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KANSAS CITY NEWS TODAY - Thursday, January 24, 2012

Missouri to Receive $54 Million in Disaster Relief
KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), January 24, 2012 - U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan has allocated $400 million in emergency aid to help communities in eight states to recover from presidentially declared natural disasters in 2011.

Provided through HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, these grants will support long-term disaster recovery efforts in areas with the greatest extent of 'unmet need.'

The State of Missouri will receive $8,719,059, at least 80 percent of which will support long-term recovery activities in Jasper County following last spring's severe storms, tornadoes and flooding. In addition, the City of Joplin will receive $45,266,709 directly from HUD to support its efforts to recover from last year's devastating tornado.

"Last year, I personally saw the extent of the destruction left behind by several of these disasters, the hardship these communities are feeling, and the work that lies ahead," said Donovan. "These funds will supplement other forms of disaster assistance to put these states and local areas on the path toward long-term recovery."

On November 18, 2011, Congress appropriated $100 million in CDBG funds to support long-term disaster recovery throughout the nation. At that same time, Congress gave HUD the authority to allocate up to $300 million in additional CDBG funds to assist "the most impacted and distressed areas" in the wake of last year's disasters. Donovan elected to exercise HUD's full authority by targeting the maximum amount of CDBG funding allowed toward helping these states and local areas.

These funds are intended to confront unmet housing, business and infrastructure needs beyond those addressed by other forms of public and private assistance. Using a combination of federal data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA), HUD identified those states and local communities most impacted and requiring the greatest assistance to recover due to the devastating tornadoes in the Southeast and Missouri; the remnants of Hurricanes Irene and Lee in the Northeast and New England; severe flooding in parts of North Dakota; and destructive wildfires in Texas.

City Reduces Pet Licensing Fees to Increase Compliance
KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), January 24, 2012 - The City of Kansas City's pet licensing fees will be reduced in an effort to encourage residents to license their pet dogs, cats and ferrets, as is required by Chapter 14 of the City's Code of Ordinances. "The City's Animal Shelter receives more than 5,000 lost or abandoned animals annually," said David Park, director of the Neighborhood and Community Services Department. "Many of the animals are owned pets, but without a license tag, there is no way to contact the owner." As of Jan. 22, the changes in City ordinance related to pet licensing will be:

All one-year pet licenses are $10 (altered or unaltered pets).
All three-year pet licenses are $27 (altered or unaltered pets).
Free ride home program - "licensed" lost or stray pets will be taken home instead of to the shelter one time per year. No ticket will be issued for pets that run at large.
No shelter fees will be assessed if the owner is home when the pet is returned; half fees will be assessed if the owner cannot be located, and the pet is reclaimed at the shelter.
Amnesty will be granted on $25 late fees until May 1, 2012.
All funds generated from license sales support improved care and treatment of animals at the shelter.

Pet owners can license their pet at the City's Animal Shelter at 4400 Raytown Road or electronically at www.petdata.com. They may also contact their veterinarian, who may be able to sell pet licenses directly. The pet license fee changes were recommended by a pet licensing task force convened to identify barriers to pet licensing and develop strategies to increase licensing compliance. In the upcoming weeks, the task force will launch a new Pet Licensing Campaign: "Lost Pets Can't Call Home." The campaign will promote the benefits of licensing pets and provide information on how to license a pet.

MO Medicaid Fraud Unit Collected More than $20 Million
KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), January 24, 2012 - Attorney General Chris Koster said his office collected more than $20 million and took action against 26 providers for Medicaid fraud in 2011. In the past three years, the Attorney General's Office has collected almost $150 million in Medicaid fraud recoveries.

Koster's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is a national leader in cost-effectiveness. According to the latest available data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit collected more than $31.00 for each dollar spent in federal fiscal year 2010, the highest ratio in the nation. In the previous two years, Missouri was No. 2 in the nation in recoveries per grant dollar.

According to Koster, last year his office:

Resolved criminal matters regarding 11 medical and home health care providers. Two individuals are currently serving prison time, and seven others will serve prison time if they do not meet all the terms of their probation. In the other two cases, the Attorney General's Office was able to negotiate settlements with the individuals.

Resolved civil cases against 15 providers, including Beverly Hills Pharmacy in St. Louis, which was found to have routinely submitted unlawful claims to the Medicaid program. Beverly Hills Pharmacy paid the state $500,000 in a settlement.

"My office is committed to aggressively pursuing medical and home health care providers who are stealing from the taxpayers of Missouri by committing Medicaid fraud," Koster said. "Our criminal prosecutions and our recoveries of large sums of money serve as a warning to providers who would consider submitting false bills to Medicaid: we are watching, and you will not get away with it."

Koster's office also takes action against individuals who abuse Medicaid recipients. The office filed criminal charges against Christopher Mayo, who pleaded guilty last May to having physically abused a Medicaid recipient residing in a Marion County skilled nursing facility. Mayo is now serving five years in prison.

City of Kansas City, Mo. Bright Future Employment Fair
KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), January 24, 2012 - The City of Kansas City, Mo., invites residents ages 16 and older interested in paid internship positions to apply to attend the Eighth Annual Bright Future Employment Fair.

The fair will take place Saturday, April 14 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kansas City Convention Center, 301 W. 13th St.

Those interested in attending must apply and submit a resume online at www.kcmo.org/brightfuture by Monday, March 5.

"The Bright Future Employment Program is a great way for our community's young people to hone important job skills and build their professional resumes. I hope our residents take advantage of this unique opportunity and I look forward to meeting a new group of Bright Future Interns," said Mayor Sly James.

The Bright Future program has provided more than 3,500 area residents with paid part-time, full-time and internship opportunities since its inception in 2005.

"I started working in First District Councilman Scott Wagner's office last summer as a Bright Future intern and that experience led me to my current internship in the Office of the Mayor," said Erin Mullally, Bright Future intern and Engage KC Board co-chair. "The Bright Future Program allowed me the opportunity to gain valuable practical experience in local government. It was a great way to network and connect with people who were key contacts in helping me start my career in law and public policy."

The City's Office of Civic and Community Engagement will also provide a Resume Preparation Seminar on Saturday, March 31 to assist residents with resume techniques and interviewing tools.

In addition, the Engage KC Leadership Board is sponsoring an ongoing professional attire clothing drive for applicants. To set up a time to donate professional attire, contact Engage KC Co-Chair Erin Mullally at Erin.Mullally@kcmo.org or at 816-513-6570.

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