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New UG development director talks growth, long-term strategy

info2024-10-15T12:57:36-05:00October 15th, 2024|

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, filled a two-year vacancy in its economic development office. Chelsee Chism will be the county’s next economic development director, rebuilding the department to support small businesses, entice new economic development opportunities and assist with the UG land bank program. “I love the diversity that Wyandotte County offers. There is also this ability to exercise multidimensional approach to economic development that’s not necessarily offered in Johnson County. I feel like my efforts here and my team’s efforts could just be really impactful for the community,” Chism said. She comes to the job from her [...]

Audit of Kansas TIF districts reveals delays in returns, increased crime rates

info2024-10-15T12:55:50-05:00October 15th, 2024|

Some of Kansas’ largest cities are struggling to gain full returns on tax increment financing districts meant to help bolster development activity and property values, a recent state audit found. TIF districts, as they are called, are intended to fund real estate projects that otherwise wouldn’t exist. The idea is that the development will increase property values in the designated district, resulting in higher property tax collections that are used to pay off the bonds that financed the project. State auditors surveyed six TIF districts from Kansas’ largest cities and found that half did not recover their costs in a timely [...]

‘First People of Kansas’ documentary showcases Native American history for St. John community

info2024-10-15T12:53:31-05:00October 15th, 2024|

Former journalist Beccy Tanner had always had a knack for history. As soon as she noticed there was not any written history of Native Americans in her small central-Kansas town of St. John, she knew she could join her talent with other journalists to educate her community about their history. Tanner, joined by photographer Bo Rader, videographer Auriel Hathaway and local historians, created the “First People of Kansas” documentary series, highlighting the history of Native Americans in the St. John and Wichita area. “We didn’t really have stories of diversity,” she said. “We had a lot of stories, and we still [...]

Volunteer firefighters worry new OSHA safety standards could shut down some rural departments

info2024-10-15T12:51:46-05:00October 15th, 2024|

Fighting fires has evolved, but federal safety regulations haven’t changed for nearly half a century. Now the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed new safety standards. It's great news for professional firefighters, but volunteer departments say the new rules could bog them down with expensive and irrelevant regulations. Hundreds of US firefighters die every year, and job-related cancer is far and away the biggest killer, according to Sean DeCrane with the International Association of Fire Fighters union. He places some of the blame on outdated federal safety rules that protect firefighters, enacted in 1980. “It’s long past due that the [...]

City of Baxter Springs unveils new historic mural, ribbon cutting

info2024-10-15T12:49:58-05:00October 15th, 2024|

The City of Baxter Springs partners with local organizations to celebrate the completion of a mural. The city says the mural covers the entire 100x12 ft. wall of the Water Works Plant building facing east, on the corner of Highway 69 and Route 66 across from the Baxter Springs High School. "After months of planning, discussion, and community engagement, we are thrilled to unveil Baxter Springs' newest piece of public art", stated Pam Mitchell, Baxter Chamber Tourism Chair and Kansas Historic Route 66 Association President. "We'd like to thank AJ and Jordan Wood for honoring our community with their creative vision." [...]

Wichita City Council to consider gunshot detecting devices, water plant agreement

info2024-10-15T12:48:39-05:00October 15th, 2024|

The Wichita City Council voted 7-0 to approve the purchase of 31 additional Flock license plate cameras and gunshot detection technology for the Wichita Police Department. In 2022, the WPD began using Flock Raven gunshot detection devices in places considered hotspots for gun crime. Based on a hotspot analysis of crime in Wichita, the department wants to add two square miles of coverage in District 6. The city has been testing gunshot detection for Flock in two square miles in District 1 and District 3. The cost to the City is just over $337,000. Also, the council voted 7-0 to approve [...]

Derby firefighter returns back from Hurricane Helene recovery efforts

info2024-10-15T12:47:21-05:00October 15th, 2024|

As more Kansas rescue crews head to Florida to respond to Hurricane Milton, others are just returning home after two weeks of search and rescue after Hurricane Helene. Captain Matt Ludwig with the Derby Fire Department says he would do it again. This is his third deployment for hurricane recovery and relief efforts. “The people that I encountered firsthand that they were all very hopeful and optimistic. They’re very, very kind people and just, you know, thankful for what they have left. And they’re going to they’re going to stay and rebuild,” he said. Captain Ludwig says that the Kansas Task [...]

Downtown improvements will require lowering Arkansas River

info2024-10-15T12:46:02-05:00October 15th, 2024|

The City of Wichita is lowering the Arkansas River as part of a downtown improvement project. The project is along the west bank of the Arkansas River between Douglas and Waterman. The city says the design is similar to the projects to the north in front of the Drury Plaza Broadview Hotel and the River Vista Apartment Complex. The first phase involves constructing a sea wall and concrete cap beside the river, which requires the city to lower the water level. A $6,240,000 BASE grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce is funding the project. At Tuesday’s council meeting, the Wichita [...]

Columbus Day Festival showcases classic cars and community fun

info2024-10-15T12:44:33-05:00October 15th, 2024|

The city of Columbus celebrates day two of its 55th annual Columbus Day Festival. The Columbus Day Festival continued Saturday with a car show and entertainment around the Columbus Square. “I’m always excited because it brings our community together, it brings all different ages. There is something for everyone. And everybody likes to see other people they haven’t seen in a while, it’s just a wonderful event, it really is,” said Becky McDaniel, Columbus Day Festival car show host. Source: KSNF/KODE

What Wichita-area firefighters saw in ‘devastation’ of Hurricane Helene in NC, Florida

info2024-10-15T12:41:33-05:00October 15th, 2024|

When two Sedgwick County firefighters were told they would travel to North Carolina to help with Hurricane Helene relief, they didn’t hesitate. Luke Wiebe, captain for Sedgwick County Fire District 1, and Lt. Tyler Brenneman got the call Sept. 24 that they were being sent to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene. What they assumed would be two weeks full of rescues turned into connecting with the community. “[We] checked on people, door to door, see what they were needing, see if they’re OK, see if they wanted to be evacuated, and then also assess damage on properties, vehicles, pretty much [...]

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