Updated: 12:29 PM CST Mar 8, 2021 KMBC 9 News Staff Gov. Laura Kelly has declared an emergency disaster because of the risk of fire caused by high winds and dry conditions. The governor s office said Monday elevated-to-critical fire weather conditions are expected for the next four days. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for many parts of the KMBC 9 viewing area. Tuesday and Wednesday will be especially dangerous as a storm system with strong winds will make fighting fires more dangerous. The declaration makes state resources more readily available to help fight fires and for recovery operations. Kansans are being urged to avoid activity that could cause fires, such as driving or stopping on dry grass or throwing cigarettes on the ground.Some counties, including Douglas County, have issued burn bans because of the dangerous conditions. The Douglas County order was issued for unincorporated areas in the county.The Rangeland Fire Danger
Updated: 2:26 PM CST Mar 4, 2021 The Associated Press Republican lawmakers are moving forward with legislation to overhaul Kansas’ troubled unemployment system. The House approved the measure Thursday on an 87-36 vote, sending it to the Senate. The vote came after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly announced plans to more than double the number of staff who help the jobless, and to make them available on weekends. The House bill was drafted by Republican members and would give the GOP-controlled Legislature more oversight of the modernization of the Department of Labor’s unemployment system. It would also require upgrades to be completed by the end of 2022. The department says that deadline is unrealistic. Related video: Audit says fraudulent unemployment claims in Kansas could be about $600 million