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Douglas County rent assistance program switching to lottery system sooner than planned; applications open

info2023-02-01T23:57:24-06:00February 1st, 2023|

The Douglas County Housing Stabilization Collaborative is moving away from a first-come, first-served model to distribute funding for residents in need of rent and utility assistance. That change is happening now — sooner than planned, according to an update from the HSC. The HSC’s website was having server troubles because of the large number of people applying for rent and utility assistance on Wednesday, according to the update. Now, people will be able to complete the application at this link anytime before 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6. Qualified applicants will be randomly selected on Tuesday, Feb. 7. Source: The Lawrence Times

Fed raises rates a quarter point, expects ‘ongoing’ increases

info2023-02-01T13:10:46-06:00February 1st, 2023|

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point and gave little indication that it is nearing the end of this hiking cycle. Aligning with market expectations, the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee boosted the federal funds rate by 0.25 percentage point. That takes it to a target range of 4.5%-4.75%, the highest since October 2007. The move marked the eighth increase in a process that began in March 2022. ... The post-meeting statement noted that inflation “has eased somewhat but remains elevated,” a tweak on previous language. Markets, however, were looking to this week’s [...]

Parsons’ focus in 2023 is housing

info2023-02-01T13:07:04-06:00February 1st, 2023|

Housing is Parsons’ economic development priority in 2023. Jeremy Hill, director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research (CEDBR) at Wichita State University, Jonathan Norris, a research economist at CEDBR, and Jim Zaleski, economic development director for Parsons, presented information during Tuesday morning’s community outlook event at the Wall Family Center, 2605 Main St. Hill reviewed the state forecast, Norris discussed the regional outlook while Zaleski presented Labette County information. Over a dozen people attended. Housing was the focal point of the event’s discussions. “Where we really feel we can make a difference is in housing,” Zaleski said. He [...]

Heartland Flyer extension on track for federal funding

info2023-02-01T13:06:09-06:00February 1st, 2023|

The project to extend Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer train route from Oklahoma City to Newton is ahead of its competitors in the process to apply for existing federal funding and is firmly on the radar of the Federal Rail Administration, which will administer the funding. That’s the takeaway following an annual Train caucus forum chaired by State Senator Carolyn McGinn on Monday. The meeting included executives from both Amtrak and the Federal Rail Administration, state legislators, local elected officials and proponents for the expansion project. “We have a chance to link a huge swath of the country through passenger rail,” Federal Rail [...]

Newton breaks ground on New Library

info2023-02-01T13:05:11-06:00February 1st, 2023|

Newton Mayor Leroy Koehn addressed the crowd of 150 that braved a brisk afternoon on Jan. 31 to attend the groundbreaking for Newton’s new public library. “Did you ever imagine today was going to come?” he asked the crowd. Koehn said many doubted the community would be able to accomplish the goal. “Thanks to the hard work of the community, here we are, a prime example of a public-private partnership,” he said. The groundbreaking ceremony marks the beginning of construction on a $7.8 million, 30,000-square-foot library building funded by the city of Newton, the Newton Public Library board and millions of [...]

Fed expected to slow rate hiking to a quarter point but will stay unrelenting in inflation battle

info2023-02-01T00:32:31-06:00February 1st, 2023|

The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates by just a quarter point, but the central bank will also likely signal it will stay vigilant in its fight against inflation even as it reduces the size of its hikes. The Fed releases its latest rate decision Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET, and Fed Chairman Jerome Powell briefs the media at 2:30 p.m. The expected quarter point hike follows a half percentage point increase in December and would be the smallest increase in the federal funds target rate range since the Fed's first hike of the cycle in March 2022. Source: CNBC [...]

USDA to use outdoors recreation to boost economy around national forests, grasslands

info2023-02-01T00:30:19-06:00February 1st, 2023|

The U.S. Department of Agriculture began planning this month to develop outdoor recreation opportunities near national forests and grasslands, part of a broader Biden administration push to help communities reap economic rewards from the growing recreation sector. Three USDA agencies — the U.S. Forest Service, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Office of Rural Development — signed a memorandum of understanding last fall pledging to collaborate on plans to develop outdoor recreation economies in “gateway communities” near national forests and grasslands, according to a Jan. 19 press release. Source: Kansas Reflector

Wichita deputy chief named new chief of police in Liberal

info2023-02-01T00:28:00-06:00February 1st, 2023|

The City of Liberal has hired a Wichita deputy chief of police to be their new police chief. Chester Pinkston currently oversees the Field Services Division of the Wichita Police Department. Liberal officials say Pinkston was chosen during a national search involving 17 candidates. Pinkston has spent the last 32 years with the Wichita Police Department, being named Deputy Chief in 2020. He is one of three current and former deputy chiefs who, along with former chief Gordon Ramsay say they are suing the City of Wichita. Source: KSN-TV

KDOT installing ‘high performance’ signs on selected highways in Lyon, Greenwood counties

info2023-02-01T06:59:40-06:00February 1st, 2023|

A special signage project is underway on several area highways. The Kansas Department of Transportation says signage is currently being replaced on Kansas Highway 99 in Lyon and Greenwood counties, as well as Kansas Highway 58 east of Madison, US Highway 54 and US Highway 400, both in Greenwood County. This involves so-called high-performance signs, which use lettering that’s highly reflective in headlights for better visibility than other kinds of signs. The new signs can also withstand harsh weather conditions without rusting or going dull. Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

Merriam nixes some key elements of downtown plan

info2023-02-01T00:25:03-06:00February 1st, 2023|

A long-awaited plan to remake downtown Merriam is moving forward but without any changes to a key two-block stretch of Merriam Drive. Mayor Bob Pape cast the tie-breaking vote last week on a motion to leave Merriam Drive between Hocker Drive and Johnson Drive untouched as part of a broader plan to make downtown more walkable and safer for bikers and pedestrians. The original concept called for decreasing lanes on the busy roadway from three down to two, but that idea garnered pushback from some downtown business owners who feared cutting lanes could create more congestion. Source: Prairie Village Post

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