USDA Invests $40,000 in Community Infrastructure in Norton

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Kansas Lynne Hinrichsen today announced that USDA is investing $40,000 toward new patrol vehicles and equipment for the City of Norton Law Enforcement Department. … The city of Norton will use a $40,000 grant to assist with the purchase of two new patrol vehicles and related equipment. The vehicles will provide law enforcement services for nearly 3,000 people in the Norton area. This public safety partnership is made possible by the additional contribution by the City of Norton of $35,000.

2020-10-08T08:31:02-05:00October 7, 2020|News|

USDA Invests $501,956 in Distance Learning in Labette County, Will Benefit USD 506

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Kansas Lynne Hinrichsen today announced that USDA is investing $501,956 to provide interactive video conferencing equipment to allow access to students in rural Kansas. … This Rural Development investment will help Labette County provide interactive video conferencing equipment to Unified School District 506. The equipment enables the distribution of high-quality curricular instruction allowing access for students in rural Kansas.

2020-10-08T08:24:13-05:00October 7, 2020|News|

USDA Invests $50,000 in Community Infrastructure in Caney, Kansas

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Kansas Lynne Hinrichsen today announced that USDA is investing $50,000 toward a new ambulance for the city of Caney, Kan. … The city of Caney will use a $50,000 grant to assist with the purchase of a new ambulance. The ambulance will provide emergency medical care for over 2,200 people in the Caney area. This public safety partnership is made possible by the additional contribution through a commercial lender of $129,083.

2020-10-07T09:40:31-05:00October 7, 2020|News|

Lawrence City Commission votes to prohibit certain Airbnbs and other short-term rentals

City leaders voted Tuesday to prohibit most Airbnbs and other short-term rentals where the property owner lives elsewhere. As part of its regular meeting, the Lawrence City Commission voted 3-1, with Mayor Jennifer Ananda absent and Vice Mayor Brad Finkeldei opposing, to prohibit non-owner-occupied short-term rentals in neighborhoods that are zoned for single-family homes, allowing them only in residential areas zoned as multi-family and in specific types of properties. City code already allows short-term rentals where the homeowner rents out a room or section of the house, or where the owner rents out the entire house while continuing to live there most of the year. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the commission also voted to expand the definition of owner-occupied short-term rentals to include duplexes and properties that have accessory dwelling units — such as mother-in-law suites or converted carriage houses — as long as the person operating the rental lives in one of the dwellings on the site.
Source: LJWorld.com.

2020-10-07T07:07:44-05:00October 7, 2020|News|

JoCo museum’s Latino initiative aims to uncover roots of population with rich culture

Latino communities have been part of the Johnson County community for a long time, and the county’s museum is aiming to include their stories. In addition to the stories, the Johnson County Museum’s Latino Collecting Initiative is looking for photos, ephemera and other artifacts from families and organizations. Last fall, when the museum hosted its first Hispanic heritage event, Curator of Collections Anne Jones asked people to share their stories. “We really did not get a lot of response right away. I think one of the challenges is there are some folks … we need to make a connection with,” she said. “We can’t sit back on our haunches and wait for people to call. We have to go out and find stories.”
Source: Joco 913 News

2020-10-07T07:01:24-05:00October 6, 2020|News|

Both Reno County and Hutchinson Regional Medical Center reach new positive COVID-19 highs

Both Reno County and Hutchinson Regional Medical Center are experiencing their highest levels of COVID-19 infection since the pandemic arrived in the county in March, health officials reported on Tuesday. The hospital had 13 patients confirmed with the Sars-CoV-2 virus admitted to ICU or the hospital’s COVID ward, including two people who are on ventilators, reported hospital vice president Chuck Welch. “We’ve had spikes in the past,” Welch said. “We’ve talked about the nature of the different courses of how different people are affected and how infections fluctuate quickly. From Tuesday to Tuesday, we can go from 10 to two. But as of the report today, this is the most in-house patients we’ve had.”
Source: Local – The Hutchinson News

2020-10-07T07:01:37-05:00October 6, 2020|News|

Kansas is a state full of sun, but ranks 43rd in solar generation

Kansas is one of the 10 sunniest states and has comparable solar power potential to Florida, averaging more than 200 sunny days a year. Yet, Kansas ranks 43rd in solar generation this year, with only 0.23% of the state’s electricity coming from solar, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, a nonprofit trade organization. The state also has little investment in solar generation on the utility-scale, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In a study done for the state Legislature on electric rates, an engineering firm found that solar has many positives for the state, consumers and utility companies, including reducing carbon emissions, lowering bills, and reducing transmission line losses, as the electricity would be locally generated.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

2020-10-07T07:02:30-05:00October 6, 2020|News|

KDOT boosts rural towns, farmers with grants for small railroads

The Kansas Department of Transportation awarded $5 million in grants to 13 small rail road related projects. On Oct. 6, Gov. Laura Kelly and Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz announced the recipients of KDOT’s Short Line Rail Fund program. Four projects were awarded to short line railroads and nine projects were awarded to grain elevators. The program is a partnership between the public and private sector, as applicants are required to provide 30% in matching funds. This year’s selected projects will improve and/or construct nearly 15 miles of track totaling a $7 million investment. “This will help a lot of small towns and small elevators,” said Ron Seeber, president and CEO of the Kansas Grain and Feed Association. “This will allow farmers to get their products onto the rail car and have it sold more efficiently.”
Source: News – The Hays Daily News

2020-10-07T07:02:44-05:00October 6, 2020|News|
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