KS - January 23 2025

1. Kansas Appeals Court Sides With Fired Employee On Vaccine Mandate Suit
2. Kansas Reports Low Bird Flu Impact
3. Wichita Schools Seek $450M Bond
4. Broadband Providers Criticize Kansas Grant Process
5. Trump Nominates Rollins for Agriculture Secretary; Confirmation Hearing Today
KU overcomes early 14-point deficit, beats Big-12 Opponent TCU 74-61

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1. Kansas Appeals Court Sides With Fired Employee On Vaccine Mandate Suit

St. Luke's Health Systems improperly fired an employee when it didn’t accept a religious exemption request to the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Court of Appeal of the State of Kansas. The hospital denied a request from Sheryl Glean in November 2021, saying she expressed a concern for physical harm from the vaccine rather than a “sincerely held religious belief.” In her request, Glean states that her religious beliefs include that her body is “holy” and that she consulted with her pastor and family members regarding vaccination. Glean worked at St. Luke's South Hospital, which is in Overland Park.

Article Source: Topeka Capitol-Journal

2. Kansas Reports Low Bird Flu Impact

As egg price increases at the grocery store have been attributed to the ongoing bird flu outbreaks nationwide, state officials say Kansas is currently "in pretty good shape" with the disease. Justin Smith, the state animal health commissioner at the Kansas Department of Agriculture, gave lawmakers on the House Agriculture Committee an update on highly pathogenic avian influenza on Tuesday. "It's still out there," Smith said. "Fortunately, Kansas, were in pretty good shape right at this point in time. But we know that we're susceptible to it by all means as these wild birds continue to move and migrate." So far, Kansas has had 41 total premises affected by bird flu — 23 of which were backyard flocks, seven were egg-layer facilities and 12 were gamebird facilities — across 23 counties, including Shawnee County. There are currently no control zones, meaning no positives in the commercial industry, Smith said.

Article Source: Topeka Capitol-Journal

3. Wichita Schools Seek $450M Bond

Next month, voters will decide whether to approve a $450 million bond for Wichita Public Schools. The vote will be Feb. 25. The district says the zero-tax-rate-change bond, which will not change the current bond mill levy, is focused on addressing critical infrastructure and educational needs. The project would rebuild some schools, renovate and repurpose some, and close some locations. It would provide money to care for roofs, windows, doors, electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems.

Article Source: KSN

4. Broadband Providers Criticize Kansas Grant Process

A major broadband provider and a coalition of smaller developers complained Wednesday about lack of transparency at the Kansas Department of Commerce in awarding millions of dollars in state and federal funding to upgrade internet service in underserved areas of the state. Concerns about the Department of Commerce’s grant-making process were shared with the Kansas Senate’s budget committee by a Cox Communications lobbyist and the executive director of Communications Coalition of Kansas, which represents locally owned rural internet companies and cooperatives. The Department of Commerce has held a prominent role in selecting recipients of grants to address gaps where lack of private investment left merchants and residents with slow or nonexistent service. Upgrades to high-speed broadband have been touted as a key to education, economic growth, pubic safety and quality of life in urban and rural areas. So far, the Department of Commerce said about $660 million has been earmarked for high-speed internet enhancements statewide. Megan Bottenberg, a lobbyist with Cox Communications, said the company extended its services during the past five years from 92 communities to 119 communities largely through private investment. Cox received a grant to bring broadband to 1,300 homes in Shawnee and Jackson counties on the wrong side of the digital divide, but the company was unsuccessful with 67 other grant proposals.  

Editors note: government broadband programs are a colossal waste of taxpayer money when you have something like Starlink (high-speed satellite internet) available at a fraction of the cost.

Article Source: KS Reflector

5. Trump Nominates Rollins for Agriculture Secretary; Confirmation Hearing Today

President Donald J. Trump has nominated Brooke Rollins to serve as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and her confirmation hearing before the Senate ag leaders is scheduled for Jan. 23. Rollins is a former director of the Domestic Policy Council and the Office of American Innovation. She currently serves as president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute. Rollins is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture development. Rollins also received a law degree from the University of Texas.

Article Source: HPJ

KU overcomes early 14-point deficit, beats Big-12 Opponent TCU 74-61

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Sources

1. https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/state/2025/01/23/kansas-court-of-appeals-rules-in-favor-of-unvaccinated-fired-employee/77847569007/

2. https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2025/01/23/an-update-on-bird-flu-in-kansas-poultry-and-dairies-as-egg-prices-rise/77860202007

3. https://www.ksn.com/news/local/how-you-can-learn-more-about-the-wichita-school-bond/

4. https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/22/kansas-broadband-developers-complain-to-senate-about-allocation-of-state-federal-grants/

5. https://hpj.com/2025/01/21/brooke-rollins-nominated-for-secretary-of-agriculture/