Take a video tour the inside of the new Johnson County Courthouse
After more than two years of construction, the new $193 million Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe opens Monday, Jan. 4, 2020. Source: KC Star Local News
New lieutenant governor takes office in Kansas
A new Lieutenant Governor took the oath of office in Kansas Monday morning, while the previous lieutenant governor took office as the new state treasurer. David Toland was sworn in at the Statehouse in Topeka as the 52nd Lieutenant Governor for the state. Toland has been the state’s Commerce Secretary, and he will continue to serve in that role while acting as Lieutenant Governor. Toland talked about $2.5 billion in increased investment in Kansas during the past year and he said the state will continue to see aggressive growth in the coming year and beyond. He said “We will continue to [...]
Kansas and Missouri universities could face tough financial choices in 2021
The pandemic has presented a two-sided coin to the four big public universities in Kansas and Missouri. On one side, the dire enrollment predictions of the summer turned out better — in one case, much better — than expected. But on the flip side, falling revenues are still a problem administrators will have to deal with for the foreseeable future, due largely to the loss of money coming in from big events, student-facing services and state funding. Last spring, university officials fresh from the spring break shutdowns were warily predicting major enrollment drops for fall semester. As summer began, most were [...]
AAA store in northwest Wichita adds driver’s license services
Now you can get your insurance and driver's license all in one place. AAA Kansas is partnering with the Kansas Department of Revenue to offer a remote driver's licensing unit at its 21st and Maize retail store through the month of January. Starting Tuesday, residents can renew their license, ask for duplicates for lost IDs, change their name, update their address or get a Real ID, which are required by Oct. 1 to fly domestically. Source: Wichita Business Journal
Intrust Bank Arena hosts first event since beginning of pandemic
Intrust Bank Arena is welcoming fans for the first time since the pandemic began in March to watch the Wichita Thunder hockey's home opener. The arena is operating at 15 percent capacity as the Thunder take on Allen Americans. The reduced capacity allows for at least six-feet distance between between groups of fans. Fans are also required to wear face masks in the arena. Other changes include a self-serving scanner that fans can use to scan tickets and make concession purchases. Source: KAKE - News
City earmarks $200,000 for 2021 Ignite Emporia housing initiatives
City commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with Ignite Emporia to roll over $200,000 in unutilized private-public partnership funds from 2020 toward the project’s housing development initiatives in 2021 during a joint study/action session Wednesday. The vote passed 3-1 with Commissioner and Ignite Emporia Director Rob Gilligan abstaining and Commissioner Becky Smith providing the lone “nay” vote. Beforehand, Smith said she was apprehensive on two key points, the first being the perception of favoritism by members of the board and the other being a lack of defined plan for the funds. Source: Emporia Gazette
Sedgwick County Jail inmates now have tablets they can download music, movies, games on
Inmates at the Sedgwick County Jail have a new way to stay educated, entertained and in touch with their family members. Thanks to a partnership with prison communications firm Securus Technologies, those incarcerated at the jail now have access to handheld electronic tablets they can use to call friends and loved ones, read books, play games, listen to music, watch movies and take part in re-entry training and on-demand learning programs. Many of the options are free to inmates including job search tools, thousands of e-books, self-paced educational materials like Khan Academy and law library access, religious information and ceremonies and [...]
Resolution would list essential workers
Parsons city commissioners will consider a resolution on Monday to clarify what city employees are considered essential workers. City Manager Debbie Lamb said during a Thursday work session that the resolution would allow certain workers to go through a modified quarantine after coming into contact with someone who has contracted the coronavirus. The employees could still go to work instead of having to quarantine at home. They would have to maintain social distance at work as much as possible and wear a mask at all times. They also would be allowed to go only to work and back home. Source: Parsons [...]
A historical look back at the 1952 JoCo Courthouse, which closes for good New Year’s Eve
After nearly 70 years in operation, the building that housed the Johnson County Courthouse will permanently close on New Year’s Eve. Located at 100 N. Kansas Ave. in Olathe, the courthouse was built in 1952. It is the third building to serve the Kansas 10th Judicial District. Beginning Monday, Jan. 4, court offices and courtrooms will operate from the new courthouse but remain closed to in-person contact. All hearings will continue to take place by video conference until local public health conditions improve, according to a press release. The new courthouse will accept mail starting December 31 at 150 W. Santa Fe St., [...]
Seward County approves hazard pay for frontline employees
As the pandemic rages on, many essential employees have put in countless hours to keep their communities afloat. One western Kansas county is bringing relief to those that have been at the frontlines of the pandemic. Seward County Commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday approving nearly $200,000 in hazard pay funding to go to numerous county workers. The payment comes after many workers have been putting in 20 to 30 extra hours of work each week, some working even more than that, while several have been working seven days a week. Source: KSN-TV