Funding

Every school district in Kansas is dealing with drastic budget cuts. On Monday, a state senator from Arkansas City proposed a plan that increases funding by $58 million and guarantees each district more money. But not everyone is backing it. In December, Governor Sam Brownback proposed a new method for school financing. It increased funding to nearly half the districts in the state, but some felt that wasn't enough. "We heard several times from various districts that there were some districts that were getting new added dollars and some district were not getting new added dollars," explains Senator Abrams.

58-year old Stanley Williams lost both legs as a result of a motorcycle accident 30-years ago, but just recently suffered a major hand injury making it difficult to do just about everything. "It's hard to cook food, open packages, turn the key to get into my house, and walk any distance," Williams said. So he sought help at the Independent Living Resource Center. They make house calls to help people like Williams with daily activities. "It would be great to keep house clean, prepare a meal and to fold clothes," said Williams.

Journalism classes could be a thing of the past in some high schools if the state goes ahead with cuts that would elimnate funding for those program. The cuts would affect classes that create yearbooks and school newspapers, leaving districts to come up with the money or drop the programs. Sharon Martin, a journalism teacher at Wichita East says the cuts aren't a done deal but would be devestating if they happen. Hear more from her and students in her class coming up on Eyewitness News at 5:00 and 6:00.

Sedgwick County Commissioners approve to reinstate funding for Project Access, a program to help the uninsured.  They voted 3-2 in favor of giving $250,000 to the program. This is the second time commissioners voted on the issue.  Last month they deadlocked because one commissioner was missing.  That resulted in funding being pulled from the program. All commissioners say they support Project Access, they disagree however on how much to spend.  Commissioners Karl Peterjohn and Richard Ranzau wanted to fund it at the 2010 level of $182,000.  They say it's not fair to give an organization a 37% increase in funding when the county is getting ready to eliminate positions.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is facing a growing backlash for its decision to end a longtime partnership with Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood says the cutoff, affecting grants for breast exams, results from Komen bowing to pressure from anti- abortion groups. Komen insists its decision is not politically motivated and that recently adopted criteria forbids it from funding any organization under government investigation. “Grant making decisions are not about politics - our priority is and always will be the women we serve," Komen said in a statement.

Spend money now to keep at-risk kids out of trouble later. That's usually what Sedgwick County does but that's about to change.  Sedgwick County is losing more than $600,000 in crime prevention grant dollars.  Wednesday county commissioners will vote  on which programs to cut after deferring it one week.  Groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Girl Empowerment and Communities in Schools are on the list. County Commissioner Jim Skelton floated the idea of passing the cost of credit card service fees to residents who use credit to pay their bills.  He says the county spends more than $1 million each year on those fees.  He says if they change the policy, maybe that extra money could go back into crime prevention programs.  Skelton says that won't happen anytime soon, so they'll have to vote Wednesday and then research the issue.

A big day for Kansas as the State celebrates its 150th birthday. But with the uncertain economy and budget issues across the State, some places were left to fend for themselves to pay for the celebrations. From an old fashioned blacksmith, to a traditional Spanish dance the Kaufmann Museum in North Newton has many ways to celebrate the 150th birthday of Kansas. It's a big mark in the State's history, but during the planning State officials made it clear they had no extra money to spend on a party.

It goes beyond the cost of the ticket. The groups Americans for the Arts and the Wichita Arts Council looked at the impact arts has on the city and the state. The study showed the arts not only generates tax revenue from people visiting restaurants and buying souvenirs, but also impacts tourism. The study found nearly 25 percent of attendees at arts events in Wichita were tourists. According to the study, money was generated when people bought drinks, meals, childcare, souvenirs, and hotels.

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan awarded an additional $6,137,796 in funding to Kansas communities struggling to reverse the effects of the foreclosure crisis.   The grants represent a third round of funding through HUD's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and will provide targeted emergency assistance to help local communities in Kansas acquire, redevelop or demolish foreclosed properties.     The funding is provided under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

We are not invisible and need help. That's the message dozens of disabled Kansans and their caregivers have for lawmakers in Topeka.  They gathered Friday morning for a rally to bring attention to potential budget cuts impacting the disabled. Governor Sam Brownback proposes cutting $3.5 million is grants for day and residential services.  This grant money is all that's left after most of the funding was cut last year.  There is still Medicare waiver funding for the disabled to use, but there's not enough and more than 400 are on a waiting list for services.

Learning new music takes a lot of practice.  And the marching band at Derby High School is up to the challenge. Now, comes the challenge of raising money to perform all the new songs at football games and other events. "$5,000 seems like a lot of money, but it's just a drop in the bucket," says Derby band director Adam Devault.  The cost of music rental, choreography, equipment and travel adds up over the course of several football games and other events.  So instead of just running the usual cookie dough and car wash fundraisers, the band turned to a website called Kickstarter.  It's a popular new way reach people everywhere and collect cash.

Cuts to federal funding may close neighborhood city hall programs in Wichita, summer youth camps and other services. Each year, the City of Wichita gets federal funds to support programs for low income families. This year, the city found out those funds could be cut by as much as 50%. To prepare, Wichita Director of Housing and Community Services Mary K. Vaughn gave Wichita City Council a list of recommended cuts. That list includes shutting down the four neighborhood city halls, not funding some neighborhood clean-up projects and Project Access programs next year.  Plus summer activity camps would be cut in 2014.

Kansas is violating the state constitution by not providing enough funding for schools.   A district court in Shawnee county issued the ruling today.   The decision comes after more than 50 school districts sued the state. They demanded lawmakers increase funding.   But while the court agreed,   the issue is far from settled. Wichita Public Schools say it's about time. "This is a win for Wichita kids and a win for kids all over Kansas, now we have to move forward and do the right thing for all kansas kids," says Lynn Rogers, President of the Wichita Board of Education.  A Kansas district court ruled that the state has not been adequately funding education.

A possible change in allocations of state owned casino revenue raises concerns in Dodge City. Right now, state law requires two percent of gambling revenue to be go into a problem gambling fund. The fund helps raise awareness, provides treatment and prevention where state-owned casinos operate. There are casinos in Dodge City, Mulvane and Wyandotte County. However the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission recently discussed dividing those funds among agencies that deal with more than problem gambling.

A former Derby High student lost both legs after a weekend car accident in Lawrence.  Eighteen year-old Colby Liston and several friends were leaving a party around 1:30 a.m. Sunday.  They were getting into the back of an SUV that was stopped in the road when another vehicle struck them from behind.  Liston was pinned between the two vehicles, a police report said. The impact crushed his legs and sent some of his friends falling out of the back of the SUV and onto the street.

Testimony is expected to wrap up Friday in a lawsuit over school funding. Several school districts, including USD 259, are suing the state claiming current funding levels are not enough to meet the needs of students. Wichita principal Amy Hungria took the stand this week to testify before the three judge panel. Hamilton middle school is still weeks away from welcoming back students, but Hungria is already preparing to do more with less. "Every time we lose a person because of cuts, we are increasing class sizes," Hungria said.

It goes beyond the cost of the ticket. The groups Americans for the Arts and the Wichita Arts Council looked at the impact arts has on the city and the state. The study showed the arts not only generates tax revenue from people visiting restaurants and buying souvenirs, but also impacts tourism. The study found nearly 25 percent of attendees at arts events in Wichita were tourists. According to the study, money was generated when people bought drinks, meals, childcare, souvenirs, and hotels.

A private foundation releases its first round of grants in southwest Kansas, awarding more than $90,000. It is known as the Mariah Fund. Its money will help nine organizations throuhout the area. One of them is the Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City. Boot Hill was granted the fund's highest award. Museum officials say they will use the money toward marketing. "For many years we didn't have any funding at all to do it, so we think we have a really good product, but if we can't tell people about it, then it's unfortunate and they don't know to come.

The Kansas Department of Commerce announced today that Harveyville, a community of almost 300 people in Wabaunsee County, has received a $245, 747 Urgent Need Grant, which is funding available within the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The funding will be used to replace or repair storm damaged items related to the community's wastewater treatment system, including replacing the pump house building, alarm dialer and lagoon rip rap, as well as repairing the lagoon perimeter fencing and pump house security fencing.

Girls on the Run (GOTR) Sedgwick County, a program aimed at empowering young girls through running, will host its charity run on Saturday, May 12 at the Wichita Boathouse.  This 5k running /walking event is Wichita's only race for women and girls. 83 of the runners will be girls from 5 local school and recreation centers in the Wichita area, ranging from grades 3 - 8, who have trained for 10 weeks to cross the finish line of this 5k (3.1 miles).  “This celebration honors female runners of all abilities and will help us ensure a viable program and expansion to other city locations in the near future” said Christy Thomas, executive director of Girls on the Run Sedgwick County.