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If mass deportations hit southwest Kansas

2025-02-28T08:42:34-06:00February 28th, 2025|

Southwest Kansas communities are feeling the effects of intensifying anti-immigrant rhetoric in politics. Promises of mass deportations have caused anxiety to spike throughout the region, where immigrants make up a large part of the population. Widespread misinformation on social media about Immigration Customs Enforcement raids is fueling fear in the region. As Calen Moore of the Kansas News Service reports, the resulting mental exhaustion has already hindered the daily lives of these Kansans. Source: KCUR News

Southwest Kansans fear how mass deportations could wreck their communities

2025-02-28T08:41:47-06:00February 28th, 2025|

The story of southwest Kansas is hard to tell without including immigrants. The towns in the region have almost doubled in size following the establishment of meatpacking plants and the massive western Kansas beef industry. That has brought population, money, infrastructure and sustained communities that otherwise might have shriveled like many rural towns. And that influx of immigrants has also created diverse demographics in a mostly white state. Source: KCUR News

Wichita school leaders will await final tally on bond issue before deciding next steps

2025-02-28T08:40:28-06:00February 28th, 2025|

Wichita school leaders said they will wait for final results of Tuesday’s bond issue election before deciding next steps on addressing the district’s facility needs. Unofficial results updated Wednesday by the Sedgwick County Election Office show bond opponents leading by just under 300 votes, with more than 4,000 potential mail and provisional ballots still to be counted. The district is seeking a $450 million bond issue to finance school construction, upgrades and repairs. Source: KCUR News

Kansas sought homelessness success stories. It stumbled on a cautionary tale, too.

2025-02-28T08:38:59-06:00February 28th, 2025|

One phrase is increasingly frequenting the lips of Wichita and Kansas officials when talking about ending homelessness: functional zero. “Functional zero” is a milestone achieved when homelessness becomes rare and brief for a certain population, such as when more people are staying housed than falling into homelessness. It’s a term (and measure) coined by Community Solutions, a national nonprofit that helps communities evaluate whether they have “measurably solved” homelessness for a specific population. Bergen County, New Jersey, Wichita’s “community of inspiration” for reducing homelessness, is recognized nationally for being among the first communities in the nation to reach functional zero. Since [...]

School districts learn lesson from low voter turnout for USD 259 bond issue

2025-02-28T08:37:13-06:00February 28th, 2025|

There are several school districts with bond votes coming up in the next few months. Many are looking at how they can increase voter participation. Given the low voter turnout in USD 259’s bond election, districts are working to raise awareness for their projects. On April 8, Haysville USD 261 voters will decide on a nearly $80 million bond. KSN spoke with a parent on the Haysville school bond committee about how they’re working to raise awareness about the upcoming vote. He says that between now and election day, they’re stressing that this bond is focused on infrastructure improvements that will [...]

Trego County hospital celebrates expansion for rural healthcare

2025-02-28T08:35:59-06:00February 28th, 2025|

Trego County-Lemke Memorial hospital has expanded, and it has taxpayers to thank for helping rural healthcare in their own backyard. “This is a very big deal,” said CEO Jeremy Rabe. “In 2021, the voters of Trego county passed a bond issue to do an expansion and remodel of the hospital. So we added 11 new private rooms. A brand new ER. And a new physical therapy area that includes aqua therapy.” Rabe also talked with Governor Laura Kelly, who was on hand for a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday to celebrate the hospital. Source: KSN-TV

This Kansas community has the best tasting water in world

2025-02-28T08:35:07-06:00February 28th, 2025|

Emporia is known for many things. The city of over 24,000, which sits on the eastern edge of the Flint Hills, is the “Gravel Capital of the World,” the “Disc Golf Capital of the World,” and the “Official Founding City of Veterans Day.” What you may not know is that it is also the home of the Best-Tasting Municipal Tap Water, at least according to the Berkeley International Water Tasting. Every year, waters from across the world are brought to the historic spa town of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, to compete to determine who has or produces the best-tasting water in [...]

Artists enhance drive-thru Route 66 attraction

2025-02-28T08:33:40-06:00February 28th, 2025|

Artists are adding their magic touch to a new drive-thru attraction on historic Route 66 in Galena. This metal Route 66 shield was just installed last year on old Route 66, between the historic Front Street Bridge and downtown Galena. Source: KSNF/KODE

State funds to help turn historic Kansas hotel into modern hub

2025-02-28T08:32:18-06:00February 28th, 2025|

A project in Neodesha gets a boost from the Kansas Department of Commerce. The city is getting a cut of nearly 3.5 million dollars that will be spread out across the state for 12 housing rehabilitation and commercial revitalization projects. The money will help what’s happening at the historic Brown Hotel — which, as we first told you in November — is being transformed into apartments, a restaurant, an entertainment venue, and office spaces. Source: KSNF/KODE

Topeka leader works to get homeless camps cleaned up

2025-02-28T08:30:33-06:00February 28th, 2025|

One Topeka leader is making sure some homeless camps in North Topeka will soon be gone. After the homeless camp cleanups in NOTO and other areas last year, people settled near the Sardou Bridge, but camp cleanups in that area will soon take place. District 2 Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala told 27 News her constituents have shared concerns about fires in the area, and even trash and human waste possibly contaminating the nearby Kansas River. Source: KSNT 27 News

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