The ruling follows a hearing on temporary orders tied to the petition, which was launched after city commissioners approved zoning changes this summer that could allow data centers to be built in the community. Read more: KSN-TV

State law allows residents to propose ordinances through petitions. Cities argue the petitions are legally flawed and would cause harm if enacted into law. Read more: CJonline

"It's a super big day for Iola," said Iola Mayor Steve French. "What a wonderful thing to have right here in our backyard. It's been here for years. A lot of people that live here don't know this is out here." Read more: CJonline

Manufactured homes are gaining traction in suburban neighborhoods as policymakers and developers look for more affordable, faster-to-build housing options amid soaring home prices. Although long stigmatized and restricted by zoning rules, new laws and improved construction quality are opening the door for factory-built homes to compete with traditional site-built housing. Read more: Washington Post

Shawnee County commissioners approved a six-month moratorium on new data center applications citing transparency. Read more: Topeka Capital-Journal Press Releases

An Ark City man whose nude walks through his neighborhood helped prompt Cowley County to adopt a new public nudity law last year has become the first person arrested under it. Sean Barnard, 46, was arrested around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday after Cowley County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the 33000 block of 61st Road for a report of a person walking nude in the area. Barnard was booked into the Cowley County Jail on suspicion of lewd and lascivious behavior and violating the county resolution prohibiting public nudity. Both are misdemeanor offenses. The arrest occurred in the IXL neighborhood south of [...]

As classes start this week, Goessel schools have deployed an artificial-intelligence gun-detection system. The new security, purchased through a state grant monitors the district’s 35 security cameras for any visible signs of guns, superintendent Scott Boden said. Software and human analysis are designed to identify visible weapons, not to detect concealed firearms. Read more: Marion County RECORD

As Newton’s Main Street rail crossing shut down for three days last week, residents began to ask, “Why doesn’t the city build an overpass?” It makes sense. If there were an overpass on Main Street, the work to replace a water main and train tracks would have been a non-issue for motorists. While the Main Street shutdown was unexpected, the crossing question wasn’t. It’s been asked for 126 years in Newton, predating the automobile. The answer remains the same, as well. “Anything is possible to build with enough money,” former City Engineer Suzanne Loomis concluded about the issue in 2023. “But [...]

City Manager Toby Dougherty told Commissioners last week he expects a review of the city’s economic development policy to be on the September 3 City Commission Work Session agenda. A review of the city’s current policy was requested by Commissioner David Vilaysing. Dougherty reported to Commissioners during the August 13, 2026 meeting that Assistant City Manager Jarrod Kuckelman has spearheaded the review. Dougherty noted that he as well as Deputy City Manager Colin Bielser have worked with Kuckelman to red-line the current policy with recommended changes. “Our changes are really non-substantive changes. It’s just clarifying and moving things around, to make [...]

Topeka city planners discussed a text amendment to the city’s zoning code that could affect where data centers, including large-scale “hyperscale” facilities, can be built. The proposed amendments were discussed Monday night as part of the city’s review of zoning regulations and requirements to include data centers and for other land uses. According to the city planning agenda, the current zoning code includes no land use category for “data center.” This comes after Compass Datacenters submitted a proposal in late July that Shawnee County staff later labeled incomplete. The changes would establish specific zoning and use standards for data centers, including [...]