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Douglas County Commission approves revised wind energy regulations

info2024-05-03T10:37:40-05:00May 3rd, 2024|

Douglas County commissioners voted Wednesday to approve revisions to local wind energy regulations. Alternative energy has drawn a great deal of public interest, particularly from rural residents who would be more directly impacted by large wind farms and solar farms — such as the one for which commissioners recently approved a permit. After marathon meetings in October and January, the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission voted 6-3 to advance draft wind energy regulations with one key modification: increasing required setbacks from property lines to 2,500 feet from 1,500. The three commissioners who voted against the regulations wanted to require smaller setbacks that [...]

Kansas to get $28 million for safe drinking water project

info2024-05-03T10:35:55-05:00May 3rd, 2024|

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced that Kansas will receive $28.6 million under a federal project to identify and replace lead water service lines, preventing exposure to lead in drinking water. Health officials have said that lead can cause a range of serious health impacts, including irreversible harm to brain development in children. The EPA will be working to make sure that 40% of overall benefits from certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Lead exposure disproportionately affects communities of color and low-income families. The total funding announced through this program to [...]

Pottawatomie County no longer in need of volunteers as cleanup effort enters next phase

info2024-05-03T10:34:25-05:00May 3rd, 2024|

Pottawatomie County officials say significant progress has been made on the cleanup effort in Westmoreland following Tuesday’s devastating tornado. “There’s still a lot to do but we kind of considered we’ve made it to the next phase of operations. We were able to send volunteers home this (Thursday) afternoon and we will not need volunteers tomorrow (Friday),” said Riley County Public Information Officer Vivienne Leyva, speaking on behalf of Pottawatomie County Thursday. Because heavy equipment will be hauling debris away, she says it’s not safe for volunteers to be out and about. The county plans to put out a notice when [...]

City to open ‘the world’s best outdoor gym’ in north Wichita

info2024-05-03T10:31:50-05:00May 3rd, 2024|

A new fitness court will open this month in north Wichita, the city said Friday. Alongside Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Wichita Parks and Recreation and the National Fitness Campaign, the city announced a partnership to bring an outdoor Fitness Court to Pat Garcia Veterans Memorial Park. The Fitness Court, located at 2640 N. Wellington Place, will officially open at 1 p.m. on May 10 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the city said in a news release. The Fitness Court was developed by BCBSKS, Wichita Park & Recreation and NFC to expand free access to high-quality workouts and create equitable [...]

City of Wichita considering making microchipping your dog and cat mandatory

info2024-05-03T10:30:01-05:00May 3rd, 2024|

The city of Wichita is looking at a recommendation made by the Animal Services Advisory Board to make it mandatory for owners to have their dogs and cats microchipped. In 2023 the animal services advisory board made a subcommittee to discuss changes that could help out the animal shelter. One of the recommendations the board made was making it mandatory for all dogs and cats to be microchipped. It says this would help get lost animals back to their owners. Lt. Derek Purcell with the Wichita Police Department agrees. He told KAKE News this is the best thing to keep animals [...]

Kansas STAR bond proposal for Chiefs, Royals leaves billion-dollar questions unresolved

info2024-05-03T10:26:20-05:00May 3rd, 2024|

A sales tax revenue (STAR) bond proposal introduced to lure the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals across the border would not translate to a surefire score for a new stadium if Kansas lawmakers approve it during a future session. State lawmakers this week drew new attention to the polarizing incentive program with a bill meant to increase its potential value specifically for pro sports stadiums involving at least $1 billion in investment. Their last-minute effort came days after Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt raised the prospect of a new stadium and as developers such as Sporting Kansas City co-owner Robb [...]

Investor learns the risks, rewards of buying a house from city

info2024-05-03T10:22:51-05:00May 3rd, 2024|

Armed with flashlights, the public can check out for themselves the boarded-up houses, one-time public housing units, that the City of Wichita is selling. Totaling 352 units in all, it’s been a two-year process to get them to new owners, and out of the city’s hands. The Housing Authority has been holding open houses for interested buyers since the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development approved the sale of the units. They hope prospective buyers will see a new home or investment opportunity. Logan Bradshaw, the Assistant Director of Housing and Community Service said, while working at an open house [...]

Body cam footage shows Wabaunsee County deputy rendering aid following tornado

info2024-05-03T10:17:30-05:00May 3rd, 2024|

The Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page posted body cam footage on Thursday of the aftermath of Tuesday’s deadly EF3 tornado in Westmoreland. The body cam footage is from Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chase Stallbaumer. He took part in the search and rescue following the tornado. Source: KSN-TV

Salina to break ground on multi-family housing

info2024-05-03T10:14:18-05:00May 3rd, 2024|

Work on new multi-family housing will begin soon in Salina. The complex will be built near Magnolia and Interstate-135. The City of Salina says the location will offer future residents access to shopping, dining and entertainment. Funding for the apartment, $25,000,000, was awarded through Kansas HB 2510 and Kansas SB 267 by the Department of Commerce to help accommodate housing expansion needed for new employees in the area. “Phase 1 will offer 254 modern apartments, featuring spacious floor plans, Basketball Court, Children’s Playground, Pickleball Court, BBQ grilling area, Clubhouse & in-unit laundry. We are confident that these apartments will appeal to [...]

New license plate cameras are catching criminals in Pittsburg

info2024-05-03T10:12:22-05:00May 3rd, 2024|

New license plate recognition cameras installed across Pittsburg are quickly starting to pay off. In February, 14 license plate recognition or LPR cameras purchased from Flock Safety out of Atlanta, were installed with the hope of catching criminals coming in and out of Pittsburg. The cameras send real-time alerts to law enforcement when it recognizes a stolen vehicle — or one associated with a missing persons case from an “Amber” or “Silver” alert. Within two months of implementing the LPR cameras, Pittsburg Police are already seeing positive results. Source: KSNF/KODE

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