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Before divided crowd, PV council advances LGBTQ anti-discrimination policy

info2018-10-17T06:45:44-05:00October 17th, 2018|

The City of Prairie Village is advancing a proposed LGBTQ anti-discrimination ordinance after hearing from more than two dozen residents and other speakers Monday night, most of them in favor of the measure. The City Council voted 9-3 to schedule a Nov. 19 vote on the ordinance, which would extend legal protections to members of the LGBTQ community when it comes to housing, employment and receiving public services from businesses. Councilman Tucker Poling, who co-sponsored the measure with Councilman Chad Herring, said that the 30 days would give the city’s legal and administrative staff time to review the proposal’s language for [...]

Blanchard, Salina city commission discuss sanctioning of former commissioner during meeting

info2018-10-17T06:29:50-05:00October 17th, 2018|

For more than an hour, the Salina City Commission and former commissioner Jon Blanchard discussed whether or not Blanchard should have been sanctioned while on the commission. Commissioners at the time voted 3-2 to reprimand Blanchard for releasing unredacted documents to the Salina Journal that had been considered confidential. The Journal first received documents in June 2014 in response to an open records request, but much of the information was blacked out, or redacted. The documents concerned a contract between the city and the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce for economic development services. In the documents, city leaders gave reasons for [...]

Finney, Scott and Kearny counties considering Extension district

info2018-10-17T06:23:25-05:00October 17th, 2018|

Representatives from Finney, Scott and Kearny counties met last week to discuss potentially districting their and Wichita County’s Kansas State University Research and Extension offices, a decision that would combine the resources of the four offices under an area governing board to expand the services available to all counties. Finney County commissioners Larry Jones, Dave Jones and Bill Clifford discussed how the decision could affect the county and its taxpayers during the commissioner report section of their meeting Monday. Commissioners Duane Drees and Lon Pishny were not present. Larry Jones said he thought the district route would bring Finney County residents [...]

Sedgwick County makes history with more than 300,000 registered voters

info2018-10-17T06:21:14-05:00October 17th, 2018|

More than 300,000 people are registered to vote in Sedgwick County. It's a record for the county and the total is expected to increase by Tuesday's deadline. Ahead of the Nov. 6 midterm elections, people are making sure their voices are heard. Some are making minor corrections to make sure their information is up to date while others are registering for the first time. The turnout to register to vote in Sedgwick County was so high, the election office extended its hours to meet the demand. The 300,000-plus registered voters in Sedgwick County is about 25,000 more than the last midterm [...]

Redeveloped Great Mall in Olathe could have hockey arena, apartments, entertainment

info2018-10-17T06:18:58-05:00October 17th, 2018|

The former Great Mall of the Great Plains property could have a new lease on life with Salt Lake City-based Woodbury Corporation’s plans to buy the 100-acre site and redevelop it for sports and entertainment. Woodbury announced Tuesday that it is under contract to purchase the property at Interstate 35 and 151st Street, with a concept for a $300 million mixed-use project called Mentum. The site is envisioned to have a 4,000-seat arena and community ice center for youth hockey, to be operated by an affiliate of Loretto Sports Ventures owned by Lamar Hunt Jr. It is also expected to include [...]

Prairie Village council delays decision on proposal that would protect LGBTQ community

info2018-10-16T08:04:29-05:00October 16th, 2018|

Members of the Prairie City Council need more time before voting on a proposed nondiscrimination ordinance. Monday evening, during a scheduled council meeting that lasted close to 3 hours, the council voted 9-3 to consider the ordinance and possible adoption at its Nov. 19 meeting. It will allow staff to bring in any revisions to the ordinance and allow for more legal review. The nondiscrimination ordinance, introduced by Councilmen Trucker Poling and Chad Herring, would make it illegal to refuse someone a job, housing or services based on their sexual orientation. Kansas does not have any laws at the state level [...]

Great Bend City Council grieves the passing of long-time deputy city clerk

info2018-10-16T07:54:42-05:00October 16th, 2018|

The Great Bend City Council took time Monday night prior to the start of the meeting to remember Deputy City Clerk Judy Manning. Manning passed away October 12 from cancer. Born in Ellinwood, Manning served as the Deputy City Clerk for Great Bend for 22 years. The City of Great Bend will be closing City Hall and The Front Door from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday for Manning’s funeral. (Read more: Great Bend Post)

Research, focus groups underway regarding potential ban for plastic bags, straws, other plastic products in Lawrence

info2018-10-16T08:24:53-05:00October 16th, 2018|

A local committee considering a city ordinance to reduce the amount of disposable plastic products used in Lawrence is coordinating outside research and focus groups to inform its decision. The city’s Sustainability Advisory Board voted in July to make the issue of single-use plastics one of its priorities. Lawrence-Douglas County Sustainability Director Jasmin Moore said after that decision, there was a lot of public interest and some concerns. “A lot of people have made contact and expressed interest in being a part of that conversation,” said Moore, who is the board’s staff liaison. “And so the group intends to make sure [...]

Shawnee County picks new public works director who was construction manager for Kansas Expocentre project

info2018-10-16T07:03:35-05:00October 16th, 2018|

Shawnee County commissioners on Monday hired a new director for the county’s public works and solid waste departments and picked a company to serve as construction manager for a high-dollar Kansas Expocentre renovation project. Commissioners Kevin Cook, Shelly Buhler and Bob Archer voted 3-0 to appoint Curt Niehaus as director of public works/solid waste effective Oct. 29, at an annual compensation of $117,000. Niehaus “rose to the top” as commissioners interviewed several candidates for the job, Cook said. Tom Flanagan has held the position on an interim basis since Tom Vlach, who previously held the job, left last month to take [...]

Reno County deputy recognized for saving teen from floodwaters

info2018-10-16T07:01:38-05:00October 16th, 2018|

A Reno County Sheriff's deputy is recognized for taking "heroic actions" to save a Buhler High School student from floodwaters. Monday, the Reno County Sheriff's Office shared a message from the teen's mother, detailing what happened. Wednesday morning (Oct. 10), the 17-year-old girl was on her way to school, traveling east on 82nd, about half of a mile west of Buhler Road. The teen didn't see the road was flooded and upon hitting the high water, her pickup "careened into the ditch." Deputy Jeremy Vanwey responded to the scene. "And although there was about 1-2 feet of swiftly-moving water across the [...]

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