The Kansas Court of Appeals sided Friday with Shawnee County and the city of Topeka in upholding the dismissal of a lawsuit filed against them by William Dean Blue, who was incorrectly identified in a news release as a crime suspect. Blue in August 2019 sued the city and county governments over a situation in which a man arrested after a robbery and chase falsely identified himself as Blue to police, who shared that information with news media before the suspect’s true identity came to light. Blue said he wasn’t involved with the incident and had never met the suspect. The Court of Appeals noted in Friday’s ruling that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Blue failed to respond to motions for summary judgment filed by the city and county asking that the case be dismissed without a trial.
Source: CJonline

With the closing of the only grocery store in La Crosse, all of Rush County is without a place to get fresh meat and produce. For now, locals have to find a new place to shop for food. Some Rush County residents will have to drive 30-plus minutes for groceries, depending on where they live in the county. In La Crosse, that means going to Hays or Great Bend. Elsie Harmon is a lifelong Rush County resident. She’s depended on the nearby grocery store, but now will have to set aside a day just to shop for food. “Going to have to learn how to plan a little further down the line,” Harmon said. La Crosse’s grocery sore closed earlier this week after the owner said they struggled to keep up with taxes.
Source: KWCH

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced that the Department is accepting applications for funding to help create jobs and economic growth in rural communities. USDA is making loans and grants available under the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program. Through this program, USDA provides zero-interest loans and grants to current and former Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Electric Program and Telecommunications Program borrowers and utilities that are eligible to receive assistance from the RUS Electric or Telecommunication Programs. Applicants will use the funds to help local businesses finance projects that will create and retain jobs or finance community facility projects. Projects must be located in rural areas or towns with a population of 50,000 or less. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact their local USDA Rural Development State Office well in advance of the application deadline to ask questions about their project, the program or the application process.

In a continuing effort to evaluate short-term rentals like Airbnbs and VRBOs, the Overland Park City Council has asked the staff to draft a nuisance party ordinance, which will help authorities hold the property owners responsible if large parties or gatherings violate city code. The staff also has been asked to investigate the potential licensing of short-term rentals, to keep identifying those that are operating in the city and to make residents more aware of how to report problems associated with short-term rentals.
Source: KC Star