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Merriam is razing three more downtown buildings as part of its broader flood control efforts along Turkey Creek. The Merriam City Council earlier this month approved the demolition of three buildings, all currently unoccupied, along Merriam Drive next to the city’s farmers market pavilion. City officials cite flood mitigation or potential redevelopment efforts in its downtown stretch as the reasoning behind demolishing the buildings at 5700, 5718 and 5726 Merriam Drive. Read more: Johnson County Post

A first-of-its-kind “build-for-rent” subdivision in south Johnson County is fully leased just months after finishing construction. Peak Enterprises finished the 78 single-family home subdivision at the southwest corner of 175th Terrace and Pflumm Road in Overland Park, called The Homes at Wolf Creek. All are rental homes. Read more: Kansas City Business Journal - Local Kansas City News

More than 30 people attended the latest Washington County Commissioners meeting to hear a 90-minute discussion on the future of local ambulance services. While no decisions were made, attendees—including officials from Clifton, Linn, and Washington—reviewed options and were encouraged to consult with their city councils about maintaining current services or pursuing a countywide model. Read more: KCLY Radio

Even as the pressure piles on, Diana Thompson is not going to abandon her job. A lifelong resident of Comanche County in south-central Kansas, Thompson has worked as the administrator for Pioneer Lodge nursing home in Coldwater since 2003. She bets that most of the 1,600-plus county residents do not fully understand the challenges she faces to meet the daily needs of her 25 residents. Thinly spread finances are her biggest stressors. The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act isn’t alleviating any of her concerns. The budget document signed by President Donald Trump on July 4 will, over a 10-year [...]

The Johnson County Fair in Gardner, Kansas, is underway this week, bringing plenty of fun for the whole family. The fair features a carnival, a parade, animal shows, vendors and more. The carnival is open 6-11 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 4-11 p.m. Saturday. Tickets or wristbands are required for carnival rides. While the rides and games don’t open until the evening, there is plenty going on throughout the day. 4-H contests and other animal shows go on as early as 9 a.m. The parade also begins at 10 a.m. Saturday. Read more: Top Stories

The Parsons Police Department launches a new app to help residents stay informed. According to the department, the purpose of the app is to provide a faster, easier, and more convenient way to find information. The app will have information on the following topics; Press releases, alerts, crime updates, department news, and contact options. Read more: www.koamnewsnow.com - RSS Results in news/local-news of type article

A new resource is now available in western Kansas, offering parents in crisis a secure and anonymous option to surrender a newborn.  With the help of two Garden City Community College students, Garden City is now home to the first Safe Haven Baby Box in the western part of the state and the third location in the state. The newest baby box is located at Garden City Fire Station #3, at 3535 Schulman Ave. Read more: KSN-TV

Sedgwick County Commissioners, Wichita City Council members, and the Wichita School Board met Tuesday to brainstorm ways for more cooperation and to more efficiently use taxpayer dollars. The meeting was a response to a June town hall where the public submitted almost 140 ideas for improvements. Local leaders focused on ways to improve mental health services, decrease crime and homelessness, and grow the Air Capital economy. One of the ideas that could help in all those areas is one being developed by the Wichita Public Schools Board: Community schools. Read more: KSN-TV

Mountain lions, while still rare in the Sunflower State, are starting to become a more common sight in Kansas. KSNT contacted Matt Peek with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) this week to determine how many people have recently sighted the big cats in the state. The KDWP received 50 confirmed sightings of mountain lions from 2007 to 2023. But that number has more than doubled in the past two years to 110 reported mountain lion sightings since 2007. Read more: KSN-TV

After a lengthy discussion, the City of Salina moved ahead with a plan to remove a log jam in the Smoky Hill River. The Salina City Commission voted Monday to proceed with the plan to remove the debris from the river at a cost of $452,351. The work is expected to take approximately six weeks to complete. Read more: KSN-TV