News

Extra ARPA money coming to EMS projects

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the finale in a series of three stories regarding a special meeting hosted by the Seward County Commission to finalize a plan for money the county received from the American Rescue Plan Act. This story talks about plans for $40,000 the county had left over after approving projects for usage of the rest of the money.

With nearly $1.6 million approved for projects, including $425,000 approved earlier in the meeting, and $48,700 approved for employee bonuses, the Seward County Commission next turned its attention to how to spend the just more than $40,000 remaining from the $4.16 million the county received from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Governor Kelly announces $17M to transform maternal health

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Maternal health is an important part of healthcare and recently, the State of Kansas took some action to help with just that.

Wednesday, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Kansas has been selected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as one of 15 states to participate in its Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model program, which includes a $17 million grant award over the next 10 years. The goal of the TMaH Model is to improve maternal and child health care for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) members, according to a release from the State of Kansas.

Commission approves bond sale resolution

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

In October 2024, the Seward County Commission adopted a resolution authorizing the issuance of general obligation (GO) bonds in the amount of $6.1 million to pay the cost or port of the cost of road improvements.

The resolution was published, and the protest period began. That protest period ended Dec. 23, 2024, with no protests, and Monday, commissioners unanimously passed another resolution authorizing for the sale of GO Bonds Series 2025 of Seward County.

LUETTERS TO STEP DOWN AS REDSKIN HEAD COACH

EARL WATT

• Leader & Times

After three years as the head coach of the Liberal Redskin football program, Bryan Luetters announced he would be stepping down from his teaching and coaching positions with Liberal High School.

The announcement came after a successful three-year run that included two post-season playoff victories and back-to-back winning seasons and an overall record of 18-11.