Kansas lawmaker wants to spend $150B to harden schools

2022-06-10T00:38:57-05:00June 10th, 2022|

A Kansas lawmaker wants to redirect $150 billion dollars in COVID relief dollars to harden schools, increase security measures and pay for armed resource officers. On Thursday, June 9, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D., and U.S. Congressman Mike Garcia from California introduced the Safe Schools Act legislation that would allow COVID dollars to be used for video surveillance, locks, panic buttons security systems and armed guards inside schools. “While we made some progress in previous legislation to make our schools stronger, harder, and safer, certainly there is more that can and must be done immediately to protect kids,” said Senator Marshall. [...]

How the new Wichita Water Treatment Facility will help water treatment in the future

2022-06-10T00:37:58-05:00June 10th, 2022|

This is the second boil advisory issue for Wichita in eight months. The two issues are not connected. One involved a problem with a pipe, the other a filter at the water treatment plant. That plant is more than 80 years old, but a new one is under construction. We are still several years out until the plant is up and running. The main thing that will really benefit Wichita in the future is having this new equipment and fewer repairs needed when this site opens up. "We are the largest water provider in the entire state of Kansas, and to [...]

Ellsworth warns residents of ransomware attack

2022-06-10T00:35:57-05:00June 10th, 2022|

The City of Ellsworth is dealing with a ransomware attack. It found out about the attack after employees noticed unauthorized activity on the City's network on June 2. The City took the system offline to stop any potential malicious activity and notified federal law enforcement. Computer forensics experts are investigating, and a new server is being installed. So far, there is no information on who is behind the attack or how it happened. The City posted a news release on social media to warn residents. However, the City has not determined if any personal information is at risk. It will update [...]

Lyon County’s Click It or Ticket efforts leads to over 70 citations, including seven DUI arrests

2022-06-10T00:33:09-05:00June 10th, 2022|

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office has announced the results of its recent Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign at the end of May into early June. Lyon County Deputy Jody Meyers says there were over 70 citations issued during the two-week effort, including 13 safety belt citations, 46 speeding citations, one citation for texting while driving. There were 13 other citations and arrests, including seven arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Meyers says there were 115 vehicle stops, of which 80 percent were conducted at night. Ten occupant restraint tickets were handed out during the night patrols. [...]

Leawood residents could request crosswalks at certain intersections under draft policy

2022-06-10T08:03:13-05:00June 10th, 2022|

Leawood officials are reviewing the initial draft of what would be the city’s first-ever crosswalk policy, a conversation that was sparked by concerns raised by residents about the intersection at 93rd Street and Lee Boulevard. If ultimately approved by the Leawood City Council, the new policy, which was reviewed this week by the council’s Public Works Committee, would allow residents to provide a written request to the city engineer for a crosswalk on non-arterial roads within city limits Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Overland Park committee approves city-county partnership for fire station use

2022-06-10T08:05:35-05:00June 10th, 2022|

Plans for continued sharing of fire and medical resources between Overland Park and Johnson County moved forward last night. At this month’s meeting, Overland Park’s Public Safety Committee unanimously approved four respective lease agreements allowing the Overland Park Fire Department to share resources with the Johnson County Med-Act emergency service center. Under the agreement, the fire department and the county would share use of Fire Stations 2, 3, 4 and 5. In exchange, the county would pay $12 for each square foot of the space it occupied in each station to cover operating and utility costs. Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Manhattan looks to not call applicants unfit if commission rejects them for boards

2022-06-10T08:06:23-05:00June 10th, 2022|

The Manhattan City Commission wants to be able to reject board applicants without calling them unfit to serve. Commissioners didn’t vote Tuesday, but they agreed that they wanted to opt out of the state law that requires using that term. The issue came up recently with the commission’s 3-2 rejections of Annie Cook to the Human Rights and Services Board and Thomas Hanson to the Historic Resources Board on May 17. The commission still disagrees on whether commissioners can make their own recommendations after rejecting the mayor’s. Source: themercury.com - RSS Results in news of type article

Manhattan commissioners change meeting quorum from four to three

2022-06-10T08:06:52-05:00June 10th, 2022|

The Manhattan City Commission on Tuesday changed its quorum for voting in meetings from four to three. A quorum is the minimum number of members needed for a valid vote. The change means the commission can take action when at least three of the five members are present. Commissioners passed the measure 4-1, with commissioner Usha Reddi voting against it. Commissioner John Matta said his reason for the change was that in previous commissions, commissioners sometimes would not show up. If they didn’t reach the quorum, the commission couldn’t conduct business. He said his reasoning now is that if anything happened [...]

Wichita bumps new specials from 15 to 20 years (for a 2-year period)

2022-06-10T08:08:14-05:00June 10th, 2022|

As metro area home prices rise, while housing availability remains low, the Wichita City Council approved a program Tuesday intended to help address those issues. The council unanimously approved a two-year program of 20-year special assessments for new single-family housing developments. City staff is also directed to meet with those in the industry to develop implementation timelines and program details. Fifteen-year special assessments are currently the norm in the city. Special assessments include infrastructure such as sewer and water lines, streets and stormwater improvements. "This is just one more tool you have in your toolbox that will marginally affect affordability of [...]

Kelly ‘very confident’ Kansas will land $4B megaproject

2022-06-09T23:59:21-05:00June 9th, 2022|

Even as Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly's administration accepts its second consecutive national Gold Shovel Award for economic development, the state's best business attraction days might well lie ahead. Should Kansas beat out Oklahoma in landing a $4 billion advanced manufacturing facility, reportedly a Panasonic Corp. battery plant, that single megaproject would more than double the $1.45 billion valuation of the state's top 10 projects won in 2021. An executive last week said Panasonic is "finalizing" which U.S. state it will choose for a new battery plant site, according to Reuters. Source: Wichita Business Journal

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