Even if we are browsing through the clearance items at the Goodwill store, all of us Lawrence shoppers can feel like we are almost part of an exclusive club — the $2 billion club. Lawrence fell just short of posting $2 billion in total retail sales in 2023, which would have made it just one of six communities in the state to do so. Now that the Kansas Department of Revenue has released its final sales tax figures for the year, we can look at what cities in the state are the biggest when it comes to serving and attracting shoppers.
Source: LJWorld

Five years from now, there may be well over a thousand new affordable housing units constructed throughout Douglas County. That idea is no secret in Lawrence. Lawrence City Commission candidates regularly highlighted the hundreds of affordable units currently in the development pipeline along the campaign trail in late 2023, and such projects have been an emphasis for local leaders when allocating American Rescue Plan Act funds and Affordable Housing Trust Fund dollars for the past several years.
Source: LJWorld

Just before 4:30 am, on Tuesday, January 9th, Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Dispatch was contacted by a Wamego resident who reported he neighbor’s home appeared to be on fire and the residents were home. Louisville Fire Department Chief, Travis Ten Eyck, who lives nearby, responded directly to the residence from his home and found smoke and fire coming from the residence when he arrived on scene. Shortly after arriving Chief Ten Eyck learned there were two occupants at the residence, one had made his way safely outside, however, a 66-year-old male was unable to leave his bedroom. Chief Ten Eyck made the decision to enter the residence, without any protective gear, to attempt to locate the resident and assist them with exiting the house.
Source: Little Apple Post

The City of Wichita has revamped its Home Repair program and will open applications and the wait list on February 1.The Home Repair program assists low- and moderate-income homeowners with critical home repairs to achieve two main goals: Stabilize homeowners within their primary unit of residence, assisting with the goal of sustaining affordable homeownership, and Assist with critical repairs for existing affordable housing units to maintain and sustain these units as affordable housing stock within the City. Under the program, qualified Wichita homeowners can receive up to $5,000 in forgivable assistance with critical home repairs, such as water service and sewer line updates, furnace and water heater replacements or other key upgrades.
Source: KWCH