News

Barkley unsure of 2025 fire activity in county

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

Seward County saw an average year for fires in 2024, according to Fire Chief Andrew Barkley.

“There wasn’t anything significant like we saw in other parts of the state with larger and bigger fires across Kansas,” he said.

Southwest Kansas is typically known as a relatively dry area in terms of precipitation, with drought often being the condition of the region. At this time, Barkley said, though, the area is likewise mostly average on moisture.

KDHE earns reaccreditation from Public Health Accreditation Board

Special to the Leader & Times

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announces its reaccreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) for the next five years, extending through 2029. This achievement reaffirms KDHE’s dedication to meeting the highest national standards for quality and performance in public health services.

“We are honored to once again be recognized by PHAB for meeting national standards that promote effectiveness and drive continuous quality improvement,” KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek said. “Our reaccreditation reflects KDHE’s unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of Kansans and our dedication to transparency and trust in the communities we serve.”

Gov. Kelly signs first in the nation executive order to ensure federal benefits belong to youth in foster care

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Reforms in regard to the allocation of federal benefits to foster youth have been needed for a long time, and recently, the State of Kansas took some action to help with just that.

Friday, Gov. Laura Kelly signed Executive Order 25-01, a first of its kind executive order to reform the allocation of federal benefits to foster youth.

City of Liberal awarded Federal Railroad Administration Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

There has been a lot of recent work going on regarding the construction of a second overpass in the community, and recently, that project took another step forward.

Last week, the City of Liberal announced it was awarded the Federal Railroad Administration's Railroad Crossing Elimination grant to fund project development and preliminary engineering of a grade-separated rail overpass in Liberal.

As Chief Communications Officer Keeley Moree tells it, the award is the culmination of a lot of work.

Local lawmakers head to Topeka, seek tax relief

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

The 2025 session of the Kansas Legislature gets under way this week, and two local lawmakers were in Liberal last week to give a preview of what could be coming up in Topeka this year.

Kansas 38th District Senator Ron Ryckman and 125th House District Representative Shannon Francis were at Memorial Library last week with a legislative update sponsored by Seward County Farm Bureau.

Both legislators reviewed their committee assignments, with Ryckman serving on the Senate Ag, Local Government, Judiciary and Commerce Committees and the Veterans Caucus. He also talked about another committee, one he does not serve on, called Government Efficiency.