In Kansas News
A proposal from the Trump administration would eliminate most of the Kansas Forest Service’s budget next fiscal year.
That’s if Congress agrees to sweeping cuts to U.S. Forest Service programs that support states.
Jason Hartman is the state forester for Kansas.
“Even if you are not on a volunteer fire department, even if you aren’t a forest landowner – all the technical advice and support that’s by provided by the Forest Service does improve everybody’s life by providing wildfire protection, providing a healthier ecosystem.”
The proposal could impact efforts to help landowners curb the risk of wildfire on their properties.The state agency would also have less money for deploying airplanes to wildfires. And fire departments would lose money for buying equipment.
A rural town with limited access to hospitals is building a helipad to improve its medical response. As Calen Moore of the Kansas News Service reports, the upgrade highlights the lack of medical services in rural parts of the state.
"The Kansas Department of Commerce awarded small grants to help improve rural health.The town of Milford in Geary County is using $10,000 from the state to finish a helipad for rapid medical services.Patients in small towns often need to travel to larger communities for health care. The helipad offers quicker access to emergency services not only to small towns but also for incidents along the nearby."
In Missouri News,
Construction for a new mental health crisis center for Springfield youth is in progress. Ben Vertreate reports for KSMU
"Modeled on their adult behavioral Crisis Center opened in 2020, the YRC would provide 24/7 access to emergency mental health services to teenagers and their families. Aside from admitting clients younger than 18, the YRC also intends to stand out by offering guidance to parents and guardians. Metro Pedram is the director of Burroughs youth residential.Services and the BCC.
"We really want this to be a place for when families don't know what to do.Come here and we will help you figure out what next steps are."
But what is a behavioral crisis center? Bedroom said there are two main goals.
"So 1 is let's divert people from other places that are not appropriate.The second part after diversion is let's connect people to the appropriate care that they need for whatever that crisis is."
Beyond initial contact, the YRC will offer intensive outpatient programs after school hours, partial hospitalization, a kind of day treatment and intensive in home services. The campus will also serve as a new home for Burrell's youth residential program, Milano House, expanding its capacity from 10 clients.
216 to 20 Burroughs youth Resiliency Campus is expected to open sometime in 2026 for KSMU, I'm Ben Verstraete."
