News

Gov. Kelly announces launch of statewide listening tour, ‘The People’s Budget’

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.”

Richardson works on building culture in school district

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Administrative reports took up most of the USD 480 school board’s time at its most recent meeting Monday evening.

After hearing updates from Director of Operations Chad Mease and Technology Director Rusty Tuman, Superintendent Dane Richardson shared some updates of his own with the board.

Froese, Rawlins serve women in need at Grace Place

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

With the recent grand opening of its Limited Medical Clinic, Liberal’s Grace Place Pregnancy Care Center is seeing growth in its size, enabling the center to help a growing number of clients, and along with that increase, the facility is seeing higher figures in workers providing health.

Project Manager Maria Froese was hired in October 2024, and Clinic Manager Gwen Rawlins was hired in March, as progress was being made to the Limited Medical Clinic open.

Originally from Sublette, Froese went to school in Garden City, and she said she feels working at a pregnancy center like Grace Place was always something in the works for her.

Liberal joins effort to help adopt pets with discounted pricing

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

There are many stray animals in need of a home and soon, the Liberal Animal Shelter will be joining a big effort to help with just that.

The Liberal Animal Shelter will be teaming up with Best Friends Animal Society, a national animal welfare organization working to save the lives of dogs and cats in U.S. animal shelters, to participate in a nationwide adoption event Saturday, Oct. 18 to celebrate the Kansas Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Proclamation issued by Gov. Laura Kelly to highlight the vital role pet adoption plays in building no-kill communities. The shelter will be joining many other shelters across the state by reducing adoption fees to $10 for altered dogs to get more pets out of shelters and into adoptive homes.

Local Consult meetings to focus on southwest transportation priorities in Kansas

Kansas Department of Transportation

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is seeking input from the public on regional transportation priorities at Local Consult meetings across the state in October.

“This is an opportunity for our residents to voice their specific transportation needs and priorities directly to the decision makers at KDOT. Your input is needed to help KDOT shape the future of our transportation system and make improvements that benefit our communities,” said Joe Finley, District 6 Engineer. “I strongly encourage everyone to participate and help us to design and build an improved and efficient transportation system that will serve our future needs in southwest Kansas.”