Cooler weather, plus high fire weather danger today

A red flag warning is in effect from noon to 7 p.m. today, the National Weather Service said. Outdoor burning is highly discouraged. (National Weather Service graphic)
Winds today may gust as high as 38 mph, and relative humidity could fall to 20 to 25 percent today, according to the National Weather Service, adding to high fire danger. (National Weather Service graphic)

Wyandotte County will see a high near 65 today, with a red flag warning in place from noon until 7 p.m. today, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

Dry conditions, plus strong winds and relative humidity falling to 20 to 25 percent today mean that any fires could spread rapidly, the weather service said. Outdoor burning is discouraged today.

Strong winds today out of the northwest may gust as high as 38 mph, according to the weather service. Friday, wind gusts could reach 33 mph.

By Friday, a slight increase in moisture and lighter wind speeds may help mitigate critical fire weather conditions, but there still should be an elevated risk with minimum afternoon relative humidity values falling near 25 to 30 percent and wind speeds of 15 to 20 mph, the weather service said.

Late Friday afternoon, a weak disturbance could generate scattered showers to the north, with a slight chance of rain in the region, but very little rain is possible, according to the weather service.

On Monday night, temperatures are forecast to drop below freezing, reaching 31 degrees, according to the weather service.

Today, it will be sunny, with a high near 65 and a west northwest wind of 13 to 23 mph, gusting as high as 38 mph, the weather service said.

Tonight, it will be clear, with a low of 43 and a west northwest wind of 5 to 9 mph, becoming light west, according to the weather service. Winds may gust up to 18 mph.

Friday, there will be increasing clouds, with a high near 74 and a west wind of 8 to 17 mph, gusting as high as 33 mph, the weather service said.

Friday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 45 and a west northwest wind of 5 to 8 mph becoming calm after midnight, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 70 and a calm wind becoming west 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 45, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be sunny, with a high near 65, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 38, according to the weather service.

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

Monday night, it will be clear, with a low of 31, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be sunny, with a high near 54, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, it will be clear, with a low of 33, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, it will be sunny, with a high near 63, the weather service said.

Open burning, stormwater fee on the UG agenda Thursday

Open burning and the stormwater utility fee are among several items on the agenda for the 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, Unified Government Commission meeting.

The UG Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Commission Chambers, lobby level, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

On the 7 p.m. agenda are a drone ordinance and changes to the open burning ordinance.

Also, there are amendments to the storm and surface water utility fee on the agenda.

In addition, there is an amendment to an ordinance on emission of odors, as well as an amendment to food establishment regulations and licensing.

The commission also is asked to approve a $5,000 contribution to the Mid-America Regional Council for a regional electrical vehicle strategic plan, and matching funds of $15,000 for a retroactive grant from MARC to encourage the use of electric vehicles in underserved communities.

A survey of land for the Leavenworth and Hutton Road intersection project also is on the agenda, as is a resolution for a survey of Bridge 311 over Barber Creek.

General obligation bonds or temporary notes for the Fairfax Trafficway improvements also are on the agenda.

Also on the agenda are plats for the Rock Island Bridge over the Kaw River and Hyink Addition No. 1 at 6702 and 6716 Berger Ave.

Also scheduled is an update on the UG Forward process.

A community input time also is scheduled for the Thursday meeting, with participants allowed up to two minutes to speak, with up to 45 minutes for the total time limit.

The meeting will be on Zoom at
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81227370291?pwd=bjFTTklaYk52QlJpOFhpRXBuWDliUT09.
The passcode is 109138.

The UG Commission also is scheduled for a closed, executive session on labor at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, in the fifth floor conference room, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

For more information, visit https://www.wycokck.org/Departments/Clerks-Office/Agendas-Minutes.

Parent points out difficulty of finding textbooks

A parent was in tears on Tuesday night while telling the Kansas City, Kansas, school board that her daughter had no algebra book.

Angelynn Howell said her daughter was in Algebra 2 class without any books at all. The class was just using worksheets, she said. She said her daughter’s teacher did not have a teacher’s manual earlier this year, but she bought one and gave it to her.

She said she contacted a district administrator who was able to guide her through the process of finding an online text.

However, she said her daughter also has friends who do not have textbooks.

Howell, who spoke during the community comment section of the meeting, said she was concerned that students are falling through the cracks. She wants students to be successful, but she is concerned that if they don’t have books, there will be a gap in their learning and they will not be able to get into college.

The book situation was characterized as a communications problem by administrators.

Dr. Anna Stubblefield, superintendent, said the district is trying to close gaps in the system and let students and parents know that they can access textbooks digitally and check them out. These books have been available to students, according to administrators.

She said the district will be sending out a parents’ newsletter next week describing how students and parents may access the digital textbooks. They are working to put better systems in place to make sure it doesn’t happen again, she added.