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Kansas begins effort to modernize decades old unemployment system

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Kansas begins effort to modernize decades old unemployment system


TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Division of Labor have began the $48 million, 26-month effort to modernize the state’s unemployment system – which was created within the Seventies.

On Wednesday, June 2, Governor Laura Kelly says the Kansas Division of Labor formally kicked off its $48 million, 26-month-long effort to modernize the Sunflower State’s unemployment insurance coverage system. She stated she additionally constructed on her earlier help for the mission with a letter to U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh which urged him to supply extra funds beforehand allotted by the U.S. Congress for modernization.

“My administration is working rapidly to replace our antiquated laptop methods so Kansans who want unemployment advantages don’t expertise the identical issues they confronted through the pandemic,” Gov. Kelly stated. “Congress promised to assist states modernize their unemployment insurance coverage methods and allotted the assets to get them began. Kansas upheld its finish of the deal by investing tens of millions of {dollars} in a brand new system. It’s now time for the U.S. Division of Labor to launch these modernization funds to the states as Congress directed. It’s the one method to make sure we’re ready for the subsequent financial downturn.”

Kelly stated the state’s present mainframe used to course of UI advantages was created within the Seventies. She famous the final main push to modernize the system began underneath Governor Kathleen Sebelius in 2005, however was deserted by the Brownback administration in 2011.

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“That shortsighted choice immediately led to the systemic inefficiencies and vulnerabilities that occurred inside the state’s unemployment system through the pandemic,” Kelly stated in a launch on Tuesday.

The Governor additionally stated the hassle to convey the state’s UI system into the twenty first century shall be led by info know-how specialists at Tata Consultancy Companies.

“We have now been trying ahead to today and to bringing everybody collectively to start the formal technique of creating a brand new, modernized unemployment system,” stated Kansas Labor Secretary Amber Shultz. “TCS is a succesful accomplice for KDOL to set a path for know-how and course of transformation that may allow the supply of software program that shall be conscious of the longer term wants of the state.”

Kelly stated the modernization will embrace:

  • Modernizing know-how The company’s antiquated IT legacy system which helps unemployment occasion taxes, cost of unemployment insurance coverage advantages and supply of employment providers shall be changed.
  • Enhancing buyer expertise – The system will ship improved providers like on-line self-service, automation, entry to knowledge, and integration with companions.
  • Reworking enterprise processes – Improved efficiencies in enterprise processes shall be offered, new instruments for KDOL staff shall be offered and simpler service deliveries will help Kansans.
  • Bettering knowledge safety – The system will be capable of higher anticipate and reply to safety threats and forestall unemployment insurance coverage fraud.
  • Offering expandable know-how – The system shall be able to delivering and supporting new packages and performance, in addition to connections to different methods like workforce instruments.

The Governor famous {that a} web page has been created on the KDOL web site to maintain Kansans up to date on the modernization mission’s progress. For the latest info, click on HERE.

To see a duplicate of the letter Gov. Kelly despatched the Division of Labor, click on HERE.

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Kansas

Can you guess the most Instagrammable site in Topeka? One company identified 10 in Kansas.

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Can you guess the most Instagrammable site in Topeka? One company identified 10 in Kansas.


Strike a pose and snap a photo at Topeka’s most Instagrammable location.

An organization recently named the Topeka Zoo the eighth most Instagrammable place in Kansas.

Top 10 most Instagrammable places in Kansas

Bonus Finder, a media company based in Denmark, checked the social media hashtags of more than 2,700 landmarks across the United States.

These were found to be the most popular Kansas sites, according to the hashtags.

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  • No. 1: Flint Hills has the most popular Kansas hashtag with 75,888 posts.
  • No. 2: Kansas Speedway has 22,275 posts under its hashtag.
  • No. 3: Allen Fieldhouse has 13,353 hash tagged posts.
  • No. 4: The Sedgwick County Zoo hashtag has 13,327 posts.
  • No. 5: Grinter Sunflower Farms has 10,795 hashtagged posts.
  • No. 6: INTRUST Bank Arena has 7,323 posts.
  • No. 7: Monuments Rocks Natural Landmark has 7,111 posts hashtagged.
  • No. 8: Topeka Zoo had 5,865 hashtagged posts.
  • No. 9: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve has 5,116 hashtagged posts.
  • No. 10: The Wichita Gardens have 3,371 posts hashtagged.

Topeka Zoo employees and other reaction to the ranking

The Topeka Zoo has nearly 30,000 followers on Instagram. The zoo also has a TikTok account with more than 35,000 followers and 1.3 million likes. On Facebook, the zoo has more than 55,000 followers and more than 44,000 likes.

“That’s very exciting,” guest engagement supervisor Brea Schmidt said. “I’m very happy to hear that. We definitely work hard every day to make sure we are sharing what we think guests want to see. So, to hear we were found eighth most Instagrammable is pretty exciting.”

Jen Goetz, creative and strategy director for the zoo, said the magic is in finding balance between what people want to see and following the zoo’s mission of conservation and education.

When asked what other Topeka sites they would have liked to see on the list, Schmidt and Goetz gave a shout-out to their neighbor, the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center.

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“I’m not surprised our incredible, growing Topeka Zoo made the list! From special displays like Zoo Lights to the furry faces that greet you, the Topeka Zoo is a must-visit attraction here,” president of Visit Topeka Sean Dixon said in a written statement. “The zoo is located in our beautiful Gage Park, which is where you’ll find more photogenic fun like the carousel and mini train.”

Here are some more Instagrammable sites in Topeka

Dixon said while the list didn’t include them, there are plenty of Instagrammable places across the city.

“And there are several other Instagrammable spots across Topeka that would have made our list,” Dixon said. “Don’t miss the rainbow-painted Equality House, the stunning Kansas Capitol, NOTO and its many murals, the Governor’s Mansion trails, and more.

“There is no shortage of photo ops when you know where to look.”

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Kansas City Chiefs join forces with Hallmark for Christmas rom-com ‘Holiday Touchdown’

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Kansas City Chiefs join forces with Hallmark for Christmas rom-com ‘Holiday Touchdown’


The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing together what the holidays are all about: football and Hallmark movies.

The NFL team has partnered with Hallmark to create an original holiday film centered around its back-to-back Super Bowl champions.

The movie, called “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story,” will begin production next month, filming entirely in Kansas City, Missouri. Fans will watch scenes at the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the first time a movie has been shot in the venue.

“This partnership unites two passionate fanbases and gives us an opportunity to show Chiefs Kingdom’s energy and tradition on one of the most-watched channels during the holiday season,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said in a news release.

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To honor the project between the two Kansas City-based organizations, the city lit up its downtown skyline purple and red on Wednesday night, the news release shared.

Who will be in ‘Holiday Touchdown’?

While no Chiefs players have been announced to be in the movie, the team revealed its three leads.

The film will star “Shifting Gears” actor Tyler Hynes, “Two Scoops Of Italy” actor Hunter King, and “Better Call Saul” actor Ed Begley Jr. in the sports holiday romantic comedy.

What is ‘Holiday Touchdown’ about?

“Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story” will follow Chiefs super fan Alana Higman (King), who’s determined to win the team’s Fan of the Year contest, and fan engagement director Derrick (Hynes). The two begin to feel romantic tension as Derrick evaluates whether Alana’s family deserves to the win the contest.

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But when Alana’s grandfather (Begley Jr.) loses his vintage Chiefs winter hat, she begins to question her future with Derrick unless “a little Christmas magic can throw a Hail Mary.”

50% of Hallmark viewers watch sports during the holidays

While the collaboration may seem odd, the Chiefs and Hallmark are assured that the movie makes the perfect holiday crossover.

More than half of Hallmark Channel viewers also watched sports during the channel’s Countdown to Christmas aired last year in 2023, according to the news release.

“With Hallmark and the Kansas City Chiefs both homegrown, rooted in values, tradition and community, there is a special alchemy between these two iconic organizations,” Hallmark Chief Brand Officer Darren Abbott said in a statement. “By blending the warmth of Hallmark storytelling with the excitement of professional football, we are thrilled to give audiences a front-row seat to this community’s spirit, rich traditions and passionate fans.”

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Kansas courts to change domains in effort to be more transparent

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Kansas courts to change domains in effort to be more transparent


TOPEKA, Kan. (KCTV) – In an effort to be more transparent, the Kansas court system is changing its domain from .org to .gov this summer.

On July 1, the domain will change to .gov on the judicial branch website, the online attorney registration portal, and an online attorney directory.

Email addresses for the court system’s 290 justices and judges and roughly 1,700 employees will also change in late July.

Chief Justice Marla Luckert said changing things from .org to .gov will clearly communicate to anyone who uses the services they are communicating with a government entity.

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“We researched the benefits of making this change last summer, but we were working on other time-sensitive projects at that time,” Luckert said. “The Legislature’s action this spring to make it a requirement emphasized that now is the best time to make this change.”

The Kansas Judicial Branch said moving to a .gov domain also requires them to follow certain rules which contribute to a more secure environment for all government.



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