TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission approved Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s request to participate in three dockets investigating unusually high natural gas prices during the February winter weather event and how gas utilities plan to recoup the charges. The three dockets involve co…

Talk grew heated at a recent meeting of the Geary County Conventions and Visitors Bureau advisory board.

The Montgomery Building on Sixth Street had been cleared for the Geary County Conventions and Visitors Bureau to move back into.

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced that her Commission on Racial Equity and Justice has released its second report, which makes recommendations on ways that Kansas can improve racial equity around the Social Determinants of Health, focusing on economic systems, education access, and hea…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing up to $200 million to provide relief to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that have experienced losses due to COVID-19 as part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Loggers and truckers can apply for assis…

The 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley will host the next Big Red One Year of Honor event Wednesday, July 21. The day’s theme is “Virtue.” Honoring two Medal of Honor recipients, the day’s events provide an opportunity to increase the ability of the division’s personnel to serve, lead and …

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announces the launch of a new employment program for individuals with disabilities. Supports and Training for Employing People Successfully (STEPS) provides employment and independent living supports, enabling them to increase t…

Mayor Jeff Underhill and Junction City Manager Allen Dinkel approached the Geary County Commission about possibly transferring control of the Geary County Conventions and Visitors Bureau to the city and allowing the city to put its own transient guest tax in place.

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced that 26 Kansas nonprofit organizations will receive more than $4 million in Community Service Tax Credits (CSP) to improve and enhance fundraising efforts for education, healthcare, childcare, and housing projects.

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has issued several public health advisories for Kansas lakes due to blue-green algae.

Due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in Dickinson County, Kansas, the National Archives and Records Administration is closing the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene effective Monday, July 19, 2021.

TOPEKA—The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission reports that 13 people applied to fill two district judge vacancies within the district.

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly created the Governor’s Cybersecurity Task Force to protect Kansas’ digital infrastructure from increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks.

TOPEKA – On May 13, 2021, the Kansas Legislature passed a law that requires individuals currently receiving unemployment benefits through the Kansas Department of Labor to complete the two-step program requirement called “My Reemployment Plan” (MRP).

TOPEKA – Today, the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) issued the first of several utility-specific orders addressing customer payment of deferred energy costs related to the February 2021 winter weather event. On February 15, the KCC ordered regulated utilities to do everything possible to…

TOPEKA – On May 13, 2021, the Kansas Legislature passed House Bill 2196, which includes an enhanced My Reemployment Plan (MRP) program designed to help unemployed Kansans reenter the workforce.

TOPEKA – Kansas marks the end of Fiscal Year 2021 with $8.9 billion in total tax collections for the year. That is a $758.1 million, or 9.3%, growth over the estimate. For June, total tax collections were $854.4 million; $157.4 million, or 22.6%, more than the estimate. That is $110.0 millio…

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced the return of the Poet Laureate program to the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC).

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today directed the Kansas Department for Children and Families to continue emergency food assistance (SNAP) benefits to current program households. The emergency allotment increases a household’s monthly benefit to the maximum allowed for the size of family.

According to Geary County Health Department Director Tammy Von Busch, the age 65 and older demographic is one of the most vaccinated against COVID-19 in the county at a rate of more than 78 percent.

The following statement is from Governor Laura Kelly regarding former Attorney General Vern Miller’s passing:

Rick Dykstra of Junction City spoke during public comment during the June 21 meeting of the Geary County Commission.

The City of Junction City has awarded a bid of $2,297,640 to Smoky Hill LLC for a roundabout associated with the construction of the new Junction City High School.

Geary County Commissioners continue to discuss the position of country counselor, which will be vacant come September when current County Counselor Steve Opat retires.

Geary County Commission Chair Trish Giordano said Monday that Geary County Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Michele Stimatze had requested to transfer to the county’s public works department.

According to Sheriff Dan Jackson, Geary County may soon find itself taking on federal prisoners that had been housed in private prisons after President Joe Biden’s administration ended private prisons with an executive order.

TOPEKA – Kansans with a driver’s license or identification card that expired between March 12, 2020, and March 30, 2021, have until June 30 to renew those credentials. This is due to the COVID-19 extension for these credentials expiring with the passage of Senate Bill 127.

TOPEKA—The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission will convene by telephone conference at 12:30 p.m. Friday, June 11, to discuss the nomination process to fill two district judge vacancies.

TOPEKA – As part of her efforts to build a better, more resilient economy in Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly today announced the bipartisan members of the executive committee of the second Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce.

County Counselor Steve Opat will retire in September and the Geary County Commission has begun discussing what to do with Opat’s position once he vacates it. The county counselor provides legal advice to the county commission.

Three candidates have filed for election to the Junction City Commission as of the June 1 deadline to file for office.

The Junction City Commission narrowly voted to leave its offer of $1 for the current Junction City High School site on the table.

Ron Young of Geary County attended the Geary County Commission meeting May 31 and addressed commissioners during the public comment segment.

Geary County Recycling Center will resume normal operational hours starting June 7, 2021. Hours of operation will be Monday – Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.