typically gets people more engaged with child protective services.”

The 2022 Legislature declined an attempt by Democrats and social service organizations to repeal some regulatory obstacles in Kansas to securing SNAP aid. The Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly did adopt a law to gradually eliminate the state’s 6.5% sales tax on groceries.

Ginther said reducing sales tax on groceries contributed to reduction in food insecurity among low-income households in the same way broadening access to SNAP could curtail food insecurity.

The work by researchers at KU, Ohio State University and University of Maryland was funded by a 2016 grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The researchers controlled for other factors influencing child protective services caseloads, including the opioid epidemic.

“Previous researchers have shown that if you give people a social safety net when they’re children, then in the long run, those kids do better,” said Ginther, director of the Institute for Policy and Social Research. “They get more education and are more likely to work and be productive members of society. So you can think of the SNAP program as an investment in the future.”

Kansas Reflector stories, www.kansasreflector.com, may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND4.0.
See more at https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/ku-research-finds-association-between-a-states-generosity-with-food-benefits-child-welfare/