In the News
Right before Crystal Henry and her husband were about to have their second child last year, both of their cars died and a tree fell on their garage. Their pandemic relief checks became a safety net amid the unexpected expenses.
This year, the Merriam couple expects more than $7,000 from another aid program — the Child Tax Credit — that will soon help keep them afloat as childcare costs consume more than a fifth of their income.
"It was hard for me to believe that it was really happening," Henry said of discovering the credit.
Federal funds are available to help restaurants rebuild and recover from losses experienced in the pandemic.
The funds are through the U.S. Small Business Administration. They are part of the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress.
About $28.6 billion has been appropriated nationally for restaurants that qualify to receive the SBA award funds, according to Michael Barrera, SBA district director for the Kansas City area. He discussed the program during a Facebook video presentation with U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist.
Click above to watch Rep. Davids with Ali Velshi
Kansas City area lawmakers are hoping to steer millions in federal money to the region for a fleet of electric buses and improved traffic flow on one of Kansas' most congested highways as Congress revives earmark requests — a practice halted a decade ago amid a backlash against government spending.
Kansas Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids and Missouri Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver Tuesday submitted a pair of requests for federal aid for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority to purchase zero fare electric buses that would serve both sides of the state line.
Representative Sharice Davids, one of the first two Native American women to serve in Congress, says, "Paying attention, learning the issues, showing up, listening and really trying to be as engaged as possible with tribal communities is going to go a really long way to helping address some of the disparities we've seen over centuries."
Rep. Sharice Davids at a House Small Business Committee hearing on Tuesday asked government oversight officials to address issues of fraud and identity theft in small business loan programs in order to help victims of fraud in Johnson County.
The old Kanza Hall at One Block South in Overland Park has a new purpose. LEVELUP opens this Friday.
It's the third largest esports arena in the nation and the only one with a dedicated education program. The 15,000-square-foot facility has 100 gaming computers and consoles.
"It's way beyond what I was even expecting," 15-year-old Aidan O'Neill said.
Owners of the brand new LEVELUP Esports Arena said 92% of Americans now play video games, compared to 70% at the start of last year.
Watch: See the full interview with U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids from Kansas on FOX4.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly says new federal rules make it "dumber than ever" for the state not to expand Medicaid.
She talked to KMBC's Micheal Mahoney Wednesday about the financial incentives from Washington to make more people eligible.
A busy day for the dentists at Olathe's Health Partnership Clinic. Washington is encouraging Kansas and the remaining states who have not expanded Medicaid more money to do it.
"The federal government is making even dumber than before not to expand it," Kelly said.