Ottawa hosts two notable visitors improvements spark optimism
Ottawa welcomed two valued guests this week. Former FBI director William Sessions spoke at Ottawa University under the DeFries Family Endowed Cultural Fund, the second lecture in the series to broaden cultural life. Applebee’s announced plans to open a south Ottawa restaurant on 23rd Street near the Holiday Inn Express, signaling potential growth and more dining options in the area.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ottawa
FBI
William Sessions
Ottawa University
DeFries
Applebee
Sessions
Buck O'Neal
Stanley
Mary Jo DeFries
Ottawans
Franklin Coun
Applebee's
Granger Addition
Holiday Inn Express
23Rd Street
Applebee’s
Scott Lambers
Granger
Jeanny Sharp
Ottawa patrons urge smoke-free ordinance support rejected
About 2,000 local eatery patrons backed a smoke-free rule while the five member council refused further discussion. The letter urges restaurant owners to create smoke-free environments for health and quality of life, noting existing smoke-free venues in Ottawa and calling for broader adoption.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ottawa
Public schools and Good Friday religion debate letter
Bonnie Hall of Ottawa argues that public schools should remain secular under the Constitution, noting separation of church and state. She says Good Friday should not be taught as religion in schools, supports parental rights to withhold children, and contrasts Good Friday with President's Day while urging religion stay at home.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Roseann Flores-Lange
The
USA
Bonnie Hall
Ottawa
School finance fight exposes Kansas taxation tax reform tensions
The piece analyzes how Kansas school funding from the 1993 33 mill levy and subsequent LOB shifts created winners and losers across districts. It highlights Johnson and Coffey counties bearing higher levies, western Kansas gas counties losing under caps, and the role of vouchers and political pressure from Johnson County in shaping tax relief and funding disputes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bill Graves
Graves
Kansas
George W. Bush
Texas
Ottawa
Newton
Rickel
Johnson County
Coffey County
Western
Hugoton
Johnson and Coffey
Western Kansas Gas
God’s Country
Senate bill 204: Kansas water policy compromise
Kansas lawmakers back Substitute SB 204 to reform water policy focusing on priority watersheds and classifying streams by actual flow. The bill strengthens KDHE authority, reinspects stream classifications, and aims to balance environmental protection with agricultural interests amid EPA critiques and farmer concerns.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Senate
Kansas
Arkansas River
EPA
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
KDHE
Topeka
Dodge City
KCHE
Arkansas
Also Mentioned on This Page
Ottawa Herald
Harris Group
Deanny Sharp
Ottawaherald
Cedar
Fox
Franklin County
S. Cadar
Walter Rubal
Jubal
Otawaherald
Bill Gray
Bgray
Kathy Miller
Kimillar
Ottawaherald.com
Ken Kistner
Kkisinar
Tim Miliber
Syston
Joan
Cleon
TKS
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