News

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Those looking for a photographer who can take formal studio photos now have just that with the new King Luxe Photography studio at 112 W. 2nd Street.

As owner Julie King tells it, photography has been a long-time hobby of hers.

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

While much of Monday’s Seward County Commission meeting was focused on the ongoing battle over the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, the Seward County Health Department was featured in a few agenda items of its own.

The first item concerned allocations for the local Women Infants and Children (WIC) program provided through the health department.

“The WIC budget year starts Oct. 1 and runs until Sept. 30,” SCHD Administrator Brie Greeson said. “The state is doing something a little different this year. There have been lots of changes in WIC. They typically give us a tentative allocation when they actually get the money from the federal dollars. They give us that, and then we bring the contract. We’re doing it a little bit different than how we previously did it.”

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

As opinions continue to swirl regarding the Sept. 15 public hearing that saw a narrow 3-2 vote to pass a budget that contained a 13-plus increase in the mill levy, one Seward County commissioner sought to relook at the budget to see if further cuts could be made at Monday’s meeting.

“I just want to open up for discussion based on the public reaction in the last two weeks, is there room to amend the 2026 budget, which we are still able to do at this time?” Commissioner Todd Stanton said. “There’s additional information we’re all aware of at this point. Is it something we’re willing to discuss?”

Stanton said reaction to the budget from the public has been extraordinarily negative, and he believes county leaders now know about more options available to them.

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Budgeting seems to be a hot topic everywhere lately and soon, people in the region will be able to share their thoughts about the state’s budget.

Monday, Gov. Laura Kelly announced the launch of her statewide listening tour, The People’s Budget. Throughout the fall, Gov. Kelly will travel to eight communities across Kansas to host town hall events where she will speak directly with Kansans, gathering their priorities for the state’s budget ahead of the 2026 legislative session.

“I’m launching The People’s Budget tour, because Kansans should know and have a say in where their hard-earned taxpayer dollars are going,” Gov. Kelly noted in a release from the State of Kansas. “My administration has been laser-focused on building a strong fiscal foundation for our state. In the months ahead, it’s critical that we continue down the path of responsible budgeting to ensure Kansas does not return to the days of reckless fiscal mismanagement.”