Free fishing days this weekend

June 4 and 5 are Free Fishing Days in Kansas, when anyone can fish on any public waters without a fishing license. The free weekend provides the perfect opportunity to introduce someone to the joys of angling; kind of a “try it before you buy it” opportunity. In Kansas, anyone age 16-74 must have a … Read more

State set to modernize the unemployment insurance system

The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) formally kicked off a $48 million, 26-month-long effort to modernize the state’s unemployment insurance (UI) system. Kansas’ current mainframe system used to process UI benefits was created in the 1970s. The last major push to modernize began under Governor Sebelius in 2005 but was subsequently abandoned in 2011 by … Read more

Governor secures money for rail infrastructure

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that nearly $50 million in federal, state, and private investments is going to two rail projects – the Southwest Kansas Infrastructure Upgrade Project and the KYLE Railroad Gateway Project – in northcentral and southwest Kansas. $20 million of that amount comes through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grant … Read more

Governor announces tax collections

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that total tax collections for May were $910.1 million – $239.5 million, or 35.7%, higher than the estimate for the month. Individual income tax collections were $518.4 million. That is $198.4 million, or 62.0%, above the estimate. Corporate income tax collections were $51.4 million –$33.4 million, or 185.6%, more than … Read more

New numbers for dispatch coming

Effective August 1st, 2022, the Arkansas City Police Department phone number (620)441-4444 and the Winfield Police Department phone number (620)221-5555 will no longer connect to Cowley County Emergency Communications (dispatch). The police departments and the sheriff’s office have provided the following numbers to be used for administrative and records related calls. • Arkansas City Police … Read more

Ark City reminds about traffic control

From the City of Ark City: Just a reminder that the street resurfacing project on North Summit between Kansas and Radio Lane started yesterday.Traffic control is being setup to close the outside lanes in both directions for this portion of the project.

SC Basketball Camp a Success

The Southwestern College men’s basketball team along with the Winfield Recreation Commission recently hosted a basketball camp for first grade to ninth grade boys and girls. Matt O’Brien, head men’s basketball coach at Southwestern College, along with his staff and players Andrew O’Brien and Abe Rodriguez led the camp. According to O’Brien, 45 campers participated … Read more

Free COVID tests available

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced today that it is partnered with The Rockefeller Foundation’s public charity, RF Catalytic Capital, and Project Access to Covid Tests (Project ACT) to offer free at-home COVID-19 tests directly to Kansans in vulnerable communities. Kansas can now visit AccessCovidTests.org to check if their zip code is … Read more

Federal disaster declaration granted

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that her request for a federal disaster declaration for the winter storms that occurred in late March has been granted. Governor Kelly made the request on May 3. Its approval will open federal funding streams for rural electric cooperatives to repair or replace infrastructure damaged by the disaster. The declaration … Read more

Click it or Ticket campaign underway

A reminder that a Click it or Ticket campaign is underway. The state department of transportation says The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Region 7, which includes Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, is reminding drivers about the lifesaving benefits of wearing a seat belt this spring, during the national … Read more