Sedgwick County approves use of remaining COVID money

On Wednesday, the Sedgwick County Board of Commissioners approved plans to finish spending federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) before the end of the year. ARPA was passed in March of 2021 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The act provided emergency grants, lending, and investment to help change the course of the pandemic and deliver relief to businesses and communities. The approximately $16 million Sedgwick County has left to spend will be used to reimburse costs within the sheriff’s office, wages, and overtime pay.
Source: KSN-TV

info2024-12-13T09:10:49-06:00December 13, 2024|News|

Sedgwick County nonprofit aims to address day care woes

There’s a push to bring a new type of child care to Sedgwick County. A nonprofit, oneCOMMUNITY, is aimed at working with employers to give more affordable child care to their workers. The executive director of the nonprofit, Brent Lewis, is the husband of Sedgwick County Commissioner Sarah Lopez. The goal is to work with employers instead of parents to come up with day care solutions they say will help with employee retention and attendance.
Source: KSN-TV

info2024-12-13T09:09:51-06:00December 13, 2024|News|

Olathe educators says district’s new cellphone rules have been ‘non-issue’

Olathe Public Schools’ new cellphone policy is going well four months after its approval, three administrators said Thursday. Principals representing the elementary, middle and high school levels addressed the Olathe Board of Education at its last meeting of the semester Dec. 4, providing an update on the personal electronic device policy that was approved in August. “Overall, it’s really been a non-issue,” said Olathe Northwest High School Principal Chris Zuck. “It’s probably not the kids’ favorite policy that we’ve ever put in place, but the strengths — or maybe some of the successes — have included some more instructional time and engagement in classrooms.” Under the policy, students of any age can have their cellphones in their bags, in their locker or kept “on their person” provided they “are not visible during the school day.”
Source: Johnson County Post

info2024-12-13T09:08:35-06:00December 13, 2024|News|

City commission approves contract for extra solar energy

The City of Holton gets its electric power from a variety of sources, and following action by the Holton City Commission, the city will add a solar energy source to its power portfolio, starting in 2027.
Source: Holton Recorder

info2024-12-13T09:06:37-06:00December 13, 2024|News|

Governor Kelly Announces More than $8M Toward Closing the Digital Divide

Governor Laura Kelly announced Thursday that the Kansas Office of Broadband Development will begin accepting applications on Feb. 3, 2025, for funding from the National Telecommunications Information and Administration (NTIA) Digital Equity Capacity Grant program. There will be a total of $8.2 million available in funding. The program promotes partnerships to enhance digital opportunity efforts and expand workforce skills, education, and other resources.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

info2024-12-13T09:05:36-06:00December 13, 2024|News|

Riley County considers policy for incentivizing ‘affordable’ housing

Riley County’s budget and planning committee on Monday presented a policy for incentives intended to entice developers build affordable housing. The committee members proposed Reinvestment Housing Incentive District policy. The RHID captures the increase in property taxes created by the development for up to 25 years. Brittany Phillips, county budget and finance officer, presented an overview of the RHID policy at Thursday’s county commission meeting. The county commissioners did not take votes on the matter Monday, as it was their first time looking at the proposal.
Source: 1350 KMAN

info2024-12-13T09:03:55-06:00December 13, 2024|News|

Governor Kelly Announces Flora Food Group Investing $90M, Creating 100 New Jobs in Hugoton

Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that Flora Food Group, a global food company, has purchased a manufacturing facility in Hugoton. This capital investment of around $90 million and the expected creation of approximately 100 new jobs over the next several years will elevate the workforce in Stevens County. The facility will be the hub for Flora Food Group’s creams and cream cheese products for the United States, Canada, and the rest of the Americas region over time. Its existing New Century facility will continue to serve as the U.S. hub for Flora Food Group’s butters and spreads products. The intention is to bring back a fully operational facility and jobs to the Hugoton community.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

info2024-12-13T09:02:33-06:00December 13, 2024|News|

Sedgwick County asking four cities to take over road maintenance

Sedgwick County Commissioners have passed several resolutions asking the cities of Wichita, Kechi, Park City and Goddard to annex rights-of-way along certain roadways and take over maintenance of the roads. Commissioner David Dennis said there has been situations where cities have annexed land, but they haven’t annexed adjacent roads, so county taxpayers are having to pay for maintenance of roads that should be handled by the cities.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

info2024-12-13T09:01:12-06:00December 13, 2024|News|

Tourism grant helping turn old schoolhouse into a vacation rental

Kansas Tourism last week presented property owner Clay Graber with a $25,000 check to go toward the revitalization project. Graber estimates the total renovation cost to be $150,000. The Wabaunsee County District No. 1 Primary School at 38130 Elm St. in Wamego was built of limestone in 1879 and saw the education of hundreds of school children. Graber owns and operates Our Little Schoolhouse LLC and has been leading the restoration project since September. He sees the old schoolhouse as a space “where locals and out-of-towners alike can come get away from the busyness of everyday life, enjoy small-town living and learn about the history behind this 150-year-old educational institution.”
Source: 1350 KMAN

info2024-12-13T09:00:00-06:00December 13, 2024|News|

Passenger rail could come to Wichita in the next several years. Here’s what’s happening

A rail line connecting the Southwest Chief route in Newton to the Heartland Flyer in Oklahoma City could be fully operational by 2029, the Kansas Department of Transportation says. The connection would include a stop in Wichita, at Union Station, which hasn’t had passenger rail service since the 1970s. For Wichitans, the nearest passenger rail station now is 25 miles north in Newton, and the only pickup time is at 2:45 a.m. Amtrak provides a bus between Newton and Oklahoma City, with a stop in Wichita, in lieu of rail service.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

info2024-12-13T08:58:24-06:00December 13, 2024|News|