Month: May 2021

Gaming revenues increase in April at Hollywood Casino

The Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway saw an increase in April gaming revenues, as state casinos in Kansas continued to rebound, according to figures released on Wednesday at the Kansas Lottery Commission meeting.

Keith Kocher, director of program assurance and integrity for the Kansas Lottery, reported gaming revenues at Hollywood Casino in Wyandotte County were about $12.7 million in April.

One year ago, in April 2020, the casino was closed in response to COVID-19 pandemic shutdown orders, and had no revenue to report. Two years ago, in April 2019, the Hollywood Casino reported revenues of $12.3 million, according to lottery figures.

Kocher said all four state casinos increased revenues for the month of April compared to April 2019. Boot Hill, in Dodge City, Kansas, reported gaming revenues of $4.3 million; Kansas Star, Mulvane, Kansas, reported $15.4 million; and Kansas Crossing Casino, Pittsburg, Kansas, reported $3.4 million.

Together, gaming revenues for all the casinos are down about 9 percent in 2021 compared to fiscal year 2019, he noted.

All the casinos are working hard to get people back in and keep people safe, he said.

Stephen Durrell, lottery executive director, said the state-owned casinos were still operating under the May 2020 reopening guidelines with the state, and there have been some adjustments in the last several weeks. They will continue to make adjustments over the next several weeks, he said. The lottery is trying to make adjustments based on factors including local county requirements.

Durrell also reported a good month for lottery ticket sales.

He said the Kansas Legislature finished its work this year without passing any bills on sports wagering and the i-lottery, although a bill made it to the House floor. Other states have passed some bills on it, and it’s possible the proposed legislation could come back in a future session.

Durrell also said the Kansas Lottery now is working on getting more employees back into the office in June. There was an announcement from the governor today that state employees would return to their offices, coming back from remote work, in mid-June, as everyone has had the opportunity to get a COVID vaccination.

Durrell said employees at the lottery will be phased in gradually. Masks will be mandated for staff and visitors to the office, he said.

Blue Devils take 29-18 record into playoffs Friday

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information

Five pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts Monday as Kansas City Kansas Community College closed out the 2021 regular season with a 10-1 win over Hesston.

The win improved the Blue Devils’ record to 29-18 heading into NJCAA Division I regional playoff action against Cloud County Friday at 3 p.m. on the Seward County campus in Liberal. Seward will play host to Hesston in the tourney opener at noon with the two losers clashing at 6 p.m.

KCKCC scored in six of the first seven innings against Hesston. Caleb Adams led a 12-hit Blue Devil attack with a double, two singles and three runs-batted-in. Four of the hits were for extra bases as Brock Stewart tripled and Raymond Paniagua and Caleb Brown each doubled. Cole Slibowski singled twice.

Alan Mercado (1-2) got the pitching win, striking out three and allowing no hits in two innings. Sebastian Velez pitched the first inning, allowing one run on two hits.

Eli Tormes and Parker Weddle each struck out four in two innings while Joseph Reyes gave up two hits and Hunter Cashero one in one inning of relief.

Adams tied the game 1-1 with a first inning single and the put the Blue Devils in front 3-1 with a two-run double following a double by Paniagua and hit batsman in the third. A single by Cole Dawson, triple by Stewart and double by Brown highlighted a 3-run seventh.

Public hearing set Thursday on redevelopment district at Rock Island Bridge

A public hearing on the Riverfront Redevelopment District, which includes the Rock Island Bridge redevelopment, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 13, at the Unified Government Commission meeting. The development agreement received preliminary approval March 29. The bridge over the Kansas River is proposed to be a tourist destination and entertainment site, with dining, hiking trails and biking trails. An architect’s drawing by Gould Evans shows the bridge. (Illustration from March 29 UG Committee agenda)

The Unified Government Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 13, for several items, including a public hearing on the Riverfront Redevelopment District.

After the public hearing on the district, the commission will decide if it will adopt the Kaw River Bridge Development Agreement, the bridge lease agreement and management agreement. Also, it will be asked to adopt an ordinance adding property to and amending the existing Riverfront Redevelopment District.

The proposed $4.975 million development on the bridge would include trails, restaurants, coffee shop and bar, food area, retail, public gathering spaces and an event venue, among other features. The developer is Michael Zeller and Flying Truss LLC.

The development and lease agreements, contained in the May 13 UG agenda, call for the historic Rock Island Bridge to be turned over to the Unified Government for $1. The bridge over the Kaw River is near the stockyards area and HyVee Arena.

A previous development agreement with Kansas City, Missouri, outlines a public and private partnership to develop walking and bicycle trail systems, and making improvements on the bridge for 25 years. The bridge, constructed in 1905, is currently owned by the city of Kansas City, Missouri.

The agreement calls for the UG to provide $2 million for the project from the UG’s Convention and Tourism Fund. Those funds come from tourist dollars spent in Wyandotte County. Community improvement districts with a sales tax are proposed. A tax increment financing (TIF) district has been created for the area. Industrial revenue bond financing is proposed.

The development agreement received preliminary approval at a UG Committee meeting March 29. At that meeting, economic development officials said the bridge is seen as a catalyst for future growth in the area. More details about the agreement are at https://wyandotteonline.com/development-agreement-for-bridge-entertainment-over-the-kaw-river-receives-preliminary-ug-approval/.

Also on the 7 p.m. agenda:
• Authorization to apply for two historic preservation grants from the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office. The focus of the requests will be a downtown historic district, a multiple listing of historic downtown churches and historic downtown buildings.
• Adopting the third amendment to the Downtown Campus Development agreement with Lanier United LLC, to extend the final date for closing to June 30, with an automatic extension to July 30.
• Termination of the 38th and Leavenworth Road redevelopment district, and tax increment financing with the district.
• Termination of the Mission Cliffs-Rainbow Park TIF.

Several Land Bank items are on the 7 p.m. agenda, including:

• Six single-family homes: 2829 S. 8th; 2815 S. 8th; 929 Freeman; 935 Freeman; 1203 Ann; and 5705 Tauromee.
• One 4-plex: 416 Cambridge.
• One garage: 1713 Troup.
• One commercial-residential: 5320 State Ave.

The UG Commission also will meet in a special session at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 13 for an update on the levees project, followed by a report on economic development incentives.

The public will not be able to attend the meetings in person, but the meetings will be on UGTV cable television, YouTube and on Zoom.

The 5 p.m. special session Zoom link will be at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83675668213?pwd=S25acFhNeTUvWkx6R1ZZSFJ4cW9PZz09#success.

The passcode is 210725.

The webinar ID is 836 7566 8213

The phone number is 888-475-4499 (toll free) or 877-853-5257 (toll free).

The 7 p.m. UG Commission meeting will be on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83065774454?pwd=U1pVZ2N5TkpNcGhQdG5LdWhmNU5UZz09#success.
The passcode is 152094.

The webinar ID is 830 6577 4454.

Phone numbers are 888-475-4499 (toll free) or 877-853-5257 (toll free).