Overland Park

Periodic table world record — see how fast this Overland Park 4-year-old can say all 118 elements in order – Shawnee Mission Post

April 5, 2021 by KCReporter

Bhavik Jain, a 4-year-old from Overland Park, got interested in the periodic table of elements after his mother, Shruti, encouraged him to drink milk.

The 4-year-old asked why milk was important, to which Shruti responded that the calcium in milk helps strengthen bones.

As 4-year-olds are wont to do, Bhavik continued to ask questions about calcium and other elements. So, his mother decided capitalized on Bhavik’s curiosity and turned learning the elements — all 118 of them — into a game with flashcards and posters.

But Bhavik shocked his parents when, after learning all the elements, he began reciting them all in order. From Hydrogen, #1 on the periodic table, all the way to #118, Oganesson.

Now, Bhavik has gone a step further, setting a world record — verified by the India-based Global Records & Research Foundation — for the fastest recitation of the periodic table of elements.

How fast?

One minute, 20 seconds. Or time for nearly two elements per second.

“We’re very proud of him,” said Kapil Jain, Bhavik’s father. “To be very honest, we were elated when we got word that it’s actually a world record, it’s very exciting.”

Practicing everyday

Kapil said Bhavik enjoys practicing, so he and Shruti would practice the elements everyday at home and in the car when she would take him to pre-K at the Barstow School in Kansas City, Mo.

After Kapil’s sister-in-law was amazed by Bhavik’s speed, Kapil said she suggested the Jains look into whether or not Bhavik qualified for a world record.

The Jains were surprised — and proud — to find out he did, Kapil said.

Kapil said Bhavik’s interest in learning continues because Shruti, his mother, turns learning into something fun, and it’s not a chore.

As Indian immigrants who found their own way to education, Kapil said he and Shruti want to encourage Bhavik to strive for more by providing him with endless opportunities.

“Our main thing is to guide him as much as possible and give him all the right tools and resources in life,” Kapil said. “He’s really smart, and we want to make sure we’re guiding him in the right direction.”

Bhavik said he thinks his world record for reciting the periodic table elements is “cool,” but he’s already on to his next challenge: setting a world record for the fastest recitation of countries and capitals.

He can currently recite nearly 200 countries and capitals.

Watch: Bhavik Jain recite the periodic table of elements

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Movie ‘The Ravine’ premieres in Overland Park Friday – KMBC Kansas City

April 2, 2021 by KCReporter

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. —

The movie “The Ravine” premiered in Overland Park Friday night.

The film follows a seemingly happy family whose world explodes in a shocking murder-suicide.

A local couple produced and independently financed the film. They said they chose to debut it on Good Friday because it’s a story of redemption.

“It is extremely special to know KC has really stepped out and supported us and this message,” said Kelly Pascuzzi, film producer.

“To have this experience here is really meaningful, so thanks to everyone who came out tonight,” actor Kyle Lowder said.

Lowder, who is a Missouri native, starred in “Days of Our Lives.”

Other cast members include Eric Dane from “Grey’s Anatomy” and Peter Facinelli from “Twilight.”

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Tax-break seeking health club kingpin delinquent on at least $549,000 in property tax payments

February 9, 2021 by KCReporter

Tax-break seeking health club kingpin delinquent on at least 9,000 in property tax payments

TOPEKA — Kansas fitness club magnate Rodney Steven initiated a campaign to persuade the Kansas Legislature to rid his for-profit industry of property taxes while delinquent on at least $549,000 in pre-coronavirus property taxes owed to Shawnee, Johnson and Douglas counties.

County tax records revealed Steven’s fitness business had yet to pay $160,600 in 2019 property taxes to Shawnee County. His companies owed Johnson County $251,000 in property taxes as of Monday, while the tally in Douglas County topped $137,600.

Shawnee County tax records also indicated Steven’s operation was fined $1,400 for failure to pay $69,600 in property tax due in the first half of 2020. He likewise hasn’t paid the $69,600 second-half property tax obligation for 2020.

“If you owe taxes, why should you get a tax break?” said Topeka Rep. John Alcala, who served more than a decade on the Topeka City Council and is a member of the House Tax Committee.

The Kansas House is being encouraged by Steven’s lobbying contingent and his GOP Statehouse allies to insert a health club exemption into the Kansas Senate’s high-profile property tax transparency bill. If adopted by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Laura Kelly, the amendment would enable Genesis Health Clubs owned by Steven to avoid an estimated $2.5 million annually in property taxes. Genesis Health Clubs’ gain would drop Johnson County property tax revenue $1.1 million per year and clip Shawnee, Sedgwick and Riley counties for amounts ranging from $273,000 to $366,000 annually.

It’s unclear what the statewide financial toll would be on city and county budgets if owners of all health clubs in Kansas were granted permission to quit paying property taxes after Dec. 31. The proposed amendment would apply to health club partnerships, corporations or other business organizations charging a fee for access to weight and strength training related to cardiovascular fitness. The amendment would exclude dance studios, martial arts facilities, swimming pools, golf courses and health spas.

In a peculiar twist, the Kansas Policy Institute, which lobbies regularly at the Capitol on tax issues in search of “efficient, effective government,” flip-flopped on the amendment. Once opposed to the tax break for fitness clubs, KPI now supports it.

‘Maximum profitability’

Steven, president and owner of Genesis Health Clubs, failed to land this property tax break in 2014 despite donating to political campaigns of more than half of the Legislature’s members. One of Steven’s lobbyists, Greg Ferris, said at that time anyone who presumed Steven was buying votes was “narrow-minded and ignorant.”

Steven returned in 2021 with the star power of former U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, who agreed to represent the Kansas Health and Fitness Association on the tax-break issue. Steven serves as treasurer of the association. Its directors include some of Steven’s business associates.

Incorporation documents filed with the state describe the association’s goal as advocacy for laws and regulations to “maximize profitability” of the private health and fitness industry.

The owner of Genesis Health Clubs, including this facility in Lawrence, supports a proposal before the 2021 Legislature for an exemption from property taxes for owners of health clubs. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) — The owner of Genesis Health Clubs, including this facility in Lawrence, supports a proposal pending before the House Tax Committee for a statewide exemption from property taxes for owners of health clubs. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Jenkins didn’t mention any association member’s delinquent property tax obligations during comments last month to the House Tax Committee when she publicly raised the idea of handing a tax break to health clubs. Instead, she outlined why it was unfair for private fitness companies to operate in communities where nonprofits, such as YMCAs and city recreational facilities, weren’t required to pay property taxes.

“So, not only do their competitors pay no taxes, they are funded by taxes paid by KHFA eligible clubs,” said Jenkins, who served in the Kansas House and Senate before elected to Congress.

Topeka Rep. Jim Gartner, ranking Democrat on the House Tax Committee, said the process relied upon by Jenkins to seek passage of the amendment didn’t follow standard procedure. The idea should have been introduced as a standalone bill and subjected to committee hearings with advocates and opponents, he said. Instead, the Senate approved Senate Bill 13 as part of a quest to increase public disclosure of revenue increases tied to property taxes. When that bill was transferred to the House, Jenkins jumped into the mix with Steven’s amendment.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous,” Gartner said. “If he wanted to come in front of the tax committee, pay your 2019 property taxes. Be straight up and file a bill and let it come through the process.”

The House Taxation Committee is expected this week to begin debate on possible alterations to Senate Bill 13. There appears to be bipartisan opposition to the amendment, with the sharpest objections coming from Democrats. Support from House GOP leadership could set up an interesting fight.

KPI wavers on Genesis

The League of Kansas Municipalities, with membership consisting of cities with populations from 20 to over 390,000, oppose the add-on property tax exemption pitched by Jenkins.

“Please contact your legislators and tell them to vote against the amendment from Genesis Health Clubs,” said Trey Cocking, deputy director of the League of Kansas Municipalities.

Initially, Kansas Policy Institute also directed House members to reject the exemption aimed at helping for-profit health clubs. Dave Trabert, chief executive officer at KPI, said in an email to legislators his organization would “strongly oppose including the Genesis proposal in SB 13.”

Dave Trabert, executive director of Kansas Policy Institute, said the conservative organization would oppose a property tax exemption for private, for-profit fitness clubs. KPI subsequently reversed course and endorsed the special-interest tax break. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

“Some people assume we support the exemption for a variety of reasons, but that’s not correct,” Trabert said. “Kansas Policy Institute opposes the health club exemption, and we would give it a negative score on our Freedom Index.”

One week later, however, KPI executed a political backflip.

In an email to House members that was copied to House GOP leaders and Jenkins, KPI president James Franko announced the organization would lend its influence to passage of the property tax exemption for health clubs. Franko said the amendment was needed to combat government-built and -operated health facilities placing private health club businesses at a “tremendous disadvantage.”

“Tax changes of this nature are exactly what Kansas needs to be enacting tax as families and businesses pull themselves out of the devastation caused by COVID and government shutdowns,” Franko said.

The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association reported in December the number of people in the United States who used a health club in 2019 was 27% greater than the number of users in 2010. IHRSA also reported U.S. residents used a fitness facility more frequently in 2019 than in 2010. During the decade, the number of times Americans turned to a health club climbed 45% from 4.6 billion to 6.7 billion. Health club consumption was growing at a steady rate heading into 2020, the report said, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

“Health club membership and usage trends indicate sustainable growth over the long term,” IHRSA’s report said. “While not recession-proof, the health and fitness industry has historically been resilient during downturns. As the economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, it will test the industry’s resiliency.”

Another tax dispute

In all, Genesis Health Clubs operates more than 20 locations in Kansas and about 30 venues in five other states. Over the years, Steven has publicly celebrated aggressive expansion of his empire.

The company ran into problems in St. Joseph, Missouri, while remodeling a small, aging facility and connecting it to a new multimillion-dollar structure. It was finished more than two years after the one-year building permit was issued in 2015. The City of St. Joseph withheld a certificate of occupancy until several promised elements of the fitness club were completed, including an elevator, in 2017.

“Greatest fitness facility ever seen in St. Joseph,” Steven said in a news release. “The St. Joseph community has been begging for something like this for years and we could not be happier to be the ones to bring it here. This was difficult. End of story.”

Genesis Health Clubs, according to reporting by the St. Joseph News-Press, declined to pay $26,500 in fines that accumulated because the company was slow to finish the project. When Steven began preparing for construction of a $1.2 million outdoor aquatic facility in St. Joseph, the city declined to issue a construction permit because of unresolved fines.

Steven asked the city to wipe away the penalties, but the city council voted Dec. 14 against a waiver. In the News-Press, Steven said city officials were hard to work with during the fitness center project. He complained about existence of the city’s recreation center and the YMCA. He said the stalemate over fines meant the swimming project wouldn’t go forward.

St. Joseph Councilman Marty Novak told the News-Press the waiver of fines for Genesis Health Clubs would set the wrong precedent.

“In all fairness, would it be right to write off the $26,000 for this business and not do it for somebody else? I don’t think so,” Novak said. “Sometimes it doesn’t matter what you do, you’re not gonna make people happy.”

The post Tax-break seeking health club kingpin delinquent on at least $549,000 in property tax payments appeared first on Kansas Reflector.

What Senate Republicans are saying about Trump’s impeachment trial

February 9, 2021 by KCReporter

WASHINGTON — The second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump is set to begin Tuesday, when the Senate will start hearing arguments over whether Trump should be convicted of inciting the violent mob that lay siege to the Capitol.

So far, no Senate Republican has outright backed a vote to convict Trump, and many have questioned whether the Senate should be conducting an impeachment trial of an ex-president.

Nine House Democrats have been tasked as impeachment managers, essentially prosecutors in outlining the case against Trump.

They’ll present that case to a chamber that’s evenly divided among 48 Democrats, two independents who usually vote with them, and 50 Republicans. All but five of the Republicans voted last month to declare the trial unconstitutional.

At least 17 Republican senators would need to join all 48 Democrats and the two independents to convict Trump, a vote that requires a two-thirds majority. Given the overwhelming vote to label the trial unconstitutional, the House impeachment managers appear to have a tough job at hand.

The five Republicans who did not support the procedural motion last month to declare the impeachment trial unconstitutional were Sens. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania; Susan Collins of Maine; Lisa Murkowski of Alaska; Mitt Romney of Utah; and Ben Sasse of Nebraska.

In the pretrial briefs, Trump’s attorneys denied that he was responsible for the attack and argued he cannot be tried in the Senate because he has left office. Previewing their arguments, a filing from House Democrats argues that Trump violated his oath of office, and “betrayed the American people.”

The impeachment charge against Trump was passed in the House with support from every Democrat and 10 Republicans.

It’s not yet clear how long the trial will take before senators vote on whether to convict, but it is expected to last through at least the rest of the week.

Here’s what Republican senators and one independent from States Newsroom states have said so far about the impeachment trial, and whether they plan to convict or acquit Trump:

KANSAS

Jerry Moran:

“Unfortunately, the Constitution does not clearly answer whether a former president can be impeached and then tried by the Senate. This decision will set precedent for future Congresses in regards to impeachment, and I am clearly on the side that a former president should not be subject to impeachment,” Moran said in a statement last month. “Giving the green light that future Congresses can impeach a former president would cause extreme damage to our country and the future of the presidency.”

Roger Marshall:

“Not only is it unconstitutional to impeach a president after he leaves office, I firmly believe an impeachment effort at this juncture will only raise already heated temperatures of the American public and further divide our country at a time when we should be focused on bringing the country together and moving forward,” Marshall said in a statement last month.

FLORIDA

Marco Rubio:

“The first chance I get to vote to end this trial, I will do it, because I think it’s really bad for America,” Rubio said last month on “Fox News Sunday.”

Rick Scott:

“This impeachment is nothing more than political theater,” Scott wrote on Twitter. “The Democrats are confusing the U.S. Capitol, where we should be helping the American people, with another big white building in DC that specializes in theater and shows…. the Kennedy Center. It’s time to get back to work.”

IOWA

Chuck Grassley:

“It’s one thing, according to the Constitution, to impeach a president, but can you impeach a citizen?” he said, according to The Daily Iowan. “Because now it’s not President Trump, it’s citizen Trump.”

Joni Ernst:

“My concern right now is that the president is no longer in office,” Ernst said in a statement last month. “Congress would be opening itself to a dangerous standard of using impeachment as a tool for political revenge against a private citizen, and the only remedy at this point is to strip the convicted of their ability to run for future office —–a move that would undoubtedly strip millions of voters of their ability to choose a candidate in the next election.”

LOUISIANA

Bill Cassidy:

“We will now have, hopefully, presentations from both sides, and we will consider the evidence as impartial jurors,” Cassidy said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

John Kennedy:

“These proceedings, in part, represent a thinly veiled effort by the uber-elites in our country, who look down on most Americans, to denigrate further those people who chose to vote for President Trump and not vote for President Biden,” Kennedy said in a statement to the Monroe News-Star.

MAINE

Susan Collins:

“I’ll approach it as I’ve approached the other two impeachment trials … I will listen to the evidence and make an assessment based on the evidence and the Constitution,” Collins told reporters at the Capitol last month.

Angus King (independent)

“I will say that his actions after the election particularly after about the first of December when it was absolutely clear what the outcome was, was profoundly damaging to our country—the most damaging activity on behalf of the U.S. president that I’ve ever seen,” King said in an MSNBC interview last month. “He basically delegitimized the Democratic process. He misled millions and millions of people he then invited the mob to Washington.”

MISSOURI

Roy Blunt:

“I believe the constitutional purpose for presidential impeachment is to remove a president from office, not to punish a person after they have left office,” Blunt said in a statement last month. “No consideration was given to impeaching President Nixon when he resigned in 1974. The Constitution hasn’t changed and the Congress should not set a new, destructive precedent.”

Josh Hawley:

“Democrats appear intent on weaponizing every tool at their disposal — including pushing an unconstitutional impeachment process — to further divide the country,” Hawley said in a statement last month.

MONTANA

Steve Daines:

“Trump is a departed president,” Daines said during a radio interview last month. “He’s a private citizen. The Constitution is very clear in Article 1, Section 3, where it says when the President of the United States is tried, well, who’s the President of the United States? It’s actually Joe Biden, not Donald Trump.”

NORTH CAROLINA

Richard Burr:

“This is a civilian now. A charge like this would go to the Justice Department and be referred for prosecution,” Burr said to reporters in the Capitol last month. “Unfortunately, that’s not what they’re doing.”

Thom Tillis:

“On January 6, I said voting to reject the states’ electors was a dangerous precedent we should not set. Likewise, impeaching a former President who is now a private citizen would be equally unwise,” Tillis said in a statement last month. “The impeachment power can be turned into a political weapon, especially if it is primarily used to disqualify an individual citizen from running for public office.”

OHIO

Rob Portman:

“I will listen to the evidence presented by both sides and then make a judgment based on the Constitution and what I believe is in the best interests of the country,” Portman said in a statement last month.

PENNSYLVANIA

Pat Toomey:

“I’m going to listen to the arguments on both sides and make the decision that I think is right,” Toomey said Sunday on CNN.

TENNESSEE

Marsha Blackburn:

“It is time for our country to move forward, instead of looking backwards and fighting the same battles with each other,” Blackburn said in a Twitter post last month, calling the trial “partisan” and “unconstitutional.”

Bill Hagerty:

“Under Article 2, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, a presidential impeachment trial—the purpose of which is to determine whether the President should be removed from office—must involve ‘The President,’ and Article 1, Section 3 provides that, ‘When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside,’” Hagerty said in a statement last month. “Yet, ‘the President’ is not on trial, and the Chief Justice is not presiding, which speaks volumes about the constitutionality of this proceeding.”

WISCONSIN

Ron Johnson:

“I believe an impeachment trial of a former president is unconstitutional and would set a very dangerous precedent,” Johnson posted on Twitter last month. “There is no provision in the Constitution for holding such a trial over a former president who is now a private citizen. Where would we get the authority to do so?”

The post What Senate Republicans are saying about Trump’s impeachment trial appeared first on Kansas Reflector.

Business owners say clock was ticking before Wyandotte County eased restrictions

February 8, 2021 by KCReporter

WYANDOTTE COUNTY — If you asked Vicki Kobialka in January, the limits on bars and restaurants from a local health order imposed in Wyandotte County were going to kill her business.

Her bar, Kobi’s, a small establishment in Bonner Springs, couldn’t seat guests at full capacity and couldn’t stay open as late as other bars just a few minutes north and a few minutes south.

“COVID-19 has been bad for everyone and every business has suffered,” Kobialka said during a county commission hearing last month.

Since March, she said, she has laid-off half of her employees, and if business doesn’t improve, she may have to consider closing the bar one or two days a week to cut down expenses.

Capacity limits are the standard operating procedure and something most county governments in the Kansas City metro area could agree on from the start. The 10 p.m. closing time for bars and restaurants in Wyandotte County, however, wasn’t the case across the board — definitely not in Johnson and Leavenworth counties, where restaurants could stay open longer or had no time restrictions at all.

That inconsistency wasn’t just unfair, Kobialka said. It was driving business out of the county.

Several bar and restaurant owners spoke at length during last month’s county commission virtual public forum, describing how “mom and pop” shops like Stacy Damron’s Coach Lite Club and Melissa Nead’s The Dotte Spot just couldn’t compete with bars in Johnson County that were permitted to stay open until midnight.

“The clock is ticking for many small businesses in Wyandotte County — we are all on life support now,” Nead said.

But it wasn’t that simple. The Unified Government’s Public Health Department couldn’t just change its COVID-19 rules without considering the science and information available, said Allen Greiner, the Wyandotte County medical officer. Much of the work he does is a balancing act. For one thing, the decision-making calculus of disease mitigation for a community has to consider other elements besides public health, he said.

“(We’re) trying to be balanced between having businesses that can thrive and be successful, but also trying to control the spread of the virus,” Greiner said. “There’s been a lot of talk about businesses and whether the restrictions on businesses were so harmful to society and so harmful to the economy that they offset any gains that were being made by reducing the spread of COVID.”

On top of the testimony from local business owners, the local COVID-19 data suggested the spread of COVID-19 in the community was declining and hospitalizations were trending downward. Additional data gathered by the health department also indicated COVID-19 transmission wasn’t occurring in bars and restaurants, but through large family gatherings and other private events.

“When we became more restrictive, it was because the data was suggesting we needed to be more restrictive,” said Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor David Alvey.

After Alvey did some of his own spot-checks at restaurants and bars to gauge the level of compliance with other COVID-19 restrictions, like capacity limits and physical distancing in indoor spaces, he said he supported the relaxation of the closing time restrictions.

“If we only use the data to become more restrictive then I think that loses credibility as a guiding principle, but the fact is we did follow the data to become less restricted,” Alvey said.

Since the 12 a.m. closing time for bars and restaurants took effect at midnight Jan. 13 and in the weeks that followed, Wyandotte County and the KC metro area have seen overall decreases in positivity rates, number of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths. If that steady decline doesn’t stick around, Greiner said, the health department maintains the power to institute more strict COVID-19 prevention rules.

In the end, Alvey said, it’s in the best interest of a local business to follow COVID-19 rules because failure to comply will be met with punitive action, but COVID-19 spread from those bars and restaurants will reflect poorly on a business’ brand as well.

“They didn’t want the word to go out that, ‘Hey, if you go to that bar or restaurant, you’re not going to be safe.’ They don’t want that story being told,” Alvey said.

The post Business owners say clock was ticking before Wyandotte County eased restrictions appeared first on Kansas Reflector.

The Kansas Legislature’s power imbalance stifles legitimate debate

February 8, 2021 by KCReporter

The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. David Norlin is a retired Cloud County Community College teacher, where he was department chairman of Communications/English, specializing in media.

Our Legislature should be the ultimate debate stage. Responsible elected citizens examine an issue, write up bills, discuss them and vote the best into law. There are safeguards: 165 legislators (125 in the House, 40 in the Senate) must muster a majority. If they really mess up, the governor vetoes. If the governor messes up, the Legislature overrides.

What could go wrong? Actually, quite a lot.

In fact, majority rule means debating is abating.

A balance of power among participants should ensure a reasoned outcome. In its absence, however, mutual respect is possible, but less likely.

My nostalgia for an open debate community was revived this week by a former student’s heartwarming note. She recalled that I, and we, “walked into class each morning with a smile of anticipation for a good debate.” I didn’t hide my biases (because no one can), but I made clear that all ideas were welcome.

During those classes, another student cited Glenn Beck, but the resulting discussion about reliable sources (even more important today) enhanced a give-and-take where students shared — and tested — those ideas. Those open classrooms are among my most cherished memories. When I retired, that student presented me a celebratory Cuban cigar. I still think of him fondly.

No, we did not determine state law. But that classroom was lightyears ahead of the 2021 Legislature.

On Jan. 31, the Salina Journal editorial page had John Wilson, CEO of Kansas Action for Children, detecting a “troubling shift in tone” among Kansas lawmakers. He had heard words spoken with “condescension, dismissiveness, impatience, and contempt.” He pointed out that an unhealthy legislative process makes for unhealthy children and families.

On that same page, Sharon Iorio, Wichita State University Education Dean Emeritus, bemoaned public resistance to civics teaching in public schools. You know, those courses that teach fact-based knowledge, voicing opinions while respecting difference, and civic participation (voting, jury duty or peaceful demonstration).

Finally, the flagship editorial urged legislators to not simply blame Gov. Laura Kelly and staff for Kansas Department of Labor failures. Failures such as a 40-year-old computer system that has never been updated, thanks to former Gov. Sam Brownback-era tax cuts that undercut state services.

Undeterred by informed opinion, however, the Legislature is moving for more cuts. And once again, against the Medicaid expansion 38 other states have adopted and more than 70% of Kansans want. And to make discrimination against women’s reproductive health part of our Constitution.

It is not just the mind that is boggled. Our whole human body, individual and collective, takes a hit. As my former student wrote, “I’m leaving the great state of Kansas in the VERY near future. It can’t be in my rearview fast enough.”

And what of those of us left behind? How to deal with a majority of bills from ALEC, Kansas anti-choice forces and the business community that gets more than 80% of the tax cuts proposed?

Some defensively say, “But it was a free and fair election; it’s the will of the people.” Fair enough. But not fair enough.

In our local primary races in Saline County and statewide, moderate Republicans were defeated by tar-and-feathering. They were “RINOs” who “voted with Democrats 80-90% of the time,” a bald-faced lie barely clothed with tattered truth, since many inconsequential, uncontroversial bills pass almost unanimously (i.e, both Democrat and Republican) roughly 80-90% of the time.

Add to that those blurry, horror-film pictures of Pelosi and Schumer and the inevitable words “radical left” or “too extreme for Kansas values” (whatever that is and those are). These lies, carried on a flood of mailers and media ads, paid primarily by Americans for Prosperity, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, and their henchmen, washed away truth. And fairness.

Kansas elections were stolen, all right. Not at the ballot box. At the mailbox.

Want real election-stealing? All but two Kansas Congress-sheeple voted for just that, attempting to invalidate U.S. citizens’ choice for president. We can blame our Trojan horses, but remember we are not the big-buck-boys who hold the reins. AT&T, Goldman Sachs, Charles Schwab and Citigroup, among others, have a firm grip.

If you don’t own the chess board, no matter your moves, the odds are against you.

Ezra Klein says we must “stop reducing politics to a narrative about individuals.”

The American master story, he says, is “certain identities becoming more firmly entrenched, locking people … into … political place.” We should hold politicians accountable, but this alone will not suffice.

When the curtain falls away, revealing the Wizard of Oz, then honest, open debate — and respect — can follow.

It’s time.

Through its opinion section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.

The post The Kansas Legislature’s power imbalance stifles legitimate debate appeared first on Kansas Reflector.

Recognizing Black History Month in Overland Park

February 8, 2021 by KCReporter

Posted on February 6, 2021

Overland Park has long been an inclusive community, welcoming all people to live, work and play.

This month, we recognize and honor Black History Month, an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans.

Get involved with Black History Month in your community in the following ways:

Learn + Reflect

Overland Park is fortunate to have a variety of historical knowledge available via many community resources and organizations.

Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center

The Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center has many educational opportunities available, both virtually through interactive social media content, and in-person at the center. Posts and informational exhibits at the center will feature African American artwork and quilts, information about how redlining impacted and continues to impact development in the Kansas City area, education of African American students and more.

Visit the Arts & Heritage Center on Facebook to see virtual opportunities to learn, or visit the center in-person at 8788 Metcalf in Overland Park.

Johnson County NAACP

The Johnson County NAACP will host a virtual Black History Month celebration at noon on February 6. The event features Keynote Speaker Dr. Emmanuel Ngomsi presenting on the history of slaves on African land. Visit the NAACP website to learn more and access the celebration via a Zoom link.

Johnson County Library

The Johnson County Library recommends a reading list for Black History Month in Kansas, featuring historical stories with local connections. You may be surprised to learn the local connections many well-known African Americans have to our area, including Langston Hughes, George Washington Carver, Cathy Williams and others. Browse the reading list on the Library website.

Like the Arts & Heritage Center, the library is also featuring interactive virtual content to grow your knowledge of Black history. Take a quiz to stretch your knowledge, learn about Black women making history through their work in media, discover graphic novels by Black authors, and celebrate Black Kansans.

While not specific to Black History Month, the Johnson County Library also hosts a driving tour of racial division in Kansas City and Johnson County real estate. To take a journey through the history of segregation in Kansas City, this COVID-friendly tour requires a few hours of free time, a smartphone app download and a vehicle. Learn more on the Library website.

Admire the Art

Visit Overland Park City Hall, 8500 Santa Fe Drive, to see work from several local Black artists.

“Let the Music Play” is a vibrant work that pays homage to Kansas City’s roots in jazz. Bonds’ work is also featured at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, American Jazz Museum, Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center, and other galleries. The vibrant piece hangs in the City Clerk’s Office hall on the first floor near the elevator.

While you’re at City Hall, visit “Love and Apathy” by Kwanza Humphrey. This colorful oil on canvas work will leave you wondering what the subjects are thinking about and considering their life stories. This piece hangs on the west side of the first floor at City Hall, across from the Council Chamber.

You can find additional works of art by local Black artists around Overland Park. A good place to start for more information is the InterUrban Art House in Downtown Overland Park.

Patronize Black-Owned Businesses

The NAACP lists “supporting a Black-owned business” as the number one way to celebrate Black History Month. Patronizing a local business is a great way to experience the history and customs of a minority group. From delicious meals at local restaurants to shopping, beauty and spa options, African Americans own and manage many local businesses. Visit Overland Park, through its partner Visit Kansas City, shared a list of Black-Owned businesses in the Kansas City area.

You can find additional information about local Black businesses to support on the Black Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City website.

Volunteer + Contribution Opportunities

Looking to go beyond learning and make a difference this month? Consider donating time or money to a Black nonprofit organization that supports a cause you champion.

Local NAACP chapters, including the Johnson County NAACP, accept donations and occasionally have volunteer opportunities for members and non-members.

The Black Community Fund, an affiliate of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, works to provide support and leadership to enhance socioeconomic aspects of African American communities in the metropolitan area. The fund provides scholarships and support to local nonprofit organizations that support minority communities in our area.

Many nonprofits are members of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City. You may find another volunteer or donation opportunity through the membership list om the chamber’s website.

The KC Black Archives collects, preserves and makes available materials and artifacts that document the ocial, economic, political and cultural histories of African Americans in our area. You can donate or visit the Black Archives in 1722 E. 17th Terrace in Kansas City, Mo. The City of Overland Park made a contribution to the KC Black Archives in honor of Black History Month this year.

OPPD meets many recommendations of state commission on racial equity in policing

February 8, 2021 by KCReporter

Last updated January 19, 2021 (Originally posted January 14, 2021)

At last night’s Public Safety meeting, Overland Park Police Department Chief Frank Donchez shared the ways his department is meeting the Kansas Commission on Racial Equity and Justice’s recommendations.

The department is meeting and will continue to work at nearly all of the commission’s 24 recommendations, Donchez said.

Some of those recommendations include:

Increasing transparency around training and officers’ records,
Ensure the police force is representative of the Overland Park community, including creating exceptions to residency requirements and providing incentives for officers who speak languages other than English,
Utilize mental health crisis response models, including co-responders, crisis intervention training and mental health first aid training, and more.

“I’m proud to say that we pretty much do all these recommendations already,” said Police Chief Frank Donchez. “I think that’s a testament to the professionalism of the Overland Park Police Department, and the work we do.”

Work continues toward some recommendations

Chief Donchez shared that implementing the commission’s recommendations regarding encouraging promotion and retention of underrepresented groups into the department can be challenging.

The department boasts a higher proportion of Black police officers than the Overland Park community overall, but is constantly working to recruit officers and leadership from other minority groups.

“We are ahead of the curve in a lot of areas. We are trying to achieve a better police department and better policing every single day,” said Council Member Chris Newlin. Donchez agreed, welcoming minority applicants to apply for open positions.

The commission also recommended exploring alternatives to school resources officers, including counselors.

Donchez noted that, while adding counselors to schools could help students, Overland Park’s school resource officer program is critical to building relationships with students in the community.

Ultimately, the decision to continue to host school resource officers is a school district decision.

Other commission recommendations, including adopting policies that improve transparency around contract negotiations, do not apply as the Overland Park Police Department does not have a labor union.

Watch the Chief’s full report on the Kansas Commission on Racial Equality and Justice or read the Chief’s responses to the commission’s recommendations on our website.

Sharing your feedback with OPPD

The Overland Park Police Department formally investigates allegations and inquiries about its officers in order to protect the community, department, identify potential policy changes, and improve the quality of its service to Overland Park.

Anyone can file a compliment or complaint about a member of the police department, or inquire about the process for reporting. If you would like to share feedback regarding the content of the Kansas Commission on Racial Equity and Justice report, please do so using the contact information included on the Police Compliments + Complaints web page.

The department also has an Independent Citizen Advisory Board for Racial Profiling and Non-Biased Policing to advise and assist in policy development, education and community outreach and communications related to racial profiling and other non-biased policing efforts of the Overland Park Police Department.

Commission just beginning its research

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly created the Kansas Commission on Racial Equality and Justice in June of 2020 to study issues of racial equity and justice in Kansas.

The commission announced its recommendations in December of last year, which address topics including law enforcement training, accountability, data collection, and behavioral health. It will also tackle additional topics in the future, including mental health, education, housing and economic opportunity.

You can view the commission’s entire report on the governor’s website.

Try these ideas to keep kids happy and learning mid-pandemic

February 8, 2021 by KCReporter

Posted on December 27, 2020

By Morgan Cormack for the City of Overland Park

Going on ten months into this pandemic, you and the kids might be getting tired, bored or itchy to do something fun. If you’re looking for something to do with the family while staying happy and healthy, here’s some options right here in our city.

Take a hike (or a walk)

Did you know Overland Park has 83 parks? All parks and trails in OP are currently open, as well as all playgrounds, restrooms, and outdoor spaces. If the weather isn’t too cold, take the family for a walk or a bike ride on one of the city’s great trails. Follow social distancing guidelines from the CDC and when that’s not possible, wear a mask.

If the weather works out, this is a great time of year to help kids love winter weather. Pick up a sled or cheap snowboard, or just use a lid from one of those large storage bins, and hit the “slopes” when it snows. And by “slopes,” we mean some of our area’s best sledding hills:

Cleveland University, 10850 Lowell
Grace Church, 8500 W 159th St.
Meadowbrook Park, 9101 Nall, Prairie Village

See some holiday lights

This is a great time of year to take the family to Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. Even though the farmstead is closed for the season, you can see the annual Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane from the car. Bring some treats and blankets and tune into 90.5 Rose FM to hear your favorite holiday songs and movie music as you watch the lights change. You can do so every night 5-11 p.m. until January 7. The best part? It’s free.

Or, take a residential holiday lights tour, featuring the Most Spirited Holiday Home contest submissions. Each year, the City highlights the best of your neighbors’ holiday decorations and compiles them into a Facebook album. Check out the map of each display on the Most Spirited Holiday Home page.

Take a trip to the museum

There’s plenty to explore at the Museum at Prairiefire! The museum is open and masks are required.

If you have little ones at home, you might consider taking them to the Little Explorer’s Club. It’s for kids ages 3-5. Twice a month, these 45-minute sessions includes storytime, an experiment, and a craft.

Admission is $5 but if you’re a museum member, it’s free. There is still one event in December and several more in January and February. You can check them out on the Museum at Prairiefire website.

Hit the greens

Winter at Overland Park’s two golf courses can be beautiful, and most outdoor activities are COVID-safe. Why not take this time to teach the kids something new? Lessons for kids start as early as age 4. Visit golfop.com to see which junior lessons are open this season.

Consider taking up a new sport that’s fun for the whole family: pickleball. There are pickleball courts open on a first-come, first-serve basis at Switzer Park and now at Young’s Park. All you need to bring is your ball and paddle.

Create or stream some fun at home

Hearing stories is a great way to spend time with your kids or help them enjoy reading without leaving the house. The Johnson County Library offers online storytime from 10-10:30 every weekday morning. Be sure to visit the library on Facebook so you can watch the livestreams.

Want to get the kids moving? Create an at-home scavenger hunt. This At-Home Scavenger Hunt from the CDC is for kids ages six years and older, teens, and adults within the same household. It’s a great way to hang out with the family without risking the spreading or contracting COVID.

Remember your COVID best practices

With area schools closed for winter break, hopefully one of these activities can help with boredom or fatigue. As always: wash your hands, don’t gather in big groups, and wear a mask.

A note from the editor:

Overland Park is working with community writers to bring you important news, information and stories regarding the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more about the City’s response to coronavirus.

Where to find the most accurate and up-to-date COVID-19 information

February 8, 2021 by KCReporter

Posted on December 21, 2020

By Erin Dougherty for the City of Overland Park

It seems like information about COVID-19 changes frequently, and comes to us through many channels including email, social media, websites and news outlets.

We all want to know the best ways to protect our families from this deadly virus and what to do if we think someone has been exposed. In addition, there are so many updates related to quarantine periods, high-risk groups, symptoms, testing locations and community safety recommendations, that it can be difficult to keep straight and know if the information came from a trusted source. As vaccinations become widely available, information will continue to change about where, when and how you can access care.

Contact your family doctor or primary care provider with specific questions about COVID-19 as it relates to your family’s personal health. An October 2020 regional opinion study found that more than 84 percent of respondents said they trust their family physician as a source of information about COVID-19.

Here are some other tips to consider when searching for the most accurate and current COVID-19 information.

COVID-19 information should originate from one of these trusted sources:

Healthcare professionals registered with the State of Kansas
Trusted healthcare organizations, including local hospitals
Established government agencies, including local and regional health departments, or national health agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health

Trusted Local Sources

The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment distributes a COVID-19 update e-newsletter Monday through Friday with the most recent updates to case numbers, safety recommendations, testing locations and measures taken by local government to prevent the spread. Subscribe to email updates from the County.

JCDHE also manages a COVID-19 dashboard at jocogov.org/coronavirus, where information is updated seven days per week, by 10 a.m.

For answers to local virus-related questions, call the Johnson County Community COVID-19 Hotline. This resource is staffed by public health professionals Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at 913-715-CV19.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment hosts a hotline after business hours at 877-427-7317. You can also email COVID-19 questions to KDHE health professionals at covid-19@ks.gov or start a conversation with their chatbot at kdheks.gov/coronavirus.

University of Kansas Health System hosts live COVID-19 discussions on its Facebook Page each weekday at 8 a.m. These community conversations feature information and education to help keep the community safe and informed, featuring infectious disease specialist Dr. Dana Hawkinson and chief medical officer Dr. Steve Stites.

The University of Kansas Health System also provides comprehensive COVID-19 information on its website.

The Mid-America Regional Council developed a COVID-19 dashboard to track current information throughout the wider Kansas City region, which you can find on the MARC website.

National Health Organizations

Since the start of this pandemic, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has closely monitored the outbreak. The CDC tracks and reports on domestic and international cases of COVID-19, best practices for dealing with the virus, and leads the way for recommending community safety protocols. Visit CDC.gov to learn more about the pandemic from a trusted Federal source with a global perspective.

The National Institutes of Health, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency, and a top source for national information about COVID-19. Check out its website at coronavirus.org for in-depth pandemic resources, including information about where to get tested, advice about how to protect and prepare yourself for optimal health and safety, vaccine clinical trials and what to do if you think you or a family member could be sick.

There’s a massive amount of COVID-19 information out there. To be sure you’re following the best guidance, check with one of the sources above or another trusted medical expert or government health organization.

To see how coronavirus impacts Overland Park programs and services, visit opkansas.org/coronavirus.

A note from the editor:

Overland Park is working with community writers to bring you important news, information and stories regarding the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more about the City’s response to coronavirus.