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Two Overland Park police officers help out trick-or-treaters on Halloween

info2022-11-01T09:56:16-05:00November 1st, 2022|

Overland Park police officers Amanda Burns and Shelbe Piggie were riding around town to find the perfect trick-or-treaters. The officers wanted to use their down time to connect with the community. It was also a way to make sure kids were being safe. “Whenever we're not on calls, we are encouraged to go into the neighborhoods, not only for the safety of the kids, but to be around making sure they're using their crosswalks,” Officer Burns said. “We like for them to cross at street corners, but also looking for drivers speeding through neighborhood and not stopping for the kids." Neighbors [...]

Traders Expect Higher Interest Rates to Stay

info2022-11-01T09:14:19-05:00November 1st, 2022|

Wagers on rates remaining higher for longer have crept upward most of the year and are now nearing their highest levels since 2013. Ahead of the Federal Reserve’s next decision on Wednesday, derivatives markets show the federal-funds rate sitting at around 3.5% for the long run. That is a full percentage point higher than the central bank’s own latest forecast. Those wagers have crept higher throughout most of the year, and are now nearing levels not seen since the 2013 bond-market rout known as the “Taper Tantrum.” Source: WSJ.com: Markets

Gage Park mini-train to stay in Topeka

info2022-10-31T23:53:16-05:00October 31st, 2022|

The Gage Park mini-train is officially retired, giving it's last ride over the weekend, but that does not mean it is going anywhere anytime soon. Although the train will most likely never be giving anyone rides ever again, Shawnee County Parks and Rec is already making plans to preserve the locomotive. The train will be replaced with an electric counterpart, but the old steam engine will remain in Gage Park on display. There is currently no official placement, but the Director of Parks and Rec says it will be staying home. Source: KSNT 27 News

Shawnee Mission launches pay incentives for some staff in effort to fill vacancies

info2022-11-01T10:00:37-05:00October 31st, 2022|

Shawnee Mission has launched a pilot pay incentive program aimed at attracting and retaining paraeducators and custodians at a time when the district is struggling to fill those positions. Shawnee Mission’s Board of Education last week unanimously approved spending more than half a million dollars on the program, which is aimed at addressing staffing shortages for classified, or non-teacher, staff. Source: Prairie Village Post

Panasonic to break ground on new Kansas battery plant in November

info2022-10-31T23:49:47-05:00October 31st, 2022|

Panasonic Energy will begin construction on a new EV batter plant in De Soto, Kansas, in November. The new facility will produce batteries that will be used in electric vehicles. “As the global shift to EVs accelerates, we are looking into ways to strengthen our battery production capacity in North America and meet the growing demand from our automotive partners,” Kazuo Tadanobu, President, CEO of Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., said. The company says the batteries are in high demand, and the De Soto site will help expand production capabilities with goals of mass producing EV batteries in 2025. Source: fox4kc.com | [...]

Doggone project soon gone: Pet owners in Overland Park will receive permanent tags

info2022-11-01T10:01:39-05:00October 31st, 2022|

If you own a pet, you know the drill. You properly license the dog or cat before receiving a tag that’s good for one year. That’s the easy part. Then comes the epic struggle to replace the old tag with the new one on the animal’s collar. It may take pliers or fingernails of steel, if you can get the dang things to move at all. But with a new licensing procedure that will take effect in January, Overland Park hopes fewer people will be growling in frustration. And the city will save some money, too. Pet owners will now receive [...]

Johnson County residents concerned about rise in coyote attacks on dogs

info2022-10-31T23:41:23-05:00October 31st, 2022|

Residents in Johnson County are worried about coyotes attacking their pets. Some emergency vet clinics say they've seen a spike in small dog attacks and most are blaming coyotes. For dog owners like Maggie Uhruh, coyotes are a big concern. “I have a dog that is seven and a half pounds, and we don't have a fence,” Uhruh said. “I always worry when I let her out that a coyote is just going to snatch her up.” She says she’s been seeing more coyotes around her neighborhood lately. Source: KMBC.com

Annual Emporia Main Street trick-or-treat draws crowd downtown

info2022-10-30T22:54:33-05:00October 30th, 2022|

Emporia Main Street's annual downtown trick-or-treat event was held Saturday morning, following the Dia de los Muertos parade. Children of all ages could be seen walking along Commercial Street sidewalks picking up candy from area businesses and booths. A photo contest is still ongoing, and winners will receive Emporia Main Street gift certificates. Categories include babies ages 0 - 2, kids ages 3 and up and families. Source: Emporia Gazette

Shawnee pitches new TIF district to support infrastructure upgrades

info2022-10-30T22:20:39-05:00October 30th, 2022|

SHAWNEE, Kan. -- The City of Shawnee could soon create a new special tax district to support future infrastructure upgrades.... Unlike TIF districts requested by developers, the city will consider creating a conservation TIF district. The state defines conservation districts as areas in which at least 50% of buildings are more than 35 years old, that are not yet blighted, but could become blighted due to inadequate infrastructure, dilapidation or the deterioration of surrounding structures. ... Revenue generated by the TIF district would be earmarked for infrastructure improvements ... Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 - WDAF

Governor Laura Kelly Announces Nearly $2M to Boost Tourism Industry

info2022-10-30T22:13:47-05:00October 30th, 2022|

Governor Laura Kelly today announced that Kansas Tourism, in partnership with the Patterson Family Foundation, is providing nearly $2 million to eight tourism projects across the state to enhance the state’s growing tourism industry. ... The TASK recipients and amounts awarded: City of Great Bend Convention & Visitors Bureau, Barton County, $337,500 Flint Hills Discovery Center, Riley County, $200,000 Grassroots Art Center, Russell County, $172,226 Horse Thief Reservoir Benefit District, Hodgeman County, $299,918 Johnson County Park & Recreation District, Johnson County, $201,168 Miners Hall Museum Foundation, Crawford County, $337,500 Strataca: Kansas Underground Salt Museum, Reno County, $174,750 The Nature Conservancy, Logan [...]

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