Southwest Kansas officials have long pushed a moonshot aqueduct project to send Missouri River water across the state to their region, where a $12.5 billion agricultural economy relies on a dwindling underground aquifer. While the effort has been dismissed as legally impossible and expensive, the persistence of the idea demonstrates how drought and a steadily shrinking water supply have created broad consensus that water policies need to be overhauled. In Kansas, where federal data shows that nearly every county was experiencing some level of drought at the end of 2022, water is among the most urgent issues facing the state legislature [...]

The Newton school board on Monday night voted 4-3 to begin the process to close the Walton Rural Life Center. The primary question now becomes where students in the K-4 charter school will attend following the closure after this year. Source: KWCH

After hearing an hour and half of public comment, Lawrence school board leaders have voted to close Broken Arrow and Pinckney elementaries. Source: LJWorld

Herington’s search for a new city manager has come to an end. Herington City Commissioners approved a contract for Thatcher Moddie, former assistant city manager in Goddard at the end of their Tuesday, March 21 meeting. Moddie’s official start date is April 10. Although this is Moddie’s first city manager position, he is no stranger to city management. He started with the city management team in Goddard in 2018. “I worked under one of the more qualified city managers in Kansas,” Moddie said. “I have gained enough experience over the past four years to navigate my way through anything. I am [...]

Fees for false alarms related to commercial buildings were increased at the Garden City Commission’s regular meeting on March 21. Gene Robertson, Garden City Fire Marshal, said the reason for the increase is that the Garden City Fire Department has seen an increase in the number of false alarms being transmitted from businesses across the city.... “Some of the alarm panels are older and require more attention to keep them functioning properly,” he said. “I identified these specific businesses and have requested to have the alarm panels inspected by certified fire alarm inspectors and provide a report on the status of [...]

Every day, Corrina Carlos comes into her classroom and bids good morning to her pollitos. They chirp back not in English but in Spanish. And K’Iche’. And Q’eqchi’. For the most part, the pollitos — or “little chickens," as Carlos affectionately calls her students — understand Carlos as she switches between English and Spanish, but the students and teacher muddle through any parts of the conversation they might not understand. It’s the least Carlos can do to give her pollitos a basic education and a fighting chance at survival in a society and world new to them. Source: CJonline