Month: October 2015

Tower lights to be replaced Monday on I-70

A tower light replacement project will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 19 on eastbound and westbound I-70 from the I-670 interchange to the Kansas-Missouri state line.

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, there will be weekday intermittent lane closures. All adjacent interchange ramps will remain open.

The project completion date is April 2016, weather permitting.

The contractor, Capital Electric, Minneapolis, Minn., on this $1.32 million lighting project, will replace the light tower light poles located along this section of I-70. The existing tower lights are being replaced because of their aged condition, according to KDOT. Project work hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday-Friday, and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturdays.

Traffic will be directed through the project work zone via cones and signage. Drivers should expect some delays when lanes are closed and should allow extra time for their commutes. There may be a reduced posted speed limit through the project work zone, dependent on where work is taking place along I-70.

Updated daily traffic information for this tower light replacement project and for the entire Kansas City Metro Area can be viewed online at www.ksdot.org/kcmetro/laneclose.asp.

Piper results

Piper High School – soccer vs. Lansing
– Piper varsity won 4-2
– Piper JV won
Piper High School – volleyball
– Piper varsity spilt; defeated Jeff West 2-1 and lost to DeSoto 1-2
– Piper JV split; defeated Jeff West 2-0 and lost to DeSoto 0-2


– From Doug Key, Piper High School activities director

Unemployment rate drops to 5.5 percent in Wyandotte County

The unemployment rate for Wyandotte County dropped to 5.5 percent in September, down from 6.7 percent in August, according to figures released today by the Kansas Department of Labor.

A similar drop was seen for Kansas City, Kan., which recorded a 5.6 percent unemployment rate in September as compared to 6.8 percent in August.

The state of Kansas also recorded a decrease in the unemployment rate, from 4.6 percent in August to 4.4 percent in September, seasonally adjusted.

The Kansas City, Kan., unemployment rate represents 3,831 persons who are listed as unemployed.

The Kansas City, Kan., unemployment rate was the highest of all the largest cities in Kansas, according to Department of Labor statistics. Junction City, Kan., reported 5.5 percent unemployment and Wichita had 4.8 percent unemployment. Junction City had 517 unemployed persons and Wichita had 8,837, according to the statistics.

Officials with the state Department of Labor said construction jobs were up statewide, increasing by 9.5 percent over the year, with average hourly wages in construction increasing by 6 percent.