Salina officials have indicated that a prolonged dispute involving the Cozy Inn restaurant’s mural may be nearing an end. At Monday’s City Commission meeting, Mayor Mike Hoppock read a statement signaling that the city would accept a federal appeals court decision issued last month. The court found that the restaurant did not need a permit for the mural, which depicts UFOs resembling hamburgers.
Hoppock said Salina intends to revise its rules governing murals and other signs, along with examining other provisions of the city code. The statement offered a possible conclusion to the dispute over the restaurant’s artwork.
In northeast Wichita, some residents see a potential new use for L’Ouverture Elementary School through a proposed property exchange between the city and the school district. The school is scheduled to shut down in May, and district officials have discussed demolition. Those plans are on hold while Wichita considers taking over the building in exchange for Claude Lambe Park, near 13th and Oliver.
Former council member Lavonta Williams described the proposal as a reprieve for the historically Black school and its surrounding neighborhood. She called for an opportunity to develop a community-serving use for the property after a memorandum of understanding. The City Council approved that memorandum Tuesday, but it does not obligate either party to complete the exchange.
A federal rule that took effect last week requires grocery stores and gas stations accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to stock a broader selection of food, including more perishable items. Katie Sorrell of the Iowa Food Bank Association said her organization supports healthier choices, but joins other groups in seeking a six-month delay. She said smaller retailers need time to arrange storage, displays and space, warning that difficulties complying could reduce the number of participating stores and limit food access for low-income households.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced $1.4 million in federal funding for domestic and dating violence prevention and services for domestic violence victims and their dependents. The money comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Family Violence Protection and Services Act. In Sedgwick County, Catholic Charities Harbor House will receive more than $100,000, while about $50,000 will go to the Wichita Family Crisis Center.
In Linn County, a 52-year-old woman died Monday after her Kia Rio braked sharply to avoid a deer, crossed the center line and collided with an oncoming GMC pickup. The Kansas Highway Patrol said the crash occurred around 3:45 p.m., about three miles east of Kansas Highway 57. The woman died at the scene. The pickup’s driver, a 55-year-old man, was uninjured.
Meanwhile, the Downtown Wichita Clean Team is extending its litter removal, graffiti cleanup and routine maintenance work to the Arkansas River bank, from near Seneca and McLean toward Kellogg. Funding from Fidelity Bank and Hutton is expected to support the effort for one year. Downtown Wichita officials will then assess its effectiveness and decide on future plans.
