News

The Holcomb Police Department has announced its brand-new Bike Patrol Unit. This is a proactive step toward enhancing community engagement, improving public safety, and increasing officer visibility in neighborhoods, parks, and public events. The Bike Patrol Unit is designed to strengthen the department’s presence in areas that are difficult to patrol by vehicle and foster stronger relationships between officers and community members. Officers on bike patrol will be able to respond quickly in crowded areas, navigate tight spaces, and engage more personally with residents. Read more: Garden City Telegram

The North Newton City Council decided to offer a retention bonus to fill the town’s police department sergeant position that has been vacant for years. “To be more competitive and get more applications, the council authorized a signing and retention bonus up to $10,000 for the position,” City Administrator Bradley Harris said. The council was fine with the amount, but discussion centered around the retention schedule, Harris said. The position has been unfilled for close to three years, Harris said. Read more: Harvey County Now

Mayor Dennis Travis was absent, as were council members Denice Klassen and Shawna Will. The No BESS crowd was modest, but no one spoke at the public forum during Halstead’s City Council meeting on Monday evening. Yet, the most significant action to date was taken by the council relating to the battery energy storage system. With a unanimous 3-0 vote, the council approved a resolution providing a temporary moratorium on BESS over 80 kilowatt hours (kWh) within city limits until Jan. 1, 2028. Read more: Harvey County Now

A federal lawsuit filed earlier this year with the aim of stopping NextEra Energy Resources’ plans to place a 5,000-acre solar farm in southwestern Jackson County has been dismissed by a federal judge who said that the plaintiffs in the case lacked the standing to sue, it has been reported. Read more: The Holton Recorder

Electric-vehicle battery production is underway at Panasonic’s $4 billion plant in De Soto. The manufacturing facility at 10301 Astra Parkway is Panasonic's second U.S. plant and its largest production facility so far. Panasonic anticipates the De Soto plant will boost its U.S.-based production capacity to approximately 73 gigawatt hours. Read more: Kansas City Business Journal - Local Kansas City News

As part of building the multibillion-dollar facility, Panasonic officials said they hoped to hire 4,000 workers to fill the new 4.7 million square foot factory in De Soto. So far, the company has hired 1,100 employees and anticipates to fill 2,000 positions by next year, all helping build the lithium ion batteries that power electric vehicles. Read more: Local Kansas City Missouri & Kansas News |

The rapid expansion of wild pig populations, and the destruction they bring, is one of rural America’s greatest threats. Spurred by rabbit-like reproductive rates, the nation’s feral pig numbers have grown from an estimated 2 million to as many as 9 million animals during the past 20 years. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the annual damage to agriculture nationwide by the four-legged rototillers is estimated at $2.5 billion. Damage to wildlife habitat, wetlands and anything earthen, such as runways and important flood-control dikes, may add another billion in damages. Kansas was not immune to the spread of wild pigs. Like Missouri, [...]

Students at Winfield High School will face new rules this year aimed at reducing distractions and improving safety, school officials said. The biggest change is a ban on cell phones, smartwatches, and AirPods during the school day. School leaders say the constant use of personal technology has made it harder for students to focus and learn. Read more: KSN-TV

Harvey County has approved a temporary ban on new commercial battery energy storage systems in rural parts of the county. The moratorium, approved by the Harvey County Commission on Tuesday, blocks new applications, permits, and construction for commercial battery storage, generation, and distribution projects until Jan. 1, 2028, or until new regulations are adopted. County officials say the pause is needed to review and update zoning rules and the county’s comprehensive plan. The current regulations do not fully address commercial battery facilities outside of certain designated areas, the county says. Read more: KSN-TV

Wichita City Council decided against adding the nearly 100-year-old Crown Uptown Theatre to its historic registry in a contentious vote at its Tuesday meeting. The Council voted down the motion in a divided 3-3 vote for placing the College Hill structure on its Register of Historic Places, which means the potential demolition of the building could move forward. Read more: Wichita Business Journal - Local Wichita News