County commissioners to meet planning staff
The Douglas County Commission will hold a work session today to discuss land rezoning issues with planning staff.
At past meetings, the commissioners said they want to establish guidelines before the rezoning applications reach the county level. Commissioners expect to receive more requests from home business owners who want to continue running their business at home instead of moving to a properly zoned location. One excavating contractor already has applied for rezoning and his request was tabled until March 28 so the commissioners could establish their criteria.
The meeting starts at 3 p.m. at city hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.
Kansas murder suspect arrested in New York
Plattsburgh, N.Y. A Kansas man wanted for murder was arrested after police said they saw his car circling in a church parking lot in Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Julio Cesar Paniagua, 37, of Topeka, is charged with first-degree murder. He allegedly shot a Topeka acquaintance, Nazario Hernandez-Portuges, 31, in a parking lot March 1.
"Apparently, Nazario's car and Julio's car pulled up into the parking lot, they both got out of their cars and got into a verbal dispute," Topeka City Police Lt. John Sidwell told the Plattsburgh Press-Republican. "The dispute ended when Julio pulled out a weapon and shot Nazario."
At 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, Plattsburgh detectives said they saw a red Ford Escort with Kansas license plates circling in the church parking lot, checked the plate number, and later arrested Paniagua after he left a convenience store.
Plattsburgh is 141 miles north of Albany, near the Canadian border.
Paniagua appeared before Judge Kevin Ryan in Clinton County Court Wednesday for an extradition hearing. He is due back in court Monday.
Reno County plant to transfer operations
Yoder A south-central Kansas manufacturing plant is closing and moving its operations to Illinois.
Officials at IFH Deluxe Tank Manufacturing Co., which employs 65 people, said it will close in three phases. The final phase should be completed on or before June 30.
The company will move plant operations to its headquarters in Rock Fall, Illinois.
IFH president Jim King Jr. said he would work with Yoder employees regarding 35 positions he has available at the Illinois plant.
IFH builds fuel tanks for agriculture and construction equipment industries. King said Tuesday that a slowdown in the economy forced him to close the plant and consolidate operations in Illinois.
Advocate for homeless to speak at public library
Michael Stoops of the National Coalition for Homeless Concerns will speak Friday afternoon on homeless concerns.
Stoops will speak from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the auditorium in the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt. The free event is sponsored by the Lawrence Coalition for Homeless Concerns.
High school to celebrate academic excellence
Jefferson County North High School will laud its students' academic success with a celebration today.
The event will be from 1:15 p.m. to 2:55 p.m. today at the Jefferson County North EMS, Nortonville.
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