Join me on Saturday

I will be hosting a Grandparents As Caregivers Informational Forum from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Northeast Senior Center, 2121 E. 21st St. in Wichita.

Grandparents As Caregivers helps older Kansans keep their families together. As a member of the Kansas House, I was able to build bipartisan support for my bill to expand this crucial program so more children could benefit.

Also scheduled to attend the forum are Don Jordan, Secretary of SRS; Annette Graham, Department on Aging; B.J. Gore of Kansas Children's Service League; and a representative of Kansas Legal Services. For more information, drop by on Saturday or contact Kansas Children's Service League at 942-4261.

Riding the rails to work?

Tuesday morning, I attended a public hearing at Wichita State University on energy policy and transportation.

The Kansas Energy Council’s preliminary recommendations focus on research and development of advanced technologies for electric generation and initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Among the ideas that caught my attention: Establishing light rail service between Wichita and Newton to connect our community with the existing transcontinental passenger system - and to allow commuters to travel between their homes in Harvey County and their jobs in Sedgwick County without driving I-135. It's intriguing.

If you'd like to share your ideas with the KEC, its public comment period continues through October 10. Submit your thoughts by mail to the Kansas Energy Council, 1500 SW Arrowhead Road, Topeka, KS, 66604, or by e-mail to l.brosius@kcc.ks.gov.