PITTSBURG, Kans. — One of the oldest houses in southeast Kansas is now back open for business. The Miller Mansion in Pittsburg dates back to 1909 and was the first home in Pittsburg to have electricity as well as phone service.

Katie Gilkey with TK Rentals says the structure was in disrepair when the company purchased it a few years ago. But after four years of restoration work, she says people can now stay there.

“We had to do the windows and we had to re-rope the windows and had to put the weights on so we literally took it apart to establish what it used to look like a long time ago the because it had been so many years that the Millers had lived here and it has gone through so many different hands and families,” said Katie Gilkey, Operations Manager, TK Rentals.

Gilkey says there is still some more work to be done on the inside as well as outside of the structure which is located at 401 West Jefferson in Pittsburg.

The home is available to rent through Airbnb and VRBO.

PITTSBURG, Kans. — Lawmakers in the Sunflower State head back to Topeka on Monday for the start of the 2023 legislative season. A couple of them spoke to business leaders and educators Friday in Pittsburg.

For more than two decades the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce has hosted a legislative send off event giving business leaders the chance to find out what their lawmakers are pushing for. They also have the chance to tell them what they’d like to see come from the session.

Chamber President, Blake Benson, says there’s one issue he’d like to see lawmakers take care of once and for all — Medicare expansion. He says failure to do so to this point, is costing the region millions of dollars and can be a deterrent to economic development.

“Healthcare is a big growth sector for for our economy here in Pittsburg. I know that our healthcare providers, Via Christi Hospital, Community Health Center would benefit tremendously from expanded Medicaid Program, so we’d like the legislature to continue to see if there’s a solution we can find that would accomplish that,” he said.

Kansas remains the only Four State not to have expanded Medicare, and is the only one that hasn’t approved medical marijuana, which Ken Collins would like to see change.

“Medical Marijuana which when previously when it passed in the House, I did vote for it and depending upon what might come up later I would likely vote for it again because I think it’s something that can be beneficial to some people with certain medical issues,” said Collins, KS. House 2nd District (R).

Chuck Smith also has his priorities too.

“I think you’re gonna see a parent’s Bill of Rights as far as kids going to school, you know, I’d like to see a KPERS 3 looked at a little bit to see if we could improve that a little bit for beginning teachers, not teachers that are older but beginning teachers,” said Smith, KS. House 3rd District (R).

But this won’t be the only time this year business leaders and educators get face to face with their elected officials, there will be legislative briefings taking place each month until the end of session in may.

PITTSBURG, Kans.— A traffic crash today (1/04) at the intersection of East Cleveland Ave and South Broadway Street damaged a traffic signal.

The intersection has been converted to a three-way stop in all directions while crews work to restore the signal lights.

The City of Pittsburg released a statement urging motorists to be aware of crosswalks, yield to all pedestrians and workers in the area, and use caution when traveling in that vicinity.

If you have any questions you can contact the Public Works & Utilities Department by phone at (620)240-5126.

PITTSBURG, Kans. — Lane conversions on South Rouse will begin in the construction zone on Friday (1/06) around 12 p.m.

The City of Pittsburg said traffic will be converted from the west side of South Rouse Street to the east side of South Rouse Street. North and south-bound traffic will still be limited to two lanes through the construction zone.

Traffic will be able to use East Quincy Street at the Rouse intersection. Motorists traveling westbound on East Quincy will be required to stop at the Rouse Street intersection, before proceeding to turn north or south.

Motorists need to pay attention to changes in lane markings and traffic control devices as they approach the construction zone.

The north and south flow of traffic on South Rouse Street will not be stopped.

Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes when possible, to slow down, to use caution when traveling in the area of construction, and be aware of workers in the work zone.

If you happen to have any questions you can call the Public Works & Utilities Department at (620)240-5126.

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Time is running short on a matching fundraising effort. A nonprofit group planning to re-open the Colonial Fox Theatre in Pittsburg is in the midst of its annual year-end fundraising effort.

They had a donor come forward a couple of months ago announcing they would match any amount of contribution up to $30,000.

The group now needs only $8,000 to reach that goal, the end of the year is just two days away.

If you’d like to make a tax-deductible contribution to that effort, follow this link here.