TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Until Governor Laura Kelly signed Senate Bill 419 in May, Kansas was one of two states without Good Samaritan Laws, which overlook drug possession charges for those who call for help during life-threatening situations.

This changes starting July 1, thanks to the efforts of various lawmakers and advocates.

Since her daughter Kaylee Burger passed away from an accidental overdose in August, Amber Saale-burger has worked tirelessly to ensure no other family feels that pain, through advocacy and by passing out Narcan and fentanyl strips, but she knew more had to be done and felt Kansas needed to implement laws recognizing the value of a life despite drug-related struggles.

” There’s this big stigma, you know, ‘You’re a junkie, you’re an addict. You’re not worth saving,’ but absolutely they are,” Saale-burger said. “ They’re somebody’s mom, or sister, or brother. “

Losing four family members in the past two years to fentanyl, this crisis became personal for Saale-burger. She believes her loved ones would still be here today had someone not been too scared to dial 911 immediately.

“My sister-in-law was 36 and her three kids are missing their mom because she’s not here because they were afraid to call,” Saale-burger explained. “My 16-year-old son-in-law: the same situation. He took a Percocet, he thought and he didn’t wake up. “

She reached out to Kansas State Representative Pat Proctor, knowing he already had one foot in the door trying to get new legislation passed. Seeing the uptick of deaths at home in Leavenworth, he was fully on board.

“This fentanyl epidemic has just hit us like a tsunami,” Proctor said. “These drugs are put into pills that look like Oxycontin or look like Percocet or look a hundred other drugs.”

Saale-burger and Proctor were among several to give testimony in favor of the bill.

Proctor emphasizes a government official’s responsibility for the well-being of their citizens and says you can’t save someone’s life that’s already dead.

“When somebody’s in the middle of an overdose incident,” Proctor said. “You know, none of that philosophical stuff matters. We need to get them help immediately revive them and then we can concentrate on getting them help for their addiction.”

Both encourage future bystanders in that situation to take action without fear.

“If this saves just one life it’ll all have been worth it,” Proctor said.

Copyright 2024 WIBW. All rights reserved.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Parts of the KSHB 41 viewing are included in a tornado watch until 11 p.m. Friday.

KSHB 41 meteorologist Wes Perry says storms will likely for between 6 and 11 p.m. in southeastern Nebraska before moving south toward the Kansas City area.

LINK | KSHB 41 Radar
LINK | Latest KSHB 41 forecast
LINK | KSHB 41 weather blog

If KSHB cuts into weather programming, the stream of our coverage will be shown in the video player below:

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sporting Kansas City announced Friday that Mike Burns — the former general manager of the New England Revolution — will be stepping in as the club’s sporting director.

Burns will “oversee player recruitment and roster building strategy and the continued development of the club’s professional player pathway,” according to a release from Sporting KC.

The news comes after Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes announced that he would transition from the club’s general manager to the role of chief soccer officer, while remaining Sporting KC’s manager.

Former Portland Timbers General Manager Gavin Wilkinson was initially named to the sporting director role in January, immediately garnering criticism for his role in concealing sexual harassment allegations against former coach Paul Riley.

Later that month, he and Sporting KC announced that they had mutually agreed to part ways.

Now, it’s Burns stepping in to fill the role. Burns was a member of New England’s technical staff from 2005-2019 and was part of four Eastern Conference championships and one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

He also has a past history in Kansas City, playing for the Wizards from 2001-2002.

Burns is set to address reporters in a press conference on Tuesday.

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