In Kansas News
This fall, a unique piece of coal mining equipment will be moved from Cherokee County to Franklin where it will be preserved by the Miners Hall Museum. KRPS’s Raegan Neufeld has more.
"The machine is a Page 6-18 Walking Dragline. The moving project has garnered a lot of attention, so the museum held a program on Sunday for attendees to learn from two men who worked on the dragline.
Ted Pryor and David Grotheer (growth-ER) answered questions about their work and the machine itself. For example, how it moved, or “walked.”
“If you could sit on the floor, on your rear, put your hands down and lift yourself up and scoot backwards, that’s pretty close to what it does.”
The full program will be posted on the YouTube channel Easy Dave. For KRPS in Franklin, I’m Raegan Neufeld."
Some low-income Kansans may have better access to dental care thanks to an increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates for dentists. Kansas legislators recently provided funding to increase rates for services like exams, cleanings and x-rays.
Kevin Robertson is executive director for the Kansas Dental Association, a group that advocated for the rate increase. He says the increased funding helps, but more is still needed for dentists to take on all Medicaid patients.
“At the end of the day, our hope is that those increases will create more providers in the dental network for Medicaid in Kansas.”
Robertson says the rate increases also covers sedation dentistry, which helps people relax during dental work and is often used for patients with special needs.
And in Missouri News
There’s a chance a redistricting session could be held in Jefferson City this year. Governor Mike Kehoe, speaking in Springfield on Monday, said they’re taking a look at any option to ensure the state’s conservative values are represented in Washington D.C.
“I think it’s safe to say that, in Missouri, along with other states, we’re always trying to make sure that we have as much Republican representation because we believe that’s who we are.”
President Trump has urged Missouri Republicans to look at changing district boundaries to favor Republicans.
Missouri will no longer receive 11 million dollars to administer a federal health education program . KBIA’s Harshawn Ratanpal has more on what that means for the 220 Missourians who were employed by the program.
"Through SNAP-Ed, the University of Missouri teaches nutrition education to about one of every six Missourians. But the program’s funding was cut in President Trump’s tax and spending bill passed by Congress earlier this month.
Jo Britt-Rankin is the Family Nutrition Education Program’s Administrative Director . She says many of those losing jobs live in rural areas.
"I don't know what the job prospects look like. They're great educators, and so I want to help in the transition as much as we can, but I do worry about my staff…. This will be devastating for many people."
Rankin says she’s in talks to find other funding sources for some of the programs, but nothing is secured yet.
I’m Harshawn Ratanpal"