Country 101.3 KFDI

Wichita City Council members are looking over a proposed new policy to promote tree planting and protect existing trees in the community.  The proposal was presented during a workshop meeting Tuesday. The city’s park and recreation director, Troy Houtman, said the city is in a situation where it is having a net loss of trees.   He said a number of trees are dying because of disease or because they have reached the end of their life span.  He said the proposed policy will protect trees that are in good health.   It would set up a review process to avoid tree loss [...]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $2.55 million in Emergency Rural Health Care Grants has been awarded to 10 communities in rural Kansas. The grants will help rural hospitals and health care providers implement telehealth and nutrition assistance programs, increase staffing to administer COVID-19 vaccines and testing, build or renovate facilities, and purchase medical supplies. Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Wichita City Council members have approved a first round of grants for programs to help small businesses and promote workforce development. The city received $72 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, and $10 million of that will be dedicated to workforce and business efforts.   The council approved a total of $6.3 million in grants to 14 organizations. WSU Tech is getting about 60 percent of the funding from the first round, for partnerships with the Wichita school district and other agencies to train workers for health care and manufacturing jobs. Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

The City of Wichita said crews worked throughout the weekend to bring an odor problem under control at the city’s Wastewater Plant 2, and those efforts appear to have been successful. The city reported a processing issue at the plant at 57th Street South and Hydraulic, and that was causing an odor problem.  Crews used chemical suppressants and lime to help reduce odors, and staff reported no complaints over the weekend from the area surrounding the plant. Wastewater crews monitored the area and did not notice increased odors. The city is still investigating the cause of the processing issue, and there [...]

Several school districts in Marion County canceled classes on Thursday after a report of a telephone threat. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said a Wednesday night call made to law enforcement in the Kansas City area reported that kids were planning to bring guns to school in Marion County. The information was given to Marion County agencies and school officials, who decided to cancel classes. The KBI has been working with the Kansas State Department of Education and its Safe and Secure Schools Unit to monitor the situation. Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

The Wichita City Council approved $100,000 for the continuation of the Water Conservation Rebate Program. The program encourages residents to purchase water-saving household devices by offering rebates in the form of a credit to their water account. This is the 10th consecutive year of the program. Rebates are available to customers who have active utility accounts with Public Works & Utilities for the delivery of potable water. The application, list of qualifying items, program requirements and submittal instructions are available here. Online and paper applications will be accepted through December 31st, 2022 or until funds are exhausted. Devices purchased after January [...]

A new medical school that will open in downtown Wichita this summer has received around 1,500 applications for its first class. The Kansas Health Science Center – Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine will have 85 students in its first class, which begins work in August. Construction on the school is almost complete in the former State Office Building complex at 217 East Douglas. KHSC president Tiffany Masson and Associate Dean Richard Winslow talked to reporters Thursday during Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple’s weekly media briefing. Masson said Kansas-based students will have the opportunity to do clinical rotation in Kansas and they will [...]

The Augusta Municipal Airport announced the launch of its Youth Aviation Summer Camp. The camp will meet at the airport from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. daily from July 11th through July 15th. The free educational opportunity is limited to 30 openings and will offer participants an expanded view of aviation including airport operations, aviation careers, pilot and mechanic license requirements, aircraft and basic aerodynamics concepts, and will include Aviation-specific STEM demonstrations. Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

The City of Wichita is starting its annual program to remove sand that was put down on major streets during winter storms. Assistant public works director Ben Nelson said the city used about 16,000 tons of salt and sand mix during the past few months, and half of that is sand that remains on the streets.   He said removing the sand will make the streets safer for pedestrians, motorcycles and bicycles, and it also keeps sand from getting into the storm drainage system. Nelson said the city will be running six street sweeper vehicles during the overnight hours, and some crews [...]

The City of Wichita said Thursday that it is repairing two leaks near the water treatment plant. The city said there are two leaks in a 42″ water main pipe between the Hess pump station at 1601 Museum Blvd and the current water treatment facility. Public Works and Utilities officials said they have been working around the clock to monitor the leak and water pressure since becoming aware of the issue on March 23rd. The city assured residents that the issue was no cause for alarm, and that they should not experience any service impacts from the leaks at this time. [...]