We stand with Marion County Record
Several stories have piqued our interest, curiosity and concern this week. Let's take a minute to address these issues and call attention to them.
Topeka Capital-Journal stands with Marion County Record
First, we stand in support and solidarity with the Marion County Record.
The Capital-Journal's Jason Alatidd reports computers, cell phones and other work and personal materials of journalists of the small Kansas town were seized by local police. The Marion police and Marion County sheriff's deputies served the warrants Aug. 11 at the paper's office. Law enforcement seized the file server and other equipment necessary for publishing the weekly newspaper. Those items were to be returned this week.
Advocacy groups were among those pointing to the flagrant violation of press freedom.
We don't want to see this happen again.
Kansas DCF and leaders must find way to fix child welfare system
Next, The Capital-Journal's Andrew Bahl reports Kansas' child welfare system has continued to lag in a number of key areas over the past year, despite a lawsuit settlement promising greater improvement. Data showed a 54% rise in the number of children sleeping in offices from 2021 to 2022.
While most of the 85 children spent only one night in an office, nine did so for more than five days and six children slept in offices on separate occasions. This is an issue that the Department of Children and Families, the Kelly administration and other groups and leaders need to take seriously.
No children should be sleeping in offices.
Dolly Parton's literacy efforts through Imagination Library an inspiration
Additionally, we'd like to thank and commend Dolly Parton for helping expand literacy for young Kansans through her Imagination Library program. The CapitalJournal's Rafael Garcia reported that the beloved country singer arrived in Kansas to help celebrate the state's Imagination Library, which sends children's books to every family in the state.
Garcia reports since 2005 Kansas-affiliated programs have helped send more than 3.8 million books to children around the state.
Kansas must get ahead of health care worker shortage
Finally, Kansas officials are worried about a shortage of health care workers now and in the future, raising concerns that a field already experiencing a workforce shortage will be strained as the population ages. Alatidd reports the state has 20 geriatricians and fewer than 20 board-certified geriatric psychiatrists. About 4% of all social workers specialize in aging, and about 1.2% of all psychologists specialize in dementia evaluations.
Additional concerns about the median pay for registered nurses in Kansas is less than all border states.
We need to take this seriously and do what we can to ensure as our population ages they have the quality care they deserve. This means supporting our health care workers, providing proper training and providing them with the resources they need to be successful.
We hope these issues find conclusions that are helpful for Kansas.