info2024-02-07T07:11:48-06:00February 7th, 2024|
A controversial proposed change to school finance law would benefit district with growing enrollment while hurting ones with declining enrollment. Legislators are considering House Bill 2485 and Senate Bill 386, which would require school funding to be based on the current school year or the preceding school year. The Senate version could be passed out of a committee this week. Source: CJonline
info2024-02-05T13:29:03-06:00February 5th, 2024|
In an effort to understand current transportation issues that affect citizens and businesses, the City of El Dorado has hired JEO Consulting Group of Wichita to gather information for them, costing $194,420. JEO created a survey that covers all areas of the city and asks questions relating to all modes of transportation, safety issues, maintenance, and the future of city roads. At the end of the study, the City will be able to create a transportation master plan that creates a vision for all modes of transportation over the next 25 years, provide framework to implement a sustainable transportation system, and identify [...]
info2024-02-05T13:26:03-06:00February 5th, 2024|
The Finney County Historical Museum has a new short-term exhibit in its Front Door Gallery. The exhibit features more than 30 images from the coffee table book “Life and Times of the Buffaloes” by local author Brett Marshall about the history of Garden City High School, as well as a small collection of artifacts from the museum’s own collection, USD 456/Garden City Public Schools and from Mike Wade of Traditions Soda and Sandwich Shop. The exhibit will be on display through the end of April. Marshall wrote the book in partnership with USD 457 over a two-and-a-half-year period, it was released in September 2023. [...]
info2024-02-05T13:18:26-06:00February 5th, 2024|
The U.S. Geological Survey says a 5.1 magnitude earthquake Friday was recorded around 11:24 p.m. with the epicenter of the earthquake in Prague, Oklahoma. Residents in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, along with Oklahoma all reporting furniture shaking and cabinet doors opening. Most humans can feel a magnitude 2.5 or higher according to geological experts. If you felt Friday’s earthquake, you can report it to the USGS online. Source: KSN-TV
info2024-02-05T13:10:19-06:00February 5th, 2024|
People in Reno County may have seen or smelled smoke Friday. The Hutchinson Fire Department had some firefighters start fires as part of its mitigation efforts ahead of wildfire season. They were burning a ditch on Buhler/Haven Road on Friday afternoon. "Every year we go around our territory and pick out four to five places we feel are concerns," Jeremy Unruh, HFD division chief of operations, said. "We're looking for the fuel type in the fields, how thick it is, and we compare that against recent incidents we've had." He said burning a ditch gives some protection since many fires start [...]
info2024-02-05T13:08:21-06:00February 5th, 2024|
The Honeywell aerospace manufacturing facility in Olathe is planning an $84 million expansion, expected to create more than 150 new jobs, officials announced on Friday. The Olathe plant is just south of the intersection of Kansas Highways 7 and 10. The 560,000-square-foot facility manufactures parts for avionics, safety and flight control systems, radio frequency systems and weather radar, according to a news release. “Expanding this facility will enable the development of a strong and resilient domestic supply chain for next-generation avionics and printed circuit board assemblies that our commercial and military customers can rely on,” Honeywell Aerospace Technologies President and CEO [...]
info2024-02-05T07:55:24-06:00February 5th, 2024|
While many American cities are struggling with large numbers of newly arrived migrants, Topeka is inviting anyone and everyone with permission to work in the U.S. to come its way. Like a lot of smaller cities, the Kansas capital is grappling with near-stagnant population growth and an unemployment rate well below the national average, according to city and economic-development officials. Finding people to fill its roughly 6,600 open jobs has been a struggle, they say. The Greater Topeka Partnership, an economic-development group, has been trying to sell people on the city with its “Choose Topeka” marketing campaign, which it started in [...]
info2024-02-02T12:55:37-06:00February 2nd, 2024|
The second round of Johnson County’s Landlord Incentive Pilot Program began Feb. 1, 2024 following its approval by the Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 18, 2024. The program will be available until funds are exhausted. The pilot program provides landlords with financial incentives to rent their units to low-income tenants using federally funded housing subsidy vouchers. The Board approved $200,000 in federal funds to continue the program. The first round of funding was available from July 1-Nov. 15, 2023, before the federal grant funds were successfully expended. In the first round, the county recruited 23 new landlords to participate in the Housing Choice Voucher program [...]
info2024-02-02T12:54:16-06:00February 2nd, 2024|
Johnson County has released its Market Study Analysis for the Assessment Year 2024, examining the real estate market in the county – including both the residential and commercial markets. The analysis is completed by the county’s Appraiser’s Office, using data from its annual valuation process. During the process, the office reviewed the sale of more than 19,000 residential properties, completing a sales comparison analysis to developed market values. The study found that nearly 90% of residential properties increased in value for 2024. The median single-family residential sale price rose 7-8% from 2022 to 2023, leading to an average increase in residential [...]
info2024-02-02T12:52:42-06:00February 2nd, 2024|
Fort Scott Community College President Jason Kegler fielded questions on topics ranging from the college’s recent financial struggles to moving the college into the future during a Community Conversation Jan. 24 at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center. In an introduction to the forum, Kegler said he is an “open book” and he would answer all questions he is able to answer. He said there were two topics that he would not address during the forum; personnel matters, and individual grievances. He said he would be willing to meet with anyone individually to discuss those topics. Source: Fort Scott [...]
