$2 mil. Rural Home Loan Guarantee program to make rural housing more accessible

11 Wednesday, January 11

$2 mil. Rural Home Loan Guarantee program to make rural housing more accessible

info2023-01-11T21:57:12-06:00January 11th, 2023|

Keeping small towns in Kansas alive. A new program is putting millions of dollars into rural areas of the state and it's expected to benefit thousands of homeowners. This $2 million Rural Home Loan Guarantee program is through the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC). KHRC's Executive Director said this will help small-town banks and families get into their dream homes. "There is a need for housing of all different qualities and sizes," said Lyons City Administrator, Chad Buckley. Source: KSN-TV

11 Wednesday, January 11

Topeka catalytic converter ordinance approved

info2023-01-11T21:55:28-06:00January 11th, 2023|

Topeka city council unanimously approved a new ordinance Tuesday they hope will deter catalytic converter thefts. Just in the last couple weeks of 2022, Topeka saw more than 20 catalytic converter thefts. Tuesdays unanimous vote, which was taken just minutes after the issue was presented, shows just how much the city council wants to see this crime stopped in its tracks. It's a costly crime, and the thieves work so fast, it's almost impossible to catch one in the act. Source: KSNT 27 News

11 Wednesday, January 11

‘The house shakes’: Residents sue Olathe, company over rock quarry near neighborhood

info2023-01-11T21:53:52-06:00January 11th, 2023|

On a remote patch of land in the southwest corner of Olathe, an eruption breaks the silence. The explosion is a regular part of rock quarry Hamm Companies’ operations – blasts loosen the earth to allow for removal. But not everyone on a nearby residential street appreciates the activity taking place on the other side of a grassy berm. Residents Randy and Cynthia Kriesel are suing the City of Olathe and Hamm Companies for expanding the quarry’s property, which inches closer to a small neighborhood off West 167th Street near Interstate-35. Source: KC Star Local News

11 Wednesday, January 11

Labette County hears about drug shortages

info2023-01-12T12:43:10-06:00January 11th, 2023|

The Labette County Commission, meeting Monday as the Labette County Board of Health, heard from pharmacist-in-charge Tracy Gilmore that pharmacists and providers are seeing a lot of drug shortages and are hoping the Labette County Health Department does not see it in its daily work giving vaccines and antibiotics. For now, the Health Department reported no shortages. “It is kind of a scary situation in some aspects,” Gilmore said. Source: Parsons Sun

11 Wednesday, January 11

Merriam reignites plan for old community center site

info2023-01-11T21:51:20-06:00January 11th, 2023|

Merriam is relaunching efforts to transform the site of the former Irene B. French Community Center. A special committee previously charged with finding a use for the land at 5701 Merriam Drive is being reconstituted for the first time in four years and will work to finalize a design for the now-empty green space. Anna Slocum, parks and recreation director, told the city council on Monday that the committee, dubbed the 5701 Committee, would soon seek a landscape design architect for the project. Source: Prairie Village Post

11 Wednesday, January 11

Manhattan city commissioners want to prevent members from holding 2 government positions

info2023-01-12T12:44:17-06:00January 11th, 2023|

State Sen. Usha Reddi, D-Manhattan, said Tuesday she would “eventually” resign from the Manhattan City Commission as some suggested changing the rules to prevent a commissioner from holding another elected position. Last week, the Riley County Democratic party elected Reddi to fill in for the remainder of state Sen. Tom Hawk’s position after he announced his retirement. The Mercury previously reported that Reddi said she will resign a few days after she was elected, but on Tuesday, she didn’t commit to that timeline. But she said she doesn’t plan on staying on the commission for her entire term. Source: themercury.com

11 Wednesday, January 11

Kansas officials pursue new megadeals with semiconductor makers

info2023-01-11T21:42:44-06:00January 11th, 2023|

Kansas officials are pursuing megadeals for six new projects, including two companies that make semiconductors, by using the same tax incentives that landed Panasonic’s $4 billion investment last year. Paul Hughes, deputy secretary for business development at the Department of Commerce, briefed lawmakers Tuesday on the status of Panasonic’s operation and the potential to reach multibillion deals with more companies, providing thousands of jobs. Panasonic plans to start pouring concrete this month for its facility in DeSoto, where the company will make batteries for electric vehicles. Source: www.joplinglobe.com

11 Wednesday, January 11

KHP outlines persistent recruiting, retention obstacles despite 30% salary bump for troopers

info2023-01-11T12:08:27-06:00January 11th, 2023|

The Kansas Highway Patrol said Wednesday the state agency continued to struggle with recruitment and retention of qualified law enforcement officers despite the 30% raise in base salary for newer troopers implemented last year by the Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly. Capt. Mitch Clark told state senators the KHP was competing with police and sheriff departments in urban centers in Kansas and law enforcement agencies in neighboring states. Nationally, he said, the applicant pool was diminished, training classes where smaller, and retention of young troopers and people eligible for retirement persisted. The economy, COVID-19, the “great resignation” and negative news coverage [...]

11 Wednesday, January 11

Lawrence city leaders express support for hybrid form of government with members elected by districts, at-large and a directly elected mayor

info2023-01-11T11:14:42-06:00January 11th, 2023|

City leaders have expressed support for asking Lawrence voters about changing the city’s form of government to a hybrid system that includes some commissioners elected by districts, other commissioners elected at large and a directly elected mayor. The Lawrence City Commission discussed the potential changes as part of its meeting Tuesday. The commission considered a task force recommendation for potential changes last year but did not come to a clear consensus on how to proceed and directed city staff to defer the discussion until this year. Commissioner Brad Finkeldei said he continued to be in favor of the task force’s recommendation, [...]

11 Wednesday, January 11

Lawrence city leaders express support for moving forward with a ban on single-use plastic bags

info2023-01-11T11:13:41-06:00January 11th, 2023|

Lawrence city leaders have expressed support for moving forward with a ban on single-use plastic bags in the community. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission directed city staff to bring back an ordinance for future consideration that would ban certain single-use plastic bags. The commissioners also discussed the possibility of charging a fee at checkout or creating an educational campaign, but they agreed that a ban was the best option. “This has been discussed for a long time, since I’ve been on the commission, and I do believe that it’s time to initiate an ordinance on a [...]