In the News
Dentec Safety Specialists, a Lenexa manufacturer, has received $1.4 million in state and federal funding to allow them to manufacture personal protective equipment for COVID-19.
The manufacturer produced reusable protective masks pre-pandemic for shipbuilding and other industries. Although Dentec couldn't purchase the appropriate machines when COVID-19 hit, the company knew it could make N95 masks if the funds became available.
Kansas City area Reps. Emanuel Cleaver and Sharice Davids savored California chocolate last year after the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl.
This year, they're hoping for Cuban sandwiches.
Wyandotte County continues to vaccinate hundreds of people a day. But short supply and money to keep clinics going is a real challenge.
Dr. Marthel Parsons and her husband, 67-year-old Kansas State Rep. Louis Ruiz, are rolling up their sleeves to get the COVID-19 vaccine, hoping to set an example for the Latinx community.
"That was quick," Ruiz said after being vaccinated.
In the past month, 7,500 vaccines have been given in a former KCK K-Mart turned clinic by the Wyandotte County Unified Government Public Health Department.
Wyandotte County is confident it can vaccinate thousands over the next few weeks. Of course, it all depends upon supply.
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids said that a shortage of COVID-19 vaccine is holding up progress on fighting the virus.
Representative Sharice Davids, D – Kansas, has been named Vice Chair of the full House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
"During this moment of crisis, we have the opportunity to make meaningful, long-lasting investments in our infrastructure," Davids said. "Ones that create millions of good-paying jobs, reduce carbon emissions to tackle the urgent climate crisis, and build our economy back better than before."
A freshly launched partnership between KC Tech Council and Apprenti — designed to cultivate tech skills and offer first-hand experience for apprentices — is a solid fit for Kansas City's talent needs, two members of the metro's U.S. congressional delegation agreed.
Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas announced Wednesday that she has been named vice chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
"As someone who used to work at the Department of Transportation and as a self-proclaimed ‘infrastructure nerd,' it's an immense honor to be named vice chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure," Davids said.
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., touring the Unified Government Health Department vaccination clinic on Thursday, said she would advocate for more vaccines in the region.
As the U.S. Capitol was overtaken by a deadly mob with men wearing symbols of white nationalism, the first two Native American women to serve in Congress barricaded themselves inside an office and prepared for the worst.
Kansas Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids took refuge in her office with New Mexico Democratic Rep. Deb Haaland— who will be the first Native American to lead a federal agency if confirmed secretary of the Interior— and Washington Democratic Rep. Kim Schrirer.
"We sat in the dark. We had the TV on. It was muted," Davids recalled.
In 2018, Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) and Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) made history as the first Native American women elected to Congress. This year, they were among six Native Americans elected to the House of Representatives — a record-breaking number. On Friday Dec. 11 at 11:00 am ET, Davids and Haaland will join Washington Post opinions columnist Karen Tumulty to discuss the impact of a more diverse Congress, Native American history and their legislative priorities.