2021 cold anniversary: How Kansas towns, schools handled sky-high gas bills

With a year passing since freezing temperatures caused an energy crisis in Kansas, KSNT’s Capitol Bureau revisited towns and school districts hit hard by bills that came in the aftermath. The cold snap in February 2021 hit the majority of the state, with as many as 100,000 Evergy customers going without power during rolling blackouts at peak. Kansas saw two days of controlled outages because electricity providers were facing generating issues from the cold, and the effects trickled out. Schools closed, homes had to plan for staying warm with no power, and cities like Manhattan lost critical infrastructure like traffic lights. Alongside electrical grid strain, the state saw extraordinary demand for natural gas. During the cold crisis, the Kansas Corporation Commission told state gas companies to do everything they could to keep supplying the utility to customers, defer the charges, and then develop a plan to allow customers to pay the unusually high costs over time.
Source: KSN-TV

2022-02-16T23:25:32-06:00February 16, 2022|News|

Will Topeka and Hutch get license plates? Kansas cities split on bill

Hutchinson drivers could soon see their city flag on license plates, but a similar provision for Topeka hit a bump in the road when city officials opposed a bill from Kansas lawmakers. House Bill 2633 would authorize both cities to use their flags as a logo on license plates, similar to the Wichita flag. Royalty payments of between $25 and $100 would go to the cities, with funds earmarked to support parks and recreation in Hutchinson and the zoo in Topeka. The Hutchinson plan enjoys support from lawmakers and city officials, but the Topeka plan faces opposition.
Source: CJonline

2022-02-16T07:26:30-06:00February 16, 2022|News|

‘Day in the life’ event gives Pittsburg fire department recruits real-world experience

Pittsburg Fire Department hosts ‘Day in the Life’ course to show students what it’s like to be a firefighter. Members of the Pittsburg Fire Department serve as the instructors for the academy, working with each recruit during the ‘Day in the Life’ training. … “Recruits will be presented with problems that the class will have to solve, experience teamwork in a dynamic emergency atmosphere, and prepare for their first shift with their platoon,” says Deputy Fire Chief Tom Vacca. “The academy works to prepare them for a structure fire 10 minutes into their first shift. They will learn how to be a productive member of the team and to make split-second decisions during an emergency with life safety in the balance.”
Source: KOAMKOAM

2022-02-16T07:24:50-06:00February 16, 2022|News|

KSDE approves Redesign Project Launch for Columbus High School

This month, the Kansas State Board of Education approved nine schools in seven districts to be a part of the “Kansas can redesign project plan” for the current school year. One of those schools approved–was Columbus high school. “The approval from the state board, we’re very appreciative because it’s validation that we’re doing things the correct way,” said Columbus High School Principal, Dan Grundy. The program, which invites schools from all over the state to apply, has the goal to find ways to best meet the needs, of all students. “We looked at our master schedule that’s been completely redesigned to where teachers can choose whether or not they have 90 or 45-minute classes, the same amount of time on the week, but it’s just structured differently to meet students needs and whatever is best for that type of instruction,” said Columbus High School counselor, Nicki Strickland.
Source: KOAMKOAM

2022-02-16T07:23:31-06:00February 16, 2022|News|

FLY MHK: Manhattan City Commission to see final plans for $47.2 million runway project

The Manhattan City Commission is taking a look at the final plans for a $47.2 million runway reconstruction project at the Manhattan Regional Airport. … The City of Manhattan is expected to pay $4.4 million for the runway. More than 90 percent of the project is being funded by the federal government. The Federal Aviation Administration is paying for 100 feet of the 150 feet wide runway with other federal grants covering the rest. Airport Director Brandon Keazer said it was important to maintain that 150 feet because of the charter aircraft that are used by Kansas State University and Fort Riley.
Source: KSNT News

2022-02-16T07:22:50-06:00February 16, 2022|News|

Four months after unanimous rejection, OP planners recommend revised Lux Senior Living proposal

In a complete reversal from an October rejection, the Overland Park Planning Commission unanimously agreed Monday to recommend approval of a rezoning request to create The Lux Senior Living, an apartment complex for active adults over 55, at the northwest corner of 137th Street and Quivira Road. Developers Vijay and Nevin Dewar, through Park 289 LLC, are requesting roughly six acres of land be rezoned from a Planned Apartment District (RP-5) to Planned High-Rise Apartment (RP-6). The property was zoned RP-5 in 1999, but has not been developed. The current zoning would allow for the construction of up to three buildings with a total of 104 units. Following a public hearing in October, the Planning Commission voiced concerns about the overall height of the project not fitting into the nearby single-family neighborhood. In November, the City Council sent the proposal back to the Planning Commission to allow the developer time to adjust the plan based on neighbors’ concerns.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal – The Business Journals

2022-02-15T23:20:12-06:00February 15, 2022|News|

School district outlines plan to spend final $2 million of bond funds

With a majority of the Derby school bond projects having been completed, Burke Jones, Derby Public Schools Director of Operations proposed some additional projects to the Board of Education. Those ideas centered on how to spend the remaining $2 million of school bond money. At the Feb. 7 meeting, Jones told board members the $2 million are reserves that were held back to be available in the event any unforeseen expenses may have occurred with previous projects. “We have about $2 million in the bond funds remaining. Some of the projects we have been discussing in the last two years, we can now talk about,” Jones said.
Source: Derby Informer | News

2022-02-15T23:17:05-06:00February 15, 2022|News|

Pottawatomie County moves forward to force clean up of property near St. George

Pottawatomie County commissioners are submitting paperwork to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment toward cleaning up some waste build up on a property near St. George. County Sanitarian Scott Schwinn told commissioners Monday he’s received complaints about the property and says efforts to have the property owners clean up the debris have been unsuccessful. “Ultimately, they declined to clean it up. The county is going to be on the hook for cleaning it up and we will be reimbursed up to $10,000 for that,” he said. Anything above that $10,000 threshold will be the county’s responsibility.
Source: 1350 KMAN

2022-02-16T06:48:35-06:00February 15, 2022|News|

U.S. 10-year yield rises above 2% after Bullard says Fed needs to act faster to fight inflation

U.S. Treasury yields were steady on Monday with investors evaluated safe-haven assets amid the escalated geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note was flat at 1.961% at around 8 a.m. ET. The benchmark 10-year rate hit the 2% level last week following the hottest inflation reading in four decades. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond, meanwhile, was steady at 2.261%. Yields move inversely to prices and a basis point equals 0.01%. Yields were lower earlier but came back following comments from Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Vladimir Putin that appeared to suggest Russia would continue talks with EU and NATO over Ukraine.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

2022-02-15T23:08:49-06:00February 15, 2022|News|
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