Kansas COVID-19 emergency declaration could end Friday Titus Wu, Topeka Capital-Journal
Kansas COVID-19 emergency declaration is set to expire on Friday.
It may end on Friday, period, without being renewed, depending on what legislative leaders do Wednesday with it. The feeling is that it s time to be done.
Under new law passed this year, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has less power over taking executive action regarding disaster emergencies such as COVID-19.
Whereas before such requests for emergency extensions happened under the State Finance Council, in which the governor chaired over GOP legislative leaders, they now will happen solely under the jurisdiction of the Legislative Coordinating Council, comprised of only legislative leaders.
Kansas COVID-19 emergency declaration could end Friday cjonline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cjonline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
From USA TODAY Network and wire reports
Alabama
Montgomery: The Montgomery County Commission voted Tuesday to make the use of face masks in county-owned buildings optional, effective immediately. “Commissioners are strongly encouraging the public and employees to exercise personal responsibility and continue to wash hands, practice physical distancing, and wear masks when appropriate,” County Commission spokeswoman Hannah Hawk said in a release announcing the decision. A municipal mandate remains in place through Sunday that requires the use of masks in most public situations. Many major retail outlets, grocery stores and entertainment venues still require anyone who enters to wear a face mask. A spokesman for one of the area’s largest employers, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, also confirmed Tuesday that its workers still will be required to wear masks “for the foreseeable future.” The county required masks to be worn by employees and visitors in all county faciliti
John Hanna, Associated Press
photo by: John Hanna/AP Photo
Kansas state Sens. Ron Ryckman Sr., R-Meade,, left, and John Doll, R-Garden City, confer during a debate on legislation dealing with COVID-19, Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan.
Story updated at 7:42 p.m. Tuesday:
TOPEKA Republican lawmakers advanced a plan Tuesday to provide hundreds of millions of dollars to Kansas businesses hurt by coronavirus pandemic restrictions, and they’re poised to give GOP leaders the final say over how the federal COVID-19 relief funds are spent.
The Republican-controlled state Senate approved, 26-13, a bill that would dedicate nearly $350 million in coronavirus relief funds for the state and another $350 million for cities and counties to compensate small businesses that were forced to shut down last spring because of the pandemic or had their operations restricted after the economy reopened.