Property crime up, violent crime down in Kansas

An annual report on crime in Kansas shows property crime rising and a decline in violent crime, providing benchmarks that may guide law enforcement and community leaders. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Index Report, which summarizes crime data submitted by law enforcement agencies from across the state, shows property crime increased by 2.6% and violent crime decreased by 3.7% from 2022 to 2023. The number of reported property crimes increased to 66,782 cases. The report said the overall crime index was “heavily impacted” by the uptick in property crimes, increasing from 26.7 offenses per 1,000 people in 2022 to 27 offenses per 1,000 people in 2023. The property crime rate was 10% below the 10-year average. “Property offenses have steadily declined in recent years, making 2023 the first year since 2017 that the state experienced an uptick in property crime reports,” the report said. “Property crime offenses are assumed to be underreported to law enforcement.” The crime that saw the largest individual increase was motor vehicle theft, which was up 4.8% Law enforcement agencies recorded 13,294 violent crimes throughout the state. The violent crime rate was nearly 10% above the 10-year average. The number of reported rape cases decreased by 12.6%, or 161 cases, from 2022 to 2023. Although crime stats compiled by the KBI can be helpful for identifying trends, the KBI said in a news release “it is often not possible to draw further interpretations or conclusions from the data. It is dependent on victims reporting crimes.” “We typically see more property crimes than violent crimes based on raw numbers,” said Sgt. Drew Fennelly, public information officer for the Lawrence Police Department. “Crime touches each community very differently. The reasons for trends could be very different in Wichita, Kansas City or Dodge City.” Melissa Underwood, spokeswoman for the KBI, didn’t respond to inquiries for this story. Adrianne Nuñez, spokeswoman for the Willow Domestic Violence Center of Lawrence, said the data is important for looking at crime on a broader scale. Agencies like the Willow use a variety of data from across the state to spread awareness or use in training, she said. “We believe tracking crime data is important. It gives us a snapshot of what is happening in our communities,” Nuñez said. “We hope these statistics continue to drop to the point that our job is unnecessary. More specifically, we hope these statistics continue to evolve to reflect the most accurate information in our communities while allowing survivors to be safe.” The report does not track specific categories of murder or aggravated assault in the data, which can make it difficult to draw conclusions about statewide violence within smaller communities. While the 3.7% decrease in violent crime overall is a step forward for Kansas, organizations like Moms Demand Action still worry about gun violence and incidents that are not counted in the annual report. “I do think it’s beneficial to track the data because data gives us things that we can improve on,” said Shannon Little, a Moms Demand Action co-leader and volunteer. “Comparing different sets of data will give you different answers. Even though our violent crime rate has gone down almost 4%, Kansas still has some of the weakest gun safety laws in the country.”
Source: Derby Informer | Area

info2024-08-21T10:11:39-05:00August 21, 2024|News|

KDOT accepting applications for Innovative Technology Program

The Kansas Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for the fall 2024 round of the agency’s Innovative Technology Program. The Innovative Technology Program provides financial assistance to governmental and non-governmental organizations for innovative transportation-related projects that promote safety, improve access or mobility and implement new transportation technology. “Innovative technology” is broadly defined as any technology that does not currently exist in the local community of the project. This allows local communities to determine what projects to submit based on their specific needs. All transportation system projects are eligible, including roadway (on and off the state system), rail, aviation, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), bicycle/pedestrian, public transit, software and technology infrastructure. Candidate projects should include investments that provide transportation benefits and are not eligible for other KDOT programs. This round of grant funding has an overall budget of $2 million, with a maximum awarded amount of $1 million per project. A project concept must be submitted and approved by KDOT before an application is provided to the applicant. The project concepts deadline is Nov. 17, and the application deadline is Nov. 30. A facts sheet is available on the program at https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/divInnovTech/Innovative_Technology_FactSheet.pdf. For the project concept submission form, go to https://forms.microsoft.com/g/FThTTFKQ5s. Both documents are on KDOT’s internet. A few past approved projects include Truck Driving Simulators for the CDL Program expansion at Seward County Community College, an AI-Based Road Condition Assessment in the City of El Dorado and a UAS Flight Operations and Simulation Center for Kansas State University – Salina.
Source: Emporia Gazette

info2024-08-21T10:09:55-05:00August 21, 2024|News|

Vote passed to let citizens decide if county commission should increase to five

The Bourbon County Commission plans to let voters decide whether to add two commission districts in the November election. On Monday, the commission passed by a 2-1 vote a resolution that would place the following question on the Nov. 5 ballot: “Shall the current number of Bourbon County Commission Districts set forth in KSA 19-203(1)(b)(c)(d)&(e) be increased to five Commissioner Districts?”
Source: Fort Scott Tribune

info2024-08-21T10:08:43-05:00August 21, 2024|News|

Common Consumption Area expanded

The Great Bend City Council adopted an ordinance Monday that greatly expands the downtown Common Consumption Area, which allows a committee to allow alcohol sales in designated areas during select events. The vote was 6-1, with councilmember Davis Jimenez opposed and councilmember Kevyn Soupiset absent (he arrived a short time later). Before voting, the council heard from audience member Dee Ann Grummon, who expressed her opinion that “expanding the ‘Common Consumption Area’ is not a wise idea.” “Is it impossible to draw a crowd with food, art and music/entertainment only, or is alcohol the magic ingredient for any event to be successful?” she said. Her comments will appear on the Great Bend Tribune’s public forum and a link will be provided later. The Common Consumption Area (CCA) was created by ordinance in 2021 at the request of Great Bend Economic Development. At present, it includes the 2100 block of Forest Ave., which is the block in front of the Tribune. Final Fridays on Forest events in this area involve closing the street to traffic and allowing food and alcohol vendors and live music. GBED’s Great Bend Alive sets up tables and chairs, with volunteers at the entrances to make sure alcohol is not brought in or carried out of the area. At the Aug. 5 City Council meeting, GBED Director Sara Arnberger asked for an ordinance expanding the CCA to also include: The crosswalk across Williams along the south side of Forest Ave. (to The Landing, a new gathering area); Half of the block that includes The Landing; Lakin Ave. between Williams and Main; 12th Street between Williams and Main Arnberger said the committee would not ask to use all of the area all of the time. “This gives us flexibility into the future,” she said. The item was tabled on Aug. 5 after councilmember Cory Urban said he would like to change the makeup of the CCA Committee that decides when to utilize the areas. City Attorney Allen Glendenning amended the ordinance at that was what was approved Monday night.
Source: Great Bend Tribune

info2024-08-21T10:06:48-05:00August 21, 2024|News|

‘Time to turn the page’: Attempt to recall Prairie Village mayor after housing saga fails

An attempt to recall Prairie Village Mayor Eric Mikkelson will not move forward after a group — unhappy with the city’s efforts to address its shortage of affordable housing — did not collect enough signatures to place the initiative on the ballot. “Time to turn the page,” Mikkelson said in a statement to The Star. “We move forward best when actually united.” It was a group of residents’ ninth attempt at recalling the mayor in recent months, as the northeast Johnson County city has been embroiled in controversy over officials’ consideration of adjusting zoning laws to allow for a wider variety of housing, such as duplexes and small apartment buildings. Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe rejected eight previous recall petitions, which cast a variety of accusations against the mayor, ruling that that they were insufficient and that their claims did not meet the grounds for ousting a local official under state law. Howe found the ninth petition met statutory requirements, allowing the group to collect signatures to try to put the mayoral recall up for a public vote. The group — which has called itself Save Prairie Village — had until mid-August to collect more than 4,000 signatures for it to be valid. But this week, the recall committee on its website said that effort had failed. The latest mayoral recall attempt centered on Mikkelson’s communication with a city-hired consultant firm during that tension last year. The recall committee accused Mikkelson of misconduct in office, alleging he misused taxpayer dollars by having the consultants help him advocate against previous petitions aiming to recall him. Mikkelson said the accusation is false and amounts to damaging, “abusive smear tactics.” Edward Greim, an attorney representing the recall committee, previously told The Star, “It is ironic that it was the very process of trying to fight off the earlier recalls that support this recall.”
Source: Joco 913 News

info2024-08-21T10:02:09-05:00August 21, 2024|News|

City council approves ordinance changes for short-term rentals, purchasing of naming rights

On Tuesday, the Wichita City Council approved the city budget for 2025, as well as several other items, including ordinance changes for short-term rentals and the purchasing of naming rights. The Wichita City Council approved ordinance changes regarding short-term rentals like Airbnbs. The changes make the renter responsible for issues like underage drinking, property damage, and illegal fireworks at a “nuisance party,” defined as “a social gathering of five or more people on a residential property in which certain nuisance-type activities occur.” The council will revisit who is responsible for dispersing parties if the police come during their meeting on Sept. 3. The City also voted to let private sector partners purchase naming rights at parks and cultural facilities in Wichita. The purchasing of naming rights could start late this year or early next year and establish agreements for 2026. The city council needs to approve each contract. The naming rights for the baseball stadium, tennis center, and ice rink are up for grabs.
Source: KSN-TV

info2024-08-21T09:59:03-05:00August 21, 2024|News|

Parsons PD receives safety tool donation to boost officer visibility

Flashing lights could be the thing that saves a police officer’s life. “During those periods when officers are out working traffic crashes and other incidents in the middle of the night, they need to be seen,” said Robert Spinks, Parsons Kansas Police Chief. Visibility and more safety are a couple of important things the Parsons Police Department will now be able to increase with the help of a new tool. “This is an opportunity where we’re taking custody of enough Guardian Angel devices to equip all of our patrol officers,” said Spinks. On Monday, Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks announced the department received the donation from local manufacturer CST Industries, worth about four thousand dollars. “CST again, safety is number one with CST, so being able to funnel that out into the community is important to us. So, like I say, there’s no hesitation in being able to give these to the Parsons Police Department,” said Steve Trimble, CST Plant Manager. “On behalf of everybody at Parsons Police Department, I’d like to thank CST for their donation,” said Officer Frank Pousher, Parsons Police Department. Patrol officers such as Officer Frank Pousher can use the lights to assist them with traffic stops, crash scenes, and when the weather hinders visibility. They have settings like blinking “SOS” in Morse code or blinking red and blue lights. “Help me by being a little bit more visible. If I work nights on that traffic accident, I don’t want to be hit by doing traffic stops. So that helps,” said Pousher. All with preventing injuries on the roadway in mind. “To the level that the community supports the men and women who are out there 24/7 trying to do the right thing for the right reason to make our community as safe as possible,” said Spinks.
Source: KSNF/KODE

info2024-08-21T09:56:40-05:00August 21, 2024|News|

Topeka city council urges tax entities to keep rates low

The Topeka City Council unanimously passed a resolution to urge all local tax entities to keep property tax rates as low as possible for homeowners and renters. The resolution was brought by District 8 City Councilman Spencer Duncan last month after the council chose to ignore a tax petition brought by Earl McIntosh. McIntosh is now suing the city over that decision. The Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority (TMTA) is one of several entities that influence property taxes in Shawnee County. Rod Miller, a TMTA board member, presented at the council meeting to explain why their operating costs are forcing them to raise their tax rates above the minimum. “Fuel costs are higher also this year along with health insurance,” Miller said. “I can give you almost any number of reasons why we’re going to be over that, just because inflation is inflation.” It remains to be seen which of the other entities, if any, will also raise rates above the state-defined revenue-neutral rate. Other entities include: State of Kansas, City of Topeka, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, Washburn University, Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority, Public Schools. As for the tax petition, the city has until Sep. 3 to respond to McIntosh’s lawsuit.
Source: KSNT 27 News

info2024-08-21T09:54:31-05:00August 21, 2024|News|

Kansans raise concerns over government’s proposed transmission line corridor

A proposed electric transmission corridor that could run through Kansas is prompting questions from Kansans. The Pawnee County community met at the Larned Community Center Thursday evening to ask those questions, share their stories, and share their concerns. “I’m really concerned because this is our house. This is our home,” said one resident who spoke during the meeting. “How long have you known about this going to happen? When did we find out? A lot of us did this week. We didn’t even understand or know anything about this. It hit us in the face. This has been in process. Why didn’t we get to be part of that process? Even if it was thought of in the future, our land is our future. So why weren’t we considered in the future?” Part of the project centers on the Grain Belt Express, a high-capacity transmission line set to go through parts of Kansas. Parts of that project are already approved. Pawnee County Attorney Douglass McNett says it is a private venture, and the company worked with landowners to purchase easements for the project. He says the new concern is a federal energy corridor on either side of the transmission line that could use eminent domain. “I think where the confusion has arisen between the Grain Belt and the Department of Energy’s proposed energy corridor is it looks like the Department of Energy simply used the schematics or the drawing that Grain Belt has established privately as their basis and just said ok we’ll go 2.5 miles either side of that grain belt transmission line,” said McNett. He says Pawnee County does not have concerns with the transmission line itself. The U.S. Department of Energy has released a preliminary list on its website of 10 potential National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETCs) it says to “accelerate the development of transmission projects in areas that present an urgent need for expanded transmission.” The Midwest-Plains corridor would run through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. It would be approximately five miles wide and 780 miles long. “The Federal Power Act authorizes the Secretary of Energy to designate any geographic area as a National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) if the Secretary finds that consumers are harmed by a lack of transmission in the area and that the development of new transmission would advance important national interests in that area, such as increased reliability and reduced consumer costs,” reads the U.S. Department of Energy’s website. The government website lists other potential NIETC geographic areas it is considering: The U.S. Department of Energy lists the below reasons for moving forward with the project: Maintain and improve reliability and resilience. Potential electricity shortfalls leave the region vulnerable during extreme weather. Electricity demand growth, generator retirements, and increased intermittent generation contribute to reliability risks in the region. Alleviate congestion and reduce consumer costs. Congestion between the Midwest and Plains regions prevents cost-effective generation from being delivered to where it is needed, when it is needed. Meet future generation and demand growth. There is a significant need for additional transfer capacity between the Midwest and Plains regions to meet various power sector scenarios. Analysis finds a 175% increase is needed by 2035 under moderate load and high clean energy growth scenarios (median need relative to the 2020 system), in line with current market and policy conditions. Increase clean energy integration. Increased access to more diverse, clean energy generation resources is necessary to lower power sector greenhouse gas emissions.
Source: KSNT 27 News

info2024-08-21T09:52:00-05:00August 21, 2024|News|

Topeka releases results of new police chief survey

The City of Topeka has released the findings from public sessions as part of the hiring process for a new police chief. From July 22 to Aug. 3, the City of Topeka collected 260 responses to the community survey. Three public sessions were also hosted where citizens could share their thoughts. “The community emphasized the need for a police chief who values communication, transparency, and community engagement, with a focus on reducing crime, improving public safety, and addressing mental health and homelessness,” City Manager Dr. Robert Perez said. “We will use this feedback from community members to make sure we find the best candidate for this community.”
Source: KSNT 27 News

info2024-08-21T09:49:04-05:00August 21, 2024|News|