… the Court will hear 10 cases in its October sitting with only eight Justices on the bench. At least four of those cases are of interest to states and local governments. The State and Local Legal Center (SLLC) filed an amicus brief in three of them. … Read more about the cases at the link below.
Source: CitiesSpeak
Latino communities have been part of the Johnson County community for a long time, and the county’s museum is aiming to include their stories. In addition to the stories, the Johnson County Museum’s Latino Collecting Initiative is looking for photos, ephemera and other artifacts from families and organizations. Last fall, when the museum hosted its first Hispanic heritage event, Curator of Collections Anne Jones asked people to share their stories. “We really did not get a lot of response right away. I think one of the challenges is there are some folks … we need to make a connection with,” she said. “We can’t sit back on our haunches and wait for people to call. We have to go out and find stories.”
Source: Joco 913 News
Both Reno County and Hutchinson Regional Medical Center are experiencing their highest levels of COVID-19 infection since the pandemic arrived in the county in March, health officials reported on Tuesday. The hospital had 13 patients confirmed with the Sars-CoV-2 virus admitted to ICU or the hospital’s COVID ward, including two people who are on ventilators, reported hospital vice president Chuck Welch. “We’ve had spikes in the past,” Welch said. “We’ve talked about the nature of the different courses of how different people are affected and how infections fluctuate quickly. From Tuesday to Tuesday, we can go from 10 to two. But as of the report today, this is the most in-house patients we’ve had.”
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News
Kansas is one of the 10 sunniest states and has comparable solar power potential to Florida, averaging more than 200 sunny days a year. Yet, Kansas ranks 43rd in solar generation this year, with only 0.23% of the state’s electricity coming from solar, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, a nonprofit trade organization. The state also has little investment in solar generation on the utility-scale, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In a study done for the state Legislature on electric rates, an engineering firm found that solar has many positives for the state, consumers and utility companies, including reducing carbon emissions, lowering bills, and reducing transmission line losses, as the electricity would be locally generated.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
The Kansas Department of Transportation awarded $5 million in grants to 13 small rail road related projects. On Oct. 6, Gov. Laura Kelly and Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz announced the recipients of KDOT’s Short Line Rail Fund program. Four projects were awarded to short line railroads and nine projects were awarded to grain elevators. The program is a partnership between the public and private sector, as applicants are required to provide 30% in matching funds. This year’s selected projects will improve and/or construct nearly 15 miles of track totaling a $7 million investment. “This will help a lot of small towns and small elevators,” said Ron Seeber, president and CEO of the Kansas Grain and Feed Association. “This will allow farmers to get their products onto the rail car and have it sold more efficiently.”
Source: News – The Hays Daily News
The Economic outlook for greater Wichita 2020 comes out this week and it is expected to show the 4th quarter will start moving in the right direction. City leaders approved a first look at an incentives package for businesses Tuesday. But it’s not the big job creation entities they are targeting with the incentives. “Think small,” said council member James Clendenin. “In a big way.” Clendenin says small businesses are a big push for the city right now to grow the economy and add jobs. Incentives will differ based on how many jobs will be created by each small business and what investments will be made.
Source: KSN-TV
A grant of $105,000 from the city of Emporia will make a collaboration between Newman Regional Health and the Lyon County Public Health possible. The partnership will enable expanded coronavirus testing capabilities for asymptomatic close contacts of coronavirus positive individuals. “Testing is an essential tool in the fight against COVID-19,” said Jennifer Millbern, Environmental Health Director for Lyon County Public Health. “This partnership allows us to quickly identify cases from close contact exposures and break the chain of transmission of the virus.” In accordance with CDC recommendations, Lyon County Public Health’s disease investigation and contact tracing will identify situations that have the potential to turn into an outbreak.
Source: KSNT News
Merriam residents wanting to add solar installations to their homes will no longer have to go before the planning commission. Three months after the initial discussion, the Merriam City Council last week approved amendments to its solar installation ordinance. The amendments streamline the solar panel collection systems permitting process, meaning residents have more opportunities to take advantage of solar energy. Councilmember Whitney Yadrich, a key player in getting the solar installation ordinance reviewed and ultimately approved, told the Shawnee Mission Post the city is “actively creating equity opportunities” for residents — and she’s ready to see where the city goes next.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Overland Park city councilmembers spent some time reflecting at a workshop Monday on how they can address systemic racism in city policies. As the one-and-a-half hour session ended, they offered a variety of ideas from writing a comprehensive plan to getting more diverse representation on volunteer boards and commissions. “I think it’s very good that we’re having this discussion,” said Councilmember Chris Newlin. The workshop, which took place before the regular city council meeting Monday evening, was led by Shannon Portillo, associate professor of the University of Kansas School of Public Affairs and Administration.
Source: Prairie Village Post
City leaders expressed strong support Tuesday for extending a program that has allowed downtown businesses to repurpose sidewalks and parking near their storefronts for outdoor dining and other uses. As part of its regular meeting, the Lawrence City Commission directed city staff to draft changes to city code that would extend the temporary downtown right-of-way program well beyond its original expiration date of Oct. 31. All four commissioners present — Mayor Jennifer Ananda was absent — agreed that they would like to see the program extended through the end of 2021, and some said they would be interested in making it a permanent option.
Source: LJWorld.com.
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