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Voters approve school bonds in Nickerson, Pretty Prairie, Eudora; denied in Baldwin City

info2023-05-17T08:10:57-05:00May 17th, 2023|

The bond for Nickerson School District, USD 309, passed with a 13% turnout. Of the 5,121 eligible voters, 682 cast a ballot, with 381 voting yes and 301 voting no. The bond is for $7.6 million over nine years. The short duration of the bond will allow the district to evaluate expenditures in 10 years. The bond to fix the Pretty Prairie Schools, USD 311, passed on Tuesday evening, garnering slightly less than a 50% turnout. Of the 1,087 registered voters, 45% voted, casting 272 for the bond and 222 against it. ... Pretty Prairie School District 311 proposed a $7.7 [...]

Topeka’s city government creates land bank to buy, upgrade, resell distressed properties

info2023-05-17T07:32:34-05:00May 17th, 2023|

Topeka's city government will create a "land bank" pilot program aimed at helping address this community's problems with abandoned properties. The program will buy distressed properties and hold them tax-free while they're upgraded, resold and returned to the tax rolls. Topeka's mayor and city council voted 9-0 late Tuesday, with Councilman Tony Emerson being absent, to create the program and adopt specific policy guidelines governing it. Source: CJonline

Getting old homes back on the market in Salina

info2023-05-17T07:28:13-05:00May 17th, 2023|

While developers are working on bringing in new houses and apartments to the Salina community, one nonprofit organization is focusing on fixing homes that are already here and getting them back into the housing market. The Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) Corporation of Central Kansas, says its mission is to “(provide) quality housing in an affordable manner for low to moderate income persons.” Founded by Salinan Lance Cochran over 18 years ago, CHDO also has the goal of working to help solve housing challenges in the region. Source: Salina Journal

Hutchinson School Board votes to close Lincoln Elementary School

info2023-05-17T07:26:47-05:00May 17th, 2023|

After more than an hour of speeches, discussion and pointed questions, the Hutchinson School Board voted 5 to 1 to close Lincoln Elementary School during a special board meeting on Monday, May 15. The staff would move along with the students and the class size would be 20. The district's superintendent, Dawn Johnson, Ed.D., presented the options to the school board and more than 100 community members. This discussion came about because of the lack of teachers applying for jobs in the district. At present, the district is 14 teachers short. In addition, the district is down $1.1 million. Source: Hutch [...]

Natives of a small Kansas town transform rundown burger joint into regional destination

info2023-05-17T07:21:05-05:00May 16th, 2023|

The restaurant scene in Douglass, Kansas, — a town of around 1,500 that sits 30 miles southeast of Wichita — has been a tad depressing over the past decade. Around 2014, the town’s favorite burger joint — Craig’s Drive-Inn, at 833 E. First St. — closed after more than 30 years in business. Then, in November of 2021, the Triangle Restaurant — a cafe that also served Mexican fare — also closed, leaving the town with nearly no dining options at all. A couple of months ago, the town’s Pizza Hut closed, and that was a real blow. In a small [...]

Governor Kelly signs bipartisan omnibus budget bill

info2023-05-17T07:21:34-05:00May 16th, 2023|

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has signed an omnibus budget bill that was approved with bipartisan support. The bill signed on Monday will increase funding for higher education, expand mental health resources for students, and it provides a pay raise for state workers. The governor said the budget is fiscally responsible and will improve the state’s workforce, improve roads and expand high-speed internet. The bill increases pay rates for state employees who are earning below the market rate for similar jobs in the private sector. The bill also includes the Build Kansas Matching Grant Fund which will provide state matching dollars to communities for [...]

Great Bend residents support backyard chickens

info2023-05-17T07:22:37-05:00May 16th, 2023|

A large number of Great Bend residents flocked to the City Council meeting Monday night, supporting the idea of raising chickens within the city limits, as well as voicing their frustration with what they called a vague ordinance governing backyard fowl. However, not all on the council were keen to the idea that arose during the public comment section of the City Hall meeting. No action could be taken, but it will be on the agenda June 5. Source: Great Bend Tribune

Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office buys new $2.5M airplane you’ll probably never want to ride in

info2023-05-16T10:29:56-05:00May 16th, 2023|

As the sheriff of the Air Capital of the World, one of the most important and little-known tools for Jeff Easter's department is its own private airplane, and it's time to make a big upgrade. "The Sheriff's Office here has had an airplane since the late 70s," said Easter. In 1987, the department flew a Cessna T210, but its needs quickly outgrew what the small plane could do. So, in 1991, it upgraded to a Cessna C340A. Just six years later, the department traded up again for the airplane it still flies today – the Commander 690-A. Source: KAKE - News

Rural electric co-ops to get $10.7B in USDA funds for clean energy grants, loans

info2023-05-16T10:28:41-05:00May 16th, 2023|

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin to administer two loan and grant programs worth nearly $11 billion to boost clean energy systems in rural areas, administration officials said Tuesday. Congress approved the federal spending — $9.7 billion for a grant and loan program the department is calling the New Empowering Rural America program, or New ERA, and $1 billion for a Powering Affordable Clean Energy program that will provide partly forgivable loans — in the energy, health and taxes law Democrats passed last summer. Source: Kansas Reflector

Pittsburg gives housing vouchers to those facing homelessness

info2023-05-16T10:24:16-05:00May 16th, 2023|

The Pittsburg Housing Authority was chosen to receive some additional funds to provide support for those facing homelessness. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $43 million to 62 agencies throughout the country, for "stability vouchers" to address unsheltered and rural homelessness. The Pittsburg Housing Authority received five Stability Vouchers to help those individuals and families obtain permanent housing. The total amount of the vouchers depends on the number of people living in the household. Source: KSNF/KODE

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