Month: October 2022

Kelly, Schmidt differ on priorities at debate

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly tried to tie her opponent, Republican Derek Schmidt, to former Gov. Sam Brownback, while Schmidt tried to tie Kelly to Democratic President Joe Biden at Wednesday’s debate in Overland Park.

Kelly said her first priority after being re-elected would be to continue economic development, fund schools, continue road improvements and continue reforming foster care. Her administration reversed the cuts of the Brownback administration to schools and the use of state highway funds for other purposes. Kelly also said she would continue her efforts for Medicaid expansion.

Schmidt said his first priority would be to send to the Legislature a state budget to decelerate the rate of state spending growth that has occurred during the past four years. He said state spending was up 35 percent from when Kelly first took office.

While Schmidt said the influx of federal money into Kansas would not last forever and would require cuts, Kelly said Kansas is sitting on a $1.5 billion surplus with a large rainy day fund as a result of good fiscal management.

Several other topics also were discussed at the debate at the Double Tree Hotel in Overland Park. The debate was sponsored by the Johnson County Bar Association and will be shown at 7 p.m. Wednesday on KCPT-TV, Channel 19.

The debate was livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/kansascitypbs/videos/486030036730045.

BPU offers tips to save on electric bills

The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities is celebrating Public Power Week this week.

Public Power Week, Oct. 2-8, is being observed this week by BPU, along with the American Public Power Association and more than 2,000 other community-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities that collectively provide electricity to 49 million Americans.

To mark Public Power Week, BPU offers a few tips on how people can save energy and money in the home while caring for the environment and the community they live in.

According to the Alliance to Save Energy, the average U.S. home uses 70 light bulbs. Even though modern bulbs are energy efficient, residents should still turn them off when they aren’t in use.

Swap out those old incandescent bulbs for new LED bulbs. According to the Department of Energy, they use up to 90% less energy.

Heating and cooling a home uses a lot of energy, set the thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer to save energy and money on the power bill.

Home water heaters are a big energy user. Make sure to use cold water when possible and turn off the hot water while scrubbing hands.

Unplug appliances when not using them. Even when they aren’t being used, they are sometimes drawing “phantom power,” which wastes energy.

Consider a home energy audit. Energy efficiency experts can use special equipment to find things around the home—like air leaks—that may be costing energy and money.

“We know that using energy wisely to lower monthly electric bills is important to Kansas City, Kansas, residents,” said David Mehlhaff, BPU chief communications officer. “While we are sharing these tips during Public Power Week, we hope our community will keep an eye on energy efficiency all year round.”

  • Story from BPU