City of Wichita launches interactive map for snow plow tracking

Condition of roads in south central Kansas are changing with the wintry mix making its way into the metro area. With the rain, ice, and snow expected overnight Thursday, it could create possible slick spots and make travel tricky. 

The City of Wichita now has a new interactive web page that allows citizens to track the location of the City’s snow plows.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

2020-01-17T07:05:43-06:00January 17, 2020|News|

Sales tax on Netflix? State budget proposal could add to your bill

The state budget presented to lawmakers by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly comes with a recommendation to add a sales tax on online services where you can watch your favorite movies, play your favorite video games and listen to your favorite music.

The tax on “all sales of digital property and subscription services,” includes music and video games you download and streaming services including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ Amazon Prime, etc…

The added sales tax to “all sales of digital property” would take effect July 1, the proposed budget says.

(Read more: KWCH News)

2020-01-17T07:05:18-06:00January 17, 2020|News|

Council members and activists react to proposed Riverfront plan without Century II

The final plans for the Arkansas riverfront are out and they do not include century two. Tuesday night the Riverfront Legacy Master Plan Coalition unveiled its vision for the riverfront. Some are upset it gets rid of the iconic round blue roof building in downtown.

A variety of Wichita city council members say they have been receiving a number of calls in regards to the proposal. Council member, Brandon Johnson say if he had to vote today he would be in favor of the master plan. “Our performing arts community and city deserve to have world class performing arts. Our citizens have demanded more interactive green space by the river that also allows them to engage the river more and this gives us convention space that will attract better opportunities for our citizens,” said Johnson.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

2020-01-17T07:05:05-06:00January 17, 2020|News|

After current tech showed reliability issues, Mission moves to replace police body cameras

The Mission city council on Wednesday approved the expenditure of just over $175,000 to replace the police department’s aging in-car video and body camera equipment.

A loss of man hours and equipment failure led the department to look for a replacement system, according to city documents. As previously reported, the body cameras Mission police officers have been using aren’t “high quality” and weren’t functional in some situations. Police Chief Ben Hadley had said the current body cameras, which are now about six or seven years old, would fall off in the middle of a sprint or physical confrontation.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post – Neighborhood news and events for Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills)

2020-01-17T07:04:15-06:00January 17, 2020|News|

Hesston’s wastewater operator thrives in isolation at wastewater plant

Kyle Headrick likes being left all alone to oversee operations of Hesston’s wastewater treatment plant.
“I’m not a huge people person, so I thought I would enjoy it out here,” he said.
Kirk Matz asked Headrick if he was interested in working for the city in early 1989. The former master plumber said he was if he could get a job at the wastewater treatment plant after Bill Nitzsche retired. After about seven years of working for the water department, Headrick switched departments.
Headrick spends his days keeping track of effluent, bacteria levels and inflows and dewatering sludge, among other chores. He said he rarely heard feedback because most sewage problems happened with the collection system, such as sewer backups.
“Most people don’t even know this is here, I don’t think,” he said about the plant at 7119 N. Hesston Road.
(Read more: Harvey County Now)

2020-01-17T07:09:08-06:00January 17, 2020|News|

Jayhawk Wind Farm Project causing concerns in Bourbon County

Tensions heighten with Bourbon County residents as they go before commissioners to voice their concern with the Jayhawk Wind Farm Project.

This afternoon, commissioners held a forum along with representatives from Jayhawk Wind to hear how the turbines could affect the community.

Kim Simons lives in the county and isn’t happy about the possibility of a turbine being on her property.

She says she’s afraid the turbines won’t benefit those whose land they’re on.

And, she adds she doesn’t want her tax dollars going to something that might not benefit the community.

(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)

2020-01-16T20:05:41-06:00January 16, 2020|News|

Boeing 737 Max production halt in Wichita ‘was not our fault,’ county commissioner says

The new chairman of the Sedgwick County Commission said the economic issues in Wichita from the suspension of the Boeing 737 Max are “not our fault,” adding that he expects a long-term recovery “will be right around the corner.”

Pete Meitzner, who was chosen as the commission chairman on Wednesday, told reporters at a news conference that the county can “get through” mass layoffs at the largest employer in the state’s largest city.

”This is not good news, but we have experienced real economic downturn that resulted in far more numbers of people losing their jobs,” Meitzner said. “This was not our fault. The Max was not our fault, but we are suffering from it. But the rest of the country is still economically going, so we can get through this.”

(Read more: Local News |)

2020-01-16T20:01:17-06:00January 16, 2020|News|

Bagwell wants city to ease approach toward property owners

Incoming Hutchinson City Councilmember Sara Bagwell will take office next week, and her message to the Hutchinson Housing Commission resonated with some members.

On Wednesday afternoon, Bagwell urged a change in the city’s approach toward owners of properties not compliant with city code. After she and incoming City Councilmember Steve Garza left the commission session and after the commission dealt with its regular meeting agenda, commissioners returned to the earlier discussion.

Housing Commissioner Aubrey Patterson agreed with changing the tone and look of the official letter to property owners to make it friendlier and less threatening, but doesn’t want to change the city’s standards. Others concurred with Patterson. Fellow Commissioner Roy Little said he was shocked when he first saw the letter, saying it “was written by lawyers.”

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

2020-01-16T19:53:21-06:00January 16, 2020|News|

$1 billion plan replaces Century II, transforms Wichita’s downtown riverfront

The future of downtown Wichita’s Riverfront and how much that future will cost comes into focus.

Tuesday night, the Riverfront Legacy Master Plan Coalition’s design team revealed a plan that includes a new performing arts and convention center and tears down Century II.

The design team expects the project for to cost just north of $1 billion (somewhere between $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion). With the expected cost, the team revealed where this cost will be covered.

(Read more: KWCH News)

2020-01-16T07:50:53-06:00January 16, 2020|News|
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