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An old Johnson County fire station will soon become a coffee shop. ‘It’s exciting’

2023-11-10T12:25:34-06:00November 10th, 2023|

In the ’70s, the brick building at 19115 Midland Drive in Shawnee was home to volunteer firefighters. The side of the building, now painted with sunflowers, was once a garage door that opened for wailing fire trucks. Then the fire department built a larger station, packed up its hoses and traveled across the street. One day Courtney and John Nelson, now owners of the building, looked at the old firehouse and thought: “Coffee shop?” Yes, a great spot for a coffee shop, they agreed. “It’s exciting,” Courtney said. “It’s something that we liked and thought would be a good addition.” Early next [...]

Overland Park approves new weed ordinance

2023-11-10T12:26:03-06:00November 10th, 2023|

This isn't about the "weed" some might be thinking of. The Overland Park City Council met Monday night to approve an update to the city's Weed and Vegetation Enforcement Act. The act encourages those living in the city to grow native plants. This is the first adjustment made to the ordinance since 2011. “The ordinance was also out of sync with sustainable landscaping practices promoted through the City’s stormwater cost-share program,” City Sustainability Manager Lara Isch said. “This program promotes beneficial native plantings and rain gardens, and the update brings the City’s code into alignment with that goal.” Source: fox4kc.com | [...]

A baby bust hits Kansas, bringing tough choices for Kansas school districts

2023-11-10T12:26:50-06:00November 10th, 2023|

Kansas is in the midst of a baby bust. Numbers released in May by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment tell the plain story: In 2022, there were 34,476 live births – a slight decrease from 34,697 births the year before, but a huge drop from the nearly 42,000 new Kansans born in 2008 amidst the Great Recession. Put it in a different context – there were just 11.7 new babies born for every 1,000 Kansans in 2022. That is a historically low number. “This is the lowest birth rate for Kansas residents since the state created a centralized vital [...]

Governor Kelly Announces More than $10M to Build Community Multi-Purpose Facilities, Expand Access to Child Care

2023-11-10T12:26:59-06:00November 10th, 2023|

Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund today announced the first round of Capital Projects Fund Accelerator (CPF Accelerator) awards, which will go to three Kansas communities to build or renovate multi-purpose community facilities. These facilities will create 313 new licensed child care slots; provide access to high-speed internet; and house programs that facilitate work, education, and health care monitoring. “Kansas parents need safe, affordable child care so they can join the workforce without worrying how they’ll make ends meet,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “That’s why we’re investing in these community centers, which will offer more options for [...]

In Garden City, 20-year-old son of Vietnamese immigrants wins city commission seat

2023-11-08T10:37:11-06:00November 8th, 2023|

Tom Nguyen wanted to run for office after his parents, both Vietnamese immigrants, became U.S. citizens in March. “What’s more American than to run for public office?” Nguyen said. Nguyen, 20, won a seat on the Garden City city commission according to unofficial results Tuesday from the Finney County Clerk’s Office. Nguyen secured his seat with 1,682 total votes, more than any other of the five candidates who were up for three open seats. “My heart is so full of all of the love that has been offered to me by our community,” Nguyen said. “My win has plowed the ground [...]

Voters decide on sales tax issues across Kansas

2023-11-08T10:36:36-06:00November 8th, 2023|

Voters decided on sale tax issues across Kansas. Derby increases its sales tax by 1%, with 55% percent of voters approving it. The new tax will bring in $5 million a year for roads, parks, new police cars and fire equipment. In Fowler, voters approved a one-cent sales tax. Most of the money goes to the school district for art and music teachers. The rest will pay off debt and lower property taxes. Conway Springs voters gave approval to a 2% hike. The money will be used to fix roads. Plains in Meade County rejected a half-cent sales tax that would [...]

Solar developers are flocking to Kansas. But many communities are skeptical of their proposals.

2023-11-08T10:35:24-06:00November 8th, 2023|

About 10 miles north of El Dorado on U.S. Highway 77, a break appears in the rolling cattle ranches and farmland of the Flint hills. It’s a different sort of farm – a solar farm. It supplies electricity to several small towns throughout Lincoln Township in Butler County. “We’re not anti-solar,” said Terry Lowmaster, a trustee of the township, which gets some of this electricity. “We have a one megawatt here in our backyard that benefits our local residents.” At the same time, he and other local residents protested earlier this year when a Chicago-based developer applied for a permit to [...]

Derby votes to approve a higher sales tax

2023-11-08T10:23:32-06:00November 8th, 2023|

Derby voters approved a sales tax increase expected to generate around $4 million to $5 million annually with the aim of alleviating property taxes while supporting public safety, streets, sidewalks, parks and trails. The tax increase was approved by 55% of voters, according to Sedgwick County unofficial election results Tuesday night. The “1% Derby Difference sales tax” will replace the current half percent sales tax that expires on Dec. 31, 2024, according to the city’s website. The new 1% sales tax would start on Jan. 1, 2025 and run through Dec. 31, 2034. Derby’s overall sales tax rate now is 8%, [...]

Leawood sends funds to Israeli sister city amid ongoing war

2023-11-08T10:12:12-06:00November 8th, 2023|

The city of Leawood has stepped in to help Israelis during the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The Leawood City Council on Monday approved a $25,000 donation to its sister city, the Gezer Region of Israel. The donation goes to the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, which will send the funds directly to humanitarian efforts in Gezer. The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City has already raised roughly $2.6 million for Israel through its own efforts, according to representatives from the organization. Leawood and Gezer officially became sister cities in September 2003, after Leawood city representatives visited Gezer in 2002. In 2009, the [...]

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