News

Two Olathe homeowners are continuing to seek a solution after their homes flooded again this summer, the latest incident in a years-long struggle over who’s responsible for fixing the problem in the College Meadows neighborhood. As it happens, both Kate Guimbellot’s and Max Cook’s properties in the subdivision near College Boulevard and South Woodland Street suffered damage from flooding caused by heavy rains in July, just weeks before the city rejected the pair’s claims for damages from years of previous flooding. Guimbellot and Cook filed tort claims, a type of civil claim that alleges one party harmed another, paving the way [...]

The massive log jam in the Smoky Hill River at Bill Burke Park will start being removed next week. The City of Salina tells KSN News that the contractor, Diehl Enterprises Inc., is building an equipment pad by the river to begin removing the jam. Earlier this summer, heavy rain caused the jam to form, and it drew many onlookers to the area for a view. The fire department urged the public not to walk on it. Emergency responders emphasized that if someone were to fall into the debris, a safe and swift rescue would be unlikely. Read more: KSN-TV

Some big names in Kansas politics were on the campus of Pittsburg State University today."It's a great day for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, it's a great day for all of our law enforcement partners, and it's a great day for the State of Kansas," said Tony Mattivi, KBI Director. This groundbreaking ceremony, just the start of many great things to come at PSU, which will soon be home to the "KBI Regional Crime Center and Laboratory." Read more: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

The plan was for it to be open by the fall. And it beat the deadline. Freeman Fort Scott Hospital officially opened Thursday morning. It also marks the end of a dry spell for many Bourbon County residents. The last time they had access to a full-service hospital was 2018. Ascension Via Christi closed the ER in December of 2023. Read more: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

The Kansas Supreme Court is taking action as rural communities in Kansas are dealing with an attorney shortage. Forty-seven counties in Kansas are classified as "legal deserts." This means they do not have enough practicing attorneys to properly serve the population. The Kansas Supreme Court is taking a big step towards addressing this issue by establishing the "Rural Justice Initiative Committee." This committee will take action on previously identified recommendations on how to fix the attorney shortage. These include establishing a statewide rural attorney training program, as well as creating student loan repayment programs. Read more: KSNT 27 News

The City of Arkansas City has been awarded a $115,840 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant from the National Park Service, administered through the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. The funding will help convert the existing tennis courts at Wilson Park into new pickleball courts. Plans call for a concrete viewing pad, fencing, netting and poles, LED lighting, and wind break screens. Read more: Local – Cowley Post

Downtown Manhattan merchants are finding new ways to lure customers into their establishments. A new common consumption area was established in July, opening the opportunity for customers to freely roam a specified area with an alcoholic beverage. Jake Voegeli, co-owner of Manhattan Brewing Company, said after seven weeks in place, they’ve seen no issues. “For special events like the Third Thursdays, we set up on our patio, and we’ll serve people as they walk by,” he said. “We might get one or two people that want to walk around and finish their beer, and they just come up and they’ll grab [...]

Governor Laura Kelly and Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed today announced that 27 local and off-system bridge projects across Kansas will receive a combined total of $40.5 million in state and federal funding as part of two local bridge improvement programs. “By funding bridge projects across our state, we are directly investing in the future of our communities,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Repairing and replacing aging bridges ensures people and commerce can move safely and efficiently throughout Kansas.” Read more: Western Kansas News

A Wichita developer who took on repurposing five downtown buildings has sued the city of Wichita over parking disputes that she claims led to the closure of the Jinya Ramen Bar last year and is impacting parking for her tenants. Through various LLCs, Sudha Tokala has filed two lawsuits over ongoing disagreements with the city on outstanding parking debt and access to city garages following construction of the Wichita Biomedical Campus kicking off in 2023. Read more: Wichita Business Journal - Local Wichita News

Visitors in Delano can walk around the neighborhood, alcoholic beverage in hand, starting Friday. Visitors can take advantage of the common consumption area Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. “Implementing common consumption isn’t just about being able to enjoy walking around Delano with a beverage,” Wichita City Council member Dalton Glasscock said. “It’s about creating a dynamic and walkable neighborhood and finding ways to draw patrons to the businesses of Delano.” Read more: Homepage