Lawrence’s land development code getting updated

29 Monday, August 29

Lawrence’s land development code getting updated

info2022-08-30T06:57:16-05:00August 29th, 2022|

A lot has changed in the past 16 years — but that’s not reflected in the document that lays out the regulations meant to help the city implement its goals and visions. Aging it further, Lawrence’s land development code, adopted in July 2006, was based on the city’s comprehensive plan that was adopted in 1998 — Horizon 2020. What is Lawrence’s land development code? In simplest terms, the 559-page code basically says what can be built where. It’s a lot more complex than that, however. It covers everything from how closes together houses can be to whether you can raise livestock [...]

29 Monday, August 29

Sportsbooks open Thursday in Kansas

info2022-08-30T06:53:48-05:00August 29th, 2022|

Legalized sports betting in Kansas is set to officially launch on Thursday. Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill into law in June that legalized sports betting in the state, paving the way for casinos to establish sportsbooks. Kelly has called the move a “common-sense solution” that will keep Kansans’ money in the state while supporting businesses in the leisure and hospitality industry. Dustin Gouker, an analyst from the industry website PlayUSA.com network, told The Center Square that the new law is a positive "in terms of creating a competitive market that should be good for both the state and the consumer." Source: Atchison [...]

29 Monday, August 29

New Seaman superintendent Brad Willson focuses on making sure students are learning and safe

info2022-08-29T07:10:44-05:00August 29th, 2022|

One of the first things Brad Willson learned when he took the USD 345 job is that he wouldn't be moving to Topeka. He'd be coming to Seaman. "It's a very tight-knit community," he said. "We're north of Topeka, but that's not what this community is built on. This community is built around its schools and considers itself a small town even in the larger metropolitan area." As he starts the job, Willson says one of his priorities is building a reputation for communication. He's modeling that by taking the first few months on the job to meet with families, parents, [...]

29 Monday, August 29

Wildfires growing in size, number

info2022-08-29T07:09:42-05:00August 29th, 2022|

After years of largely ignoring a legislative audit identifying problems and solutions to wildfire response, Kansas has a new task force set to rekindle the efforts. If the system needs more money and less bureaucracy — as the audit found four years ago — will the lawmakers who hold the purse strings push for change this time? The governor’s task force comes after wildfires have grown, both in number and size. Source: Hutch News

28 Sunday, August 28

Powell warns of ‘some pain’ ahead as the Fed fights to bring down inflation

info2022-08-28T21:51:40-05:00August 28th, 2022|

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell delivered a stern commitment Friday to halting inflation, warning that he expects the central bank to continue raising interest rates in a way that will cause "some pain" to the U.S. economy. In his much-anticipated annual policy speech at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Powell affirmed that the Fed will "use our tools forcefully" to attack inflation that is still running near its highest level in more than 40 years. Even with a series of four consecutive interest rate increases totaling 2.25 percentage points, Powell said this is "no place to stop or pause" even though benchmark rates [...]

28 Sunday, August 28

Open street festival planned in Emporia

info2022-08-29T07:03:13-05:00August 28th, 2022|

Empovía — pronounced Empo-vía — is a blend of the words “ciclovia” and “Emporia.” The concept? To bring an open street festival to Peter Pan Park. “The idea itself is not a new concept,” said Visit Emporia director LeLan Dains. “A ciclovia comes from Latin America and describes events that close down streets to automobiles so people can engage in human-powered activities within that space.” So, between 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sept. 17, a half-mile section of streets around the park will temporarily close to traffic to allow community members to safely ride, skate, rollerblade, scoot, walk, jog, run and [...]

28 Sunday, August 28

Jackson County’s cities put ARPA funds to good use

info2022-08-28T21:44:32-05:00August 28th, 2022|

Cities in Jackson County are putting American Rescue Plan Act funds - available through the county - to good use, it has been reported. Last February, the Jackson County Commissioners announced that each city was eligible to receive up to $25,000 in ARPA funds through the county. The county has received a total of $2,558,312 in ARPA funding. During recent county commission meetings, the commissioners received letters from city officials at Hoyt, Mayetta and Netawaka outlining how the funds will be spent in those cities. The letters are required for the cities to receive the funds. The Hoyt City Council reported [...]

28 Sunday, August 28

Supply chain issues impact Holton city projects

info2022-08-28T21:40:44-05:00August 28th, 2022|

Supply chain issues are plaguing cities and counties across the country that need certain pieces of equipment to continue to operate smoothly and efficiently, and as the Holton City Commission was reminded on Monday, Aug. 17, the City of Holton is no exception. Commissioners approved a bid of $25,900 from the Harold K. Scholz Company of Ralston, Neb., for the purchase and installation of two electrical relays in the city’s electrical distribution system, but as Electrical Production Superintendent Ira Harrison told commissioners, the new relays would not likely be available for installation for about six months due to supply chain issues. [...]

28 Sunday, August 28

Wellington testing thermal energy ceiling tiles

info2022-08-29T07:04:44-05:00August 28th, 2022|

Wellington City Hall now has thermal energy-storing ceiling tiles to help reduce energy use. These Passive Thermal Energy Storage (PTES) ceiling tiles are similar to how gel packs for cold shipping functions. The tile is composed with a Phase Change Material (PCM) that will absorb heat as it changes from a solid form to liquid. After temperatures in the attic have dropped, the tiles release the stored heat. This project comes through the Department of Energy and aims to reduce cooling, heating, and electric demand. The goal with these tiles is a 10-20% reduction in use. Source: KSN-TV

28 Sunday, August 28

History explored during week of Little Balkans Days events in Pittsburg

info2022-08-29T07:05:59-05:00August 28th, 2022|

An annual festival timed to the Labor Day holiday makes its return with a week full of events. Little Balkans Days, a festival of history and heritage, will begin with contests and classes Monday and work its way to a full festival of fairs, concerts and even a polka dance throughout Labor Day weekend. Mining activity throughout in the 1800s offered promises to immigrant families, attracting more of a diverse population than other regions of Kansas, according to the event's website. Most of those immigrants hailed from the Balkans in southeastern Europe — an area that includes present-day Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia, [...]