info2019-10-21T19:15:58-05:00October 21st, 2019|
The Drug Enforcement Administration introduced Red Ribbon Week to Wichita with a flag raising ceremony on Monday, Oct. 21. The ceremony started with the president of the Wichita Metro Crime Commission declaring Oct. 23-Oct. 31 as Red Ribbon Week. All Sedgwick County law enforcement will start to spread awareness about the dangers of drugs within the community this week. (Read more: KSN-TV)
info2019-10-21T21:22:35-05:00October 21st, 2019|
Downtown Wichita is going to continue seeing changes, this time with safety in mind. The Wichita city council is expected to accept a $25,000 grant on Tuesday morning. The money will help launch a pilot project, adding lanes for bikes and scooters. Some residents are concerned about what this could mean for traffic. "It just seems like it can get congested pretty easy, so I think if they limit the lanes, then it's just going to get really backed up," says Jeff Walden, Wichita resident. The trial will run on Douglas, from Main Street to the railroad tracks. The outside lanes [...]
info2019-10-21T21:00:41-05:00October 21st, 2019|
What happens when you save $3.6 million in utility costs over eight years, compost 659,857 pounds of food waste and divert 60% of your waste stream from landfills in a single year? Not only do you make Mother Nature smile, but one of North America’s most prestigious collegiate sustainability advocate groups takes notice! Johnson County Community College has been named a Top Performer in the 2019 Sustainable Campus Index, provided by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). JCCC boasts the No. 10 spot among associate college institutions and No. 6 in the United States overall. (Read [...]
info2019-10-21T08:02:04-05:00October 21st, 2019|
Water is a business! City Council and rural water district boards have a lot to consider: water pressure, meeting all federal and state regulations and standards, and making rates affordable. In fact, their job is making the right choices about complex managerial, financial, and technical aspects of running a high quality water utility. Yes, it takes time to keep up on the laws, regulations, and rules. However, as a board/council member, you are personally responsible. Water is the foundation of your community’s jobs and future. Like any business, there are risks and options, but is your board/council keeping them in mind? [...]
info2019-10-20T19:11:19-05:00October 20th, 2019|
A billboard along Interstate 70 boasting about the productivity of Kansas farmers may say more about what’s happening in agriculture than those who put it there realize. The message seems simple and straightforward: “1 Kansas Farmer Feeds 155 People + You!” A closer look reveals it’s been crudely updated — an indication that the tally changes with some frequency. The steady escalation of the number of people fed by a single Kansas farmer — from 73 in the 1970s to 155 today — reveals how lots of small farmers have been replaced by large farmers intent on getting even bigger. That [...]
info2019-10-20T19:10:20-05:00October 20th, 2019|
The opening of a child care center attracts little notice in a city or suburb. In rural Kansas, it’s cause for celebration. The focus on young families, and the hope that represents, is remarkably rare in small towns fighting for survival against forces largely beyond their control. No matter how scarce, said Iowa State University social scientist Dave Peters, it’s an essential ingredient in what he and his research team refer to as a “shrink smart” town. A place residents remain committed to improving even as it gets smaller. “Shrink smart communities are those that saw faster than average declines in [...]
info2019-10-20T19:08:37-05:00October 20th, 2019|
The Reno County Planning Commission wants to know more before it dives into discussing the expansion of zoning beyond portions in the eastern third of the county. Commissioners on Thursday asked county staff to reach out to nearby counties that have adopted countywide zoning, to glean what they learned. Also, commissioners want to schedule meetings to get input from Reno County residents. (Read more: Local - The Hutchinson News)
info2019-10-20T19:06:56-05:00October 20th, 2019|
Wichita City Hall is poised to take the first steps toward skinnying Douglas Avenue down to two lanes through downtown, to make the street more friendly for bicycles and electric scooters. Called the “better block” concept, the plan also appears to be contemplating speed bumps at corners that would allow enough space for trucks to turn, while keeping car turns slow. “I feel like city leaders and people who are really engaged in the community already know about things like this, but it’s still going to come as a big surprise because most people are not engaged, including most people who [...]
info2019-10-20T19:06:31-05:00October 20th, 2019|
A Lawrence man shot by a police officer during a traffic stop for a seat belt violation last summer is suing the city and police department in federal court. The suit, which was originally filed in Douglas County District Court last month, was removed to federal court this week. Akira Lewis claims officers from the Lawrence Police Department used excessive force when attempting to take him into custody after he asked to speak to a supervisor when he was pulled over in the 100 block of West Sixth Street in May 2018. (Read more: KC Star Local News)
info2019-10-20T19:05:46-05:00October 20th, 2019|
Save Century II leaders are meeting on Tuesday of next week. They will be talking about the latest move by the group of make sure it is a part of the future of downtown. “We have already filed the preliminary site assessment for National Registry status,” said Celeste Racette with Save Century II. “And we are now moving on to phase II which is to get it nominated.” Racette says if the building is on the National Register of Historic Places, it will make it difficult to tear it down and build something new. (Read more: KSN-TV)
