News

Governor Kelly calls on Trump Administration to reinstate federal funds to support teachers, child care providers

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Funding for education has been a hot topic especially recently, with many programs being threatened.

Last Tuesday, Gov. Laura Kelly announced she sent a letter to United States Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, requesting reinstatement of $22.6 million in federal pandemic relief funds. The United States Department of Education announced in late March the federal government was recouping nearly $3 billion in pandemic relief funds from states. Many states, including Kansas, had already obligated these funds for programs and services benefiting students and educators, according to a release from the State of Kansas.

KDHE warns of potential measles exposures at Garden City Clarion Inn

Special to the Leader & Times

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and local health departments are working together in response to a measles outbreak in southwest Kansas. As of April 16, a total of 37 cases have been reported. KDHE is informing the public of potential measles exposure at the following location:

Location: Clarion Inn

Address: 1911 E Kansas Ave, Garden City, KS, 67846

Special lactation bench designed to serve women

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Many new mothers need a place to breastfeed their newborns and recently, a spot for just that was put up in the park next to Libera’s Crosspoint Church.

The project, which consisted of putting in a new lactation bench, was completed last month, and Seward County Local Health Action Team (LHEAT) Leader Susana Hernandez said there were multiple inspirations for the project.

Judge denies new judge for suspect in murdered moms case

Special to the Leader & Times

WICHITA — One of the suspects charged in the deaths of Jilian Kelley and Veronica Butler of Hugoton has lost his bid to get a new judge assigned to the case.

Tad Cullum’s attorney filed a motion for Judge Jon Parsley to recuse himself because Parsley represented fellow defendant Tifany Adams in an unrelated case. The attorney claims that raises questions about the judge’s ability to be impartial.

LHS graduate becomes bestselling author

ROBERT PIERCE

• Leader & Times

At the age of 5, Lindsey Loucks moved with her family to Liberal, and it was also about that time she first developed a passion for writing.

It was not until she graduated from Liberal High School and obtained a master’s degree in library science, though, that she got serious about writing.

Now a USA Today bestselling author, Loucks said she was unsure of what specifically drove her to write, but she did recall a summer when she began writing and could not stop.