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Looking ahead: What the loss of crucial funding will mean for child crime victims in Kansas • Kansas Reflector

Published

4 months ago

August 27, 2024

Looking ahead: What the loss of crucial funding will mean for child crime victims in Kansas • Kansas Reflector

In an ideal world, my job wouldn’t exist. Children’s Advocacy Centers would be superfluous. Crime would never touch our communities.

The reality is very different.

Last year, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kansas provided more than 8,500 services — from forensic interviews, to mental health care, to advocacy services — to 4,400 children facing the severe aftermath of victimhood. The reality is that the 17 accredited CACs in the state serve children from infancy to 18 years of age, of all races and walks of life, guiding them through the criminal justice system as they heal from their traumas.

For years, Kansas CACs have been crucial for children and their families in the aftermath of violent crimes such as sexual assault, physical abuse, witness to violence, child sex trafficking. In some of their toughest moments, the centers offer solace and support. CACs are instrumental in helping victims navigate the harrowing journey toward recovery and justice.

But now, their services are in jeopardy. Budget cuts loom and the threat of shutdown is real.

As the executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kansas, my mission has been to promote excellence in child abuse response and prevention through training, support, and statewide mobilization of our member CACs. This effort aims to create centers of distinction dedicated to supporting children and families through some of the most traumatic circumstances in their lives. Rather than leaving child victims to shoulder the burden of seeking justice and facing victimhood alone, our victim services professionals provide the crucial support these young victims need. However, to continue offering these indispensable services, CACs require adequate funding.

The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), and through it the Crime Victims Fund (CVF), has assisted CACs in their crucial work for decades. Unlike taxpayer-funded initiatives, VOCA provides a sustainable federal funding source that bolsters numerous service providers dedicated to aiding millions of crime victims each year. Through this critical support, countless children and their families have found solace during their most difficult moments.

I’ve seen firsthand the way our services step into these young lives. A girl was sexually abused by her babysitter’s husband when she was only 3 years old. Her mother reached out to her local center the next day and from that first moment, the child was ushered into the recovery process by the committed staff. Over the next few years, she was given everything necessary to overcome her trauma. Now, after the resolution of her case, the girl is still in contact with her Family Advocate and offers her story to demonstrate how vital CACs are for these children and their families.

CACs are ceaseless advocates for crime victims, dedicated to ensuring they receive the necessary time and resources to heal and rebuild their lives.

This year, VOCA grants saw a $600 million federal cut. Across the board, the nation’s nearly 1,000 CACs are being forced to consider making cuts or shutting their doors.

Kansas is lucky to have received state support through the Governor’s Grants Program, adding an additional $1.8 million to the fiscal year 2024 budget and $1.1 million to the projected budget for fiscal year 2025, stabilizing programming and ensuring uninterrupted services to the children and families at all 17 Kansas CACs. While grateful for the increase stateside, our centers remain underfunded to meet the current need for services in our communities.

This vital injection into CAC funding won’t save it all. VOCA cuts will still leave thousands without essential services like victim advocacy, mental health services. These survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse will not have the same access to services or the support that we have provided for decades.

Already, Kansas CAC’s are unable to reach 32% of the state. Further limitation of our services will see that percentage grow, cutting off countless children that need to reach our doors, it will result in shrinking staffs, shutting down satellite centers and leaving our rural communities to fend for themselves without the funds to establish their own CAC. The Kansas Legislature has taken care to keep doors open in our urban and rural communities, but we are still around $4 million short to meet the demand.

At the end of the day, VOCA cuts mean that child victims will have to carry the trauma of their abuse alone.

Before addressing long-term reform in CVF funding, we must stop the bleeding from cuts that directly impact victims and survivors. That is exactly what U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) proposes with the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2024. This bill is intended to maintain current service levels nationwide and provide more time for the CVF to close the funding gap. But most importantly, it will allow CACs throughout the U.S. to continue operations at the highest level.

The reality is that to end the programs for these young crime victims would be to abandon them. We owe crime victims more than that.

Kasey Dalke is executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kansas. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.

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Taylor Swift shares group hug with mom Andrea and Donna Kelce after Chiefs’ big win against Texans

Published

4 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Taylor Swift shares group hug with mom Andrea and Donna Kelce after Chiefs’ big win against Texans

‘Tis the damn season for Taylor Swift to watch her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, play football!

The Grammy winner was spotted sharing a group hug with her mom, Andrea Swift, and Travis’s mom, Donna Kelce, after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday.

In a video shared on X, the “Cruel Summer” singer — who wore a red Charlotte Simone coat ($404) and black Chanel bucket hat — could be seen hugging Andrea as Donna stood and clapped alongside them. Then, as Donna turned toward them, the ladies pulled her in to join their warm embrace.

When they eventually pulled away from the group hug, Taylor, Andrea and Donna turned back toward the field and continued clapping.

This weekend’s victory was a special one for the Chiefs as it marked their first undefeated season at home since 2003.

The last time the Chiefs went 8-0 at Arrowhead was 2003. And now that they’re 14-1 overall, they have matched their most victories in the regular season — also accomplished in 2020 and 2022.

The pop star’s attendance at the game came a week after she and Kelce — who began dating in summer 2023 — celebrated her 35th birthday together on Dec. 13.

Although the Super Bowl champion, 35, had a “mandatory” team Christmas party to attend, he made sure to “leave early to go be with Taylor for her birthday.”

A source told Page Six that the pro athlete showered Swift with a “a ton of gifts” for her special day.

We also learned that they had an intimate gathering “just them two,” with a separate source telling us that Kelce wanted to make her birthday “extra special.”

Prior to her private birthday festivities, Swift gushed about Kelce during her visit to a children’s hospital in Kansas City.

The “Anti-Hero” singer chatted with a young patient who said, “I like Travis now,” to which Swift replied, “Yes, me too!”

“That’s an absolute yes on that one,” she added.

The billionaire musician had skipped Kelce’s previous away game against the Cleveland Browns, which the Chiefs won 21-7.

The pop songstress has only attended home games this season due to security reasons.

Swift also did not attend the team’s Dec. 8 match-up versus the Los Angeles Chargers as she was wrapping up her record-breaking Eras Tour in Vancouver.

However, the singer paid tribute to her beau during her final concert with a shout-out to the “guy on the Chiefs” while performing her hit song “Karma.”

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Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs prediction, odds, best bets for NFL on Saturday

Published

12 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs prediction, odds, best bets for NFL on Saturday

The Houston Texans will square off with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16 of the NFL season at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday at 1 p.m. EST. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have yet to score 30 points in a game this season, and with a predicted score of 23-20, our data model thinks that streak will remain intact. However, our experts believe the oddsmaker have gotten overly aggressive with the total: our best bet for today is Over 41.5 points (-115).

In anticipation of this late-season AFC clash, the data analysts at Dimers.com have simulated the game 10,000 times, and then compared these results to current NFL betting odds to inform the data-driven betting preview provided to you below.

This preview includes Dimers’ best bets and predicted scoreline for Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs. To unlock Dimers’ full suite of data-driven betting insights, which includes daily props, trends, and parlays, sign up for Dimers Pro with promo code SYRACUSE10, which will save you 10% off your first subscription payment.

Bet365 is now legal in Pennsylvania, making this the perfect chance for Steelers fans to claim huge betting bonuses with our brand new exclusive bet365 bonus code “SYRACUSE”, while sports fans in New York State can take full advantage of our NBA League Pass FanDuel promo code. Additionally, bettors are encouraged to check out this exclusive promo offer from DraftKings and BetMGM.

Texans vs. Chiefs betting preview

Utilize the interactive widget below to discover the current spread, over/under, and moneyline betting odds and probabilities for the Texans-Chiefs game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

This prediction and best bet for Saturday’s NFL matchup between the Texans and Chiefs is from Dimers.com, a trusted source for sports betting predictions.

Check out all the important details on today’s game, as well as the best odds sourced from the top sportsbooks in the country.

Game details

Key information on the Texans vs. Chiefs matchup, including where the game is and what time it kicks off.

Teams: Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Date: Saturday, December 21, 2024
Kickoff: 1 p.m. EST
Location: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
NFL standings: Current NFL division standings
NFL injuries: Check the latest updates to the official NFL injury report

Odds

The latest and best odds for the NFL battle between the Texans and Chiefs.

Spread: Texans +3.5 (-115), Chiefs -3.5 (-102)
Moneyline: Texans +160, Chiefs -180
Total: Over/Under 41.5 (-115/-105)

The odds and lines presented here are the best available from selected sports betting sites at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Expert prediction: Texans vs. Chiefs

Utilizing state-of-the-art data analysis and advanced algorithms, the experts at Dimers have performed 10,000 simulations of Saturday’s Texans vs. Chiefs game.

According to Dimers’ famous predictive analytics model, the Chiefs are more likely to beat the Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. This prediction is based on the model giving the Chiefs a 63% chance of winning the game.

Elsewhere on the betting board, Dimers predicts that the bookies have gotten it right and the Texans and Chiefs each have a 50% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 41.5 points has a 56% chance of going over.

As always, these predictions and probabilities are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change.

Texans vs. Chiefs best bet

Our top pick for the Texans vs. Chiefs Week 16 NFL game is to bet on Over 41.5 points (-115).

This betting advice is formulated through detailed simulations and valuable wagering intelligence, designed to deliver you the best possible plays.

Score prediction for Texans vs. Chiefs

Dimers’ projected final score for the Houston vs. Kansas City game on Saturday has the Chiefs winning 23-20.

This expert prediction is based on each team’s average score following 10,000 game simulations, offering a glimpse into the potential outcome.

NFL player props: Saturday

NFL player props are an exciting way to wager on Saturday’s game without necessarily betting on its outcome.

This article features the most likely first and anytime touchdown scorers for the Texans and Chiefs, along with projected player stats.

Houston Texans

First touchdown scorer predictions

Joe Mixon: 14.4% probability
Nico Collins: 10.6% probability
Tank Dell: 6.6% probability

Anytime touchdown predictions

Joe Mixon: 53.3% probability
Nico Collins: 41.6% probability
Tank Dell: 28.4% probability

Projected box score leaders

QB passing yards: C.J. Stroud, 270 yards
Receiving yards: Nico Collins, 86 yards
Rushing yards: Joe Mixon, 73 yards

Kansas City Chiefs

First touchdown scorer predictions

Isiah Pacheco: 8.2% probability
DeAndre Hopkins: 7.3% probability
Xavier Worthy: 6.7% probability

Anytime touchdown predictions

Isiah Pacheco: 34.1% probability
DeAndre Hopkins: 30.0% probability
Travis Kelce: 28.7% probability

Projected box score leaders

QB passing yards: Patrick Mahomes, 274 yards
Receiving yards: Travis Kelce, 64 yards
Rushing yards: Isiah Pacheco, 51 yards

NFL Week 16: Texans vs. Chiefs

Get ready for Saturday’s matchup between the Texans and Chiefs in Week 16 of the NFL season at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, which is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. EST. We emphasize that all of the NFL best bets and NFL predictions on this page are based on 10,000 data-driven simulations of the Texans vs. Chiefs matchup, and they are accurate at the time of publication. They aim to assist you make more informed choices when placing bets at online sportsbooks.

Please note that when engaging in online betting, it is important to exercise responsible gambling practices and consult reputable sources for the latest and most accurate information.

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Kansas State Lands Commitment From FCS Standout

Published

20 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Kansas State Lands Commitment From FCS Standout

The Kansas State football team added another commitment on Friday.

West Georgia safety Mar’Quavious Moss announced he will continue his career with the Wildcats. He has two years of eligibility left.

KLIEMAN TALKS RUTGERS

Kansas State coach Chris Klieman almost visibly exhaled a sigh of relief when asked about Rate Bowl preparation.

With so much talk about recruiting and the transfer portal, Klieman finally had the opportunity to rave about facing a team like the Scarlet Knights.

“Greg Schiano is a phenomenal football coach, so much respect for him,” Klieman said. “I have not had the chance to meet him yet. I’m excited about that just because of the respect I have for him. They’re gonna be disciplined, they’re gonna be physical, they’re not gonna beat themselves. I’m sure they’re gonna be going through some of the same things, whether it’s injuries, trying to play some young guys, to maybe a guy deciding if he’s going to the NFL. That makes it a little bit difficult to prep, but our guys are really excited to be able to play a Big Ten school.”

GIDDENS, PARISH OUT

Running back DJ Giddens and defensive back Jacob Parrish have officially played their last collegiate games.

Klieman confirmed Friday they will not play against Rutgers.

“Those are the only two, I think, outside the portal that aren’t playing,” Klieman said.

Parrish and Giddens have declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. Giddens is projected to be selected in the second or third round, while Parrish is likely a Day 3 acquisition.

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Kansas State Wildcats On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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