Construction projects slow traffic across city

Lawrence drivers trying to get across town found it rough going Monday with three major east-west roads clogged with construction.

In addition to the ongoing construction on Sixth Street, a westbound lane of 23rd Street near Louisiana was temporarily blocked at noon. And 15th Street between Crestline and Lawrence avenues was restricted to one lane in each direction as workers began a new overlay project there.

Public Works Director Chuck Soules said overlay work on Sixth Street should be complete by the end of the week, weather permitting. Lanes on 23rd Street, he said, should only be blocked intermittently this week as a staging area for equipment needed on a Louisiana Street project.

“The reason why all these projects all happen at the same time — the weather is cooperative this time of year,” Soules said, adding that the absence of more than 25,000 Kansas University students is another reason for doing all the projects at once.

The 15th Street project is expected to be complete by Oct. 1.

Health

West Nile virus makes its return to Kansas

The West Nile virus is back in Kansas.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday confirmed that the first presence of the disease this season was found in a bird in Wichita.

The virus is commonly carried by birds. Mosquitoes that bite the infected birds then carry it to horses and people. In 2003, the state confirmed 90 cases of the virus in humans that resulted in seven deaths.

Kansans are urged to prepare themselves for the virus but they shouldn’t be afraid of it, said Gail Hansen, acting state epidemiologist.

To reduce the risk of contracting the virus, KDHE recommends personal precautions such as using insect repellent with DEET in it and taking steps to reduce mosquito breeding grounds that might be on your property by removing standing water.

State government

Despite union opposition, Sebelius signs pay order

Topeka — Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Monday signed an executive order that would allow state agency chiefs to give extra pay raises to some employees.

Administration officials have said the authority would be used sparingly and to entice employees with special skills to remain on the state payroll instead of jumping to more lucrative jobs in the private sector.

The Kansas Association of Public Employees has opposed the move, saying it would reintroduce favoritism that the civil service system was set up to protect against.

Several Republican legislators also have voiced concern, saying the proposal signed by the Democratic governor first should have been studied by the Legislature, which could have conducted public hearings. They also complained that most state agencies had said they could not afford more cuts but have since found internal savings for the pay raises.