Johnson County board approves $1 million loan for affordable housing apartments in Shawnee

26 Thursday, May 26

Johnson County board approves $1 million loan for affordable housing apartments in Shawnee

info2022-05-26T23:05:50-05:00May 26th, 2022|

Commissioners in Johnson County approved a $1 million loan Thursday to aid in the construction of an affordable housing development in Shawnee. The measure passed 5-2 with Commissioners Charlotte O’Hara and Michael Ashcraft voting against the funding. At last week’s meeting, the Board of County Commissioners was asked to give $1 million in community support funds to help construct the Hedge Lane Apartments in Shawnee. The project is a joint venture between Sunflower Development Group and Consolidated Housing Solutions. Source: KC Star Local News

26 Thursday, May 26

City: Train track has arrived in Parsons

info2022-05-27T07:44:53-05:00May 26th, 2022|

The track for the Parsons Kiwanis Club’s Pancake Special train arrived in the city last week from Kansas City. City Manager Debbie Lamb told the Sun the track arrived last Wednesday. At this time, city officials aren’t sure when the track will be installed. Parsons city officials announced in February they were hoping to get the track installed this month so the train could run during Katy Days. However, shipping delays occurred, which resulted in the track not getting to Parsons on time. The track was in California during the first part of May and then delivered to Kansas City before [...]

26 Thursday, May 26

‘A hole in the ground’ and other quirky curiosities mean money and pride for small Kansas towns

info2022-05-26T22:58:53-05:00May 26th, 2022|

One day in 1973, The Wall Street Journal published a review of Kansas tourist attractions. It was not kind. “Kansas is trying to promote tourism,” the Journal noted, “but it really doesn’t have a heck of a lot to promote.” The column singled out the godfathers of Kansas roadside tourism — the World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City, the World’s Largest Hand-Dug Well in Greensburg and the folk art town of Lucas — for particular ridicule, with pause breaks in the spots where the Journal expected its audience to chuckle at Kansas’ expense. Source: The Lawrence Times

26 Thursday, May 26

Guide to Lawrence Loop aims to help people with mobility limitations navigate city’s nature trails

info2022-05-26T22:57:05-05:00May 26th, 2022|

A group of local people and organizations have collaborated to create a guide to the most accessible routes along the Lawrence Loop. People living with mobility limitations may view nature trails as resources they cannot use as they could be difficult to navigate, said disability activist Dot Nary. “Equal access to recreation is an ongoing issue,” Nary said. “There are already so many barriers to getting physical activity if you have difficulty walking or if you use a wheelchair or walker, so knowing where you can go to enjoy nature, to get some exercise, and not encounter barriers is a huge [...]

26 Thursday, May 26

Gov. Laura Kelly announces projects improving Kansas transportation

info2022-05-26T22:53:44-05:00May 26th, 2022|

More than $7,000,000 in grant money is going towards improving transportation in Kansas. Governor Laura Kelly announced 11 projects benefitting from the cost-share program. In Fort Scott, $949,000 will go towards the installation of sidewalks from 6th Street to Main and down Horton Street towards Fort Scott Community College. It will also help with a road widening and resurfacing project on Horton Street. Source: KSNF/KODE

26 Thursday, May 26

“Sunflower Summer” returns, free student access to venues

info2022-05-26T22:51:21-05:00May 26th, 2022|

This summer, "exploration" is the name of the game in Kansas. The "Sunflower Summer" program will make a return. It was started last year by the Kansas State Department of Education, funded by Federal COVID-19 Aid. It's designed to provide students from pre-K to the 12th grade free access to Kansas museums, landmarks, and events across the state. The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott was part of the inaugural program last summer, and will be again this summer. Source: KSNF/KODE

26 Thursday, May 26

Federal disaster declaration granted for state of Kansas

info2022-05-26T22:49:07-05:00May 26th, 2022|

Governor Laura Kelly's request for a federal disaster declaration in Kansas has been granted by President Joe Biden. The request comes after severe winter storms passed through the state back in late March. Each storm produced sticky wet, heavy snow combined with strong winds of 50 to 70 mph that damaged power poles and power lines, causing power outages. Biden ordered federal assistance to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected. "This federal disaster declaration will enable rural electric cooperatives to access the funding they need to get back on their feet," said Kelly. Source: KSNF/KODE

26 Thursday, May 26

ACLU sues Kansas over excessive wait times at understaffed Larned State Hospital

info2022-05-27T07:46:23-05:00May 26th, 2022|

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the National Police Accountability Project are suing Kansas over delays in mental health evaluations at the chronically understaffed Larned State Hospital. The class action lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court, says individuals who face criminal charges have had to wait behind bars for as long as 13 months before getting a pretrial competency evaluation. In some cases, that is more than the time they would serve if they were convicted. The state hospital has been a flashpoint of controversy for years because of long wait lists for mental health treatment. The ACLU said [...]

26 Thursday, May 26

SculptureTour underway: Salina helping make the city an art destination

info2022-05-26T07:52:12-05:00May 26th, 2022|

Leaders in Salina want the city to be known as a destination and not just a place to drive through, and one project that is in its 12th year is helping do just that. The 2022 edition of SculptureTour Salina began this month with an unwrapping party on May 7. Sylvia Rice, director of Visit Salina, said things like the tour happening in Salina enhances that notion of the city being a destination. “(It may) allow people to take a look at what we have and make a decision to visit here as opposed to someplace else for the weekend,” Rice [...]

26 Thursday, May 26

Hutch neighborhood looks to unity and community involvement

info2022-05-26T07:50:07-05:00May 26th, 2022|

SW Bricktown is working hard to form community. Along with forming a committee, neighborhood members also started festivals and helped with. The Hutch Rec helps organize six neighborhoods, including SW Bricktown... Hutch Rec Neighborhood Development Coordinator Adam Stewart said out of the six neighborhoods, SW Bricktown is what he called “one of the best examples.”... In September last year, the SW Bricktown committee organized the neighborhood’s first SW Bricktown Fiesta to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at SW Bricktown Park. Source: Hutch News