Month: December 2022

Snow possible today

A winter storm is predicted for Wednesday into Thursday. (National Weather Service graphic)

Snowfall is possible on Monday, as a light rain and snow mixture may move in from west to east, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

A trace to one inch of snow is possible Monday, transitioning to all rain before moving out during the evening, the weather service said. Surfaces such as bridges and overpasses may be slick.

A more impactful winter storm is possible Wednesday into Thursday, according to the weather service.

Temperatures were 38 degrees at 9 a.m. Monday, with a wind chill reading of 33.

The Christmas Day, Dec. 25, forecast is mostly sunny, with a high near 21.

Today, rain is likely, mainly before 4 p.m., with a high near 39, the weather service said. A south southeast wind of 7 to 10 mph will gust as high as 23 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of precipitation is possible.

Tonight, it will be cloudy, with a low of 20 and a calm wind becoming north 5 to 8 mph after midnight, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 26 and a north wind of 6 to 8 mph, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 17 and a north northeast wind of 6 mph, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, there is a 20 percent chance of snow after noon, with a high near 28, the weather service said, and an east wind of 5 to 7 mph.

Wednesday night, there will be a 90 percent chance of snow, mainly after midnight, with a low of 8, according to the weather service.

Thursday, there is a 70 percent chance of snow, mainly before noon, the weather service said. There will be widespread blowing snow, mainly between 11 a.m. and noon. The high will be near 14.

Thursday night, there will be patchy blowing with a low of minus 9. It will be blustery, according to the weather service.

Friday, there will be patchy blowing snow before 3 p.m., with partly sunny and cold temperatures and a high near 3, the weather service said. It will be blustery.

Friday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of minus 6, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 11, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of minus 1, according to the weather service.

On Sunday, Christmas Day, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 21, the weather service said.

Casino revenues up for November

Hollywood Casino at the Kansas Speedway reported $12.12 million in gaming revenues for the month of November, according to a Kansas Lottery Commission report.

The figure was up compared to last year, according to Keith Kocher, director of gaming facilities for the lottery.

According to Kansas Lottery figures, Hollywood Casino showed a 6.44 percent increase for fiscal year 2023 gaming revenue compared to fiscal year 2022.

Together with Kansas’ other three state-owned casinos, the revenues were slightly flat for the month of October, Kocher said at a lottery commission meeting Wednesday.

In a written report to regulators, Lydia Garvey, vice president and general manager of Hollywood Casino, stated admissions were up 8.2 percent this October compared to October 2021.

A 41 percent increase in table games revenue was reported, likely due to cross-over play between table games and sportsbook as well as staffing efforts by the facility. Hollywood staff members were seeing positive results from the sportsbook efforts.

Hollywood Casino also reported the largest single wager was on the Chiefs to beat Buffalo.

For November, admissions were up 13.2 percent compared to November of 2021, according to the report.

Total gaming revenue for November was an increase of 10.5 percent at Hollywood Casino, the general manager’s report stated. Table games revenue increased 43.2 percent. Sportsbook revenue was $798,000, an increase of $489,000 over October.

Special events planned at the Hollywood Casino included holiday events, according to Garvey’s report.

On Dec. 30, a jackpot party is planned and on Dec. 31, there will be a New Year’s Eve promotion.

Kocher reported that total net revenues for sports wagering for the month of November were $8 million.

For October, Barstool at Hollywood Casino reported $6.4 million in settled wagers, $309,567 in revenues and a state share of $30,957 in retail.

Barstool at Hollywood Casino for October reported $12.1 million in settled wagers, $669,547 in revenues and $64,233 in the state share for online sales.

Moran backs legislation broadening support to Afghans who aided U.S. service members

Kansas Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, speaking here last year after U.S. forces left Afghanistan, said he will back a bipartisan bill aiding Afghan military allies in the United States and abroad. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of U.S. Senate YouTube channel)

by Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Topeka — U.S. Army retiree Slade Deister lauded the commitment Thursday by U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran to support bipartisan legislation designed to improve federal assistance to Afghans who assisted American service members in the 20-year conflict ending in 2021.

Tens of thousands of Afghan allies who risked their lives to support U.S. involvement in Afghanistan were evacuated and relocated to this country last year, but others remained in Afghanistan or found sanctuary in third countries.

“This is a critical piece of legislation that supports our nation’s veterans and warfighters by ensuring that we honor our allies during America’s longest war,” said Deister, of Leavenworth. “If Congress does not act to support its allies by passing the Afghan Adjustment Act, potential allies in future combat zones are going to be less likely to support the U.S. mission after seeing our Afghan partners abandoned.”

Afghans granted temporary status in the United States on humanitarian grounds who then seek permanent legal residency must work through the asylum system or the Special Immigrant Visa program, both of which have severe backlogs. The legislation cosponsored by Moran would enable these individuals to undergo supplemental vetting in their quest for permanent legal residency.

In addition, the measure would create a task force to craft and implement a strategy for supporting Afghans left behind or residing outside the United States. It would mandate the U.S. State Department respond to congressional inquiries about immigration visa applications.

The immigrant visa program would be expanded by the bill to include Afghan women who served on tactical teams, the Afghan Army special operations command as well as the special mission wing, and the Afghan Air Force.

“The withdrawal from Afghanistan was a dark day in American history,” Moran said. “The rushed and chaotic evacuation from Kabul resulted in the deaths of American service members and stranded thousands of our Afghan allies behind enemy lines.”

He said Afghans stood with U.S. service members for two decades at risk of their lives and the lives of family members. The plea of U.S. veterans and military organizations for additional aid to these people should be answered, the senator said.

“This legislation will put a program in place to protect our national security while also keeping our promise to those who risked their lives for America,” Moran said.

Moran stood in support of the legislation with Republican Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Also endorsing the bill were Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Chris Coons of Delaware and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. A comparable version of the bill has been introduced in the U.S. House.

The U.S. evacuation in Afghanistan led to the greatest military airlift operation since World War II and the death of 13 American service members. U.S. troops departed Aug. 15, 2021, when the country fell to the Taliban.

Kansas Reflector stories, www.kansasreflector.com, may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

See more at https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/moran-backs-legislation-broadening-support-to-afghans-who-aided-u-s-servicemembers/.