KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Doulas looking to expand their business are receiving a boost.

A doula is a woman, typically without formal obstetric training, who is employed to provide guidance and support to a pregnant woman during labor to improve outcomes, including lower cesarean rates, shorter labors, decreased postpartum depression, and more personalized birthing experiences.

“Doulas play a critical role in supporting healthy pregnancies, safe births, and stronger families,” said Dr. Marvia Jones.

The Kansas City Health Department, in partnership with Community Capital Fund (CCF), a 501c3, is launching the KC Doula Program, a new grant to support doula businesses and organizations.

Applications for funding opened June 16 with a deadline of July 28, 2025.

Funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, the KC Doula Program provides financial assistance of up to $15,000 per awardee to enhance services and expand reach.

Grant funds can cover continuing education, insurance costs, business development, administrative support, and other professional development needs.

Eligible applicants must:

• Be 18 years or older
• Serve families within Kansas City, Missouri city limits
• Be a legally established business or nonprofit in Kansas City, Missouri
• Be an enrolled Medicaid provider or intend to use program funds to gain Medicaid Provider status
• Be a certified doula who has provided services for at least 12 months

Applicants will be notified of award decisions by August 18, 2025.

The first round of grant disbursements is scheduled for August 25, 2025.

Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) is concerned about a possible increase in unemployment insurance fraud after the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) discontinued a program designed to improve their system’s security.

The Unemployment Insurance Integrity and Fraud Prevention Grant Program was created to prevent and detect unemployment insurance fraud. It funded system security improvements such as identity verification and data analytics.

“The purpose of this grant was program integrity,” said Amber Shultz, Kansas Secretary of Labor. “So that would include systems for fraud prevention and detection… and investigations in cases where we did send out funds.”

It was instituted in all 50 states after the COVID-19 pandemic, when labor departments saw a significant increase in criminals, or “bad actors”, attempting to steal money from pandemic-era government relief programs.

“The lesson we learned during the pandemic was our systems just simply weren’t prepared for that,” Shultz said. “So USDOL recognized that, and they recognized states needed to be provided assistance to be able to combat these bad actors.”

KDOL first received grant funds in 2023, but all funds were cancelled on June 13.

Now, Shultz said they’re left wondering how their systems will hold up in future attacks.

“It concerns me that once the word gets out to these bad actors, that all 50 states are going to be subjected to ‘Oh they’re not going to have the funds, so clearly they’re not going to be as fortified against bad actors.’”

Shultz said the decision to discontinue this program is counterproductive to the federal government’s efforts to improve national security and reduce fraud.

13 News reached out to the U.S. Department of Labor for comment on these changes, but has not received a response.

Copyright 2025 WIBW. All rights reserved.

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Since he was drafted in the first round of the MLB Draft last summer, former K-State baseball star Kaelen Culpepper has been climbing through the ranks of professional baseball. Once the realization set in that he’d have the chance to play in Kansas once again, he’d had a call-up to AA circled as a goal.

Tuesday night at Equity Bank Park for the Wichita Wind Surge, less than a year from that night he was drafted, he stepped to the plate for the first time in the Sunflower State since his time as a Wildcat.

“I think I worked really hard to get back here,” Culpepper said. “I guess I’m here now and it feels really good because hopefully I’ll get to see some familiar faces. I’m just glad to be back in an area that I’m really familiar with.”

Culpepper is currently the No. 4 ranked prospect in the Minnesota Twins system and has quickly risen through the ranks of the team’s farm system, impressing eyes at every level.

“I wouldn’t say fast tracking because it’s all on my time and on their time,” he said. “It’s just what I’m doing and whenever they feel like I’m ready, that’s when they’ll pull the trigger.”

In his first two nights back in Kansas, he continued to impress. Culpepper crushed home runs in back-to-back nights in his return to his former state.

“Oh, he’s a baller man,” said Twins top prospect Walker Jenkins. “He goes out there and gives it his all. Absolute stud.”

Now as he continues to chase his big league dreams, he will do so for the time being in front of fans that know him well.

“I had a lot of friends, family, ex-teammates and parents reach out to me and say ‘Hey, we’re really excited. Hopefully we can come out and catch a game,’” he said. “So, I’m really looking forward to that.”

Although he is a native of Memphis, Culpepper said that Kansas holds a special place due to his time at Kansas State. He says he will savor his time playing in the state that helped make him the player he’s become.

“I definitely made the right decision [to go to Kansas State,]” he said. “The coaches at Kansas State treated me with a lot of hospitality and treated me like family. I’ll always cherish that. I’m very grateful for the opportunity they gave me.”

“Look where I’m at now. The sky is the limit.”

Copyright 2025 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com