News

Garden City Police Department

GARDEN CITY – One person is dead, and two others remain hospitalized after a shooting early Wednesday. Michael Lara, 19, Ivan Lara, 16, and Isaac Lara, 15, were arrested in connection to the investigation.

Around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, officers of the Garden City Police Department responded to a shooting at the Continental Apartments (1408 W. Buffalo Jones Ave.).

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Earlier this summer, Gov. Laura Kelly joined a group of fellow governors and other lawmakers to warn about potential effects to SNAP funding under the Trump Administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill.” 

Thursday, Gov. Kelly joined a group of 17 governors in sending a letter to United States Secretary of Education Linda McMahon demanding the immediate release of approximately $6.8 billion in federal education funding.

Although the funds were already appropriated by Congress, the U.S. Department of Education announced it would delay distribution,” a release from the State of Kansas noted. “This abrupt decision jeopardizes nearly $43 million for K-12 education in Kansas.”

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Much work has gone on in recent times to help revitalize Liberal’s downtown area and soon, there will be another project to help with just that.

At its July 8 meeting, the Liberal City Commission approved Ordinance No. 4636 concerning the formation of a Common Consumption Area in town. As Chief Communications Officer Keeley Moree tells it, however, the project has been in the works for quite some time.

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

Dan Hawkins spent a good share of his early childhood on his grandfather’s dairy farm in Harper County, and he would later serve in the Kansas Army National Guard.

Through his military experience, Hawkins learned many of the leadership lessons that now help him in the Kansas Legislature, where he now serves as the speaker of the House of Representatives.