31 Thursday, August 31

Valley Center rejects school bond issue, Clearwater approves sales tax

2023-08-31T09:49:57-05:00August 31st, 2023|

There were split results in special elections for two Sedgwick County communities. In a mail ballot election that was tabulated Tuesday, Valley Center voters rejected a school bond issue.    There were 2,159 no votes to 1,983 in favor of the proposal, giving the no ballots 52 percent of the total. The almost 74 million dollar proposal would have constructed a new elementary school and added 20 classrooms to the high school. Superintendent Greg Lehr said in a statement on social media, “While the bond did not pass, the needs remain. Because several USD 262 schools are at or over capacity with [...]

31 Thursday, August 31

The City of Wichita is investigating a fire that caused part of a popular biking trail to collapse

2023-08-31T09:27:02-05:00August 31st, 2023|

The City of Wichita is investigating a fire that was set in two drains causing a section of the Red Bud Biking trail to collapse. The Red Bud biking trail is a beloved path in Wichita. Chris Majors takes a ride on his green bike on the Red Bud every single morning rain or shine. However, today his daily bike ride didn't quite go as planned. "I can't pass through right now," he says while pointing at the large white sign that reads 'Sidewalk Closed.'" This is because of a fire that was set inside two culverts underneath the bike trail [...]

31 Thursday, August 31

Panasonic makes De Soto footprint even bigger

2023-08-31T09:24:20-05:00August 31st, 2023|

Panasonic announced it will lease 509,760 square feet in the Flint Commerce Center, roughly a mile from its $4 billion electric vehicle battery plant that is currently under construction. Flint Commerce Center is expected to open in summer 2024 at the corner of 103rd Street and Edgerton Road. Panasonic's space is expected to be right on that corner of the 370-acre park. De Soto Mayor Rick Walker says the city was trying to spark economic development on that site even before conversations started with Panasonic about their new home down the road. Source: KSN-TV

31 Thursday, August 31

Ulysses votes ‘no’ to USD 214 special bond

2023-08-31T09:52:00-05:00August 31st, 2023|

Ulysses held a special election on Tuesday where voters were presented with two questions. Find the unofficial results below: Shall USD 214 be authorized to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $44,750,000 to renovate Hicktok Elementary School, Sullivan Elementary School, Keply Middle School, and Ulysses High School? No: 929; Yes: 241. Shall the City of Ulysses be authorized to impose a 1% special purpose Citywide retailers’ sales tax (the “Educational Sales Tax”) to assist USD 214 in paying for their special bond if it is passed? No: 637; Yes: 290 Source: KSN-TV

31 Thursday, August 31

Why it’s taking so long to build Wichita’s new transit center

2023-08-31T09:21:24-05:00August 31st, 2023|

Plans to move Wichita's transit center from downtown to the area near Riverfront Stadium in Delano have been in the works for years. We asked the City when the facility is being built and what is taking so long. The City is calling the new transit center a multimodal center. It's supposed to replace the current transit facility downtown. That location will become the home of the Wichita State University and the University of Kansas biomedical campus. Federal funding covering 75% of the cost of the new transit center has been secured since 2019, but construction has yet to begin. Source: [...]

31 Thursday, August 31

Voters say no to Decatur County USD 294 special bond

2023-08-31T09:19:30-05:00August 31st, 2023|

Voters said no to the Decatur County USD 294 special bond Tuesday. There was a 53.714% voter turnout. According to unofficial results, 362 voters voted yes, and 621 voters voted no. Residents in USD 294 Oberlin voted no on a $29.15 million issue to replace a 96-year-old elementary school and update the 84-year-old Decatur County Junior and Senior High School with additions and renovations that would have also housed the grade school. The district said the bond would be financed over 30 years. Source: KSN-TV

31 Thursday, August 31

Voters say yes to the Clearwater special sales tax

2023-08-31T09:18:08-05:00August 31st, 2023|

Voters said yes to the Clearwater special sales tax Tuesday. Of 1,689 registered voters, there were 257 ballots cast, resulting in a 15.22% voter turnout. According to unofficial results, 191 voters voted yes, and 65 voters voted no. One ballot is provisional. The City of Clearwater asked voters to approve a 1% sales tax hike for street improvements. That would mean an extra one cent of sales tax for every dollar spent in the town. The City says the sales tax will bring in $220,000 annually. Source: KSN-TV

31 Thursday, August 31

Fort Scott begins water conservation as drought looms over several SEK counties

2023-08-31T09:17:02-05:00August 31st, 2023|

The City of Fort Scott is implementing some water conservation efforts, in response to the Kansas governor including Bourbon County in the drought emergency declaration earlier this month. The city, itself, is currently not affected by the state "water emergency" since the water supply does not come from a state-owned water source. But City Manager Brad Matkin says the city's water storage has fallen below 70% and is not expected to recover within a normal time range. Residents are now under a "water warning" as of Wednesday, with a goal of reducing peak demands by 20% and reducing overall weekly consumption [...]

31 Thursday, August 31

Louisburg set for Labor Day weekend festivities

2023-08-31T09:16:13-05:00August 31st, 2023|

The 51st annual truck and tractor pull sponsored by the American Legion is set to kick off the community’s three-day Labor Day celebration. The truck and tractor pull will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at Lewis-Young Park, located at 26600 Jingo Road, a short distance northwest of Louisburg. Concessions will be sold by the Sons of the American Legion. Wayne Knop, commander of the John P. Hand American Legion Post No. 250 in Louisburg, said the truck and tractor pull is the Legion’s largest fundraiser of the year. Source: Local News | republic-online.com

31 Thursday, August 31

Miami County finalizes sales tax ballot question for courthouse

2023-08-31T09:52:38-05:00August 31st, 2023|

Miami County commissioners have been adamant about the need to renovate and repair the historic Miami County Courthouse and build additional courtroom space for the cramped Miami County District Court. Whether or not those improvements are paid for by a new quarter-cent sales tax or potential property tax increases via future hikes in the county budget is something voters will decide when they head to the polls during the Nov. 7 general election. Source: Local News | republic-online.com

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