October 2022

At Approximately 3:20 pm, the Ellis County Fire Department was requested for mutual aid for a large grass fire approaching Ellis County from Ness County. Shortly after arriving on scene, fire crews identified the fire had already entered Ellis County. Many of the fire companies in Ellis County were already responding to three other fire calls for service. As fire crews arrived on scene in southwest Ellis County, crews were met with 60+ MPH winds and low visibility due to smoke and dust. The location of the fire was in a remote area where the fire was difficult to access as it is open range with very limited county roads.

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, today, unveiled the annual “Overview of the Health Insurance Market in Kansas.” This annual report details the 2023 Kansas Health Insurance Market (Marketplace). Several of the enhancements Kansans can expect to see in the 2023 Marketplace include: Addition of a new health insurance company – The number of health insurance companies doing business on the Marketplace will increase from seven to eight; Addition of five new individual health insurance plan options on the Marketplace – The total available individual and family health insurance plans will increase from 123 to 128; Addition of three new dental insurance plans - This addition will increase the total number of the state’s individual and family dental policies available to 19.