A police chief said a large influx of storm chasers into the Blue Rapids area could have created a dangerous situation for emergency workers and others on Monday. Multiple tornadoes touched down in north-central and northeast Kansas, drawing in large numbers of people to the region. Many vehicles belonging to locals, storm spotters and chasers were caught up in traffic near the community of Blue Rapids. The Blue Rapids Police Department estimated that as many as 500 vehicles were in the area when a tornado touched down just east of the town. Read more: KSN-TV

Hours of public comment hold back a solar project proposal in Sedgwick County. The Branch Line Project, submitted by the energy system developer TED Renewables, is one of several projects being considered in Sedgwick County. It would take over nearly 1,400 acres of land north and northeast of Clearwater for solar farms. Read more: KSN-TV

Weaker winds and cooler temperatures proved to be a blessing for firefighters Tuesday as they started to get flames in Meade and Clark Counties under control. Though the fires are a long way from being out, progress has been hard to come by in previous days. “Our guys are hungry, and they are tired, and they are worn out,” said Valerie Heston, an Ashland resident helping in the recovery efforts. As firefighters man the frontlines, numerous volunteers in rural communities have been giving them the support they need to keep going, cooking meals and taking donations for first responders. Read more: [...]

Hays will soon implement its annual restrictions on summer water use. On Tuesday, the Kansas Department of Agriculture issued an order requested by the city that prohibits residents with private wells from watering their lawns or other vegetation between noon and 7 p.m. from June 1 to Sept. 30. Other residents are already prohibited from outdoor water use during that time under city ordinance. The city has had the same summer water restrictions since the early 1990s. Read more: KSN-TV

The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that Kansas is receiving funding to help address “forever chemicals” in drinking water. More than $9.4 million in grant funding is now available to eligible communities Kansas to reduce PFAS and other chemical contaminants that are linked to cancers. PFAS stands for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are found in a variety of household products and are also used in some manufacturing processes. Read more: KSN-TV

On Founders Day, the city of Pittsburg celebrated its 150th anniversary with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a group photo of residents and visitors. Read more: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

Hillsboro City Council offered city clerk Danielle Bartel the position of city administrator after two executive sessions totaling around 40 minutes Tuesday. “It is my pleasure to announce that we are extending an offer to Danielle Bartel to be our next city administrator,” Mayor Lou Thurston said. “We couldn’t be more excited.” Council members unanimously approved Bartel’s employment agreement and authorized Thurston to sign it. Read more: Marion County RECORD

A community garden in Derby is part of a growing Kansas effort to address food insecurity as rising grocery costs and shrinking aid programs strain families. Carefully walking between rows of sprouting plants, Donavan Lawrence gives a tour of the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church community garden in Derby, Kansas. The caretaker points out the spiral-shaped herb garden and elevated plots for people with mobility issues. He stops by a group of raised mounds where the church is using a technique called the three sisters. It’s an indigenous technique where corn, pole beans and squash sustain each other on one plot. “When [...]

Chanute police officers are looking into a reported sighting of a bear, and have advised residents to use caution if they encounter the animal. The Chanute Police Department posted the alert after a resident released a video on social media, purportedly of an apparent black bear sauntering down a city street. Anyone who sees the bear should not approach the animal, but instead report the sighting by calling (620) 432-5768. Residents also are reminded to keep a safe distance from wildlife and avoid attempting to feed, follow or otherwise interact with bears. Read more: The Iola Register

Chanute’s energy portfolio just got greener. A new 6-megawatt solar farm at 4302 S. Plummer is now online and producing energy. Evergy will own and operate the facility, while the City of Chanute has agreed to purchase power directly from the site for at least the next 30 years. The city has the option to purchase the facility after six years.  Read more: The Iola Register