USD 259 parents petition to stop closure of six schools

6 Wednesday, March 6

USD 259 parents petition to stop closure of six schools

info2024-03-06T13:22:27-06:00March 6th, 2024|

After the Wichita Public Schools board voted to close six schools, parents are petitioning to have the decision reviewed on the state level. Parents KSN News has spoken to are upset, and you can see it. In the video above, you can see signs dotting a lawn, protesting the BOE decision and encouraging parents to get involved. On Tuesday, parents started going door to door to get a petition signed trying to stop these closures. Parents say closing the six schools was a decision they don't feel they had a say in. "I think it's pretty evident that most of us already felt [...]

6 Wednesday, March 6

Wichita Fire Department to host Citizens’ Fire Academy this spring

info2024-03-06T13:21:07-06:00March 6th, 2024|

The Wichita Fire Department will be hosting another Citizens' Fire Academy this spring. Classes will be held every Tuesday evening starting in April and go through the beginning of June. Although the WFD has not released what time the classes start, they say the classes will last 2-3 hours and take place at the Regional Training Center, 4746 E. 31st St. S. #4494. The last meeting will be held at a City Council meeting to recognize the participants for completing the academy. (...) "The Wichita Fire Department Citizens’ Fire Academy is dedicated to increasing public awareness by familiarizing and informing the citizens [...]

6 Wednesday, March 6

Abilene in the running for best historic small town contest

info2024-03-06T13:20:06-06:00March 6th, 2024|

A small town situated in the heart of Kansas is in the running for a national contest hosted by USA Today. The Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau announced in a press release on Monday, March 4, that Abilene will be a finalist for USA Today's Readers' Choice 'Best Historic Small Town' contest. Abilene came close to the number-one spot in 2022 and 2023. "This honor is truly remarkable!" Director of the Abilene Convention & Visitor's Bureau Julie Roller-Weeks said. "Achieving this recognition once is a significant accomplishment, and securing it for six consecutive years in a nationwide contest against other exceptional small [...]

6 Wednesday, March 6

Governor Kelly Announces More than $14M to Improve 37 Kansas Airports

info2024-03-06T13:18:57-06:00March 6th, 2024|

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that 58 projects at 37 airports have been selected to receive $14.3 million through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP). “Improvements made to our aviation infrastructure are vital to local economies, even in rural parts of Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “These enhancements ensure that no matter where they are in the state, businesses and communities have every opportunity to grow and prosper.” The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation received 135 applications seeking more than $84 million for projects in this round of KAIP grants. The selected projects focus on pavement preservation, safety, and air [...]

6 Wednesday, March 6

Powell reinforces position that the Fed is not ready to start cutting interest rates

info2024-03-06T13:17:38-06:00March 6th, 2024|

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday reiterated that he expects interest rates to start coming down this year, but is not ready yet to say when. In prepared remarks for congressionally mandated appearances on Capitol Hill Wednesday and Thursday, Powell said policymakers remain attentive to the risks that inflation poses and don't want to ease up too quickly. "In considering any adjustments to the target range for the policy rate, we will carefully assess the incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks," he said. "The Committee does not expect that it will be appropriate to reduce the [...]

6 Wednesday, March 6

Solar Regs not about single project

info2024-03-06T12:29:01-06:00March 6th, 2024|

Thursday evening, Feb. 29, the Barton County Planning Commission held a public discussion meeting at Barton Community College campus. The Barton County Planning Commission will hold another meeting Monday, March 4, to begin working through the feedback that has been received on the DRAFT changes to the “Current” Barton County Zoning Regulations – Version II as they pertain to Solar Energy Conversion Systems (SECS) and the future development of Large Scale Non-Commercial SECS or Commercial Scale SECS in Barton County. This meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Upstairs Meeting Room at the Hoisington Activity Center at 1200 Susank Road, [...]

6 Wednesday, March 6

Etzanoa annexation comes back to Ark City commission

info2024-03-06T12:27:52-06:00March 6th, 2024|

Arkansas City commissioners will consider an ordinance today to approve an annexation petition filed by the Etzanoa Conservancy for its property on 28379 81st Road. Since the property does not adjoin the city, Cowley County Commissioners were first required to determine whether that annexation would interfere with the growth or development of that area or in any other incorporated city within the county. The county approved that request in February. The location is home of the future Etzanoa Cultural and Immersion Center, based on the ancient Native American community here that is expected to benefit the surrounding area with economic development [...]

6 Wednesday, March 6

Westwood kicks off planning for new park after legal dispute over other green space nearby

info2024-03-06T12:26:49-06:00March 6th, 2024|

The city of Westwood’s park planning steering committee is meeting for the first time on March 4. The committee is charged with guiding city officials on development of the new 3.8-acre park that is part of the Karbank Real Estate Company’s office-park project headed to West 50th Street and Rainbow Boulevard. Karbank plans to build six office-retail buildings along Rainbow Boulevard on the sites of Joe D. Dennis Park and the former Westwood Christian Church. In exchange for building on Joe D. Dennis Park, Karbank is giving the city of Westwood money to purchase the original Westwood View Elementary building and [...]

6 Wednesday, March 6

Homebody: The good and the bad of home associations

info2024-03-06T12:22:15-06:00March 6th, 2024|

A homeowner association (HOA) is typically a nonprofit corporation within a community of housing. Most HOAs exist in planned multi-unit community projects such as condominiums and townhomes or in newer developments filled with new construction. Membership is mandatory and the association is governed by a board of directors made up of elected community residents once control is passed off from the developer. Practically all incorporated HOAs are subjected to state laws in addition to unique governing restrictive covenants and bylaws. These restrictive covenants and bylaws define community standards so as to protect property values. It’s this intention that is the good [...]

6 Wednesday, March 6

New Johnson County coffee shop inspired by nature opens in an old fire station

info2024-03-06T12:20:35-06:00March 6th, 2024|

Birds chirping overhead, horses galloping in the distance — and in the middle of the rural scene, a coffee shop. The building’s mural, depicting a field of sunflowers and rolling hills, matches its serene backdrop. Owner Courtney Nelson said Station 3 Coffee has quickly become a hit with bicyclists and walkers on the winding trails nearby. Over the weekend, a group of cyclists were racing down the trails to try their first cup of Station 3 coffee before it closed for the day, Nelson said. Station 3 opened Friday near Shawnee Mission Park at 19115 Midland Drive in Shawnee. It features [...]