The utility will seek approval for a new natural gas plant, a solar farm, and a battery storage facility. CEO David Campbell stated that Kansas is a "premier destination" for data centers, driving significant load growth. Read more: CJonline

Mayor Spencer Duncan said the city’s current flood plan is far more advanced than in 1903 and 1951 because of those learning experiences and a comprehensive approach that integrates levees, creek maintenance, pump stations, neighborhood drainage, wastewater systems and long-term capital planning. Read more: CJonline

Administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, SEED grants are available to communities in 78 eligible counties, with populations of 5,000 or fewer. Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded in the following categories: Childcare and Senior Programming– Projects that support or enhance services, such as building improvements, educational materials, supplies and equipment Community Vibrancy– Projects that re-energize and beautify rural communities through public art, signage and placemaking initiatives Food Retail– Projects that increase access to food through new, expanded or renovated retail spaces Libraries– Projects that expand access to information and community resources through reading materials, technology upgrades, furnishings [...]

The company announced Thursday that it will reduce its default data retention window from 30 to seven days, cutting the amount of time data will sit in Flock’s systems. Agencies can still change the retention period in coordination with state or local policy. Read more: KSN-TV

City officials in Topeka are getting involved in an ongoing lawsuit between a local Indian tribe and the state lottery. The Topeka City Council voted in favor of intervening in an ongoing lawsuit between Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and the state of Kansas on Aug. 11. The governing body passed a resolution to step into the lawsuit “to protect the City’s interests” as the nation is allegedly trying to expand the boundaries of its reservation. Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas in early July this year. The nation alleged [...]

The Topeka City Council voted to amend the language used in a one-year moratorium for data centers to restrict utility connections for these types of projects. The new amended language includes the restriction of utility connections inside and outside of city limits for data centers. City officials said this is necessary to prevent administrative exceptions that would allow staff to extend utility services outside of city limits to serve as a data center. Read more: KSNT 27 News

Kansas Tourism has announced that applications for the Attraction Development Grants program will open August 17. The program is designed to provide funding support for the development of new tourism attractions or the enhancement of existing attractions that encourage travel to and throughout Kansas. A total of $1 million will be granted during this round. The deadline for applications is October 16, 2026.  Read more: Kansas Department of Commerce

Not many country folks want to become city folks. At least, that’s what Pottawatomie County leaders learned in 2019 when they asked residents of the Green Valley area whether they wanted to incorporate and create an independent town. At that time, 70% of residents said they didn’t want to form a new city, and 70% said they didn’t want Manhattan to annex Green Valley, either. But the area directly east of Manhattan, roughly the southern part of Blue Township, continues to grow. The population of Blue Township has risen from 4,926 in 2020 to an estimated 5,541 in 2026, an increase [...]

The Garden City Commission approved an amendment to the City Codes and the creation of new sections to the city’s Code of Ordinances regarding micro data facilities at its regular meeting on Aug.4. Aleecya Charles, Garden City Assistant Neighborhood and Development Services Director, said both items come after a recent influx of data facilities on both large and small scales. Because of the influx of development of these types of facilities nationwide, the city proposed an amendment to its Zoning Regulations that will set parameters for any new development regarding Micro Data Facilities, Charles said. Read more: Garden City Telegram

Despite the age-old noise restraints for the Hesston Public Library, an increase in activity led to the refurbishment of a room. The community is invited to the ribbon-cutting for the new computer lab at HPL on Monday, Aug. 17, with a 4:30 p.m. cut time. Staff moved four computers into the area, as there are seven total machines available for public use. “I’d say the biggest reason we started brainstorming the idea of a computer lab was the increase in library use, especially during the summer and after school,” Abigail Skiles, library director, said. “This led to an increase in noise [...]