Lawrence’s marijuana experiment and the questions it creates
Plain and simple, the mayor of Lawrence wants marijuana to be legal.
In March, Lawrence city commissioners went about as far as they could go on that front. They lowered the fine for possessing 32 grams or less of marijuana to just $1 — not only for your first offense but also your second.
The penalty for marijuana possession was lowered after a lot of discussion about how justice wasn’t being equally served on this front. Studies have shown blacks, for instance, face more prosecution for marijuana than whites, even though use is higher among whites. There was a lot of discussion that the fine for the crime was impacting lives more than it should.
“Reasonable justice, equitable justice,” Mayor Lisa Larsen told me when we sat down together a few weeks after passage of the new Lawrence fines.
But that is a bit different than saying marijuana ought to be legal. Does Lawrence’s top elected official think the drug ought to be fair game in Lawrence? There was no hem-hawing from Larsen.
“For me, I think it should be legalized,” Larsen said. “Tax it just like any other product, and let folks make the decision from a health standpoint.”
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Petition aims to change the name of Wichita’s baseball team
Hours after Wichita learned the name of the city’s new Triple-A baseball team, someone has created a petition to change it.
Nearly 7,400 people have signed the online petition at Change.org as of 2:45 p.m. Thursday. The name, the Wichita Wind Surge, was revealed Monday evening in Old Town.
The petition, created under an account with the name ICT Radio, says the following:
“We love our city but when moves happen that we all question we all join together to do something about it! Wichita Wind Surge is a horrible name. The logo looks like Pegasus and the taxpayers had basically no say. At least let the taxpayers name the team. We paid for it after all. This petition is to change the name to anything else! We might as well be named the Wichita Mmmm mm mmm mudslides!!!!”
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Construction to begin next year on medical school in downtown Wichita
The city of Wichita has an agreement with a development group to convert four downtown buildings into a medical school, student housing, a culinary school and a hotel.
The city council has approved an agreement with Douglas Market Development, which owns the four buildings. The former State Office Building will be converted into the Kansas Health Science Center, and the former Sutton Place building will be remodeled to have 119 units for student housing.
The former Henry’s building at 124 South Broadway will be converted into a commercial kitchen and culinary school, and the former Broadway Plaza Building at 109 South Broadway will be remodeled into a 119-room hotel that will be operated as a Marriott hotel.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)
Wichita State sophomore ready to step up as mayor of Geuda Springs
A Wichita State University sophomore is managing more than just class and responsibilities as the team manager for the Shocker women’s basketball team.
Starting in January, 19, soon-to-be 20-year-old Neil Terry will juggle mayoral duties, as well, leading the small community of Geuda Springs in Cowley and Sumner counties. The town of less than 200 people holds a special place in Terry’s heart.
When voters in Geuda springs elected Terry last Tuesday (Nov. 6), they chose what will be one of the youngest mayors in the state.
“I am so excited,but at the same time, I’m nervous because I want to be successful,” Terry says.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Downtown Streetscape Project ribbon-cutting ceremony planned
The Downtown Streetscape Project on Santa Fe Avenue will be substantially complete on Nov. 15. The final completion of Campbell Plaza, the Walnut Street intersection and various landscaping items will be complete in early 2020.
To celebrate the conclusion of this important project, the city manager, city commission, Salina 2020, Salina Downtown Inc., the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce and Smoky Hill Construction, LLC, (contractor) will host a plaque dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony at Philips Plaza, (between Iron Street and Ash Street on Santa Fe Avenue), at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23.
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
Kansas tax council deluged with pleas for tax cuts, fiscal austerity
Gov. Laura Kelly’s tax reform council got an earful Thursday from influential business lobbying groups yearning for hefty tax breaks, while individuals pleaded for a lower state sales tax on groceries and preservation of a tax credit for low-income Kansans.
Woven into the discussion were warnings from the state budget director and a K-12 education advocate about avoiding tax overhaul that compromised the budget and gave traction to factions eager to abandon pledges to spend more on education, highways and other priorities.
The bipartisan panel created by Kelly is expected to deliver recommendations before start of the 2020 legislative session in January.
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
McPherson mural inspires book about 1936 U.S basketball team
When Andrew Maraniss, a New York Times bestselling author, first came to McPherson for the first time, he couldn’t help but notice a giant mural painted outside of the McPherson Library. It was the ” McPherson Global Refiners” with the caption that says”1st Ever Olympic Basketball Champions—1936.” Once he saw the mural, he began working on his new book, “Games of Deception.”
“I thought that was something really cool to see something that happened in 1936 is still being celebrated in town,” Maraniss said. “It’s a pretty cool thing for a small town in the middle of Kansas mean so much to the history of basketball. It is where the Olympic basketball, the Dream Team, current players like Lebron James, Kevin Durant. They wouldn’t have the opportunity if not the guys from McPherson first.”
(Read more: News – Butler County Times Gazette)
Garden City names new fire chief
The City of Garden City announced Monday the appointment of William “Bill” Beaty as the City’s new fire chief. Beaty will fill the position vacated by former Chief Allen Shelton, who retired earlier this year.
“Bill’s enthusiasm for the fire service and his commitment to education and training, both for himself and those who work for him, stood out during the process,” said City Manager Matt Allen in a press release. “Bill showed an appreciation for what has been done so far in Garden City by fire department leadership and staff but will undoubtedly contribute in new ways to the department and the city organization.”
Beaty currently serves as captain for the Springfield Fire Department in Springfield, Illinois, and has 32 years of experience in the fire service. Beaty has a master’s of public administration and has received various fire certifications throughout his career. He actively participates in numerous boards and organizations.
(Read more: News – The Garden City Telegram)
