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Halstead and North Newton receive SEED grant

info2023-02-02T00:15:10-06:00February 2nd, 2023|

The cities of Halstead and North Newton worked together to submit a successful SEED Grant application and soon North Newton park will see new shade structures, the Halstead Public Library will have new carpeting, and the Kansas Learning Center for Health (KLCH) will install new exercise equipment as a result of the cooperation. Halstead City Manager Ethan Reimer said the SEED grants were only going to be awarded one per county so Halstead and North Newton negotiated a way to come together instead of competing for the limited grant money. “We thought it was better and more in the spirit, and [...]

Peabody goes after $3 million in grant money

info2023-02-02T00:10:21-06:00February 2nd, 2023|

Twenty-nine property owners in Peabody’s historic district, Sunflower Theatre, and the city of Peabody have applied for nearly $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act money funneled through the Kansas Department of Commerce. City council members signed off Monday night on the city’s own request for $725,000 for sidewalks and lampposts. Requests also were approved by the Peabody Main Street Association. Jonathan Clayton, who works for the Commerce Department, helped guide Peabody’s application for the Building a Stronger Economy 2.0 grant, the second round of funding. He did so on his own, independent of his job, and at no cost, he [...]

Richter named new Jackson County Clerk

info2023-02-02T07:25:55-06:00February 2nd, 2023|

When Jackson County Clerk Kathy Mick steps down from her post at the end of March, longtime assistant clerk Kristie Richter will step in to take her place. “I’m a little nervous, but I’m excited,” said Richter, who has worked in the county clerk’s office in the Jackson County Courthouse for more than two decades. Mick, who has held the county clerk’s position for 30 years and has worked for Jackson County for 44 years, said she has confidence that Richter will do an excellent job. “She’s got the basics down,” Mick said of Richter. “I think she’ll be able to [...]

Speeding ticket fines may increase in Kansas

info2023-02-02T00:05:33-06:00February 2nd, 2023|

Lawmakers met today in Topeka to discuss a potential increase in penalties for speeding cars going 30 miles per hour or higher over the speed limit. The proposed changes would make going 30 MPH or more over the speed limit a $500 fine instead of the current $195. There will be an additional $20 for every mile per hour over. Trooper Chad Crittenden said warnings and citations have been effective for some people but for many others, it does not change their spending habits. Source: KAKE - News

Lenexa’s longest-serving mayor will retire after 2 decades and a city transformation

info2023-02-02T07:26:30-06:00February 2nd, 2023|

Michael Boehm, Lenexa's longest-serving mayor, will retire after 20 years leading the city. Boehm is a lifelong resident of the city, and has seen the city's population grow by nearly 20,000 residents since taking office in 2003. Under Boehm, the city took on a massive development project, relocating city hall and creating a new downtown district near I-435 and 87th street. "I think it's turned out better than anyone could have imagined," says Boehm of the Lenexa City Center. Source: KCUR

City of Derby computer network fixed

info2023-02-02T00:00:34-06:00February 2nd, 2023|

The City of Derby says its computer network is back to being fully operational as of Tuesday. The network started having problems two and a half weeks ago. It began as a computer network disruption on Jan. 14. The City started working with third-party computer specialists to investigate and notified law enforcement agencies. The City of Derby says the investigation continues and includes trying to determine what impact, if any, the incident may have had on information stored on City network systems. Source: KSN-TV

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 [...]

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