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As Riley County officials map out the budget framework for a new county administrator position, questions swirl over how to account for such reorganization in the 2027 budget cycle. Budget and finance officer Brittany Phillips on Monday asked commissioners for direction on who should develop the operational budget as staff prepare early projections for the budget calendar. “If I can at least draft something to a department that’s of a similar size, then that can give us something to kind of work with through the budget process, instead of just throwing … ‘Here’s $200,000 for your three Cs, figure it out,’” [...]

One year in, the cell phone policy in USD 383 schools is driving improved classroom engagement and behavior, district officials said Wednesday, though a new Kansas law may soon require stricter enforcement and create new challenges. Officials gave a report reflecting on the policy’s first year during the Manhattan-Ogden school board meeting Wednesday at Lincoln Education Center. The policy requires students keep devices in bags, pockets or special pouches, though they can use them during passing periods and at lunch. More than 92% of educators reported improved student engagement under the policy, while about 94% said classroom climate has improved, according [...]

A new notification system is being adopted by Saline County. Salina 911 in conjunction with Saline County Emergency Management, the Salina Fire and Police Departments and Saline County Sheriff’s Office have partnered with Regroup for a new mass emergency notification system to keep the community informed and prepared during critical events. The system provides real time alerts based on your location. Alerts can be sent either by phone, email or text. Read more: Ad Astra Radio

Sedgwick County Emergency Communications recently launched its Fire Dispatch Priority System (FDPS) to further support the processing of fire-related calls. FDPS is a structured tool that will enhance existing operations by guiding 911 call takers through key questions to efficiently gather critical information. It also supports the delivery of pre-arrival instructions when appropriate, such as how to safely exit a building, and allows fire departments to align response configurations with the most accurate and up-to-date information available. Read more: www.derbyinformer.com

Legislators want the state of Kansas to pay local law students a stipend if they promise to practice in a rural part of the state upon graduation. They also want to repay the student loans of working rural attorneys. It’s all part of an effort to address a persistent rural attorney shortage. House Bill 2595, or the “attorney training for rural Kansas act,” creates two programs meant to attract and retain practicing attorneys in the state’s rural areas. More than 40% of the population lives in a rural part of the state but only 20% of the state’s attorneys practice there. [...]

City officials have provided an update on the sinkhole that first appeared in Emporia on Monday. Emporia City Manager Trey Cocking said the sinkhole near the intersection of Commercial Street and 10th Avenue was caused by a collapsed 44-inch stormwater line. According to Cocking, the line was more than 100 years old and made of nonreinforced concrete. Over decades, the weight of the soil above the line contributed to its collapse. The sinkhole was first discovered Sunday morning by an Emporia police officer. City crews quickly responded and closed off the section of Commercial Street surrounding the sinkhole indefinitely until it [...]

The Olathe Police Department has launched a new program that deploys drones as first responders. “Drones as First Responders” (DFR) is an initiative designed to strengthen community safety through innovative technology, the police department shared. “By providing real-time intelligence and video to officers, DFR will improve operational efficiency and support both citizen and officer safety,” the department said in a news release. DFR drones will be deployed in specific situations to give responding officers a live view of the scene. They may also be used in hazardous environments, where sending people in immediately could increase risk. Read more: FOX 4 Kansas [...]

Five parks in Garden City have a new installation – playground communication boards which allow children to communicate their needs, ideas, and feelings by pointing to or selecting symbols. Ticia Herd, Garden City Parks and Recreation Director, said the boards were installed between two and three weeks ago, around the middle to end of February at Bob Halloran Park, Deane Wiley Park, Finnup Scout Park, A. Harold Long Park and Finnup Park. Dixie Teeter, a Speech Language Pathologist with the Kansas State Department and member of the group Southwest Kansas Konnect, Include, Support Summit (SWK-KISS), said idea for the communication boards [...]

Along with bond construction at the schools, Halstead residents will also be dealing with sidewalk and road construction for the next couple of months. Last week, Halstead city officials met with Lochner, an infrastructure services provider, to discuss pre-construction issues related to the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) improvements project. Construction is set to begin this week, according to Halstead City Manager Ethan Reimer. Read more: Harvey County Now

To address anticipated growth in the southwestern portion of the county associated with the redevelopment of the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant into the Astra Enterprise Park, the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners adopted updates to the Comprehensive Arterial Road Network Plan (CARNP) on Thursday. The plan outlines recommendations for future transportation needs and access management on arterial roads in the southern and western portion of the county. The plan does not make final determinations on any road improvements but identifies policies to manage access and plan for adequate traffic capacity on arterial roads. Read more: Johnson County Kansas