“What has really kind of changed in open records is the county gets a lot more statewide requests where an interest group is asking every county for a batch of information.” And, these groups are wanting the documents electronically, he said. “This is, of course, completely legal and the county is happy to help them with these requests as long as they’re under the (Kansas Open Records Act), but it just makes complying with the request awkward,” he said. So the change would make clear that the county will ask to be reimbursed for the staff time involved in fulfilling them. [...]

Eighteen robotic dinosaurs are coming to Topeka. So is a 40-foot-long replica of Sue, the largest and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton ever discovered. Visit Topeka and its partners in attracting tourism shared that news Monday while announcing that a series of dinosaur-themed attractions will be on display here early next year as part of a campaign called "Topeka Dino Days." Source: CJonline

While John Barbur isn’t the Lorax — an orange-furred, fantasy creature from a Dr. Seuss story — he has protected and cared for all the trees in Abilene since 1991. Before his time on the Abilene tree board, Barbur gained a degree in forestry management from the University of Missouri, which included specific classes in Agronomy. Agronomy means the study of producing and using plants in agriculture for food, fuel, fiber, recreation and land restoration. Source: Abilene Reflector-Chronicle

The first time Abilene Police Chief Anna Hatter faced a police officer, she never knew the career would become her life’s path. At the time, she was laid off from her sheet metal assembly job and driving around with her two sons in the back seat. ... “I got a ticket, which I deserved, but he was very professional and courteous. That was my very first interaction with a law enforcement officer. I ended up leaving that encounter thinking about that as a career, which I hadn’t previously thought about.” So now in a time of tension between law enforcement and [...]

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.