News

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Reforms in regard to the allocation of federal benefits to foster youth have been needed for a long time, and recently, the State of Kansas took some action to help with just that.

Friday, Gov. Laura Kelly signed Executive Order 25-01, a first of its kind executive order to reform the allocation of federal benefits to foster youth. 

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

There has been a lot of recent work going on regarding the construction of a second overpass in the community, and recently, that project took another step forward.

Last week, the City of Liberal announced it was awarded the Federal Railroad Administration's Railroad Crossing Elimination grant to fund project development and preliminary engineering of a grade-separated rail overpass in Liberal.

As Chief Communications Officer Keeley Moree tells it, the award is the culmination of a lot of work.

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

The 2025 session of the Kansas Legislature gets under way this week, and two local lawmakers were in Liberal last week to give a preview of what could be coming up in Topeka this year.

Kansas 38th District Senator Ron Ryckman and 125th House District Representative Shannon Francis were at Memorial Library last week with a legislative update sponsored by Seward County Farm Bureau.

Both legislators reviewed their committee assignments, with Ryckman serving on the Senate Ag, Local Government, Judiciary and Commerce Committees and the Veterans Caucus. He also talked about another committee, one he does not serve on, called Government Efficiency.

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Those looking to support local young musicians will soon have just that opportunity.

The annual 'That' Liberal Band Fish Fry will be Friday, Feb. 7 at the Seward County Activity Center, with dinner being served from 5 to 7:30 p.m., and takeout and dine-in options will be available for people. The menu will include fried fish, fried chicken, hush puppies, veggies and a wide variety of other sides, and there will be multiple desserts for sale. Tickets are $10 apiece and can be purchased from any band student, or at the door that evening.