A statewide position to coordinate cyber security work across sectors, an emergency plan for potential digital attacks and allowing local governments to tap into state IT contracts are among the initial recommendations released Thursday by a panel of cybersecurity experts asked to evaluate the state’s digital landscape. The report from the task force, created by Gov. Laura Kelly in July, comes as the state’s vulnerabilities to cyber attacks come better into focus, with officials looking at ways to reduce the potential risks of state and local governments to costly attacks. Earlier this month, officials in Pottawatomie County paid out over $72,000 to resolve an attack which crippled many of its computer systems for weeks.
Source: Salina Journal

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.

Planning and Development Services Director Jeff Crick … said his office’s original analysis that the city’s land development code prohibits artificial plants from being used to meet the code’s landscape material standards was accurate. However, that code also exempts “detached dwellings” from complying with those landscape standards. “So, that code section would not apply to a residence…” That brings up the question of whether artificial trees are now fair game at homes across the city. The answer is that it depends on location and other factors such as size. But, with the current ruling, there certainly are some opportunities for property owners to install artificial trees or other types of synthetic vegetation.
Source: LJWorld.com.

A Baldwin City resident recently filed a petition in Douglas County District Court to challenge a mask mandate for children under the age of 12, alleging that the mask requirement causes her child “severe anxiety, stress and a lack of concentration.” Marie Taylor, the mother of a 9-year-old, filed the petition on behalf of the child, in response to the county’s current mask order, which requires anyone between the ages of 2 and 11 to wear a mask indoors in public settings, including in public school buildings. The Douglas County Commission issued the order in August, then extended it for 90 days in September because children in that age range were not yet eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines …
Source: LJWorld.com.