AGCO announces layoffs, citing ‘weakened demand’

26 Wednesday, June 26

AGCO announces layoffs, citing ‘weakened demand’

info2024-06-26T09:32:43-05:00June 26th, 2024|

AGCO has announced that around 6% of its workforce will be laid off due to "weakened demand in the agriculture industry." It is not known exactly how many employees will be affected at their Hesston production facility, or the timing as to when the layoffs will take effect. In a statement, the company says the layoffs are not related to a shift in production to Mexico that was announced earlier this month. AGCO says that the Hesston facility will continue to manufacture Massey Ferguson windrowers, large square balers, combines and combine headers. The company has invested more than $28 million into [...]

26 Wednesday, June 26

Pittsburg approves purchase of garbage trucks for public trash service

info2024-06-26T09:29:56-05:00June 26th, 2024|

The city of Pittsburg approved the purchase of two garbage trucks for a total of $489,996 to help operate a public trash service. They also approved the purchase of 500 96-gallon poly carts, 50 2-yard dumpsters, and 50 4-yard dumpsters for a total of $97,108. The city is investing in a publicly operated trash service in the wake of issues residents have been having with CARDS Recycling and Waste Management. Officials say the public service will be another option for residents. KOAM will continue following the progress and updates for residents concerning the City's planned trash service. Source: KOAM News

26 Wednesday, June 26

Fire departments speak out against proposed OSHA regulations

info2024-06-26T09:28:38-05:00June 26th, 2024|

First responders like firefighters are known to be in dangerous jobs. But OSHA, the federal agency that set and enforces standards for workplace conditions is hoping to help make those work environments as safe as possible. According to OSHA, the "existing safety and health standards do not adequately protect the emergency response workforce from these hazards." The federal agency has proposed a set of new regulations that would replace the current fire brigade standard implemented in 1980. “From what I can gather from OSHA is they're wanting to combine a whole bunch of, like, 22 guidelines into one mandate. Mandate is [...]

26 Wednesday, June 26

AGCO downsizing due to weakening demand in agriculture industry

info2024-06-26T09:25:54-05:00June 26th, 2024|

AGCO states they are reducing their salaried workforce by about 6% due to weakening demand in the agriculture industry. The company is not saying what locations are being affected. AGCO is estimating that they will spend $150 million to $200 million, which includes severance payments and employee benefits. They expect that amount to be spent this year and in the first half of 2025. The company said the decision to reduce its workforce is not related to the shift in production to Mexico, which was announced earlier in June. "Hesston will continue to manufacture Massey Ferguson windrowers, large square balers, combines and combine headers [...]

26 Wednesday, June 26

A Mammoth mitigation plan

info2024-06-26T09:24:15-05:00June 26th, 2024|

Killing two birds with one stone. This was the idea behind Mammoth Sports Construction’s presentation at Monday evening’s joint meeting of the Iola City Council and school board. Riverside Park poses flooding issues for the city and USD 257 has a need for ballfields that can still be utilized following heavy rains. The solution? Synthetic turf fields, bigger holding ponds and larger pumps to mitigate and redirect flood waters, according to Mammoth. The scope of the $3.733 million project includes an artificial turf softball, baseball, and football field that will help store flood waters during a major storm event. The fields [...]

26 Wednesday, June 26

SE Kansas under drought watch, Galena enacts emergency measures

info2024-06-26T09:23:05-05:00June 26th, 2024|

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly put all of Southeast Kansas under a "drought watch" on Monday. A water drought emergency ordinance continues in Galena. It came from the state through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and required the city to establish three stages of water conservation measures in case of an emergency. The city uses wells and is working on getting another one up and running. "I hope everybody, myself included, is conscious of their water usage - because I think we take a lot of things for granted - and at any time, something could turn on the dime," said [...]

26 Wednesday, June 26

Sedgwick County regulators hold up giant solar farm on Wichita’s outskirts amid objections from neighbors

info2024-06-26T09:21:04-05:00June 26th, 2024|

Sedgwick County appeared poised to follow its ban on wind farms with widely vetted regulations that would allow acre after acre of solar panels pumping renewable energy into the electrical grid. Instead, the county still has a moratorium on the construction of large-scale solar farms. “Boils down to a simple phrase: not in my backyard,” said Walt Chappell, a solar power booster and longtime critic of local government. The stall leaves the industry frustrated and some environmentalists upset that objections from neighbors who’d be near a proposed Chisholm Trail utility-scale solar project west of Maize may have blocked the project. Sedgwick County needed regulations for [...]

26 Wednesday, June 26

New expressway officially opens in SE Kansas

info2024-06-26T09:19:52-05:00June 26th, 2024|

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has officially opened the newly constructed U.S. 166/400 four-lane expressway, improving travel from Baxter Springs to the Kansas-Missouri border. This long-anticipated development is set to streamline traffic and enhance connectivity in the region. Currently, eastbound traffic on the new lanes is limited to a single lane until the final placement of pavement markings is completed. Motorists are advised to follow the signs and exercise caution as work continues. As construction activities are still ongoing in the project area, KDOT urges drivers to stay vigilant, obey traffic signs, and adhere to reduced speed limits to ensure safety for [...]

26 Wednesday, June 26

Riley County firefighters host ‘forced entry’ training

info2024-06-26T09:18:15-05:00June 26th, 2024|

Firefighters in Riley County came together to host a 'forceful entry' training session Tuesday evening. The firefighters were given a vacant home to use during the training. Workers filled the home with fake smoke to simulate an actual house fire, which firefighters forcefully entered to put out the source. Riley County Emergency Management Director and Fire Chief Russel Stukey told 27 News the two most important things firefighters need to remember when forcefully entering a burning building are safety and following procedure. "Do the least amount of damage as possible, but enough to get the job done, to get us in the building safely [...]

26 Wednesday, June 26

Per Federal compliance requirements, local law enforcement communication channels to become encrypted effective July 8

info2024-06-26T09:17:14-05:00June 26th, 2024|

With identity theft and cybercrime becoming a more pressing concern almost daily, local law enforcement will be making major changes to radio traffic to help safeguard personal information. According to Lyon County Emergency Communications Center Director Roxanne Van Gundy, effective July 8 all radio transmissions for local law enforcement — Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Emporia Police and Emporia State University Police and Safety — will become encrypted. Van Gundy says a significant amount of personal data is communicated over the airwaves when it comes to emergencies. She says many have access to these law enforcement channels whether through police scanners or apps and [...]