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New sales tax in Shawnee County to fund projects at Gage Park and Topeka Zoo

info2023-05-11T09:54:18-05:00May 11th, 2023|

Residents of Gage Park and visitors to the Topeka Zoo can expect changes following the implementation of a new sales tax. The tax, which went into effect last month, is expected to generate about $8 million per year, with 20 cents of every $100 spent in Shawnee County going to Gage Park. A breakdown of the allocation of funds shows that 58% of the tax revenue will go towards the Topeka Zoo, 15% to the Kansas Children's Discovery Center, 22% to the county for commissioners to decide on park improvements, and the last 5% to the Gage Park Improvement Authority. Source: [...]

Mural project brightens Eight Street levee wing walls in Osawatomie

info2023-05-11T13:10:45-05:00May 11th, 2023|

The city of Osawatomie recently celebrated another completed mural project in the city. A ribbon-cutting took place April 27 for the newly finished “Bee the Good” mural at the Eighth Street levee wing walls by Art by Lynnsey. The event gave the city the opportunity to congratulate artist Lynnsey Fletcher and pay tribute to the mural, located near the historic Creamery Bridge. In a post on her Art by Lynnsey Facebook page, Fletcher said butterflies and wildflowers are always a perfect choice. Source: Local News | republic-online.com

Growth in western Shawnee could push K-7 corridor to its traffic limit

info2023-05-11T09:52:23-05:00May 11th, 2023|

Improvements along Kansas Highway 7 may be necessary down the line to deal with increased traffic on Shawnee’s growing western side, but a new study of that major transportation corridor shows that its capacity is adequate for now. Specific areas to keep an eye on, according to a special presentation to the Shawnee City Council Monday, are around westbound 55th Street, westbound 67th Street, eastbound Shawnee Mission Parkway and stretches of K-7 itself. Those roads will need to be focused on as that part of the city continues to grow and be built out, Kurt Rotering, from Olsson Associates, said. Source: Prairie [...]

Galena artist wrapping up mural — paying homage to local legend

info2023-05-11T13:11:56-05:00May 11th, 2023|

A local artist is hitting the streets of Galena, for her second community project in the last month. "I love Galena," said Sandra Pemberton, local artist. It's been a busy month for local artist Sandra Pemberton, as she's wrapping up her second project in the Galena area, within the past month. Her last job was the train-themed mural inside of the "Galena Mining and History Museum", which city organizers enjoyed so much, it left them wanting more. "We looked at it, and was like 'that's amazing' and let's look around here and see if there is somewhere else we can put [...]

Can Inflation Fall Fast Enough for the Fed?

info2023-05-10T12:10:27-05:00May 10th, 2023|

Inflation is still too high. That probably won’t lead Federal Reserve policy makers to raise rates when they meet next month, but unless inflation comes down significantly in the months ahead, Fed policy makers will lace up their boots and start hiking all over again. And maybe inflation will come down. The Labor Department on Wednesday said that the consumer-price index, its measure of consumer prices, rose 0.4% in April from March, putting it 4.9% above its year-earlier level. Core prices, which exclude food and energy items to better reflect inflation’s underlying trend, also rose 0.4%, and were up 5.5% from [...]

Reno County facing shortage of teachers

info2023-05-10T12:02:57-05:00May 10th, 2023|

As enrollment dwindles in the Hutchinson School District, the need for buildings decreases. But this year, the largest school district in Reno County is facing a new problem − not enough applicants to fill their 14 open teacher slots. Because of this dilemma, the USD 308 staff met with community members at McCandless, Faris and Lincoln elementary schools on Wednesday and Thursday to try to figure out a solution. They threw out all sorts of possibilities, including closing an elementary school. Hutchinson’s superintendent, Dawn Johnson, Ed.D., wants to keep the community involved in what is happening. She is proposing a special [...]

Salina allows more access for fiber internet installation

info2023-05-10T12:02:04-05:00May 10th, 2023|

Providers of fiber internet will now have more options for where cable can be placed near homes in Salina after approval by the City Commission. During its meeting Monday, the commission approved a resolution to allow fiber optic cable to be placed in utility easements within the city in addition to the public right of way, which was already allowed. Assistant City Manager Shawn Henessee said a utility easement in Salina is typically located at the rear or side of a residence, whereas the right of way is typically located in front of a home. “The city has voluntarily allowed utilities, [...]

Pittsburg Housing Authority awarded vouchers to address housing insecurity

info2023-05-10T10:00:43-05:00May 10th, 2023|

The City of Pittsburg Public Housing Authority (PHA) is one of 62 agencies chosen by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to receive housing vouchers to provide supportive services to those facing homelessness in rural communities. The Pittsburg Housing Authority was awarded five stability vouchers to assist individuals and families who are homeless, at-risk of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or were recently homeless. These vouchers are in addition to 15 Emergency Housing Vouchers issued to the PHA in July 2021. Source: City of Pittsburg

Cinco De Mayo celebration brings crowd, culture to downtown Emporia

info2023-05-10T09:59:44-05:00May 10th, 2023|

Commercial Street came alive with food, music, dancing and more for the annual Cinco De Mayo celebration. Hundreds packed into downtown Emporia to try one of the many food, drink and snack options, listen to musical stylings of Erick Sánchez, Jaime Izaguirre, Ladee J and the Orquesta Cambalache and enjoy the dance performances from Raíces Hispanas Grupo Folklórico and the Latin Fit Zumba group. The day was packed with CincoK race in the morning, Los Puentes graduation, Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow scholarship recognition, royalty coronation and more. Source: Emporia Gazette

Valley Center Schools name new Superintendent

info2023-05-10T11:56:37-05:00May 10th, 2023|

The Valley Center School District has named a new Superintendent. Greg Lehr will take over the position on July 1. Lehr comes to Valley Center from Sedgwick Schools, where he has been Superintendent since July of last year, overseeing a $13.8 million bond project and creating a strategic plan. It is not his first time at Valley Center schools. Lehr was an assistant principal for Valley Center Middle School and principal of the intermediate school for a combined 12 years. Prior to that, he was a coach and teacher at Garden City and Newton Public Schools. Source: KSN-TV

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