AW Daily Spots #3

Can you hear me all right? Yes. Okay. Can I have you start with stating your name and title? Scott Ross spokesman for New Tribes Mission. And I know that there's some more information this morning about the Burnham's. There was a videotape release. Can you tell me what that videotape, what was on that videotape? Well, there was a tape of Martin making some statements, outlining what we believe are scripted messages or statements about political issues that the CF group were wanting to get out to the public. And what were some of the messages he had? I don't recall the exact messages, but it was our impression from looking at the video that this video probably was not a recent video. It's probably done some time around August of last year. Okay. And what makes you think that? The clothes that Martin Grayshaw wearing in this video are the same ones

that they were wearing in the video that came out in November. But the clothes were much newer, not worn, tattered, and soiled, and different things. It appears that this video was made when the clothes were probably first given to them. Their weight is considerably better than what it was in the video in November. And there's nothing that would lead us to believe that access to food by Martin Grayshaw has improved any. We were able to deliver some... Check? Yes. Okay. Can you start with stating your name and title? My name is Chuck Nav. I'm Communications Director for Congressman Todd G. Hart. And I wanted to talk to you about the Economic Seamless Bill that went through last week and how it will affect laid-off workers in Kansas and Wichita specifically.

Can you tell me what kind of unemployment benefits that package had in it and just anything else that would affect Wichita people that have been laid off in the past few months? Sure. Well, the most important part, as it relates to unemployment benefits, was an extension of 13 weeks of unemployment benefits. And those are retroactive to March of last year. So that's good news for many of our unemployed family members, friends and neighbors, some of which were about to lose those benefits. So that was great news. There are also some incentives for job creation in the package that was passed by Congress for 17 to three. There are incentives such as depreciation allowances. There was also an extension of tax credits.

And so all of those things put together will create jobs and also extend the unemployment benefits for many of those who have been laid off in Wichita and South Central Kansas. And is there anything in the bill that deals with health insurance costs? Because I know that there was some talk of co-replans and things like that. Right. Actually, that's one of the frustrating parts of this process. Representative T. Hart had introduced legislation that would extend unemployment benefits as well as health care and education. Unfortunately, in the political process, and because the Senate was very stubborn and even taking up any type of worker assistance bill, the health care benefits did not get included. So that was one of the areas where Congress T. Hart was very frustrated and politics really entered into this process. The Democratic leader had basically said there would be no Democratic support for a bill

that had health care tax credit in it. And so to get something passed where there would be extended unemployment benefits, a lot of members had to kind of hold their nose and vote for this package. But this package is certainly welcome in the area of extended unemployment benefits for a lot of people that are hurting in our area. And can you tell me if any of the Democratic plans had anything to do with health insurance costs in them? There were competing plans. Republicans had health care in their plan. Certainly, Congressman T. Hart's plan had an extension of health care benefits. There was also a Democrat plan that had some extension of benefits. Unfortunately, that plan really relied more on former employers determining what benefits would be allowed to their former employees than the Republican health care correct plan did.

But yes, both packages had some health care benefits. Unfortunately, the Democrats didn't like the Republican version and wouldn't vote for it. So to get a package passed through Congress to help our unemployed workers in this area, they passed a bill that didn't include health care benefits. And do you know if there's any possibility that a separate bill concerning health insurance and costs could come up in the near future? I don't know what the calendar is. Again, that has been a politically charged issue. At this point, I don't know what the prospects are for health care benefits. It's certainly something Congressman T. Hart has supported and would continue to support. But at this point, it's difficult to say what options may be available in the future. Okay, and can you tell me what other pieces T. Hart's bill had?

Well, in his original bill, actually, he had two pieces of legislation. One would also have retirement funds to be used for mortgage payments or health care, etc. That was one, again, where there wasn't a lot of support from the other side of the aisle. But his first piece of legislation was to extend unemployment benefits, 52 lead to but also extend health care coverage and then job training and education benefits. But that legislation, unfortunately, in its entirety was not taken out of their bits and pieces throughout the process that were approved in certain forms. But that piece of legislation did not get out of committee. Okay, and what kind of effects does T. Hart expect this bill to have directly on Wichita residents?

Well, immediately. There are some folks who are ending their six-month period of unemployment benefits. So it's a great shot for them because their benefits will now be extended in other 13 weeks. Congressman T. Hart has maintained from the beginning, however, that the best remedy for an unemployed worker is a job. And so he's certainly been working very hard to create jobs, not only this package passed by Congress last week with incentives for job creation, but also working with a defense budget as a member of the Appropriations Committee to bring a 767 tanker project to Wichita. Certainly, that's going to create jobs. So there's going to be an impact from this legislation. But the most important thing is to get people flying again to get people back to work, it's going, modifying 767 tankers, and that also trickles down to the rest of the economy.

So this will have an impact on the still a lot of work to do. And Congressman T. Hart continues to fight vigorously for the people of the fourth district. Okay, is there anything else I'd like to add? I think you've covered it all. Okay, thanks for your time today. Sure, bye. Sue, as a state, to make sure that we don't have elderly canzans as we have too many right now, who are trying to choose between the costs of paying for lifesaving medications and the necessities of life like rent and food. I promised eight years ago that I wasn't going to accept campaign contributions from insurance companies. The companies that the canzans who elected me rely on me to regulate. And I renewed that pledge in 98 when I ran again for re-election. And since I will serve as insurance commissioner throughout the course of the upcoming campaign,

I've renewed that pledge once again. I feel it's very important for the head of a regulatory agency not to have a financial time with the companies that are regulated under that office. So I am making the commitment again that I will not take while I hold the Office of Insurance Commissioner campaign contributions from anyone licensed or regulated by our office. I think that hopefully helps to assure people that I do have the independence and the will to actually put people's interests ahead of the special interests. I think it's important that as an office holder we demand the highest degree of responsibility and openness and accountability from public servants and officials in every quarter of state government. It's something I really believe to my very core that public office is a public trust, that it's about doing good for the people you serve and not about doing well by the people with influence.

I want to make sure that Kansas children have access to great public schools to prepare them for the opportunities of the 21st century. And we have to have the best teachers and the best technology to make sure our children can compete and prosper in the world economy. But, you know, there's something more. While we don't know all the facts, I think it's clear from a recent cheating incident at a Kansas public school in eastern Kansas, that it's important that our children learn traditional subjects like math and science and history. But it's also important I think that they learn about traditional values like accountability and fair play and responsibility. And we require children in this state to take physical education classes to keep their bodies healthy. I think it might be important to look at the requirement that they take character education classes to keep their sense of morals and values and citizenship strong as well.

As insurance commissioner, I've been working to cut red tape in our department to clear out the 1950s era technology, making our office more efficient and cutting edge, doing more with less for all the services that we now offer consumers. We do it with a smaller budget and a leaner staff than eight years ago. I think that same philosophy is important across state government. I know there are ways to cut budgets in a variety of agencies in the state. I know because I've done it and I know that it doesn't impair the services to have people dedicated to a mission of knowing that state dollars are spent wisely. And that businesses frankly have the confidence they need to grow to have opportunities to create jobs and wealth. That private business owners need to understand that government is their partner and not their adversary.

And that the governor knows that private industry and entrepreneurs create jobs, not government. So doing what we can to make government as streamlined and efficient as possible is part of I think the challenge of working in a 21st century economy. So whether it's as a way for a mother of two sons or as elected officials serving the people of Kansas, I've never believed that you have to be dramatic or loud to be tough and determined. I think what you need is an internal compass to wake up every morning having it point you in the right direction. And over the last years of public service, I think my compass has remained fairly steady and true guiding me hopefully to do what's best for Kansas families and seniors, business owners and communities. I'm excited about the opportunities of carrying this campaign conversation across the state and I'm prepared to make a commitment that if I'm fortunate enough to be elected the next governor of Kansas that I will use my principles and my experience, my faith and my common sense to always put the people of Kansas before anything else.

I appreciate the opportunity to be with you today. I don't know what your timetable is if we have time for a couple questions. Well, I'd be happy to answer some questions if you have some. Yes, sir. As a position, I commend you for keeping it from out of the state of Kansas. The United States had unlimited plans over this, so they don't be the same. I have certain concerns about some insurance issues and positions, especially in the referral practices of some positions in this particular city. It's my understanding that there are certain groups of family positions and pediatricians who have contracted with insurance companies. They have what I'm going to call a reverse incentive being that if they don't be further impatient for a consultation with a specialist, they ultimately get a bonus at the end of the year as we reward for non referral. My concern is why should they be important to you? Why wouldn't that money be used by the people that are making the insurance? Or do you, is that money to reduce the cost of money insurance to the following year?

For residents who allow those positions, you do not defer and do not really think that their patients who allow those to get that financial support? Well, I think you ask a very good question. We don't have specific, at this point, specific jurisdiction over provider contracting issues. And frankly, I don't think you want the insurance department to do that necessarily. There are provisions in the so-called patient protection standards that are part of Kansas law, which prohibits things like a gag clause of not allowing doctors to give a patient the full range of options or referral issues. And frankly, what you're describing could come under the statutory provision. So I'd be interested if you have some specific examples that we could take a look at because it may well violate the statutory construct that basically is designed to make sure patients have all the choices available. And again, not to have financial incentives, other disincentives, or what you're describing is a positive incentive, not to refer on to care treatment. And that is currently against the law.

Yeah, that would be great. Yes, sir. So if you're on a care insurance education, although it's very lucky, I think it's a different defensive. I think it could be just a thoughtful idea. Well, I don't disagree with the fact that it could be misused and abused. I guess I was talking more about general values and citizenship that hopefully we could all agree have some common themes. I was really alarmed, and I don't know about the rest of you, about the description of the situation in Piper, where, as I say, I may not know all the facts, but to have a teacher outline what seemed to me very clearly what the expectations were of the class, what the rules and standards were. Have for disqualify a number of papers that came in for plagiarism, only to have the school board and a group of parents kind of back her off that decision based on the fact that there were misunderstandings.

I think it's kind of an alarming situation, and I guess I've seen it as a public school parent in the schools that my kids go to that too often, groups of overzealous, sometimes parents, sometimes school board members are reluctant to essentially teach kids responsibility and accountability. I guess that's more the issue that I'm referring to, and it may be too broadly couched in here, I would agree I don't want individual moralization going on in classrooms under the guise of education, but I do think reinforcing some general rules and principles of life is an important part of what kids have to learn, and that there are consequences. Yes, sir.

What was the motivation, your opinion of the Blue Cross windshield shield management and seeking this mindset? I'm always curious, I figure, well, these people are close to the numbers, and if you would assume they know that they needed this financial strengthening, et cetera, et cetera. Do they have some standard rules? There's no question, there's a trend in this country, and in Blue Cross plans to merge or collaborate or become for profit plans. There were, I think, 90 Blue Cross windshield plans seven years ago, they're now 40 Blue Cross windshield plans, so there has been a growing trend, and it's not just Blue Cross windshield plans. It's also, other insurers, mergers and acquisitions are kind of the name of the game, getting bigger for economies of scale or to lower administrative costs. The problem in this situation, as the evidence was developed, that while that's what the company came to us and suggested and what they set out loud,

Blue Cross windshield of Kansas right now has lower administrative costs than with its 8 million members, substantially lower. It has larger market share than any of the anthem plans, and all of the issues that were theoretically possible with a larger company were already being done better by the Kansas company. So there was a real disconnect between the theoretical reasons of why the merger was going forward and the actual evidence. Now that's not to say that smaller companies, if you project five or six years into the future or 10 years, may need to have a larger base. As a mutual company without shareholders and a financial duty to shareholders, this is a well capitalized, well run company, and that was part of the differences. The bar was set very high, and what is the advantage? I know exactly, I think, why anthem would want to acquire Blue Cross of Kansas?

It was not apparent what the benefit would be for Kansas of the acquisition, and that's really the lens through which I was directed to look at it. I was just fuzzy thinking on it. Well, I'm not sure fuzzy thinking is, I think the management felt in the future they need to be part of a larger organization. The other issue that really changed anthem now runs, Blue Cross plans in eight states, but they run all of the eight were troubled companies when anthem acquired them. In very serious financial difficulties, many of them had lost market shares, were not very well run, so anthem really was a rescuer and provided capital and provided backup, and there were economies of scale. Two things were different about Kansas, not only the fact that we were a well run company, but in addition, over the course of the transaction in October, anthem ceased to be a mutual insurer owned by the policyholders and became a stock company. There was really no track record with anthem as a stock company with a duty to shareholders, so we were looking at a very unknown situation in terms of what the impact was as a mutual company.

The uncertainty of how much more they would strive to achieve profit goals as a shareholder company was really uncertain. Yes. I'd like to gather how you feel about the Kansas State people company that issue? You're talking about overall car taxes. I was part of the legislature a bazillion years ago when actually there was a commitment that we were phasing out car taxes, and that there would be some equalization across county. I think one of the difficult things about car taxes is also the county add-on, so you do a lot of venue shopping. It's my understanding that about 45 states have grappled with that problem and solved it. I think it's a key issue for Kansas to solve is while it may be a phased in negotiation with counties, but to have a level tax so you don't have this competition across state lines.

And frankly, lowering the tax eventually is a good idea. I mean, I thought by now it would be gone, but it seems never... It's like the phoenix that keeps rising out of the ashes. We've gotten rid of it numerous times and yet we still continue to pay it. Yes? Sure. I was saying last year I served as president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and actually insurance is the only financial industry that's still regulated at the state level. Every state has an insurance department. We don't have a federal counterpart. There is no federal insurance regulator, so our inner workings from state to state are really the backbone of what the Solvency and Consumer Protection requirements are around the country, and we share a lot of data. September 11th created a huge shockwave through the industry on two grounds. One is that reinsurance companies basically said we're not going to write reinsurance coverage for terrorist acts in the future without some kind of federal backup, without some guarantee that the feds will be there in absent reinsurance, you can't get primary coverage in lots of cases.

And where that really shows up first, I mean it's not going to be your homeowner's coverage or your car insurance coverage, but if you're a commercial developer putting together a shopping center, you have a large apartment building, banks are not real enthusiastic about putting their money on the line unless you have insurance to pay in the case of a loss. And with a big hole in your loss coverage, it really can have the effect very quickly of drawing up the marketplace. Congress is still, frankly, debating whether or not there's going to be a federal backup to the industry. I think eventually there will in the case of catastrophic losses, you probably need the government as they do in Europe and various other places to stand behind the private industry so you don't take the entire private industry down in the event of catastrophic losses.

So that's one issue that's still being debated and discussed. The other issue is really just the overall downturn in the market and we were talking about this Scott and I earlier during lunch. Market investments is one of the ways that insurance companies balance against underwriting losses. So a company for instance who wants to grow their marketplace might lower their car insurance rates or their homeowner rates or some other rates knowing that they're going to collect money off the start. They'll make an overall profit but part of it is investment profit and so they can take an underwriting loss, balance it with investment profit and still move forward in a solvent condition. When you have market conditions that's softened and dropped as dramatically as this, we have a lot of companies who are right now struggling to try and recoup because they really were operating at something of a loss in the business that they sold and they're trying to either raise rates or reinvest money. So there are some real market issues I think as you look around the country that are just made more dramatic because of the whole terrorism issue and we've got some real issues here in Kansas with agribusiness.

When you think about a Kansas agricultural enterprise in a small town they're dealing with methane gas and ammonia products, very dangerous equipment, often are in from a risk manager point of view they do the worst of all worlds and they do it all and they're the only ones in town who do it and we've got some companies right now who are really struggling to find coverage in any cost. It isn't any longer cost issue it's really an availability issue because people look at that and think boy you know I'm not sure I want to take on that risk in the future and so we're working in a collaboration with a lot of Midwestern states to look at some of the very particularized issues around ag issues trying to make sure that there's a market for agribusiness as you move forward. So there are a lot of unfortunately 9-11 issues. The final thing that I'll say and we're going to scoot down the road is we are trying to watch in our office carefully to make sure that consumers and that's business owners and individuals and others aren't being victimized by 9-11.

We had a couple of companies very early on who just sent out policies that said you're going to get a 30% increase or 40% increase based on really nothing other than the World Trade Center bombing. That's another dangerous event that we're trying to be very careful about while clearly you don't want insurance businesses to lose money or they'll be out of business pretty soon. You also don't want people to pay dramatically higher rates just because we had a catastrophic event in New York so we are trying to keep an eye on that. A lot of the commercial market is now deregulated so companies put prices in the marketplace and we learn about it kind of after the fact but I just want to bring that to your attention that if you're seeing in your own business or your own operation a rate that you think is really unjustified please give us a call because we've really tried to proactively alert companies that we're trying to keep a very careful eye on this but it's still maybe going on in some instances

and I think it would be a really unfortunate unintended consequence of September 11th if that goes on in too many areas. Thank you all for letting me be with you today. I look forward to coming back. Thank you very much for coming today. Good luck. Can you just tell me why you think that your experience as insurance commissioner will transfer well into being governor of Kansas? I think that the mindset of a different leadership style is something that Kansas are responding to very well and that includes both being a tough fiscal manager so I've run a major agency and at the time that the overall state budget has gone up by almost 30% our office is running at a lower cost with fewer staff than when I walked in the door eight years ago. So I have that kind of fiscal experience and I also think that just the mindset of putting the interests of Kansas ahead of special interests making sure that that becomes the central goal is again a value that Kansas feel very strongly about.

Can you tell me some of the challenges you're facing running as a Democrat in a state that has favors Republicans in state office? Sure. I think I can win this race or I wouldn't have gotten into it in the first place but the challenge really is to have people focus on issues like health care and responsible fiscal management and educational excellence. And I think at the governor's level they're very willing and receptive to do that. They want to know who the candidates are, they want to know what you stand for and for most Kansas that's much more important than sort of what party label you have. Okay, and one last question. What are some issues that you've seen which is hot that would be important to you as governor? Well, clearly, Wichita has suffered from the economic downturn maybe more dramatically than any Kansas city.

I've been working a lot with some of the members of the congressional delegation on the stimulus package, Washington issues that particularly would benefit citizens here like having a portion of funds to pay for health insurance coverage for laid off workers and their families. I think that finding affordable health care is critical to many families is having a job and paying the rent. So I'm working in that area I think is very important here. I'm very pleased to see that the research money bill was passed because I think that the aviation industry is such a key component of the Kansas economy and having an updated aviation center and a state of the art technology that can take advantage of that I think is key and I would certainly do everything I could to promote that as governor. Is there anything else you want to let Wichita listen to? I just think stay tuned to the campaign. It's going to be very exciting and I'm very enthusiastic about this effort.

Okay, thank you so much. I really appreciate your time. Nice meeting you. Thank you. Well, I think the letterhead in the note is of enormous value. If there is a requirement to assign a dollar figure to it, that would easily be established by quick fund calls back. But that that letterhead and a note are at least a note giving the company larger small in an indication that they will use this airline is what we need. And keep in mind, Molly, too, that it's kind of hard in a 30 minute or 30 second ad to explain the entire fairfares program. For example, at the MCI call center, we have some of those guys talking on the phone for 20 minutes, explaining those to businesses. So we weren't able to get 30 minute infomercials, just 30 seconds box. That's a great, by the way. That's first time I saw ANK is a great, very clear commercial.

And we want everybody to see it and respond to that. Any other questions? Really appreciate you coming hang in there with us because we're going to get there and make no doubt about that. This is not a city that gives up on big dreams. Thanks a lot. Thanks, Mayor. Thanks a lot. But then in order to understand a behavior, you have to look at it within the context. The context of the whole culture.

Sorry. How's it going? Good. How are you? Good. Is there a deadline for this? You know, because you had a deadline before. So what we're doing is we're going to continue to accept pledge letters and keep track of those through the first week of February. At that day, we're going to evaluate where we are. And if we think we have enough pledge letters and dollars to make a successful community proposal to one of these three airlines, we're going to do it. Now, that doesn't mean that we're giving up on the other two airlines. It just means we're going to evaluate that week and say, well, we're ready to, we're ready to send a proposal to this airline. Now, what do we have to do to get these other two in? I mean, we're still working and getting all three in. It's just that first week we're going to do an evaluation for the first airline. And can you. All right. And I have you start with your name and title. Certainly. Joyce Kavarose, Associate Professor of Theatre School of Performing Arts. Okay. And can you give me some background on V-Day and the vagina monologues? V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. And even Slur who wrote to the vagina monologues has been part of it strongly for the last three years because she donates all the royalties to replay the vagina monologues, which has been so successful in Europe as well as in the United States.

To bring an awareness of what happens to women and children around the world, the violence that they're exposed to. And it has grown to enormous proportions. There are over 800 V-Day events this year globally. And it is all spent locally. Any money raised must be spent at local organizations that help to prevent violence against women. And can you tell me what the play is about? Eve and Slur interviewed several hundred women about vaginas about their sexuality. She was sexually abused as a child and became very aware that a lot of women did not know, understand or had been taught culturally. And various things about themselves sexually. So she interviewed women about their most private sexual part. And from these interviews, from people of all backgrounds and cultures and races, she put together a series of monologues that talk about abuse, that talk about how they were taught what to call it as little girls.

And she performed it originally herself. And of course, now it's performed everywhere by everyone. The only qualification, of course, being the only women can perform it. And that's one of her qualifications. And I don't know why a man would want to do some of these monologues. But it isn't only about, right, it's also funny. It's how we deal with ourselves and how we deal with people in our lives, mothers, parents, boyfriends, husbands. And so it touches on a spectrum of experiences that women and young girls go through. And this is where we keep kittens. A lot of times right now we don't have a lot of kittens because they're not in season, but they'll be giving up in a few months. The new program that we started specifically, that this performance is about, and there's a dog adoption file in your press kit.

It's a new adoption application that has certain questions that kind of keeps into what you're looking for. It's more of this, instead of going, I have, you know, I had this and where is that where I live. It's what do you want. I want a dog to spend so many hours outside. I want to hunt or herd with me. I want it to be playful. I want it to be laid back. This is what I want. My favorite is the dog needs to be given kids under eight, over eight elderly people, cats, ducks, and chickens. You know somebody's got a farm. They don't want a dog that's been brought to us because it's killing chickens. Then our adoption counselors go over this and they use a key to, and they decide whether or not you're a lavender, an orange, or a green, if you're looking for an adult dog. And then those dogs have the adoption on their kennels. They have sort of like personal ads saying, you know, I'm a great codler. I love to sit on the couch and eat potato chips kind of things, sort of help you match. So it's trying to get people to adopt based on personality rather than appearance.

Because right now, a lot of adoptions are set on, oh, it's cute. I want it. And that's not always what works well. This room in here is where we keep puppies. Under six months of age, just put our cans to classify us and small adult dogs. This program is working really well for adult dogs and we hope to eventually expand it to puppies and other animals in the future. The old cage cards that are still with the puppies as you can see are blue or pink, which means for a girl, you can find out what breed they are or their age and how much they weigh. But you don't know a lot about their personality. What we've done with the older dogs, because they're older, they're more developed, they're more mature. They've got cage cards like these great little beagles. But say, I'm a busy bee. I'm a naturally playful, curious, testing canine. And this tells you a little bit more about them. So instead of just going, oh, that's a cute dog. I want one of those. You can say, oh, okay, this is a busy bee. This is somebody who needs a job all day. Well, I'm not going to be home all day. So I don't need to get a dog that has this much energy. Maybe I need somebody who's a little more of a lap dog.

And this is a great little program. Older dogs have the hardest time getting adopted. A lot of times they just start here longer, they have a harder time. We want to increase their adoption rates because they're absolutely wonderful dogs. There's nothing wrong with them. They're wonderful. They're great. And they just need a second chance. This is our way of turning up in the second chance. We're hoping, as you can hear, we've got a lot. It's like, oh, puppies and great dogs, and they're very excited. We're hoping that this program will work so well that other shelters across the United States want to use it. We've already had some inquiries. And it's just absolutely wonderful. Emily, Dr. Weiss, developed this program herself. It's a complete scientific process for the evaluation of the dogs. And it was edited in a cute sort of fun, personal ad. What are you looking for sort of manner? But there is a scientific process behind there. And we're hoping that this will help our adult dogs find a permanent. Like, as you can see, we've got lots of puppies and puppies are fun and they're great. And a lot of people get them because they're cute and they're little and they're tiny, but they don't know what they're going to grow up to be.

The advantage of adopting an older dog, as you already know, what its personality traits are, whether it's a high energy, low energy job, whether it's house broken, it's not house broken. What it's going to need and all those things. And it's a great thing to evaluate these dogs. Like these guys, they're little cheeses. They're great, classified them as constant companions. They're just low maintenance. All they want to do is sit by your side and be your devoted companion and just hang out with you. They're very low maintenance dogs. And as a purple dog, this is a dog that we've classified be great for somebody's never owned a dog. Doesn't really have a lot of experience. You'll find with the orange and the green dogs that we recommend that some previous dog ownership is recommended just because they're going to need somebody who's a little more apt to be able to handle them and we that knows that the energy and the time that's involved in keeping a dog. Do you see anybody you want?

No, I live in an apartment. I'd love to take home a puppy though. Or any dog, really. It's really difficult to gauge personality with puppies just because they're just for these big bundles of fun. And with adult dogs, it's really easy. And Emily will talk to you about cheeses for their canineality, how they react to certain stimuli, how they walk on these things like that so we can better gauge because they're great dogs. And it's sometimes it's better to get an older dog. And just like we said, the personality is defined, but a lot of people don't give them that second look because they want something that's sort of helping with this sort of personality, cuteness, personal and sort of promotion that people will come by and look at it and maybe give an older dog a second chance at a good home. This is our cat room. And we can hold up to 24 adult cats at a time. The Humane Society, we take in about 11,000 animals a year. And all those animals are brought to us. We don't go out and collect. And we, this is completely on private donation and adoption fees. So we're serving a lot of animals. We want to make sure that once that animal goes out of here, that it's in a good home for a lifetime, which is why we started this matchmaker adoption program.

We also have smaller animals. We get bunnies and guinea pigs and ferrets and hamsters, the occasional rat who, you know, it's good. I've learned to love rats. I was a little concerned at first, but I've absolutely learned to do it. And we're going to go downstairs and look at the older dogs who are the part of the matchmaker program that all have those cage carts on there, same with their purple green or an orange summer free spirits. Those are great independent dogs that are kind of going to want to do what they want to. So they're going to need sort of a pretty strong independent person to be with them. And then you'll see things like, yeah, we've got a beautiful great Pyrenees downstairs honor who's almost a hundred pounds. But it's basically a big couch potato and went too great just curling up on a bed with somebody. So it's not only trying to define that animal's personality, but maybe helping them be a little bit more accepted through people that maybe they would look at a hundred pound dog and go, no, there's no way. But then they read and they learn that he's basically just a big couch potato. And that might give him a second chance.

These guys tend to be a little more vocal. And they tend to get really excited when they see people. So it's just that probably won't be able to hear anything you guys say. But she'll get some great background work definitely. We're pretty excited about this program. It's the first of its kind in the nation. And it was underwritten by I'm to the ASPCA to help us do this. So we're going to try it for at least two years. And we're really hoping that it's going to stick and that people will want to get adopted and other shelters will do it. We really think it's going to work really well. Because we just don't have to have the... Oh, these guys have different cards. And everything from outside to grandmium. It does. She's very, very sweet. but she's a little shy and so she needs somebody who's gonna you know take her time be a little pay and it says on her description shy at Charm McKinay and searching for a patient on it on earth or a relaxed lifestyle she's gonna

need somebody to spend her patient with her to help her come out of her shell this is hi I'm a girl and I'm a sharp pain mix grab your attention we've you know it says I can't do anything because I lost these are the things that I you should know about me I do best with grown-ups and older children things like that that's great because I would look at the dog and think maybe it's a little bit bigger so yeah yeah anything maybe I'd be pretty bouncy or in my back and you get in there with her and she's like hi she just kind of shrinks the back and a male 85 year old 85 pound two year old dog and you don't know anything about great hello sweetie yeah okay just to get them the the breathing out was kind of cute

and then you have like Simba and Simba looks like a small and she's pretty small she's 41 pounds and this is a tiny dog so it just won't be the big big deal I don't know if there's a free spirit she's intelligent independent confident and clever I prefer making my own decisions but all this is to make a good case who's gonna treat her and she's a very very active dog it's just smart and this is what we're trying to say she's very kind of maybe test things

I'm walking through the dogs find when you take home yet I'd love to my equipment will allow it people will take the time and a lot of these dogs just see are usually between the one and three years old and

That's the age of a lot of remote through that teenage experience, that people just aren't ready, but the thing is, is it doesn't last forever, and you know, a lot of these guys are not that good, but they just are here, and they're wonderful. I mean, I have an older dog, and it was great. It could already walk out of the issues that they have spoken, and it was absolutely wonderful. That's the age of a lot of remote through that teenage experience.

So, if I see them down, you can look for a couple more children, and if you decide, you know, if you can go out of town, you can look for a couple more children. But if you actually love them and scream, don't you? That's fine. That's fine. All right, I'll take that face of personality, rather than look, and try to get the children to get the kids out of me for me. So, then get out of here, so they'll say, all right, well, what the hell is it? And just to give them that second chance. Because they're absolutely wonderful, and they have so much to offer. Yeah, and the biggest reason that they're brought here is because people are moving, or they don't have enough time. And if you want to change that, we want people to commit to these dogs for a lifetime. So, that's sort of the quick overview of Emily.

You can talk to you about this, just to fix it. Science behind it. Okay. Emily and the testing, how are we going to do that? Get some good sound down there? Yeah, I think so. Where are you going down there? You don't need to be barking. She's a good look to get some barking down there. It's like, I don't know where we can go. They just get so excited. Uh-huh. Just like, oh, you guys are interested in me. It's sort of the dog's version of, hey, how's it going? Sorry. Have most of them been there for a while? It depends. Some of them have been there for a couple of days. Some of them might be there for a few weeks. Okay. We try and keep them as long as we can until they get adopted. Okay. And do you have some more quiet ways that we can get? Your office is probably the best. It's just easier for it.

All right. Can I have you start with your name and title? Emily Weiss. I'm an animal behavior consultant for the Kansas Humane Society. And you came up with this matchmaker program yourself, right? I did. It was because of something the Humane Society wanted. They wanted to find a way to match pet to owner. And I just gave them a way to do that. And what gave you the idea for this program and the categories to put them in? And all of the questions to ask about the dog and the people? Well, the dog and was much easier for me. That's where my expertise is in animal behavior. So we just, I developed a test that would let us look at things like activity level, which we know is important to people. How playful an animal is, how cuddly they are, and how much attention they're going to need. We know that dogs don't stay in homes a lot because they're too much trouble for somebody or they have too high energy or they weren't quite what the person was looking for. So we wanted to design a test that we could find these categories of behavior that we knew were important to people.

So that part was the easy part. And we went ahead and conducted a test to verify whether or not the test that we came up with would work. And we found that we were pretty good at predicting those behaviors. The human end came about from a combination of working with the counselors here, the adoption counselors here, the manager, Linda Cooper at the Humane Society, and looking at some things that other shelters look at as well. We know that there's questions we're interested in having answered. What do they want? What are they interested in? Do they want a pet that's high energy? Do they want a pet that likes to play? Do they want a pet that they can compete in agility or fly ball with? So those kinds of questions were easy and then we just had to get some basic information. So that's how we came up with it. Okay. And what sort of questions are on the people end of the questionnaire? Well, simple questions like, do they have dogs now when was the last time they had a pet? Do they want a dog that is playful?

Is it a question? Do they want a dog that is very enthusiastic in the way he tells people hello? It's another question. Are they planning on having a dog that spends a lot of time inside? Are they planning on having a dog that spends a lot of time outside? Is there a dog going to be a lap dog, a dog that's going to cuddle with them often? There's lots of dogs here that will, there's lots of dogs here that won't. And we want to make sure that we set them up correctly. So questions along those lines. And why did the Humane Society see that there was a need for these kinds of questions? And this kind of matchmaking ability, I guess. Well, unfortunately, about 33% of the adult dogs that are adopted come back to the shelter. We're also not adopting out 100% of the dogs, adult dogs that we get. So we want to be able to increase the amount of adoptions we do as well as decrease the amount of returns. And by matching up the right dog to the right owner, we can have people leave here with a pet that's going to, they're going to be with forever.

And when did the program start? Start in the beginning of January. We've been just ironing out a couple of questions on the application that weren't quite clear to people. And we're going to expect things like that to happen, but it's been going really well. And so far, we're finding that it's working. We have a lower return rate already. And certainly our adoption rate is doing very well too. And how have people that come in and want to adopt a pet, how have they reacted to the questionnaire? You know, we thought that there would at least be a few people that would just be very annoyed with it. But so far, they're either very good actors or everybody really seems to like it. They're adopting within the categories that we think would do work best for them. It's a much shorter application than we used to have, so it takes a lot less time. And people really seem to be receiving it very well. And are people mostly after they find out what color that would match best for them?

Do they usually only look at those dogs? Or do they kind of give everybody a chance still? They're usually looking within that color. And the reason is because they now know that that color is the dog that is likely to work for them. So we certainly had a couple of people that have just seen something that wasn't right in their category and at least thought about it. But so far, I think just about everybody's adopted within their category. And how do you think this is benefiting the dogs themselves? Well, any time we can do anything with our dogs that benefits them. It's certainly benefiting them that we're getting them adopted. It's definitely benefiting them that they're not coming back. It gives our adoption counselors a better handle on what those dogs are all about since they have the specialized tests that they do for the dogs. So we have an increased bond with the adoption staff and individual dogs too. And that helps too. The more hugs and kisses these dogs can get a day, the better. So that helps them as well.

And what's the process like for finding out what kind of what color each dog fits into? It's a relatively short test. It takes about seven or eight minutes. And it's a test that we take them outside and play with them and look at their reactions when we play reactions in the kennel. How they respond to us so they're jumping up and down non-stop. Are they sitting and staying? How are they reacting? Alone in a room. What their behavior is like alone in a room which is a real standard comparative psychology test that we do with animals. And it's also used for neurology and it gives us a really good idea of activity level. And what that dog's likely to be like when it gets into the home. So if it tests like that, there's one or two more. And then the dog is graded on a scale. And depending on where it falls and that scale is what category it ends up in. And does each dog get a personalized slip on the outside of its cage? They do. There are within each category there are three names. Constant companion, couch potato, free spirits.

So there's lots of different names. And they get one of those as well as on their card. There's lots of personal information about that individual pet. So it sounds like when the dogs do get here, they really need a lot more time spent with them to get them for you guys to know what kind of dog they are. So is that, do you find that the dogs are reacting better to being in the shelter now? Well, I think the dogs here are doing better in the shelter for a variety of reasons. So we have lots of programs to decrease stress. We have a training program where specialized trainers, I think you could hear one just a minute ago, work with the animals to teach them basic obedience. Using all positive reinforcement, that decreases stress and increases adaptability. We have an enrichment program where animals are giving specialized toys that make them work and engage their brains during the day. Those really help them.

Volunteers and young volunteers that help socialize the dogs, so all of those things are helping the dogs while they're here and staying with us. And why did you decide to aim this program towards the older dogs? So those are the ones that we have the bigger problem with. They're harder to adapt, so somebody sees a little puppy, it's often a lot cuter than a big adult dog. Those are the ones that we have a higher return rate on, more of them are coming back. So those are the ones that we really need to focus on. And if you're here and you just go down there, those are the ones that capture your heart more than any others, and it's very hard to not want to focus on them. And our puppies and kittens are doing great. So our adult animals that we really need to spend more time with. Okay, is there anything else that you'd like to add? Not that I can think of you. Okay, can I talk to you for just a couple of minutes more about some kind of go over some of the things you probably already said, but the sound wasn't working. Thank you so much.

No problem. And if you need to go... Oh, no. I'm like a handle at the time. Yeah, they have volunteers. Do you know when you're going to err? It'll probably be on either at three o'clock or four, my guess is four, and then probably in the five o'clock newscast also. Great. All right, thanks so much. Okay. Can you start with giving me your name and title? It's Jennifer Campbell, and I'm Director of Communications for the Kansas Human Society. And can you tell me about each of the three colors and what the categories are in those colors? We've classified our adult dogs into three color categories, purple, green and orange, and then we've... Excuse me. We've classified our adult animals into our adult dogs into three color categories, purple, orange and green purple. We'd recommend for people who haven't had a lot of experience, little to no experience owning a dog. Orange is great for somebody who's maybe had a dog before.

It's kind of familiar with the training, is willing to work with that dog a little bit to teach it, you know, basic tricks and things like that. Green are dogs that are going to take a serious commitment. And we highly recommend that someone who's had a lot of experience owning a dog, working with a dog, taking it to obedience classes and things like that. That's where they would do best. Okay, and what kind of response have you seen from people coming into adopt dogs? It's been actually quite remarkable to see. A lot of times people walk through the shelter, the first thing they want to see is the puppies and kittens, which is great, because we get them in all the time and they're absolutely lovely. And then they wonder down to look at the adult dogs, and they're stuck actually stopping. They're taking a moment to read the cage descriptions, read the personal ad descriptions that we have written on the cards. They're actually stopping. And then maybe in that extra 30 seconds to a minute that it takes to read about that animal, they'll find something humorous that they can identify within the couch potato description. And maybe they're intrigued by the description of the free spirit. Their heart goes out to the wallflower, those kind of things, and they take that extra 30 seconds to a minute to reconsider.

Maybe this is the animal for me, and it's absolutely wonderful. And then a lot of times they'll go and they'll say, hey, I'd love to take in just to visit with this animal. And a lot of times that's all it takes is just to give them a chance, these animals a chance to shine and show off their wonderful personalities and things like that, which is what we have tried to highlight here with this program. And can you tell me some of the names in those categories? Yeah, within the purple category, which are dogs that are pretty easy, sort of the ad water instant dog variety. We have couch potato, constant companion, and teachers pet. So these are dogs that are just great, fun little dogs, they're pretty much already trained. They're just taking them home. Great, you won't have any problems. The orange categories are wallflower, goofball, and busy bee. These are dogs that your goofball is going to be like, you're just fun-loving. Let's go ahead and play and bounce around, and okay, I'll take you seriously some of the times. Most of the time, I'm just going to climb around.

And so they, you know, this dog would need somebody with a little more patience, and someone will need to work with them. Your wallflower is somebody who's a little shy, needs somebody to be back here to try to help out. Okay, and what ways can you help people that were affected by the ice storm? Well, first and foremost, people are going to have to call us 1-800-621-FEMA. The way a disaster process works is that when anything really bad happens, people are expected to take care of themselves first. But when it's a situation like you had, local resources are expended, and then the state gets called in, the governor gets called in and maybe puts out the National Guard or whatever. When the disaster is beyond the ability of the state to take care of it, the governor has the authority to ask the president to release federal taxpayer dollars that happened here. The president's actually obligated to confirm the state has done all it could for its own before those tax dollars are released. And then people like myself get activated.

We get a phone call at home, most FEMA people that you will see are reservists. And we came out because we really care and want to help people. We're paid when we're here, we're actually employed, but our, you know, our primary goal is helping people. So we have three missions, find and assist everyone who has serious unmet needs still, and take good care of the taxpayer dollars, and then encourage people to take steps to minimize similar damages another time. Right now our focus on main focus is still find everybody who still has serious unmet needs today is a federal holiday, but FEMA people are working. And we know this might be a convenient day for people who are at home to give us a call. We would really like them to do that call 1-800-621-FEMA. Even if you aren't sure, I mean that's why you should call if you're not sure. You can ask questions. Every single family, every single situation is a little bit different. We understand that. We'll listen to your story. And based on your circumstances, we'll tell you if you're eligible for assistance 1-800-621-FEMA. Give us a call please.

Okay, I'll be back in just two minutes. Can you tell me a little bit about what these funds are often used for? Well, in this particular circumstance, it's a full range of possibilities. If you had a really big tree fall on your house and do a lot of severe damage, then people may be eligible for home repairs. In some cases, people were pretty fine and they were able to take care of themselves except maybe they had to buy some firewood, and that was totally unexpected. And it's a hurt on their income. Maybe you've got a lot of seniors out there who are pretty tight fixed incomes. They might be eligible to have that cord of wood paid for. So it's a every case is individual, every case is unique. And so we want to listen to what happened to people and based on their circumstances, give them some assistance. Hi, this is Adrienne Wilson. Okay, let me transfer you to tape just one second. Can you hear me?

All right, can I start by having you state your name and title? Yeah, it's a live heart and title is Chief Operating Officer. And is that for the Wichita schools? Yes, for the Wichita public schools. Okay, and can you tell me a little bit of background on this Linwood Park issue? Sure. The bond issue that was passed in April of 2000 includes constructing a totally new school to replace the existing Linwood elementary school. The primary problem is that there is not enough property at the current Linwood school site location. So the concept that's been explored now for a little better than a year involves constructing the new school in a small portion of the Linwood Park site. And then in essence, no longer having the need for the old existing site, which is on South Paddy Street, where the present Linwood school facility is. So we have been looking at a way to construct the school in the park area back about a year ago when this discussion all began.

We had started by looking at some property and what is called the North Linwood Park area. There was a considerable opposition to that. And it is the older and most historic portion of the park. So in August of last year, the school board decided in lieu of pursuing the North Park area that we would look at a site in the South portion of the park. So we are looking at the very North end of that South Park area. So we are looking at about 4.8 acres of land that would be situated just south of Harry and east of Hydraulic so that it would set actually at the very North end of the South Park area. And it would provide space for the new school building, which is going to be sized to accommodate about 450 students. And then it would also provide for some parking and a service drive for bus unloading for any school buses that bring kids to the school. And in essence it would just blend a school site into that portion of the park and then we would no longer have a need for the existing site or the existing building once the new school is constructed.

And what was the reasoning behind switching from looking at the North end of the park to the South? Well, the North portion of the park is truly a historic portion of that overall park development. And there was a lot of opposition to even considering a school in that area. That portion of the park is a little more landlocked in that it does not front on Hydraulic. It's actually tucked back into a very residential portion of the area. And I think it was just a lot of concern by neighbors and community members about a school in that portion of the park because of the historic features of that site and also because of traffic that it could bring into that neighborhood. So, you know, ultimately as we begin to look more at the South Park area, we felt like there was sufficient land area to be able to do a school South of Harry as opposed to North of Harry and still not impact any of the existing park facilities that are down there.

You know, Linwood Park, the South portion of the park has a swimming pool. It has tennis courts, ball diamonds, has a recreation center and branch library facility. There's just a lot of a lot of developments of development in the South Park area that don't exist in the North Park area. But there's still ample land at the very north end of that southern portion of the park to be able to construct this 4.8 acre side and still not impacting those other use areas that already exist down there. And what kind of controversy have you run into looking at the South Park part of the park? Well, the primary opposition surrounds the fact that the property was donated many, many years ago for park land and there was a provision in the donation of that land that concerned continued use of the grounds for parks or, you know, the possible existence of some reversionary rights for the donors or areas of the donors of that land. And so that's been the primary opposition has been from those that either are errors or affiliated with the years of the original land donor as to, you know, the idea of building a school on this park land.

So that's been the primary opposition and I think the primary controversy surrounding this. We have a lot of other locations in the city where we do have schools and parks that are adjacent to each other and that relationship has worked very well for both the park board and for the school district. This is a unique situation in that it would involve actually building a school within the park as opposed to constructing it just adjacent to the park. So that's the primary difference with this site. And can you tell me what the school boards view is on settling that matter? Well, the board tonight will review and be asked to approve the first of two resolutions to go ahead and proceed with legal proceedings to acquire that property. It's actually a what's termed a friendly condemnation. It's a mechanism that's required for the district to acquire title to the property from the city and the park board.

And so tonight they will review and and be asked to approve the first of two resolutions, the second resolution to actually initiate the proceedings then will probably be brought back to them at their meeting on the 11th of March. And why does this new school need to be built in the first place? Just because of the number of kids, the existing school right now serves a little fewer than 300 kids. It's very overcrowded and it is one of our two oldest school buildings in the district. So it's, you know, it does not meet present fire codes does not have a restroom facilities anywhere but in the basement. I mean, there are just a number of issues that from day one when the community steering committee looked at that situation and tried to decide what the recommendation should be to the board. Without any debate, it was that that school needed to go in a new school needed to be built for those kids. So then the primary issue became not whether or not we should replace the building, but where do we construct it?

Since it will be a larger school than what exists there now. And since there would be other things now required also like off street parking and some other features that aren't present at the existing site. It just left us no alternative but to look for an alternate site than the than the present site because of the limited land area that was available at the current location. And do you know what will be done with the old school site? Right now the discussion and there's nothing final on this but the discussion all along has been that in exchange for acquisition of the property in Lindwood Park to construct the new school, the existing site would probably be turned over to the park board for use as possibly a small neighborhood park or something like that. The building itself, there was an addition back in the 70s that includes a small multipurpose room, the chair conditioned and some restrooms.

And we have even suggested that it's possible that the oldest portion of the building could be demolished but that multipurpose room could remain and even serve as a nice, you know, small recreation center or neighborhood center within that small park setting. And that's a concept that's on the table right now but there's been nothing, you know, decided finally about that plan. And since building a school inside the park would obviously take away some park land from the city of Wichita, is the school board doing anything to replace that land? Actually, you know, this whole concept would not take park land away. Actually, if we're able to do what we hope to do by giving the old Lindwood site to the park board as well as some other properties that they have an interest in, you know, in the end the city and the park board should actually gain acreage citywide, it just won't all be in that same location. So, you know, the park board has approved this concept twice now. They approved it last year at a meeting in May. They reaffirmed that approval again at their February meeting.

So the park board is definitely on board with this concept and anxious to see us proceed. Okay. And what kind of community response have you gotten to the school plan? Well, with the exception of the opposition due to the issue of the land being donated and those that have opposed it because of that, you know, otherwise the support has been overwhelming. I mean, we have a lot of parents and community members and staff members that are more than anxious to see their kids finally get to go to a new state of the art building that's air conditioned and that has technology and restrooms. And all the things that kids have in a lot of the other schools in the district, but that they don't have an old 1910 building down at the current site. And so the support is definitely there. It's there from the park board and the city and again, the primary opposition has surrounded the issue of the original donation of the land and the desire by some that, you know, that none of that land be given up for school district purposes.

Okay. Is there anything else you'd like to add? No, I think that's it. You know, we've been working on this just this very issue for over a year now. A lot of meetings, a lot of community meetings, a lot of planning meetings and, you know, we're just finally to the point where if we're going to maintain schedule and and have a new facility open in fall of 2003, which is what's been promised. We've got to make some decisions and put ourselves in a position where we can start construction on that new school. So we pretty much run out of time unless, you know, the district or the board wants to choose to have to delay the project and we we certainly aren't recommending that. Okay, thanks you for, thank you very much for your time today. You bet. Bye.

Get materials and get what they need because they're also different and so somebody need Christmas lights, for example, somebody else needs a funnel. It's all those just running around and getting stuff. It's a lot of work. I don't know. And how much do you expect to raise? I really have absolutely no idea having not done it before, but we're starting each piece of furniture at $25 as a minimum bid and we've got about 40 pieces. So if they all sold, we do okay. I don't know. And what would have been the student's response to this project? They seem to have enjoyed it, I think. And I say that because I start out with just one class working on it and I've had people throughout the day and throughout the time saying, can I do one, two, can I do one, two. And we've had a guest artist, Mary Werner from WSU has come and worked with us a lot and that's been someone that they really enjoy. And what kind of, what are some of the ideas that the kids have come up to come and charge? We have a 10 man. Can I have you state your name and title?

My name is Cheryl Logan and I'm the assistant superintendent for middle schools, but I also work with the magnet schools. Okay, and that's Cheryl. Yes, S-A-G-R-I-L. Okay. And can you tell me what will be offered at the choices fair tonight? All of our magnet schools and alternative schools will be there to visit with parents and talk about their programs. We will also have some other support services at the fair so that parents can talk to them transportation or special ed or or parents as teachers so that it gives our public an opportunity to see our choices with magnet programs all in one building all at one time. And what's special about the magnet programs? Well, it gives parents choices. We have good neighborhood schools and every student in the district is assigned to a neighborhood school. But sometimes parents will say, my two-year-old is particularly interested in science or technology or they're interested in performing arts.

And so our magnet programs give them the opportunity to send their children to a school that specializes in those areas. And what are some of the magnet schools that will be there? Well, we will actually have about 30 programs there and if we have traditional magnets, open magnets, science and technology magnets, health and wellness magnets, foreign language magnets, we have varieties of choices that parents can choose from. And what have you heard from parents that is most appealing about these schools? I think it's the fact that they have an opportunity to help choose what's what. Can you hear me all right? Yes, I can.

Okay. And can I have you start by stating your name and title? My name is Bill Bider and I am the director of the Bureau of Waste Management for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Okay. And are you familiar with the landfill that I'm talking about? Yes, I am. Okay. And I know that the Harbour County Commission voted last night to set aside some land for that landfill. And they also had 44 conditions that have to be met before the landfill can be built. Do you know what conditions those are and if not? What are some of the state requirements? Well, we did review the conditions before they voted on accepting them. We reviewed them primarily to determine whether or not there was anything technically in their conditions that would have conflicted with state regulations and laws. And there's not. They have added to a lot of what the state laws and regulations require, but there is nothing that would come into conflict with them in any way. We felt that was an important step to take before they would do that because if they were adopting something that they felt would cause a problem as we would move forward with a permitting process, then that would somehow have to get resolved further down the road.

So yes, we did review them. They are adding some technical requirements, but they're mainly depending on the state to establish what would really be necessary from a design and operational point of view of such a landfill and not trying to put that in their own local conditions, even though there are a few conditions that may be perceived as more technical in nature. I don't have that list in front of me right now, but I can say that the county is really deferring to the state to ensure that a landfill that went in there followed all of our regulations, which should be considered comprehensive to protect the environment. It does not really address things like land use and neighbors and all of that, which needs to be covered by the county and their conditions, but there are, I don't know how far you want me to go with this, but there's all kinds of state regulations that do apply to ensure that a facility like this is not going to impact the environment. But our rules and regulations really do nothing with respect to minimizing impacts that may be caused to neighbors to that facility from a nuisance point of view.

And by that, I mean, yes, we won't allow there to be litter blowing off the site and they need to cover the waste to minimize odor, but there's pretty limited things that the state requires with respect to things like traffic of vehicles. If the roads are adequate from the local government's point of view, then the state accepts that. We don't really regulate anything that is regards the roads that say approach the landfill and whether there are neighbors on those roads, that's a local issue. So we don't get into that. We also just don't get into the issue of if there is a neighbor across the road from a landfill, there is no doubt that there will be some noise and there will be some operational impacts. Sometimes there's going to be odor, no matter how good they run that landfill. And those kinds of things is where the local government needs to really be involved to say that it is compatible with surrounding land uses.

And that's part of what they do. But once they decide that it is an acceptable location, then we step in and make sure that it's designed and operated so that you don't have groundwater impacts, surface water impacts, that you operate it in the most effective way you can so that you minimize things like blowing litter. And if you monitor the site, the groundwater at the site to ensure that there is no groundwater contamination that could leave the site, once it's determined that there is some, if that ever happens, corrective action has to be immediately implemented to prevent any offsite migration of contamination. So there's all kinds of regulations that come into play to try to minimize any impacts, but there's no way you can put in a big landfill that would have zero nuisance impacts to a close neighbor to the facility. That's just not feasible. And do you have any idea how many the number of extra provisions that the county permit, sorry, commission put on on top of the states?

Well, they've got like it's in the 40s. I don't know the exact number and we looked at them all and they all seem fairly reasonable and it is all going beyond what we would require. For example, we may only inspect the facility like that about four times a year, three or four times maybe. At the state level, we are there more frequently while they're building it and getting it started. But then once it's up and running, that's about all we show up. Well, in order to provide greater assurances to their citizens, that that landfill is being run properly than ours is three or four inspections, they have a condition that would establish. There would be some kind of payment from the landfill operator to the county where an independent party can be, and I don't know whether it would be a county employee or what, but money would be paid. So that someone can be out of that landfill like on a weekly basis, looking at its operations to make sure it's in compliance with whatever the county expects as well as what the state expects.

So that's an example of an added precaution that the county commissioners were taking to try to minimize any kinds of problems. And then there are other things that were related to the roads that were approaching the facility and some of those things that really is a county responsibility other than ours. But from the point of view of how they build and operate it, they're not really adding standards above the states. That's where they're deferring to us. At least from what I understand of what it was and I assume what they ended up with was what they showed us a couple days in advance. Okay. Do you know what the timeline is for this landfill? Well, I can tell you that even if it went smooth in terms of objections raised, whether there's legal challenges and other things that occur, the best that things could happen would be for them to get a permit in about a year or maybe a little less. Because the permit application process and the review and the public notice and we have a hearing and all those kind of things.

If it went perfectly would take about nine months, but we know nothing goes perfectly. That's just how long the whole process takes and that would assume that the applicant would get all their materials into us quickly and respond quickly to our comments and questions because we do pretty detailed reviews of everything that comes in here to make sure that it is. I would say as close to perfect as you can get before it a permit is issued. So that would take a year, but we know that this is not going to be perfect and run smoothly because there will be objections and those objections will lead to delays. I don't know whether anything in the courts will add to the delay. So I would start with a year or so for a permit to be issued approximately next winter in the middle of the winter things went perfectly. Which would mean that they would have spring and summer to actually build a facility if the permit was issued approximately next winter. And then it would be up and running in probably late summer or fall of 2003.

That would be the best case. So then about a year and a half for actual operations. Permit could be sooner than that depending on legal challenges and quality of application. If they did everything we wanted the best we're going to get them a permit is sometime in the middle of next winter is my guess. And would you say that's about average? It's a little longer than average. I think that this would be a big complex landfill and we would ensure that everything is done exactly as it should be. And sometimes much simpler landfills can go through the process in a quicker way. Maybe six month process if it's real simple but there's still some things that cannot be avoided. Like the public notice period and the hearing and all of that no matter how simple it is. You've got a couple or a few months built in there that you can't avoid.

And that's just the way the process works. Now if we assume that the applicant is going to immediately move forward and get all their permit application materials together. I would think that that's going to take them at least a few months before they'd have anything to even give us to look at. And in the meantime what's going to be done in the courts? So I really see this as being drawn out beyond that year and a half. Unless everything just goes as smoothly as possible then that is an ideal case where you were saying like a year and a half. That is the best that could happen. Okay. And this landfill isn't a sure thing then with the commissioners voting for it, right? Well we think that that is an important step that had to occur but they have to revise their solid waste plan. They can't even certify on the application the commissioners at this point that the local plan for Harper County.

This is a solid waste plan that they have on the books that has been approved by our department. Can you hear me okay? Yes I can. Okay. And the part that I wanted you to talk about you were saying that the county commission had added some had gone above and beyond the state requirements. Can you talk about the things that they have done in that area? Well as I mentioned to you previously I don't have that in front of me right now but I did review it a few days ago. I was speaking from memory and the kinds of requirements that the county added that are above and beyond the states relate primarily to issues that are to reduce the nuisance of a landfill to the surrounding neighbors. They have added conditions that would address issues such as the roads that are going to the facility, the litter that may accumulate on the roads going to the facility.

They are also adding a condition that would require the facility to pay a fee which would pay for a county employee or a third party contractor to inspect that facility more frequently than what KDAG would. And as I was saying we would probably only inspect that facility about three or four times a year at most four and I guess the county's condition would allow them to have enough resources to actually send a person out there I would think on a weekly basis and that they would have control over that person. So that there would be somebody who would be looking at operations more frequently than what we would which would add some assurances to the fact that problems should not really develop if somebody's out there that frequent. And there are other conditions most of which are related to land use issues they have deferred to the state to really take care of everything that is related to design construction and technical operations of the facility itself.

But it is some of those things that relate to surrounding land use that that the county is addressing through a lot of these special conditions. Okay, that's exactly what I need. Thanks so much for taking the time to go over this with me again. I appreciate it. Thanks. The information. Most of it didn't hit the media until around six o'clock last night. I think they had about 12 to 14 people finally by early this morning. But like I said, we had we had 77 years staying in our regular shelter. We're supposed to have 50. So we sent an additional 14 to the other shelter. Tonight we expect because of the calls we're having today to probably have between 50 and 70 at the overflow shelter.

And you said that you had requested funding to open a few days earlier. How are you paying for opening just three days earlier? Well, it's it really is quite expensive because we have to have experienced staff and then we support staff that work with them preparing meals and doing all those things. And interface ministries has budgets for both the attorney safe haven and interface and but that doesn't allow for additional shelter. After we we discussed what we should do, we decided that we would just go ahead and kind of take a leap of faith and just do it based on the fact that we were talking about life threatening weather. So I'm not sure exactly how right now, but I'm sure it will happen somehow. And do you know how much the actual cost will be? The cost for doing additional days, it's a lip. Can you hear me?

And can I have you start by saying your name and title? Yes, Pat Cameron, C-A-M-E-R-O-N. I'm the director of the Chief of Social Justice Center. Okay, and can you tell me what your group did on Saturday? Yes, I should clarify with our group and Safe State Kansas, which is a program of interface ministry. We brought together a group of volunteers to send them out to toy stores to look at to what extent the stores were marketing violence to children and to what extent they were promoting createable services. And why did you feel that your group should be involved with this? Why is this issue important to you? It's important because children learn what they play and if they play it's violence, they learn violence. We also were a concern in addition to violence about toys and entertainment that promote racial and gender stereotypes.

And these kinds of concerns were also on the survey that we took into the stores to raise them according to, from a scale of 0 to 100, according to 100 being the famous voting-created alternative, 0 to totally inappropriate services. And can you tell me some of the standards that you rated the stores on, like some of the questions that were on the survey? Yes, some of the questions were, for example, the store sells toy guns. And that question was worth hand points and if they sell guns that look like they're supposed to eat real guns that have qualified for zero on that question. Some of the other questions were in each, there were three categories of questions. One was looking at action figures and other types of toys, another was books, and activity books, or regular books, activity books, etc.

And each of those sections had a question about gender and roles and racial and ethnic groups, and to what extent the entertainment or toys in that section reinforced stereotypes about those groups. And then there were a particular in terms of action figures, how many of the toys were sold, the loaded violence, or aggressive behavior, or that the way to solve conflict is through sheer power, rather than the other type of guilt. And those were in terms of ten points, so there were ten questions on the survey in terms of ten points and rated the questions that had been added up, and that has been added up to that case in terms of the store.

And who participated in this? Was it various volunteers of your group? And were the stores cooperative? Yes, I think most of them, you know, was just a matter of observing what was happening in the stores, and so we had people in teams of two to go through the store and take the survey. And so it wasn't anything that anybody would have noticed on a busy holiday shopping Saturday. We do want to follow up this January after things are a little bit quieter in the stores, with store managers to talk about some of the concerns of the things you just saw in the stores. And because I also, that there were four outstanding stores, these stores had signed a plan just on violence. Back in October, every toy store in the city was decided to sign a plan, and these four signed it.

And as we sent people into the store to take a look at what they had to offer, we found that what they had told us that they didn't promote violence, that promoted alternative, cream alternative was really true. These four stores rated 99 and 100 percent of the public survey. And which stores were those? The Owls Nest, which is in the Great Plains Nature Center, the toy box, Explore Store, which is an exploration place, and saving gravy. And can you tell me some of the stores they didn't do so well? Yes. Toys are the east side store we looked at. Although I must say to their credits, they have taken steps. And we did not find any realistic what it does in the whole store, so we pleased with that. The other two, we looked at Wal-Mart on the west side, and looked at a K-Mart on the west side, and those two stores did poorly.

The right in the middle stores were pretty good. KB toys on the west side, we looked at, and actually they have significantly improved since last year. So they were at the bottom of our list last year, but since the wind sent it, any guns that they had were not realistic, and they were not as high-level for children. And what were the scores of some of the stores that scored lower? Yeah. Toys are us on east side of 56, Wal-Mart on the west side of 56, and K-Mart on the west side of 62.

And can you tell me what you look for when you're looking at racial and gender stereotypes? Well, for example, on gender stereotypes, we look at the, what was it called, the paint aisle, and that is, you can have lots of dolls and toys for girls. And we look through that, the dolls, for example, that most of them have several choices of Barbie dolls, as one example. Some stores, the Barbies are just fashion models, or you want some McDonald's or something, just a low wage worker. Other stores, I've seen a Barbie that's a doctor or a Barbie that has another professional role.

Those are the kinds of things we look at, our women depicted just as serious typical roles, or is that more of a big set? So, racial stereotyping, we look at the action figures, we look at the video games, the computer games that are being offered, and we, of course, we can't take time to preview all of them, but we take a look at the cover and read the description. It's obvious that, you know, people of color, or the evil person, or the, you know, the violent person, and the hero is a European American, and that's answers to that serious question. I must say, in the store I went to, was toward the rust, and there was some stereotyping, but it was not as bad as I thought it might be.

So, it may be that people, the producers of these games are being a little bit more careful in terms of saying that, certainly not more careful in terms of violence. Okay, do you have anything else we'd like to add? Well, I just like to say that the four stores that sign the pledge of non-violence, that, that's, takes some courage to do that, and they did that publicly, and I would encourage people to patronize those stores, also these are small stores, and the collection won't be as great as some of the bigger stores, but they do have very creative things, we'll find anywhere else. But I'd also like to say that in any of these stores, two, that all of the stores, even the ones that rated fairly low on a survey, do have creative toys. They do have good things to offer, and so I just encourage parents, and other people to shop at these shops, particularly in lines of what's been happening in our country, and what's currently happening in the war, so forth.

Children don't need to focus on violence, particularly this year, and hear a wave from toys, and if you see blatant glorification of violence in these shops, they say something to the manager. Let's let them know that there are alternatives, and that you're coming to their store for the other creative things that they have to offer. All right, thank you very much for your time this morning. Okay, I don't know if these like this, we want to follow up with Carol Brad, for the interface. Yeah, I have her number here. Okay. Okay, thanks very much. Thanks a lot. I hate it. Bye. What'd you read it?

I wanted to read it. So you can do mine if I tap your kids while they're running. Go right high. Oh, and you know, poor Skyler. Last time we had somebody from the media was here. Skyler active foolish, didn't they? Yeah, and you know what? I have to tell you something really sad. You guys, on Saturday night, they were showing film footage from our class in front of the war hundred people. And I was so embarrassed because Skyler was doing wrong. On his face, which is big as a thing on this wall. And you know what? How many people that embarrassed you? It embarrassed me. And you know who was there? Winston Brooks was there. Mrs. Popman was there. Dr. Williams was there. Mrs. John was there. Well, like a thing. And his face was probably... That's tall.

It's from here to the ground. And then you know, people started laughing. You said I remember Mr. Gaskin's here. He was at the camera. So, you're someone who has a problem. You know how that's right. On his birthday, it's the crime. He said I couldn't believe it. Pardon? Can you guys tell me what you're doing on your project today? Oh, well, I'm going to be on the regret. This cannot be the same color. I'm diagonally up and down in the corners. And how are you going to move them around so that they're like that? Well, I'm going to cut these out. And I'm going to put a yellow here, a blue here, a green here, and a red here. How are you going to do it?

First, I wouldn't give them. I would like try to just put them on there and not do them yet. So, you can move them around if you need to. To see if those two were the same or those two were the same or those two were the same. Because these two and these two are not supposed to be the same. They're not supposed to be all diagonal and the same color. We have the same color, but these can't be like that. All right, thanks. So, what are you guys doing over here? We're coloring the pictures and then we're going to put them on the right plate. Then we're going to glue them down. And how are you going to do it? Following the directions. And what are the directions? I'm coloring the picture. Cut out the squares. Place the squares on the grid so that no matching shape or color.

And then we're going to put them in the same row column for corner to corner that diagonal. And if you get stumped as your teacher for helping him, help for him. When your shapes are in the correct spaces, glue them down. Okay, and is this what you guys usually do at this time of the day? What do you usually do after lunch? Sometimes we do a time test. Yeah. Or we do a time test. That's math. Okay. We do different stuff. What's your favorite thing to do at school? Math. How about you? Math. Thank you. How are you getting ready to cut? Hey guys.

Because. We have really groups in 20 minutes. Thank you.