Kelly vetoes plastic bag bill second time in three years

16 Tuesday, April 16

Kelly vetoes plastic bag bill second time in three years

info2024-04-16T09:12:18-05:00April 16th, 2024|

For the second time in three years, Gov. Laura Kelly has vetoed a bill barring local governments from regulating plastic grocery bags and other material. "I believe in local control and that local officials should be held accountable by their constituents, stakeholders, and businesses," Kelly said in a statement. "This bill lacks sufficient protection to ensure local units of government are able to play a meaningful role in decision making on issues impacting their communities," she said. Source: Sunflower State Journal

15 Monday, April 15

Panasonic plant spurs 800-unit apartment and retail proposal in once-quiet De Soto

info2024-04-15T11:38:34-05:00April 15th, 2024|

A large mixed-use development in De Soto aims at alleviating housing concerns for workers and families near the new Panasonic electric vehicle battery plant. At a meeting last month, the De Soto City Council discussed an Economic Incentive Application from Lawrence-based Williams Management LLC for a $250 million, 78-acre mixed-use development that will include multifamily residential units and commercial retail space. No action was taken by the council. The development is planned for a site along the southwest side of 95th Street, a half-mile west of Lexington Avenue. Adam Williams, owner of Williams Management, said there is a need for housing in De Soto, [...]

15 Monday, April 15

Douglas County Commission approves permit for solar farm north of Lawrence

info2024-04-15T11:36:33-05:00April 15th, 2024|

Following a nearly 10-hour meeting Saturday, Douglas County commissioners voted to approve a permit for the Kansas Sky Energy Center, a massive solar farm to be built north of Lawrence. The meeting drew dozens of public commenters. Commissioners planned the special Saturday meeting knowing that there would be numerous members of the public wishing to speak on the topic. A unanimous (3-0) vote was required to approve the project because planning commissioners had tied in their vote and a protest petition had been filed against the project. The 159-megawatt solar farm will be built, owned and operated by Evergy with designs provided by Savion [...]

15 Monday, April 15

KDOT holds town hall on K-96 renovations

info2024-04-15T11:35:31-05:00April 15th, 2024|

Richard Zrubek lives in Bel Aire, an area of suburban Wichita that's seen growth in the last few years. "Now it's getting to the point where during rush hour traffic, you'll find pretty much every exit on 96 from Woodlawn, Hillside, Rock Road, and now they're backed up clear to the highway when people are trying to exit the road," Zurbek said. As this growth continues, the Kansas Department of Transportation is proposing several new changes to the K-96 highway. "We're taking seven interchanges; five of them are going to become diverging diamond interchanges. And then toward K 15, where it [...]

15 Monday, April 15

Abilene places 3rd in USA Today 10Best Historic Small Towns

info2024-04-15T11:33:31-05:00April 15th, 2024|

Abilene has placed 3rd in USA Today's 10 Best Historic Small Towns. Abilene has placed in the top 10 list for the last 6 six years. “Abilene’s consistent Top 10 ranking is a testament to our community’s relentless commitment to preserving and promoting its history,” says Julie Roller Weeks, Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau Director in a news release. “Our enthusiasm to promote and share Abilene is contagious and inspires thousands of voters each year to vote for Ike’s hometown.” A USA Today panel of expert submits town nominations each year and then USA Today selects 20 for the public to vote on [...]

15 Monday, April 15

6,000 acres burned in Ellis County wildfire on Thursday

info2024-04-15T11:31:46-05:00April 15th, 2024|

According to Darin Myers, Ellis County Fire Department, the fire started around 11:30 a.m. in the far northeast corner of Ellis County near Codell Road. Kansas State Fire Marshal Mark Engholm says the wildfire burned southeast through grass and brush. Ellis County Fire reports mutual aid was requested from fire departments in Russell, Rooks, Trego, Lincoln, and Osborne counties, and the Hays Fire Department. Public works provided water trucks, fuel, graders and supervisors. Two tankers from the Kansas Forest Service provided aerial assistance and made 11 trips to drop water on the fire. The fire was under control around 6:30 p.m. Crews [...]

15 Monday, April 15

Seward County Community College receiving federal funds

info2024-04-15T11:30:18-05:00April 15th, 2024|

Seward County Community College is receiving $1.2 million in new federal funding. The funding comes from the Department of Labor as part of a line item in the labor, health, and human services bill sponsored by Sen. Jerry Moran. The funds are earmarked for the school's expanding truck driving program. Demand for the SCCC CDL program has increased for several years, leading to a waitlist. In 2021, the college received a $1.81 million grant from the state to expand its CDL and Diesel Technician programs. “We’re excited about the impact this program can have in our community and everywhere truck drivers are needed,” said [...]

15 Monday, April 15

Southeast Kansas student combats referee shortage

info2024-04-15T11:28:36-05:00April 15th, 2024|

A local high school student is choosing to enter a field most are getting away from. Antonio Aita, 17, is a junior at Parsons High School, who's says he's been officiating competitive soccer games for more than seven years now. He first took the responsibility of the whistle when he was just 10 years old, after suffering a season-ending injury playing peewee soccer. Aita can now officiate any game in the U.S., at a club-level, after being certified last year through the United States Soccer Federation in Kansas. Today, he discussed the current nationwide referee shortage, as the game he was at would ideally [...]

15 Monday, April 15

Law enforcement from around the state attend annual Lyon County Sheriff’s spring training seminar

info2024-04-15T11:25:27-05:00April 15th, 2024|

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office welcomed law enforcement professionals from across the state of Kansas for its annual spring training seminar this week. More than 200 law enforcement officers and professionals from more than 30 different agencies attended the three-day seminar which covered several areas of the profession including case reviews, investigation techniques and more. Lyon County Detective Eric Williams organized the seminar which he says is geared towards “smaller departments.” He adds that regular seminars such as this are extremely important as the world of law enforcement, contrary to popular belief, is always evolving. Lyon County Sheriff Jeff Cope, a near 30-year [...]

15 Monday, April 15

City in Kansas says it violated its own ordinance, will remove goats

info2024-04-15T11:24:34-05:00April 15th, 2024|

Newton says it violated its own ordinance by using goats as weed control on city-owned industrial land. “We tried this with the best intentions on a property in a non-residential setting,” City Manager Daniela Rivas said in a news release Friday. “We wanted to get the job done in a better way and save some taxpayer dollars. We’re so sorry we put the cart before the goat.” The goats have been on the property since April 4 and were supposed to be there through the end of the month. They will be removed as soon as possible, the release says, adding [...]