Depending on where you live, you may need to keep from enjoying any backyard chimineas and fire pits for the month of April. A burn ban is imposed in 16 counties, including Sedgwick County, by the State of Kansas through the entire month of April. Restricted activities include burning trees and brush from land clearing, crop residues, construction debris, yard waste, and the use of backyard chimineas and fire pits. The counties in the April burn ban are Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cowley, Elk, Geary, Greenwood, Johnson, Lyon, Marion, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, Sedgwick, Wabaunsee, and Wyandotte. To comply with the regulations, the Wichita Fire Department (WFD) will enforce an open burning ban during April. Effective April 1, no new burn permits will be issued and all previously issued burn permits will be suspended until at least May 1. Live fire training will also be suspended during this time.
Source: KSN-TV

President Joe Biden’s proposed transportation bill includes billions more for Amtrak. It could mean trains could once again run through Wichita. The map Amtrak released Wednesday shows proposed routes if funding is increased. It includes a passenger line running from Wichita, through Oklahoma City and down to Texas. Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said it could be a boost for the city. “It would not only be an economic boom for us but help us keep airline prices down. It would give more options and opportunities for Wichitans,” said Mayor Whipple. Amtrak has not served Wichita directly since 1979.
Source: KSN-TV

The City of Wichita will continue to require employees and visitors to all city facilities, including those who have received a vaccination, to wear masks, practice safe social distancing, and limit attendance at city facilities until further notice. On Thursday, Kansas legislators revoked an order aimed at encouraging counties to keep mask mandates amid the coronavirus pandemic, just hours after Gov. Laura Kelly issued it. Kelly’s order Thursday required people to wear masks indoors at businesses and public spaces and outdoors when they can’t socially distance. State law gives counties the final say, but her order meant that elected county commissions had to vote to set less restrictive rules or opt out. The order was similar to a mask policy Kelly issued in November.
Source: KSN-TV

More than two dozen Kansas airports are getting grants from the Federal Aviation Administration. The U.S. Department of Transportation says $627.7 million of FAA grants are going to airports across the United States. Kansas is getting more than $18 million of it. Today’s grant announcement includes 449 grants to 390 airports. “These grants are an investment in safety and continued innovation,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson in a news release. “Every airport in every community plays a vital role in our air transportation system.” Some Kansas airports are getting a lot of money. Goodland is getting $3.1 million to reconstruct runways.
Source: KSN-TV