Halstead Planning Commission considers the risks of BESS

26 Monday, February 26

Halstead Planning Commission considers the risks of BESS

info2024-02-26T15:12:32-06:00February 26th, 2024|

Pat Hughes, an attorney with Adam Jones Law Firm in Wichita, said the zoning regulations were written before battery storage systems were created, and it’s not clear what’s required to build one in the heavy industrial district. It’s possible that you could read the zoning code to say that it’s allowed as a matter of right, because it’s one of these utility storage uses that’s allowed in an I-2 zone,” Hughes said. “It’s also possible to read the zoning code and say, ‘No, it would have to be a special use permit.’” Source: Harvey County Now

26 Monday, February 26

Wichita unveils free Narcan vending machine, already used more than 100 times

info2024-02-26T15:11:51-06:00February 26th, 2024|

Thursday a new chapter opens in the fight against the opioid crisis with the opening of a new Naloxone vending machine. “Wichita is disproportionately affected by the opioid problem and we want to get these machines into the communities where they can do the most good,” said Bryan Baier, president of Healthy Blue Kansas. Wichita received one of the first Naloxone vending machines in the state and it's incredibly easy to use. You just type in your zip code and out pops a Naloxone kit. Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. Source: KAKE - News

26 Monday, February 26

Prairie Village removes some pickleball courts at city park. Will that fix noise issue?

info2024-02-26T15:11:14-06:00February 26th, 2024|

Some pickleball nets are coming down at Prairie Village’s Windsor Park. At least, for now. After months of debating how to handle noise coming from six new pickleball courts at Windsor Park, the Prairie Village City Council last week voted 11 to 0 to temporarily remove nets on four of the courts. Later this year, the city plans to see how, if at all, having fewer pickleball courts impacts neighboring residents’ noise concerns — and potentially take further measures, including removing nets at the remaining two courts, if necessary. Source: Johnson County Post

26 Monday, February 26

White House sends $5.8 billion water infrastructure funds to states

info2024-02-26T14:56:35-06:00February 26th, 2024|

The Biden administration Tuesday announced $5.8 billion in water infrastructure funds for states, tribes and territories, the latest round of funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act record level of clean water investment. Th money includes $3.2 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for water projects and $2.6 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for storm and wastewater infrastructure. The funds include $1 billion for seven major rural water projects, $1 billion to address "forever chemical" contaminants, and $1 billion for Great Lakes drinking water projects. "Every person should have a right and the ability to have access to [...]

26 Monday, February 26

State funding to improve short-line railroad systems

info2024-02-26T14:55:10-06:00February 26th, 2024|

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has announced funding for 17 short-line railroad expansion and rehabilitation projects. The governor said almost $16.5 million will be made through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Rail Service Improvement Program (RSIP), and the projects will improve the state’s agriculture supply chain. RSIP recipients will use the funds for expansion and capacity improvements, major track rehabilitation, and rail replacement. These projects support rail improvements that enhance safety, expand carload capabilities, reduce truck traffic, increase operating speeds, and improve operating efficiencies.  Governor Kelly said the projects will help Kansas farmers and ranchers connect to regional, national, and international markets. The projects include [...]

26 Monday, February 26

Wichita announces next round of public housing sales

info2024-02-26T14:42:19-06:00February 26th, 2024|

The City of Wichita has announced the next round of sales of public housing units as the city continues to reposition its housing stock. The city is listing 12 properties for sale at fair market appraised value rather than traditional real estate prices, making them more affordable for residents. Open houses have been scheduled for 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 25th, and from 3 p.m. to 5 pm on Tuesday, February 27th. The following homes are up for sale: 917 S Whittier; 1233 N Lorraine; 2229 E 53rd Street S; 2236 E 53rd Street S; 5224 S Hydraulic; 1714 E Idlewild Dr; 1325 E Selma; 1213 E Selma; 2318 [...]

26 Monday, February 26

No, you won’t get hepatitis A from Lawrence’s drinking water

info2024-02-26T14:38:53-06:00February 26th, 2024|

The concentration of hepatitis A in Lawrence’s wastewater has been on the rise, but the drinking water is clean and safe, according to the city. Wastewater — aka sewage — is processed through the city’s water treatment plants. Drinking water and tap water have been treated. The City of Lawrence has received a number of questions about this lately, according to a news release Thursday evening. “WastewaterSCAN, a national wastewater monitoring system based at Stanford University in partnership with Emory University, recently noted an increase in the concentration of hepatitis A virus (HAV) detected in the wastewater processed at the Lawrence Kansas River Wastewater [...]

26 Monday, February 26

Fentanyl presentation draws large crowd

info2024-02-26T14:27:58-06:00February 26th, 2024|

Approximately 115 people attended the United Way of Dodge City Learn @ Lunch program at the Dodge City Community College (DC3) Library on Tuesday, Feb. 20. The presentation, which featured Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) Director Tony Mattivi, was titled “The Fight Against Fentanyl: One Pill Can Kill.” While attendees enjoyed food provided and sponsored by PT Works Physical Therapy and Performance of Dodge City, Mattivi discussed the many dangers of fentanyl and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement officials to protect Kansans from the deadly drug. Source: Dodge City Daily Globe

26 Monday, February 26

Wichita community, city leaders meet to discuss homelessness

info2024-02-26T14:19:12-06:00February 26th, 2024|

Members of the Wichita community met Wednesday night at the Advanced Learning Library to discuss Wichita's growing rate of people living on the streets. City Council member J.V. Johnston, who's been working on the city's homeless task force, said that it's the goal of the city to achieve functional zero homelessness, meaning there are more people coming out of living on the streets than going in. "I think if we all work hard and all the agencies collaborate and work together, city and county and nonprofits all work together, including the business community, we can achieve it," Johnston said. Sedgwick County's [...]

26 Monday, February 26

Billions of cicadas in the Midwest this spring will be ‘a really weird phenomenon’

info2024-02-26T14:11:32-06:00February 26th, 2024|

This spring, billions of cicadas will dig their way out of the soil across most of the Midwest and Southeast, filling the air with their cacophonous soundtrack. Starting in late April, two major broods of cicadas that show up on 13- and 17-year cycles will crawl out of the soil and head to treetops to sing and mate. It’s the first time these two broods have emerged at the same time in 221 years. The males will die almost immediately after mating. The females will live just long enough to build nests in the trees and lay eggs. By the time those eggs [...]