Wichita district wants bond issues to rebuild, consolidate schools

Wichita school officials want to know if voters would support a series of bond issues to rebuild and renovate schools over the next two decades. On Monday, consultants hired by the school board laid out four options ranging from a major investment in 27 new or renovated schools to doing nothing but focusing on deferred maintenance needs at existing buildings. All four plans outlined by the Ohio-based firm Woolpert include consolidating either 18 or 19 schools — a process district officials say is different than a closure because students and staff at low-attendance schools would all be moved together into a different building.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

2024-04-23T07:49:14-05:00April 23, 2024|News|

Cost to buy JoCo hotel being eyed for homeless shelter goes up

Buying a La Quinta Inn and Suites in Lenexa to convert it into a homeless shelter is going to cost more and may take longer than expected — should the county commission ultimately go ahead with the move. The growing cost and elongated timeline are due to an increase in the amount required to buy out the hotel and a delay in finding an entity to run it.
Source: Johnson County Post

2024-04-23T07:48:43-05:00April 23, 2024|News|

Visiting commissioners impressed with Crawford County

County Commissioner Carl Wood said he enjoyed attending the recent Kansas County Commissioner Association Conference at Kansas Crossing this past week, adding that he learned a lot. Commissioners were offered classes in state law, media relations, budgets, and many other subjects. But what made the biggest impression on Wood was how impressed other commissioners from around the state were with Crawford County. Ranking 11th in population out of 105 counties, Crawford is not on the same level as Johnson, Wyandotte, or Sedgewick Counties in terms of resources, but the county still makes a big impression across the state.
Source: Morning Sun

2024-04-23T07:46:14-05:00April 23, 2024|News|

Emporia PD unveils fleet redesign to boost visibility

The Emporia Police Department is rolling out a striking redesign for its 13-vehicle fleet, aimed at enhancing visibility and community engagement. The decision to update the department’s vehicle aesthetics came after careful consideration and collaboration within the department, according to Police Chief Ed Owens, as the department’s new vehicles become available through a fleet agreement with Enterprise Leasing.
Source: Emporia Gazette

2024-04-23T07:45:46-05:00April 23, 2024|News|

Leawood taps department veteran Brad Robbins to be next police chief

Leawood police Capt. Brad Robbins will become the new chief of police beginning May 4, the Leawood City Council has decided. Councilmembers unanimously approved Robbins’ appointment during a special meeting called Wednesday afternoon for that purpose. Robbins, a 29-year veteran of the Leawood police department, has most recently served as support services division commander, supervising the investigation, traffic safety and community education units. He has also acted as the department’s public information officer.
Source: Johnson County Post

2024-04-23T07:44:03-05:00April 23, 2024|News|

Parsons OKs rental, parking laws

The rental registration ordinance requires owners of all rental dwelling units in the city limits to be registered beginning July 1. These owners also must maintain accurate and complete registration information, modifying the registration within 30 days of any change. … Eventually, the city wants to implement inspections of rental units to make sure they meet codes, but this ordinance was the first step of many to achieve that. The second ordinance restricts parking on front yards and streets. The ordinance does not affect side or back yards.
Source: Parsons Sun

2024-04-23T07:43:31-05:00April 23, 2024|News|

New Clerk Coming to City of Uniontown

Shawn Vincent will start as the new City of Uniontown Clerk on  April 29. Vincent, 50, lives near Uniontown and operates a small cow/calf farm. He graduated from high school in Manhattan, KS, and is currently working on a bachelor’s degree…. Sally Johnson, who has been the clerk for 11 years will be training Vincent full-time until the week of May 20, then will continue training part-time “and do other things that have been put on the back burner until the end of the year,” she said.
Source: Fort Scott Biz

2024-04-23T07:42:12-05:00April 23, 2024|News|

Supreme Court debates whether cities can make sleeping outside a crime

Several Supreme Court justices on Monday questioned the wisdom of an Oregon city’s ordinance that penalizes homeless people for sleeping in public, but the court’s conservative majority seemed wary of having federal courts intervene…. “The city’s hands will be tied [if the lower decision stands]. It will be forced to surrender its public places as it has been,” Theane Eangelis, an attorney for Grants Pass, told Chief Justice John Roberts during a two-and-a-half hour argument. “The Ninth Circuit has effectively imposed a municipal code … to regulate what the city can do in its public spaces.”
Source: Route Fifty – All Content

2024-04-23T07:39:09-05:00April 23, 2024|News|
Go to Top