Lawrence police embrace ‘less-lethal’ shotguns

20 Wednesday, July 20

Lawrence police embrace ‘less-lethal’ shotguns

info2022-07-20T22:02:10-05:00July 20th, 2022|

The Lawrence Police Department has now fully transitioned to the use of "less-lethal" shotguns. According to the LKPD, the traditional shotguns that have been in use since the 1970's have now been fully retired and all ammunition has been safely disposed of. Officers on the force will complete training with the new shotguns this week. “Since I began my journey to reimagine policing in Lawrence, I knew this change would take place. When they’re able, officers already utilize safer compliance options such as pepper spray and tasers, so this decision was essentially a no-brainer," said LKPD Police Chief Rich Lockhart. "No [...]

20 Wednesday, July 20

Governor Laura Kelly Announces Registration Open for 2022 Kansas Renewable Energy Conference

info2022-07-20T22:00:54-05:00July 20th, 2022|

Governor Laura Kelly today announced that registration for the 2022 Kansas Renewable Energy Conference is now open. The conference is an annual event held by the Kansas Department of Commerce to showcase the latest industry trends and developments. ... The conference will be held October 3-4 in Manhattan and will be in-person for the first time since 2019. The day-and-a-half conference will feature three general sessions and several breakout sessions focused on solar energy and storage, hydrogen, wind energy and transmission, transportation innovation, and an overview of how the public and private sectors are working together to advance the renewable energy [...]

20 Wednesday, July 20

Albuquerque and Wichita Took Different Approaches to Pandemic Court Closures. They Got Different Results

info2022-07-20T21:36:26-05:00July 20th, 2022|

...Bernalillo County, which includes Albuquerque, suspended such trials for much of 2020 and 2021. Meanwhile, new cases kept pouring in, partly as a result of the surge in violent crime that accompanied the pandemic. ... Six hundred miles east of Albuquerque, in Wichita, Kansas, authorities had worried from early in the pandemic about the effect of closing courtrooms. They decided to do something about it. Violence had surged in the spring and early summer of 2020, as it had in so many other cities. Wichita police saw a sharp rise in drive-by shootings. And officials noticed something else, said then-police chief [...]

20 Wednesday, July 20

Drone helps catch Topekans accused of stealing from Kansas salvage yard

info2022-07-20T21:37:59-05:00July 20th, 2022|

Two men were taken into custody on Tuesday following a break-in at a salvage yard in Jackson County. ... The Kansas Highway Patrol, Kickapoo Police Department, Holton Police Department, Brown County Sheriff's Office and the Nemaha County Sheriff's Office joined the deputies on the scene with the search for the two men. Both a drone and a K9 unit were used during the search. The drone was able to locate one man just east of the salvage yard lying down in a field. Shortly after, the second man was found by the drone in a soybean field east of the property [...]

20 Wednesday, July 20

Johnson County hosts Contain the Rain Stormwater Solutions Workshop

info2022-07-20T21:38:45-05:00July 20th, 2022|

Johnson County's Contain the Rain Program invites you to attend a workshop on stormwater containment, hosted by Bridging the Gap and Johnson County Community College Center for Sustainability. Learn the tools and solutions to help capture stormwater and mitigate runoff. Hear about the benefits of stormwater capture and its impact on the community. Reimbursement opportunities provided by cities of Johnson County are available to residents for implementing stormwater solutions. Source: Johnson County Kansas

20 Wednesday, July 20

Symposium invites landlords to discover benefits of affordable housing partnerships

info2022-07-20T21:39:50-05:00July 20th, 2022|

More than 70 local households have been approved for housing vouchers but can’t find a rental unit that matches their needs. To help alleviate that shortfall, the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority will host a symposium July 28 to educate landlords and property owners about the incentives and support available for those who partner with the agency. Slated to become an annual event, the inaugural landlord symposium also has been designed to recruit and retain participants, said Mariel Ferreiro, landlord liaison manager for LDCHA. It’s part of a targeted effort led by Ferreiro and Gabi Sprague to increase landlord engagement with the [...]

20 Wednesday, July 20

Around 100 cats taken from Mulvane hoarding situation, fosters needed

info2022-07-20T21:40:28-05:00July 20th, 2022|

On Thursday, July 19, Sedgwick County Animal Control (SCAC) became aware of a potential hoarding situation in Mulvane. Since then, they have taken around 100 cats, an unknown number of dogs, and a pig, from the property. According to Sedgwick County, "They were living in unsanitary conditions that posed a clear and demonstrative threat to their health." All animals are being seen, evaluated and treated by veterinary partners for a variety of illnesses related to living in what Sedgwick County is calling "squalid conditions." Source: KSN-TV

20 Wednesday, July 20

Sedgwick County sheriff says more pay needed to help with staffing issues

info2022-07-20T21:40:51-05:00July 20th, 2022|

Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter talked to county commissioners Tuesday about staffing issues with his commissioned deputies and detention deputies, and he says pay needs to be competitive to keep from losing staff to other law enforcement agencies. Easter told the commission during their weekly staff meeting that he is budgeted for 228 employees in the jail, and there are 110 vacancies, so the vacancy rate is 49 percent. He said recruiting efforts have produced few candidates and he is starting to lose commissioned deputies to communities like Maize and Derby. Source: 101.3 KFDI

20 Wednesday, July 20

County Commissioners meet to address child care needs in Crawford County

info2022-07-20T21:42:46-05:00July 20th, 2022|

Crawford County today held its commission work meeting to discuss the county’s lack of available child care. Child care is one of the county’s top problems to address, according to some county commissioners. Childcare in Crawford County is scarce. Commissioners say there are more than 10 children needing care but only one spot remains in the county. Officials say Crawford Co. has put aside $2 million to address and add adequate child care, whether they expand current services or add entirely new ones. Source: KOAMKOAM

20 Wednesday, July 20

Johnson County Micro Transit and RideKC earn national transit system of the year award

info2022-07-20T21:43:13-05:00July 20th, 2022|

Johnson County’s Micro Transit and RideKC were just awarded one of the highest awards a transit agency can receive. Friday, July 15, the American Public Transportation Association announced RideKC won the outstanding public transportation system achievement award for more than four million, but fewer than 20 million trips. RideKC was one of nine organizations and leaders awarded for its vision, leadership and commitment to public transportation. “Johnson County Transit is pleased to accept this recognition in concert with our regional RideKC partners,” said Josh Powers, director of the county’s transit division. “Our micro transit service has been an important part of [...]