Showers and thunderstorms are possible today, according to the National Weather Service. (National Weather Service graphic) Storms are expected to move through the area today. (National Weather Service graphic)
Showers and thunderstorms will be possible today, according to the National Weather Service.
This afternoon there could be strong storms with small hail in the region, according to the weather service, with the potential to produce heavy rain.
That could lead to isolated flooding, the weather service said.
Additional storms will be possible Monday and Tuesday, but severe weather is not expected then, according to the weather service.
Today, there is an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 66, the weather service said. A calm wind will become east around 5 mph in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between three-quarters and one inch are possible.
Tonight, there is an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3 a.m., then a slight chance of showers between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 49. A north wind of 9 to 14 mph will gust as high as 24 mph. New precipitation amounts will be between a quarter and half-inch of rain.
Saturday, it will be mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 66, the weather service said. A north wind of 14 mph will gust as high as 23 mph.
Saturday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 44, according to the weather service. A north northwest wind of 5 mph will become calm in the evening.
Sunday, it will be sunny, with a high near 70 and a calm wind, the weather service said.
Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 51, according to the weather service.
Monday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 74, the weather service said.
Monday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers after 1 a.m., with a low of 58, according to the weather service.
Tuesday, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 76, the weather service said.
Tuesday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 53, according to the weather service.
Wednesday, it will be sunny with a high near 71, the weather service said.
Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 49, according to the weather service.
Thursday, it will be sunny with a high near 74, the weather service said.
Kansas City, Kansas, police have intercepted nearly $30,000 this week in cash shipped to fake addresses as part of a scam that preys on the fears of caring family members, primarily the elderly.
According to a police spokesman, investigators are working several cases in which a family member, usually a parent or grandparent living outside the metro area, receives a call informing them that a child or grandchild has been arrested and is in need of a large sum of cash – anywhere from $7,000 to $14,000. Police believe there was $60,000 involved in cases this week.
The caller identifies himself or herself as either an attorney or the actual family member in need. The victim then is directed to send cash to an address in Kansas City, Kansas, via a service such as FedEx or UPS, police said.
“In the majority of these cases, the cash is being shipped to a vacant residence,” Capt. William Wallace, a detective with the KCKPD, said. “The scammer then follows the tracking information, waits nearby for the package to be left on the doorstep and then swoops in to grab it. In one instance, the package was actually delivered to an occupied residence. In that case the scammer approached the resident once the delivery person left and claimed it was their package, but just misdelivered. When the resident refused, and said they were calling police, the individual ran off.”
KCK police are offering this advice to protect residents:
If you receive a similar call asking for cash to help a loved one:
• Ask the caller for the name of the loved one – many times the ask is general, for a “grandson” or “daughter.”
• Never send cash – that is the biggest red flag that it is not legitimate.
• Attempt to contact that family member immediately to verify the scam.
• Contact the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department reporting desk at 913-573-8680 or your local police to file a report.
If you receive a package addressed to an unknown individual at your address:
• Do not open the package and call police immediately.
• If you do not wish to contact the police, simply refuse the delivery or if it has been left, contact the service and ask them to return to pick it up.
• Do not hand over any package delivered to your address to a third party.
“While we have intercepted nearly $30,000 our investigation thus far has verified that nearly $60,000 in cash has been delivered to false addresses within Kansas City, Kansas, as part of this scam,” Wallace said. “We believe that the individuals organizing this theft by deception, as it’s termed, live outside the metro, but operate as part of a network that includes assistance by locals. It’s really sad because they are preying on elderly relatives who live as far away as Pennsylvania and Georgia. If you also consider the financial and emotional stress that COVID-19 has already placed on so many families, it’s all the more predatory.”
Anyone who may have been a target of one of these scams or have information regarding this or similar financial scams, may contact the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department at 913- 573-8680 or the Tips hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
COVID-19 cases increase 271 today in Kansas
Kansas experienced its largest increase in COVID-19 cases today, rising 271 to a total of 2,482. There were two additional deaths statewide. (KDHE map)
An extra $600 weekly payment for those receiving unemployment benefits went to recipients today, according to Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly.
It was part of the federal legislation passed by Congress to address the COVID-19 pandemic effects.
“A processing issue that has delayed implementation of the $600 weekly payment has been resolved, and the Department of Labor will be processing more than $3.4 million in benefits today,” Gov. Kelly said at a news conference. The $600 is in addition to the regular unemployment payments.
In addition, Gov. Kelly has directed the state Department of Labor to evaluate all its processes and procedures for handling worker compensation claims filed by first responders and health care workers that are related to the pandemic. The state will submit a temporary regulation and develop a draft of legislation for workers who get COVID-19 while part of their employment.
Kansas Secretary of Labor Delia Garcia said the $600 payments would go automatically to those receiving unemployment and no additional action was needed on the recipients’ part. The state now has Spanish language information at www.getkansasbenefitsnow.gov, at a top right button on the website, she said.
Gov. Kelly reported that Kansas has 2,482 positive COVID-19 cases on Thursday, up 271 cases from Wednesday. There were 112 total deaths in the state, up two from Wednesday. Seventy-four of 105 counties have reported positive cases.
Kansas had an increase of 186 cases on Wednesday, and the Thursday increase is now the largest increase to date in Kansas.
Gov. Kelly answered a question about name-calling by protesters in Topeka who demonstrated their opposition to the stay-at-home order today. Hundreds of protesters were there. She said she worked many years with adolescents, so there was no name she hadn’t been called at some point in her life. Als
“I understand your frustration,” Gov. Kelly said. “I’m as frustrated by this.”
She said she wished she could snap her fingers and have it all over with, but she can’t, and they have to pay attention to the science and reopen the economy as health indicators will allow. There are three phases in reopening, and each includes some steps, such as enough testing to determine the extent of the virus.
Kansas is still in need of testing supplies, Gov. Kelly said, and she has been asking federal agencies to provide them.
She said she has talked with industries across the state this week, as well as the tourism industry, chambers of commerce, small businesses and others to prepare for lifting the orders on May 3. They may not be able to lift the order on May 3, but it was the state’s original intent to do so, she added.
Gov. Kelly said states need additional federal funding to address shortfalls from the last few months, including extending the tax filing deadlines. The state is estimated to be down $1.3 billion for the next two years. She said the third stimulus bill will include some assistance from the federal government, but more will be needed.
Total positive cases up 17 in Wyandotte County
Wyandotte County reported 490 total cases and 47 total deaths at 4 p.m. April 23, according to the Unified Government COVID-19 webpage. Wyandotte County had 473 cases at 4:40 p.m. April 22, an increase of about 17. There were the same number of deaths as the late report April 22.
Testing was expanded this week by the Health Department in Wyandotte County. For information about how to get a test and times available, visit https://www.wycokck.org/WycoKCK/media/Health-Department/Documents/Communicable%20Disease/COVID19/ExpandedCOVID-19testinginWyCo.pdf.
Mayor launches Re-Start WYCO Committee
Mayor David Alvey announced today he was launching a Re-Start WYCO Committee.
The committee has already held one meeting, according to a spokesman, and is scheduled to meet again on Friday.
The group includes health and business leaders. It will not decide when to reopen or relax guidelines, but it will provide guidance on how to safely reopen when the time comes, according to a spokesman.
Dr. Allen Greiner, chief medical officer of Wyandotte County, will advise the county on when to reopen, based on all the data available, according to the spokesman. The co-chairs are Dr. Greiner and UG Commissioner Brian McKiernan.
“We recognize the hardship this pandemic is placing on families and businesses across Wyandotte County, and I am heartened by our community’s commitment and sacrifice to protect its most vulnerable,” stated UG Mayor David Alvey, in a news release. “We need a strategy and a plan that focuses first on health, but also addresses the need to gradually restore and re-open our community at the appropriate time, and in a manner that doesn’t undo our previous efforts to combat COVID-19.”
KU Health System planning additional testing
The University of Kansas Health System is planning additional COVID-19 testing as it is scheduled to receive additional equipment allowing them to handle perhaps 1,000 tests a day, according to doctors at a news conference Thursday morning.
KU Health System also is participating in a trial for patients using convalescent plasma, according to the doctors.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the KU Health System, said that the KU Health System is gearing up to resume some elective surgery soon.
He said procedures are being put in place to make sure that the patients will be safe. There could be some changes, such as waiting in vehicles instead of in a waiting room, in the future.
He said the doctors were concerned that people have been delaying health care during the COVID-19 pandemic across the country. He urged people to take care of chronic medical problems, such as heart problems.
KU Health System reported 23 COVID-19 inpatients, 12 in the intensive care unit, and 69 to 70 discharges on Thursday, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control.
Other county COVID-19 totals
Seventy-four Kansas counties reported positive COVID-19 patients on Thursday.
Some of the largest numbers, besides Wyandotte County, included Johnson Count, 403; Ford County, 288; Leavenworth County, 154; Lyon County, 105; Finney County, 87; Coffey County, 48; and Douglas County, 44.
To see the governor’s news conference, visit https://www.facebook.com/GovLauraKelly/videos/3247224465502124/.
To see the KU Health System news conference, visit https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/615755085675997/?tn=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARCXe6Lj0JvWyLHYg6Xg5zxs1J6nnRGeWqeFt9ctoh4xifrT7r-9TdLmKPWHM9i_1eJLgWNf52EJf7-H
The Kansas COVID-19 resource page is at https://govstatus.egov.com/coronavirus.
The UG’s COVID-19 webpage is at https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information.
To see more details about the mayor’s Re-Start WYCO Committee, visit https://www.wycokck.org/WycoKCK/media/Health-Department/Documents/Communicable%20Disease/COVID19/ReStartWYCOCommitteeFormed04232020.pdf.
There were 490 positive COVID-19 cases in Wyandotte County at 4 p.m. April 23, an increase of 17 from April 22 afternoon. The number of deaths, 47, was the same as April 22 afternoon. (UG COVID-19 webpage) A chart showed the number of COVID-19 cases in Wyandotte County. (From UG COVID-19 webpage) A map showed the number of COVID-19 cases by Zip Code in Wyandotte County on April 23. There wre 150 cases in 66112; 85 cases in 66109; 77 cases in 66104; 76 cases in 66102; 29 cases in 66101; 29 cases in 66106; 20 cases in 66101; 10 cases in 66012; and 7 cases in 66103. (Map from UG COVID-19 page)
