A Shrinking Kansas Town Pins Its Hopes For Growth On The Promise Of Free Tuition

2019-12-05T19:53:47-06:00December 5th, 2019|

The Emporia Community Foundation and staff at What’s In Outdoors understand that college can be expensive – that’s why they’re inviting high school seniors to apply for the What’s In Outdoors Scholarship. The $1,000 scholarship is available to any graduating high school senior in the state of Kansas planning to attend a Kansas college or university. Applicants must plan to make a career in conservation in some capacity and take classes pertaining to wildlife, nature, photography, journalism, communications, or any other related fields. Successful applicants will receive $500 per semester after showing proof of full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 credit hours). [...]

Junction City hires new chief of police from Florida

2019-12-05T19:52:41-06:00December 5th, 2019|

A new police chief is taking over in Junction City. It was announced at Wednesday’s city commission meeting that John Lamb is replacing the recently retired Dan Breci. For 26 years, Lamb has served the Jacksonville, Florida Sheriff’s Department. He most recently served as Police Lieutenant over the Patrol and Community Affairs Unit and was an Assistant Chief in the department. Lamb said in a release it’s been a long-term goal of his to serve as Police Chief in a community like Junction City, committed to its police department. A start date for Chief Lamb has not been announced.   (Read [...]

Wichita approves contract for new water treatment facility

2019-12-05T19:51:09-06:00December 5th, 2019|

Wichita is on track to develop a second water treatment facility after the city council approved a $500 million contract. The council voted unanimously on Tuesday to give the biggest contract in the city’s history to Wichita Water Partners. The group’s relationship with Mayor Jeff Longwell came under scrutiny after a report by The Wichita Eagle alleged he steered the water contract toward the group to benefit his friends and political donors. City officials wanted to continue to work with Wichita Water Partners out of fear of losing federal funding or not finding another company to bid on the project, The [...]

Seward County approves communications project

2019-12-05T22:08:18-06:00December 5th, 2019|

Seward County commissioners unanimously approved three agreements and a resolution Monday in an effort to move forward with a cooperative project with the City of Liberal with a new radio system. A memo from the Joint 911 Communications Board to the commission said the county and the city have worked together to bring this project together in the most cost effective means possible. “This new system will allow us an effective and interoperable radio system for our community into the future,” the memo said. The memo added Monday’s vote came after work by the communications board, a heroic effort from Liberal [...]

City of Topeka receives over $70,000 in grant money

2019-12-05T19:45:20-06:00December 5th, 2019|

The City of Topeka has received more than $70,000 in grant money from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program, and will split up between the city and Shawnee County. The money is part of more than $376 million in awards announced Wednesday by the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, according to a news release. The City of Topeka received $71,199, and according to city spokeswoman Molly Hadfield, the money will be divided up among the city and county. (Read more: Local - The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Arkansas City Commissioners plan to step away from hospital duties

2019-12-05T22:08:33-06:00December 5th, 2019|

The South Central Kansas Medical Center is asking the Arkansas City Commission to get out of the hospital governing business. Medical Center board chair Dan Jurkovich asked the commission Tuesday to draft an ordinance to eventually separate the two boards. He said it was time to think about how the trustee board should operate in the future. “I feel there is enough stability that we could get something more formalized that says how our board is going to be,” he said. (Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Wichita to close different public golf courses weekly to save money

2019-12-05T22:11:50-06:00December 5th, 2019|

Golfers will have one less public course to play on each week in Wichita. Auburn Hills Golf Course in west Wichita was closed this week. It's a part of something new the city is trying called the golf winter rotation. From now through February, one of the city's golf courses will close to allow for maintenance and cut expenses. (Read more: KWCH News)

Olathe adds LGBT protections

2019-12-05T22:11:26-06:00December 5th, 2019|

Wichitans who live near 37th and Woodlawn are saying "not in my neighborhood" about a proposed event center.  Thursday they had a chance ask the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission to stop the development before it begins. Developers Levi Bond and Jake Hartman want to build what they call a wedding venue on the property along 37th St.  The location backs up to natural wetlands and is surrounded by residential neighborhoods. (Read more: Joco 913 News)

Moundridge Receives Housing Grant

2019-12-05T06:10:12-06:00December 5th, 2019|

The City of Moundridge has been awarded a housing grant to help construct several new homes. The $281,748 grant from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation will be used to construct seven homes north of the Meadow View Addition. $141,748 will go towards helping build streets and install utilities for the expansion of the new subdivision and $140,000 will go towards a home buyer assistance program to be disbursed at closing when the homes are sold. Read more: LinkedIn.

Kansas rule could lower property tax bills; Lawmakers have ignored it for 15 years

2019-12-04T21:51:33-06:00December 4th, 2019|

Gov. Laura Kelly wants to provide property tax relief by reactivating a long-dormant subsidy program for Kansas cities and counties. The Democratic governor’s tax council on Tuesday recommended lawmakers start following a state law they’ve ignored for 15 years at a cost of more than $1.3 billion to local governments. Her office said it would give localities “a strong tool to begin lowering local property taxes.” Kansas is required to send a share of its sales tax collections to cities and counties each year through a program called the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund. But the Legislature has continuously waived [...]

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