The pandemic created an uptick of need for food distribution as people became suspended from their jobs. With unemployed people in Kansas still having issues with returning to work in some sectors and a slow payment response time from the Kansas Department of Labor, the pressure on food banks continues to be strong. By Peggy Bair/HeartKC Continue reading Need Still Strong for Food Bank

Kansas Senate Considers HB2196 as Unemployed Kansas Workers Brace for Fewer Weeks of Benefits “If you give them more time…they are not going to be sharp,” – Rep. Sean Tarwater Unemployed Kansas workers – which include workers who live in other states but are employed in Kansas – will see a reduction of benefit weeks and tighter restrictions on back-to-work requirements beginning April 1, 2021 … Continue reading Kansas Senate Poised to Reduce Benefits Weeks for Unemployed Kansas Workers

Alec Osterhaus 8 mos., was brought with his family to attend a rally in front of Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s mansion Saturday, March 13, 2021 in Topeka. HIs mother has been waiting 11 weeks without payment from KDOL. Continue reading The KDOL Stall

Niah, 10, is one of three children whose mother depends on payments from Kansas Department of Labor to pay for food, rent and basics. The family has gone without payment for the past 11 weeks and can no longer pay bills. Continue reading Out of Money, Out of Time

Unpaid Kansans Tapped Out, Fed Up This is one in a series of profiles showing faces of Americans effected by the cascade of economic, sickness and emotional devastation since the beginning of the 2020 pandemic. Nearly a year after losing her job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kansas resident Anastasia Anthony fears for the welfare of her two children as she scrapes by financially without … Continue reading Tapped Out, Unpaid

Unemployment Claimants: KDOL Feb. 19 Press Release While hundreds of KDOL claimants on social media sites lament that they received no payments today, a much anticipated KDOL promise of February 19, 2021 date for payments to be released to unemployment claimants of the Kansas Department of Labor has been clarified today by KDOL communications director Jerry Grasso. The press release clarifies that 4800 claimants will … Continue reading KDOL Press Release Feb. 19, 2021

Holiday Music is Just a 1-ana-2-ana-424 Away The Jazz 424 Lounge will be hosting Karaoke December 24, 2020 beginning at 6 p.m. in Leavenworth, KS. Owner James Diggs (shown unmasked in one photo taken prior to the pandemic) tends the drinks at the well-stocked bar. ©2020 Peggy Bair/HeartKC James and Georgette Diggs are the welcoming hosts of Jazz 424 Lounge. The couple previously owned and … Continue reading Holiday Music is Just a 1-ana-2-ana-424 Away

“Some of our neighbors were not aware (of the need in the community) until they saw that [food] line. Because the line was normally inside.” – Iris Arnold, director Leavenworth Community Mission. Continue reading Gift of Giving is Her Mission

December 2020 will be a sparse holiday in the Heartland for those still not receiving their unemployment claims. ©2020 Peggy Bair/HeartKC Continue reading Losses Pile Up for Unemployed Kansans