Halstead Planning and Zoning considers changes to battery storage regulations

22 Wednesday, January 22

Halstead Planning and Zoning considers changes to battery storage regulations

info2025-01-22T09:16:41-06:00January 22nd, 2025|

After receiving feedback on proposed regulations, the Halstead Planning and Zoning Board reviewed a draft policy. This was the latest step in an ongoing process to create regulations for a potential battery energy storage system (BESS) in Halstead. The city received a request from Concurrent to build a battery storage facility in the industrial park, which Concurrent would then sell to a company who would utilize the facility. After spending over a year researching the concerns around a facility, the board published a draft of its proposed regulations for a battery storage facility. These regulations included requirements for noise limits, runoff [...]

22 Wednesday, January 22

Kansas City faces a new economic ‘border war’ as sports and stadium deals loom

info2025-01-22T09:15:17-06:00January 22nd, 2025|

More than five years ago, Kansas and Missouri declared a truce. The two states had for years engaged in a bloodletting competition to lure businesses to their side of the Kansas City region — handing out lucrative incentives to move a corporate headquarters just a few miles across the state line. These deals brought no new jobs to the region. They sacrificed millions in taxes that could have gone to hire more teachers, pave more roads or invest in public safety. They did nothing to improve the regional economy. It was, as many called it, a race to the bottom. Suddenly, [...]

22 Wednesday, January 22

Pittsburg Police, Fire participate in Battle of the Badges

info2025-01-22T09:13:22-06:00January 22nd, 2025|

The Pittsburg Police Department and the Pittsburg Fire Department are going head-to-head during Battle of the Badges. The two agencies will team up with the American Red Cross for a blood drive and chili feed. Attendees will be able to vote on their favorite chili, while giving back and donating during the blood drive. Source: KOAM News

22 Wednesday, January 22

Route set for 2025 Biking Across Kansas

info2025-01-22T09:11:34-06:00January 22nd, 2025|

The 2025 Biking Across Kansas route has been set. The annual ride is non-competitive and is for capable riders of all ages. It has been held each year along different routes across the state since 1975, except in 2020. This year, hundreds of bikers will travel across north Kansas from the Colorado to Missouri state line. The route will start on U.S. Highway 36 at the Colorado state line and utilize some county roads, portions of Kansas Highway 9, and U.S. Highway 24 before returning to U.S. Highway 36 for the rest of the route. Riders will travel 475 miles over [...]

22 Wednesday, January 22

Kansas sheriff wants help designing new patch

info2025-01-22T09:10:06-06:00January 22nd, 2025|

The Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) is asking the community to use their creativity to help design the new sheriff’s office patch. The WCSO is asking residents to help design a patch to be worn by deputies to represent the county. The Sheriff’s Office said it should stand as a symbol of the 166-year history of the county. “We look so forward to seeing all the creativity and passion you may conjure & we shall proudly wear on our shoulders this new sewn symbol of that which already rests within our hearts that will be made, by you,” the Sheriff’s Office [...]

22 Wednesday, January 22

City says freezing temperatures are putting pressure on pipe infrastructure

info2025-01-22T09:09:02-06:00January 22nd, 2025|

The City of Topeka is busy working on water main breaks following the sudden drop in temperature. City Infrastructure Communications Specialist Amanda Knowland said, since Friday, Jan. 17, city crews have responded to 38 calls for no water and emergency shut-offs for broken pipes. “Extreme weather is one of the highest contributors to water main breaks,” Knowland said. “Sudden drops in temperature freeze the ground, putting pressure on pipes.” Knowland said that in January city crews have repaired 36 water main breaks. She said city crews worked an “unusually high” number of breaks in January 2024 at 154 total. Source: KSNT [...]

22 Wednesday, January 22

Grinstead set to retire in July following six years as USD 284 Superintendent concluding 30 plus year career in education

info2025-01-22T09:07:37-06:00January 22nd, 2025|

USD 284 Chase County is searching for its next Superintendent. That’s because current Superintendent Glenna Grinstead is set to retire at the end of the current academic year following more than 30 years in education. Grinstead has led the district for the past six years following time as a teacher and principal at USD 452 Stanton County in Johnson City and USD 401 Chase-Raymond. Regarding her decision to retire, Grinstead says it was the “hardest decision” she has ever had to make, however, she felt the time was simply right. Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

22 Wednesday, January 22

New administrator, counselor hired

info2025-01-22T09:02:49-06:00January 22nd, 2025|

Nemaha County has hired a new County Administrator and County Counselor following the resignations of Mike Miller and Brad Lippert. The previous board of the Nemaha County Commission, including Ben Glace, Jason Koch and Dylan Keim, approved the two hires during their regular commission meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The new Nemaha County Commission board includes Ben Glace, Jason Koch and Joseph Dalinghaus, effective Monday, Jan. 13. Source: Sabetha Herald

22 Wednesday, January 22

Panasonic hiring as De Soto EV battery plant gets set to start production

info2025-01-22T08:58:27-06:00January 22nd, 2025|

With the first production of lithium batteries for electric vehicles expected in only a couple of months, federal, state and local officials on hand were in a celebratory mood. Some reminisced about the excitement of negotiating the tax incentives. Others looked forward to the economic boon and thousands of jobs the project is expected to create. De Soto Mayor Rick Walker remembered the “heavy sense of uncertainty” that overshadowed the site when the former Sunflower Army Ammunition plant stopped production and compared it to today. Source: Shawnee Mission Post

22 Wednesday, January 22

How an Oklahoma City sales tax fuels the city’s ‘renaissance’

info2025-01-22T08:56:30-06:00January 22nd, 2025|

Oklahoma City’s claim to fame may be its stockyards and oil fields, but today it is also a growing city of over 700,000 residents and home to hundreds of high-tech aerospace and aviation firms. Fueling the city’s evolution is a one-cent sales tax established in 1993 that is dedicated to public facilities projects. David Holt was elected mayor of Oklahoma City in 2018 and in 2019 led the planning process for the fourth voter-approved renewal of the sales tax, which will provide a projected $1.1 billion over eight years to fund parks, senior and youth centers, public transit, sidewalks and bike [...]