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/.

Faith news

Note: Please contact the church or check its social media pages to see if it is making schedule changes.

St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas, has information about Masses at https://www.facebook.com/StPatrickKCK. Masses are at 5 p.m. Saturday, and on Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:45 p.m. in Spanish and 2:30 p.m. in Chin-Burmese. St. Patrick Church will hold a pancake breakfast with Santa Claus from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18. The Christmas Mass schedule is 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, and 10 p.m. in Burmese in the parish center Dec. 24. The Christmas Day Mass schedule is 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon in Burmese in the parish center and 12:45 p.m. in Spanish on Dec. 25. St. Patrick Church will have a mobile blood drive from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, at the parish center, 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

Stony Point Christian Church, 149 S. 78th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will have a Sunday worship service at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18. The youth group is raising funds for its trip by selling cinnamon rolls in the coffee shop on Sunday. Stony Point will have a Christmas Eve candlelight service at 6 p.m. Dec. 24 and a Christmas Sunday worship service at 10:15 a.m. Dec. 25. See more information at https://www.facebook.com/StonyPointChristianChurch.

Prairie Meadows Church, a Free Will Baptist congregation, 426 Emerson Ave., Bonner Springs, will have Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 18. For more information, see www.prairiemeadowschurch.com.

Our Lady and St. Rose Catholic Church, 2300 N. 8th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will celebrate Mass at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18. The KPC Ladies’ Auxiliary is collecting shoes until Dec. 30 to be given a second life to those in need. For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/ourladyandsaintrose.

Open Door Baptist Church, 3033 N. 103rd Terrace, Kansas City, Kansas, will have services at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18. Open Door will have Christmas Eve services at 4 p.m. Dec. 24. For information about services, see https://www.opendoorkc.com/livestream. For more information see https://www.facebook.com/opendoorkc/ and https://www.opendoorkc.com/.

Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, 9301 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas, will have a worship service at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18. Kendall’s campaign is ongoing through Dec. 21 to provide canned and nonperishable items to Mr. Carmel Redevelopment Copr, 1130 Troup, Kansas City, Kansas. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/ORMBCKC or http://ormbc.org/church-online/.

“The Gospel of Non-Violence” will be presented from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 759 Vermont Ave., Suite 100-B, Kansas City, Kansas. Peg Burns is the presenter. Registration is requested to 913-689-9375. “Scripture Group: Lectio and Discussion,” will be held from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 759 Vermont Ave., Suite 100-B, Kansas City, Kansas. Heather Neds is the presenter. Registration is requested to 913-689-9375. For more information, visit www.keelerwomenscenter.org.

Casa – Worship House Christian Church, 5217 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas, will have information about services at the church. The church will have a special event, Christmas at Home, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at 5217 Leavenworth Road. Registration is encouraged. Thee will be pictures with Santa and gifts for children. See www.facebook.com/casadealabanzaKCKS. For more information, visit Facebook @casadealabanzaKCKS.

Blessed Sacrament and Christ the King Catholic churches have information about Masses at the churches’ websites or Facebook pages at www.facebook.com/Christ-the-King-Parish-KCKS-1392808997677579 and www.facebook.com/BlessedSacramentkck. Masses at Christ the King are at 4 p.m. Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday. Masses at Blessed Sacrament will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 a.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. Sunday.Blessed Sacrament celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe this past week (see https://www.facebook.com/BlessedSacramentkck/videos/690148469206524). The Christmas Mass schedule is 4 p.m. English Dec. 24 at Blessed Sacrament; 5 p.m. English at Christ the King; 6 p.m Spanish at Blessed Sacrament, 7 p.m. Spanish at Christ the King, and normal Sunday schedule for Christmas Day.

Wyandotte United Methodist Church, 7901 Oakland Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, has regularly scheduled services at 10 a.m. Sunday, with Sunday School at 9 a.m. The Christmas Eve Communion Candlelighting Service will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 24. Christmas mornng worship wil be at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 25. Wyandotte also is planning a New Year’s Eve game night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. For more information, including information about livestreamed services, see https://www.facebook.com/Wyandotteumc.

Sunset Hills Christian Church, 6347 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas, has regularly scheduled Sunday services at 9:30 a.m., with Sunday School following the service at 10:45 a.m. The Wednesday Night Bible Study will be held at 7 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Livestream services here at https://www.facebook.com/sunsethills.christianchurch/. For more information visit [email protected] or email [email protected].

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1300 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will have Sunday services at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18. For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsKCK/ or https://www.stpaulskck.org/.

Information about other church services in Wyandotte County may be available from the church’s social media page. To send in items for the Faith News, email information to [email protected]. Please include your name and contact information.