News

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

More and more young people are finding themselves being drawn toward creative endeavors, and recently, one local young artist received a repeat recognition.

Recently, Liberal High School junior Kylee Amparan received her second consecutive honor from the Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition, which she said was exciting and surprising at the same time.

Special to the Leader & Times

The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) has approved a modified route for one of two 345 kV transmission lines, known as the AC Collector System, designed to connect wind and solar farms to the Grain Belt Express. The Meade-Dodge City Line was originally planned to run 46 miles through parts of Ford, Meade, and Gray counties. The new route reduces the length of the line by 12 miles and avoids 24 parcels of land resulting in fewer landowners being impacted. The 16-mile Bucklin-Dodge City Line remains unchanged.

Immunize Kansas Coalition

TOPEKA – During veto session, the Kansas Legislature passed HB 2045 (formerly HB 2294), which includes a provision significantly broadening the religious exemption for vaccinations in child care settings.

The bill redefines religious beliefs using language from a 2021 law originally intended for adult COVID-19 vaccine exemptions. This new definition includes “theistic and non-theistic moral and ethical beliefs... sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious views,” effectively creating a philosophical beliefs exemption for child care vaccine requirements.

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

The Seward County Community College Saints basketball team will have a new face at its helm this coming season.

It was announced late last month Austin Downing will be leading the program, and as he tells it, athletics has been in his blood for a long time.