Ammonia Leak Forces Evacuation at Wichita Plant
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — An ammonia leak at a southwest Wichita Farmland plant has left three people hurt, including one seriously injured by the fumes. KAKE-TV reports the incident happened around 3 p.m. yesterday (SAT,) forcing all 101 employees working at the plant to evacuate. Two people who sustained inhalation injuries refused treatment while a third was transported to a hospital in serious condition. Hazmat crews from Wichita and Sedgwick County that responded to the scene believe the leak has been shut down and windy weather conditions were helping to dissipate the gas.
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Analyst Says Kansas Officials Misstated Research
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A policy analyst whose research was cited by the Kansas officials to explain unexpected drops in tax revenue in April and May says they misstated her conclusions by failing to provide them in the proper context. Kansas tax revenues fell $217 million short of projections in May, pushing the gap between tax revenues and what was estimated for the fiscal year at $310 million with only one month left. Analyst Lucy Dadayan says the state Department of Revenue correctly cited her contention that state officials across the country were having trouble accurately forecasting revenues because of uncertainties with the capital gains tax. But she said that the large income tax cut in Kansas caused most of the state's shortfall.
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Arkansas City facing Housing Crunch
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A southern Kansas community is trying to figure out how to house hundreds of new employees a local company plans to start hiring in the next six months. Arkansas City is in a predicament because housing in the area is scarce and Creekstone Farms is planning to add 300 more workers to its staff of 800. Nick Hernandez, city manager of Arkansas City, said there are very few houses on the market for new families moving in. He said a survey conducted by the local economic development group suggested something needs to be done quickly. Real estate agent Sue Turney said she is working with developers who are hoping to buy and build in time for the influx of new Creekstone workers.