News

Governor Kelly unveils FY 2027 budget

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Many government entities are getting their fiscal year budgets together, including the State of Kansas.

Wednesday, Gov. Laura Kelly announced her annual budget, which provides a path to structural balance and continues to fully fund Kansas public schools. The budget also includes investments in Kansas’ water needs, early childhood, health care, public safety, and more. Gov. Kelly was committed to reflecting Kansans’ priorities she had heard during ‘The People’s Budget’ statewide tour last fall, according to a release from the State of Kansas.

“This past fall, I spoke directly with Kansans, who were clear about the priorities they wanted reflected in my budget: fully funded public schools, investments in health care, and action to address our water challenges,” Gov. Kelly noted. “My budget delivers on Kansans wishes while remaining balanced and ensuring that we protect Kansas’ fiscal foundation. This budget aligns with Kansans’ needs and is an investment in what a budget should focus on: the people of Kansas.”

Markers on Oklahoma highway to honor slain Kansas moms

KSN-TV

WICHITA — A stretch of Oklahoma Highway 95 where two Southwest Kansas mothers were killed is being reclaimed to honor their memory.

Permanent markers are being installed to memorialize Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley.

The decision was made in 2025 as part of Oklahoma House Bill 1486, which renames roads and bridges. Now, with lawmakers’ approval, the next step is paying for the signs to go up.

The two Kansas moms were reported missing on March 30, 2024, after driving to Oklahoma from Hugoton to pick up Butler’s children from Tifany Adams, the children’s paternal grandmother. Their vehicle was found abandoned on OK-95 just south of Elkhart, Kansas.

School board re-elects Carr and Thompson, hears audit update

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Monday marked the first meeting of the year for the USD 480 school board, and the evening saw the board re-elect Brad Carr and Sarah Thompson as Board President and Vice President, respectively.

Monday evening also saw the USD 480 school board spend much of the meeting hearing about the fiscal year’s audit. Craig Hay from Hay, Rice & Associates led the discussion.

Dodge leaves B&I, steps into registrar role

Seward County Community College

Seward County Community College welcomed a familiar face in a new office as the spring 2026 semester opened.

Business & Industry Director Norma Jean Dodge moved into the office of SCCC registrar.

The process felt familiar to Dodge: 15 years ago, with her four children old enough to attend school, she swapped the role of stay-at-home-mom for the lead position at B&I.

Now, with her youngest poised to graduate from Liberal High School, Dodge is taking on a similar challenge.

Grand Avenue Market begins savings program

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

With grocery bills seemingly growing out of control with each visit to the store, customers are looking for ways to cut costs.

Many chain stores offer ways to cut costs and reward frequent customers for shopping at their store at the same time. In Plains, the locally-owned Grand Avenue Market (GAM) has its own rewards program, and Manager Cara Cain said in addition to regular savings, customers can save even more with a new promotion the store offers.

“It is our rewards program, and we are doing it every 13 weeks,” she said. “You get a stamp for every $10 you spend, and once you get 20 stamps or $200, you get entered into our weekly drawings, which I do every Wednesday. Our drawings are for a $50 gift card, three free pizzas and three drinks. There’s seven winners every week, and it’s been really great.”