Newton looking for people to pay for home weatherization

31 Tuesday, May 31

Newton looking for people to pay for home weatherization

info2022-05-31T07:46:50-05:00May 31st, 2022|

There’s free money out there for painting and guttering if you live in a neighborhood revitalization area in Newton. In August of 2021, the city allocated $50,000 to a program that would pay half the cost of painting or guttering improvements to homes in the revitalization area. The program would pay up to $1,000 for buying materials. So far though, no one’s really used it. “Just three rebates have been issued,” said Rebecca Likiardopoulos, Director of Administrative Services with the city. “I don’t think it’s made its way into the mainstream,” she said of knowledge of the program. Source: Harvey County [...]

31 Tuesday, May 31

Four weeks since the Andover Tornado, city and community look towards long term recovery

info2022-05-31T07:45:58-05:00May 31st, 2022|

If you drive through the Reflection Lake neighborhood in Andover and you see the shells of the dozens of homes. It was one of the hardest hit locations by the Andover tornado last month. For HOA President Scott Rackley “it does seem like just yesterday, and like you said, we're four weeks removed.” Rackley says the last four weeks of cleanup have been a testament to the power of community. “It's been a chance for us to unite as a neighborhood." However, he also knows that this is going to be a long process, with insurance agencies still figuring out payouts [...]

31 Tuesday, May 31

With fewer volunteers, Lenexa Cemetery Association hopes to pass responsibility to city

info2022-05-31T07:45:10-05:00May 31st, 2022|

The Lenexa Cemetery located on 87th Street Parkway and Pflumm Road could become the city’s responsibility by the end of the year. The Lenexa Cemetery Association has been responsible for the grounds since 1872. On Tuesday, the Lenexa City Council was presented with a memorandum of understanding seeking a change in operations. The association says it’s concerned about its ability to take care of the property in the future with a dwindling number of volunteers. There are about 2,000 burial plots in the four-acre cemetery and 700 have been sold. At a rate of about 10 burials a year and approximately [...]

31 Tuesday, May 31

JoCo authorizes loan to partially finance affordable housing apartment complex in Shawnee

info2022-05-31T07:44:50-05:00May 31st, 2022|

The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners has authorized a $1 million loan to partially finance the construction of a new affordable housing apartment complex in Shawnee. This is the first time Johnson County Government has provided funding for this type of project, and received authorization from the BOCC on Thursday, May 26. The Hedge Lane Apartments is a joint venture between Sunflower Development Group and Consolidated Housing Solutions. The $30.5 million project will be built just west of K-7 Highway and 75th Street. All apartments will be dedicated to workforce housing. Source: Johnson County Kansas

31 Tuesday, May 31

School leaders raise concern over new open enrollment law

info2022-05-31T07:42:27-05:00May 31st, 2022|

A new state law lets parents choose which school district to enroll their children in instead of being limited to the district where they live. While lawmakers say this gives families more options, school leaders say it is a headache and could cost them money. While this law doesn't go into effect until the school year starting in 2024, several school officials are already raising alarm about the law turning open enrollment into a lottery for every student that might want to join an out-of-district school. "In Buhler, we have anywhere from 25 to 30 percent out-of-district students right now, and [...]

31 Tuesday, May 31

Wichita libraries returning to ‘new normal’ with in-person summer reading programs

info2022-05-31T07:41:39-05:00May 31st, 2022|

After two years of hosting online and hybrid reading programs because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wichita in-person summer reading programs are making a comeback. With COVID much reduced but still lurking, the programs won’t be exactly the same as they were pre-pandemic, said Erin Downey Howerton, youth services manager for the library system. “We are still taking safety measures to ensure programs are socially distanced, and are encouraging staff and customers to wear masks if they wish,” said Downey Howerton. “We are limiting participation numbers in most of our youth programs to ensure simple safety measures can be in play.” Source: [...]

31 Tuesday, May 31

As Wichita pools open, officials count cost of vandalism: ‘It affects everybody’

info2022-05-31T07:41:20-05:00May 31st, 2022|

As Wichita pools prepare to open for summer, city officials are counting the cost of vandalism during the off-season. Since November, windows have been broken, bathrooms destroyed and graffiti painted on signs at city parks and recreation centers. “It’s been really really frustrating,” said Director of Parks and Recreation Troy Houtman. “It’s been really upsetting that we spent so much time and effort trying to make these pools really nice for the community and it’s just a handful of some really bad actors and you can’t just blame everybody but just a few of them are just making life miserable.” Source: [...]

31 Tuesday, May 31

How local elections work: Local newspaper dives into McPherson County voting

info2022-05-31T07:40:57-05:00May 31st, 2022|

McPherson County Clerk Hollie Melroy invited the McPherson News-Ledger to view how the election process works. First, we attended Election School, which is training all poll workers must take before the election. At this training, poll workers learn how to set up for the day, what steps to take when a person comes in to vote, what to do in case of a provisional voter, and how to handle the end of the day. The supervising judge is normally a person with more experience than the others. This person oversees the polling place and is responsible its operation. Source: McPherson Weekly [...]

31 Tuesday, May 31

KDHE: There could be something nasty in the water

info2022-05-31T07:40:03-05:00May 31st, 2022|

All the rain in some areas of Kansas could have a nasty side effect for people trying to enjoy the water this holiday weekend. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) said prolonged rains have contributed to an increased risk of bacteria in lakes, streams and rivers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the germs found in the water and sand often come from human or animal feces. Water from heavy rain picks up anything it comes in contact with, including feces from where animals live and can drain into swim areas. Source: KSN-TV

31 Tuesday, May 31

McPherson city commissioners hear about fentanyl

info2022-05-31T07:39:11-05:00May 31st, 2022|

Police Captain Kevin McKean presented information about fentanyl on Tuesday to McPherson City Commissioners. Fentanyl is nationally the most dangerous street drug. McPherson Police have used Narcan numerous times to save people in this community from overdoses. Fentanyl is being mixed with heroin and methamphetamine, causing the unaware to go into cardiac arrest. McPherson Police also have been told by Sedgwick County that fentanyl is being mixed with marijuana, causing people to overdose, including high school and college students. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine; it only takes two milligrams to overdose. Source: McPherson Weekly News » [...]