News

This artist needs to think big. That’s because his proverbial canvas isn’t just a small square on an easel, it might be the side of a building. Today we’ll meet a rural Kansas man who is creating murals for communities across Kansas and beyond.  Layne Stafford is the artist who has created murals around the state. He grew up in Hill City where his father was a music teacher. “Creativity was encouraged at our house growing up,” Stafford said. “Our dad’s classroom was next to the art room, so we were exposed to some of that.” Stafford and his brother enjoyed [...]

A new two-day celebration is coming to Dickinson County as part of the U.S. 250 commemoration, funded through local and regional sponsors. Organized between Old Abilene Town, the Smoky Valley Railroad, and the Dickinson County Historical Society, Plains, Trains and Cowboys: A 250th U.S.A. Celebration, will take place April 24–25 on the grounds of Old Abilene Town and Heritage Center beginning at 10:00 a.m. both days. Austin Anders, Historical Society Director, said the event was designed to mark the nation’s 250th birthday with attractions that reflect the region’s character and history. “Of course, plains, trains, and cowboys seemed like a natural [...]

"Those guys are 32 chickens," says Spring Hill resident Lindsay Museousky, as she scans her 10 acres along 191st in Spring Hill, Kansas. "That's the dairy farm ... the horse farm is there," she mentions and points from the west to the east across her land. "It's one of the main things that we love about this area. We love the open land ... it gets pitch dark, and it's so quiet." She thinks for a moment and smiles. "I mean, you hear occasional planes going by and we have an owl that's been in that tree since 2019." When she [...]

Tuesday marked 10 years since a man opened fire on an Excel Industries plant in Hesston, leaving 14 injured and three dead. It came as a realization for many: a mass shooting can happen anywhere. The sounds of simulated violence ring from inside the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center as instructor Thomas Watts guides his cadets through the stairs and corridors of active shooter training. “This is getting to the ‘walk’ phase of the ‘crawl, walk, run,'” Watts said. “Active killer training,” as they put it, comes at the very end of a 16-week basic training course. Read more: KSN-TV

Sedgwick County announced on Wednesday that it will host two town hall meetings on data center zoning. The Board of County Commissioners is holding a listening town hall, where the county can hear from the public, on March 12 at 6 p.m. The Planning Department is hosting a town hall on March 31 to discuss zoning protocols and provide an opportunity for public discussion and feedback. “It’s important that we listen to the public on this large economic development opportunity for Sedgwick County,” Chairman Jeff Blubaugh said in a release. “Public discussion and transparency are vital parts of this process.” Read [...]

A new senior living community is now open in Russell. The Flintwood Housing Community features 24 duplex units with appliances, and a community room for gatherings and events. It is designed for adults 55 and older and currently has eight units available to rent. “Housing in general is a necessity across the state of Kansas, regardless of the size of the community,” said Callie Miller, the executive director of Housing Opportunities Inc. “But rural communities specifically are not seeing the growth that metropolitan areas are seeing. So being able to provide any kind of housing in general to a rural community [...]

Topeka City Manager Robert Perez joined the 27 News team on Monday to chat about new housing in the downtown area and street repairs. Perez first talked about the city’s housing shortage and what efforts are being done now to rectify this problem. He said a recent study identified a shortage of 900 units in the downtown area of the city. Large-scale housing projects that were recently announced seek to address these housing concerns in Topeka’s downtown. These include the best-in-class apartments coming with The Hutch and additional living spaces with Union at Tower District apartments. Read more: KSNT 27 News

Marion County commissioners received an overview Monday on data center development. They heard about potential economic benefits and infrastructure demands as the industry grows across Kansas. The discussion was informational only. Recent state actions have made Kansas more competitive for development, Consultant Tonya Witherspoon said. Read more: Marion County RECORD

Marion City Council members took a deeper dive Monday into the city’s dog ordinance, revisiting a conten-tious issue of whether certain breeds should be banned in the city. Police chief Aaron Slater, who earlier proposed lifting a current ban, invited Newton animal control officer Lyndsey Robinette to provide insight from a community without a breed-specific ban. Robinette, who has nearly seven years of experience in Newton, said pit bull-type dogs accounted for 26% of reported bites over the past three years but also represented a large share of the overall dog population. Read more: Marion County RECORD

Marion County commissioners revisited proposed changes Monday to short-term rental regulations, including occupancy limits, but delayed action after briefly approving and then rescinding the measure. The proposed amendments would increase the maximum number of guests allowed in most short-term rentals from 8 to 12, while setting a lower limit of 6 for properties at Marion County Lake. The differing limits led to confusion during public comment. Read more: Marion County RECORD