An Emporia business owner is applauding a recently expanded state economic development program for keeping his business up and running, especially during the pandemic. Jeremy Johns, co-owner of Radius Brewing Company, said the state’s “Main Street” program had been ‘proactive’ in providing the support his brewpub needs to stay afloat. “A lot of times, businesses don’t know what kind of help they need, and Main Street reaches out to us and says, ‘Hey, we see this coming up, how can we help? Here are some things that might be helpful for you…,'” Johns said. Emporia is one of 28 designated communities under the Main Street program, which is expanding to three new communities in 2022.
Source: KSN-TV

Construction will begin soon on an $89 million jail in Salina. The new jail will be located in north Salina at 800 E. Pacific Avenue. The jail is expected to consist of housing for approximately 392 inmates, increased space for rehabilitation programming, office spaces for the sheriff`s office, and parking for staff and the public.
Source: KSN-TV

Every weekday at San Antonio Public Safety Headquarters, people line up at windows to report crimes, seek advice, maybe challenge a parking ticket. But not everyone is here to conduct typical police business. Some are unsheltered and have heard the police can help them get or recover an ID, removing a huge barrier to receiving services. The ID program is the brainchild of the department’s homeless outreach team, and it represents one small piece of a puzzle that San Antonio and Bexar County (population 2 million) have been putting together since the early 2000s. Its purpose: to reduce the number of people living on the streets and to try to help those with mental illness and addiction issues who often end up in courts and jails.
Source: KSN-TV

The November general election is just one week away. Besides candidates, thousands of Kansas voters will vote on ballot questions. From new fire stations to better parks and even mental health services, several community leaders said they need extra funding for some essential upgrades. “The fire station is just too small. We have firefighters sleeping in spaces that used to be closets, so it is behind time, it is past time,” said Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell. … Great Bend is hoping to add up to a .45% increase to its sales tax. “It is the most equitable tax everyone pays the same amount, including people that aren’t from Great Bend,” said Great Bend City Administrator Kendal Francis.
Source: KSN-TV