The Kansas Department of Commerce doesn’t run criminal background checks on nearly any of its prospective employees. That’s one explanation of how the agency hired a felon with a history of financial crimes to handle over $100 million in American Rescue Plan Act money. Former Commerce employee Jonathan Clayton is suspected of embezzling public funds. […]
ARPA
Posted inKansas State Government
Follow the money: How Kansas lawmakers are spending $3.1 billion in budget surplus
Editor’s note: The story was revised to clarify that the state’s 2022 budget has a $2.7 billion surplus and a projected $3.1 billion surplus for the 2023 budget. In a stark turn from its more austere budgetary past, the state of Kansas will likely close out the fiscal year in June with a larger-than-expected $2.7 […]
Posted inLocal Government
Small businesses were ineligible for Wichita small-business grants. That confused a lot of people.
Jessie Gray’s business plan always included building a stage. The troupes that frequent Gray’s improv studio, the Flying Pig on East Douglas Avenue, give performances to sold-out crowds on a flat surface. When Gray opened in 2019, she estimated that by 2022 she would have the funds for a stage and lights. COVID changed that. […]
Posted inLocal Government
Sedgwick County allocates all $100 million of its COVID recovery funds — to itself
Since COVID-19 began, the nonprofit Cairn Health has struggled to maintain its budget to provide health services to low-income individuals in Sedgwick County. “We have seen a decrease in our revenues because we’re primarily funded through what would be considered fundraising, either through the United Way’s fundraising or through our own,” said Aaron Walker, executive […]
Posted inLocal Government
Why $161 million in local COVID relief still hasn’t been spent
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Heartspring — a nonprofit that provides services and education to children with special needs and developmental disabilities — spent $109,000 on personal protective equipment and cleaning equipment. They paid $1.24 million in COVID-related personnel costs. They’ve also lost $170,000 to rescheduled, modified or canceled events and $2.12 million in revenue when the […]