Kansas asks U.S. Supreme Court to let states limit how long trains can block crossings

27 Tuesday, December 27

Kansas asks U.S. Supreme Court to let states limit how long trains can block crossings

info2022-12-29T07:54:53-06:00December 27th, 2022|

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has joined 18 other state attorneys general in asking that the U.S. Supreme Court restore the rights states and local governments once had to regulate how long trains can block railroad crossings. Absent that power, the public is put at risk, the attorneys general say in their brief. Countless people have died when emergency vehicles were delayed at rail crossings, The Star reported this month in an investigation of railroad safety lapses. The problem has only gotten worse in recent years for many communities across the country, The Star reported, as the rail industry’s practices have [...]

27 Tuesday, December 27

Brad Matkin is the New Fort Scott Interim City Manager

info2022-12-27T14:07:11-06:00December 27th, 2022|

At the Fort Scott City Commission meeting on Dec. 20, Brad Matkin was promoted to interim city manager, after having served as assistant city manager since September 2022. Josh Jones, a Fort Scott Commissioner, congratulated Matkins for being moved up to interim city manager on his Facebook page, following the meeting... “As mayor, I have had the privilege of working with Mr. Matkin on many different occasions in his previous role as Assistant City Manager,” FS Mayor Katherine Harrington said. “I feel that over this time he has grown as a manager and demonstrated that he was ready to take on [...]

27 Tuesday, December 27

City to take over all operations at McPherson Water Park

info2022-12-27T14:12:36-06:00December 27th, 2022|

Beginning with the 2023 season, the City of McPherson will be taking over all operations of the McPherson Water Park. For 20 years, the operation of the facility was a joint effort between the City and the McPherson Recreation Commission. The City owns and maintains the property as well as pays its staff and a portion of the director’s salary. The Recreation Commission in the past paid the other portion and handled the hiring, certifications and daily operations. The two came to a mutual decision the City would take over moving forward. Its operation will fall under the Public Lands & [...]

27 Tuesday, December 27

Kansas Receives Nearly $5.7M to Expand Equitable Broadband Access

info2022-12-27T14:12:59-06:00December 27th, 2022|

Governor Laura Kelly today announced Kansas has received nearly $5.7 million to expand broadband access, adoption, and affordability, from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Office. “Communities across the Kansas have enormous potential for a new chapter of innovation and success,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This funding will propel the state forward, accelerating our efforts to ensure all Kansans can fully participate in the digital world.” The funds are part of the designated $65 billion as outlined in the federal bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in 2021, dubbed the “Internet for All Initiative.” “The Internet [...]

27 Tuesday, December 27

Atchison calls for voluntary water conservation — UPDATE: Now Mandatory

info2022-12-27T14:44:41-06:00December 27th, 2022|

Update: City of Atchison now implementing mandatory measures On December 20, 2022, the City became of aware of an ice jam in the river moving this direction over the next few days. The Army Corps of Engineers control the water management upriver that determines our river levels and manages the removal or dislodging of ice jams. The ice jam making its way from Nebraska is causing the river to back up and we anticipate we will experience another one and-a-half-foot drop in river levels over the next 48 hours. This creates a unique and unprecedented situation with the convergence of several [...]

27 Tuesday, December 27

Kansas asks U.S. Supreme Court to let states limit how long trains can block crossings

info2022-12-27T14:18:28-06:00December 27th, 2022|

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has joined 18 other state attorneys general in asking that the U.S. Supreme Court restore the rights states and local governments once had to regulate how long trains can block railroad crossings. Absent that power, the public is put at risk, the attorneys general say in their brief. Countless people have died when emergency vehicles were delayed at rail crossings, The Star reported this month in an investigation of railroad safety lapses. The problem has only gotten worse in recent years for many communities across the country, The Star reported, as the rail industry’s practices have [...]

27 Tuesday, December 27

Mulberry PD reaches out for help . . . and Angels appear

info2022-12-27T14:19:09-06:00December 27th, 2022|

Since becoming Mulberry’s chief of police, Joe Adelman has made it his mission to serve the people of his small town, and its surrounding area. It is not always easy in the poverty-stricken town, especially in today’s economy. Adelman and his officers spent much of the summer passing out food and water to those who needed it, and continue doing the same over the winter. But Adelman says he doesn’t have the resources necessary, so he recently asked for help from an unlikely source. In a letter to rap artist Izzy White, founder of a Maryland-based charity dedicated to helping anyone [...]

27 Tuesday, December 27

Sirens have long and storied history

info2022-12-27T14:21:04-06:00December 27th, 2022|

The ubiquitous sound of tornado sirens on a clear Monday has been around for generations, but when the warning devices were first installed in the early 1950s, inclement weather was an afterthought. Harvey County Communications Director Don Gruver said when the sirens were first installed, their purpose was to warn residents of a nuclear attack from America’s old nemesis, the Soviet Union. Wichita became the first city to use the civil defense sirens to warn of an approaching tornado in June 1958. He said cities used also them for other purposes – a lunch whistle at noon and to alert volunteer [...]

27 Tuesday, December 27

Lawrence assistant city manager Diane Stoddard stepping down next month, accepts position as Leawood city administrator

info2022-12-27T14:21:54-06:00December 27th, 2022|

Assistant Lawrence City Manager Diane Stoddard is leaving her position effective Jan. 13, according to a city news release Wednesday afternoon. She has accepted a position as city administrator in Leawood, according to the release. Stoddard’s role with the city manager’s office began in October 2007, according to the release. She also served as the interim city manager from June 2015 to March 2016. “It has been an honor to serve as both Assistant City Manager and, on one occasion, Interim City Manager for Lawrence over the last 15 years,” Stoddard said in the release. “As my hometown, Lawrence will always [...]

27 Tuesday, December 27

Edgerton mulls possible own police department

info2022-12-27T14:35:29-06:00December 27th, 2022|

Law enforcement services with Johnson County were renewed for the next year. However, at the Thursday, Dec. 15 Edgerton city council meeting, Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden said because of Edgerton’s continuing growth the city might want to consider expanding its services and needing their own police department might be in their future. “Edgerton is growing like crazy,” he said. Hayden said they should “explore some stuff” and consider assigning a lieutenant or a consistent group of officers to assist current Sheriff’s Department officer Brad Johnson for consistency with local citizens. He said knowing everyone in town helps officers serve a [...]