Category: Opinions

Letter

The Daily’s article on saving money on health insurance (https://wyandotteonline.com/consumer-news-how-to-save-more-money-on-health-insurance-costs/) is an important service to readers. However, it doesn’t apply to only people with ACA coverage through Blue Cross. In fact, those who already have coverage can only experience savings by staying with the same insurer and plan they already have. For those who have Medica coverage, more information is available at https://www.medica.com/shop-plans/individual-and-family/2021-health-plans.

Thanks,

Greg Bury
Public Relations Manager
Medica

Antiquated law causes problems for small business

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Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

Greg Shondell was shocked when he prepared to file his Kansas income return. Normally he would pay Kansas taxes based on 85 percent of his revenue and pay Missouri based on 15 percent of revenue.

Unfortunately, Kansas is one of only a few states that would force Shondell’s company, Heathwood Oil, to pay Kansas taxes based on 130 percent of revenue.

Shondell told of his dilemma at a meeting of the Legislative Committee of the Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce Friday, April 9, via Zoom. Shondell is a longtime member of the chamber and its Legislative Committee. Heathwood Oil can trace its roots to 1926. The family owned company in Kansas City, Kansas, spans four generations.

Mike Smallwood, the chairman of the Legislative Committee, said unfortunately it was too late to do anything during this session of the Kansas Legislature. However, he assured Shondell that the Legislative Committee would include this issue in its 2022 agenda.

One of the major concerns of the Kansas Legislature has been the problems that have besieged the Kansas Department of Labor. A 1970s computer system has failed as thousands of Kansans have complained they cannot receive payments from legitimate claims. In the meantime, fraudulent claims from unknown sources estimated at more than $600 million have been paid out to those who hacked KDOL files. The Kansas House and Senate approved a compromised bill aimed at correcting the problems at KDOL.

The Legislature has failed to pass a major overhaul of Kansas education that included about $5.8 billion in funding for schools. The measure narrowly passed the Kansas House, but failed on a tie vote in the Kansas Senate. Critics of the bill, including the Kansas State Board of Education and the National Education Association, charged that the bill would divert public funds to private schools. Legislators will face the issue when they return next month.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is executive director of Business West.

Column: Missing an old friend

Window

Opinion column

by Mary Rupert

I am missing an old friend, Debra DeCoster, who died March 26.

Debra, 62, was a staff writer for the Kansas City Hispanic News for the past 16 years. I first met her when I was asked to edit her freelance stories many years ago at the Kansas City Kansan. She also was a freelance writer for the Star and other publications. Her stories won many awards in different contests through the years.

Some years ago, Debra and I served on the board of the Kansas City Press Club, and she served in many different officer positions, including president from 2010 to 2012.

I remember her mainly for her support of local journalists through her many years of volunteer work with the Press Club. She did quite a lot of volunteer work for the Press Club when she was on the board.

For several years, Debra also helped as a panelist at local candidate forums in Wyandotte County, another volunteer position.

I was always glad to see Debra when we occasionally were at the same events. The last time I saw her was March 5, 2020, at the mayor’s speech in Argentine, before a lot of events shut down.

Debra was a very kind person, and also volunteered with Operation WildLife, helping injured animals. This, I believe, tells us more about her life than a lot of other information. To quote William Wordsworth, “The best portion of a good man’s life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.”

To see Debra’s obituary, visit https://www.maplehillfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Debra-Decoster/.


To reach Mary Rupert, editor, email [email protected].