City says its making progress on recovering from recent Wichita cyberattack

4 Tuesday, June 4

City says its making progress on recovering from recent Wichita cyberattack

info2024-06-04T12:16:51-05:00June 4th, 2024|

It’s been almost a month since hackers got into the city’s computers, shutting down many of its operations along with stealing the personal data of some residents. The city says it has made good progress on recovering, but there’s still a long way to go. "Fortunately for me, all of my bills are included in my rent. And so I'm just grateful that I don't have to go through that," said resident Alizah Hatcher. Hatcher is one of the few Wichita residents who hasn’t been affected by the recent cyberattack, but she says everyone around her is. "It's amazing the work [...]

4 Tuesday, June 4

County manager warns JoCo’s 5-year budget forecast ‘not sustainable’

info2024-06-04T12:14:06-05:00June 4th, 2024|

County commissioners begin their first budget meetings with department heads Thursday as they consider a quarter-mill decrease in the county’s property tax rate along with a sobering assessment by County Manager Penny Postoak Ferguson that revenues will not keep up with expenses over the longer term. “We’ve got to really prepare ourselves in the coming budgets,” Postoak Ferguson told commissioners as she outlined her proposed budget last week. During that presentation, she said current trends in housing valuations and tax revenues will continue to put pressure on the county’s property tax rate, or mill levy. Source: Johnson County Post

4 Tuesday, June 4

Low water levels at Cheney Reservoir could mean mandatory water restrictions

info2024-06-04T12:12:55-05:00June 4th, 2024|

As the City of Wichita waits for crews to finalize the latest water level readings at the Cheney Reservoir, we could be just around the corner from mandatory water restrictions. "Makes you think. Kind of eye-opening. Like, really? We could experience that?" This was the reaction from many residents like Katie Bickell Monday after seeing the latest images of Cheney Lake and learning that Wichita is extremely close to doing something it hasn't done in more than ten years – forcing people to start saving water. "Honestly mind-blowing. Because you hear about like, water restrictions and other places, but never really [...]

4 Tuesday, June 4

Like cities around it, Mission weighs new restrictions on AirBnbs

info2024-06-04T12:10:50-05:00June 4th, 2024|

Another Johnson County city is considering stricter regulations for AirBnbs and Vrbos. The Mission City Council during a mid-May work session expressed support for two separate ordinances — one specific to short-term rentals and a second one about nuisance parties — dealing with such properties. No formal action was taken by the city council. If such ordinances are adopted by the city council, then Mission will join the growing list of Johnson County cities that are tightening short-term rental restrictions. So far in 2024, the cities of Fairway, Merriam and Shawnee have all taken formal action that dictates how AirBnbs and Vrbos can operate in city [...]

4 Tuesday, June 4

Prairie Village OKs $2M toward new city hall project. What happens next?

info2024-06-04T12:09:20-05:00June 4th, 2024|

Additional design work can move forward on Prairie Village’s new proposed city hall, after the city council approved the biggest expenditure to date for the much-discussed project. In a 7-3 vote Monday, the Prairie Village City Council approved a $2 million supplement to its agreement with Kansas City-based firm Clark and Enersen for additional work designing a rebuilt city hall. Source: Johnson County Post

4 Tuesday, June 4

Courthouse use fee waived for non-profits, school districts

info2024-06-04T12:07:59-05:00June 4th, 2024|

The new hourly fee to use the Jackson County Courthouse grounds and facilities, such as the bathrooms or meeting room, for special events has been waived for non-profit organizations and school districts. The $40 per hour fee (per custodian), which was approved earlier this year, was recently challenged by local community members and members of the Holton/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and the Jackson County Community Foundation. The fee was imposed to cover the cost of overtime and benefits for the custodial staff, which includes two employees. There is no fee required just to use the grounds. The fee is imposed [...]

4 Tuesday, June 4

Goessel hears wind farm concerns and opposition to firing

info2024-06-04T12:04:58-05:00June 4th, 2024|

The Goessel city council met on May 20 and heard a request from resident Brian Stucky about setting a no-wind generator zone around the City of Goessel. He suggested a three-mile buffer zone. He mentioned the Sunflower wind project and the Diamond Vista wind farm company in the northern part of the county. The plan is to install 600-foot-tall wind turbines near Goessel. The townships of West Branch, East Branch, Menno and Liberty could be impacted. The project is proposed by Orsted, a foreign company from Denmark. Stucky said there are “pros and cons” to wind turbines. He grew up near [...]

4 Tuesday, June 4

Local forum held to discuss future of City Park and indoor aquatics

info2024-06-04T12:01:20-05:00June 4th, 2024|

A public forum was hosted Thursday night by the League of Women Voters of Manhattan/Riley County to allow the public to learn more about a possible overhaul of City Park and a new indoor aquatics center concept that could end up in front of voters this fall. Local officials close to the project took part in a forum Thursday evening at the Manhattan Public Library, hosted by the League of Women Voters. The League shared its own concerns about City Park as the potential location for an indoor water facility concept. David Dzewaltowski, Professor Emeritus of Kinesiology at Kansas State University, [...]

4 Tuesday, June 4

Governor Kelly Directs Flags be Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of Kansas House of Representatives Assistant Majority Leader Les Mason

info2024-06-04T11:59:57-05:00June 4th, 2024|

Today, in accordance with Executive Order #20-30, Governor Laura Kelly has directed flags be lowered to half-staff on all state buildings, grounds, and facilities effective immediately until sundown on the day of interment in honor of Kansas House of Representatives Assistant Majority Leader Les Mason. He represented Kansas House District 73 of McPherson for 10 years. “Assistant Majority Leader Mason was a devoted public servant,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “For the last decade, he represented his constituents and the McPherson community with honor. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.” This flag order will be [...]

4 Tuesday, June 4

Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $4M Awarded through Broadband ADOPT Program

info2024-06-04T11:55:40-05:00June 4th, 2024|

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that seven organizations will receive a combined $3.9 million in grants through the Advancing Digital Opportunities to Promote Technology (ADOPT) program. ADOPT supports the Kelly administration’s work to connect more Kansans to high-speed internet by making public Wi-Fi accessible and distributing devices in underserved areas. “Kansans rely on technology for work, school, health care, and connecting to each other,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The ADOPT grants support community organizations in our shared mission to connect more people to the internet and critical digital skills.” The program helps organizations serving Kansans move forward by ensuring that communities [...]