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No official date was mentioned and there are still some things to finalize, but the main decision has been made. The Americus City Council voted 4-0 to discontinue the town’s police department Tuesday. Mirroring a conversation KVOE News had with City Council President Nicky Nuessen last week, City Council member Bill Harmon says the board did all it could — but it had to make a tough choice. Read more: KVOE

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County has approved what could be a $450 million incentive package to help finance a new stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are building a 65,000-seat, $3 billion domed stadium that is expected to be ready for the 2031 season. The stadium and an adjacent $325 million entertainment district are expected to take up about 235 acres near the Kansas Speedway. In Johnson County, the Olathe City Council approved another Chiefs-related development earlier this week. The team headquarters and training facility would take over a 165-acre development costing around $400 million, KCUR reported. Read [...]

Reno County Commissioners were critical Wednesday, Feb. 11, of legislation introduced last week in Topeka that would limit local governments’ authority regarding land use and taxation. Commission Chairman Ron Hirst said it was important enough that he brought it up before business items on the commission’s meeting agenda, citing two specific bills: House Bill 2728 and House Bill 2745. H.B. 2728 was introduced Feb. 5 by District 97 Rep. Nick Hoheisel on behalf of the Consumer Energy Alliance, a lobbying group whose members include Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell USA. H.B. 2728 would forbid counties, cities, and townships from adopting moratoriums on [...]

How Hutchinson’s combined sales tax rate compares to other cities in the region will depend, in part, on whether voters approve a March 3 referendum for a 0.75% sales tax, although some nearby cities will have higher rates regardless of the election’s outcome. Hutchinson City Council set a March 3 special election on whether to institute a new 0.75% sales tax, which would increase the combined sales tax rate in the city from 8.25% to 9% on non-food items. If voters approve the referendum, the new 9% rate would still be lower than McPherson, whose tax rate is increasing from 9% [...]

Four 11-year-old boys tugged at the heartstrings of Humboldt Council members Monday night in their request for a skate park.  “Right now, a lot of kids our age don’t have many places to go after school or on weekends,” Elisha Ivy read from a prepared statement. “Most of the time we end up stuck inside on phones, tablets or video games. A skate park would give us a safe place to be active, hang out with friends, and do something healthy instead of being on electronics all the time.” Standing with Elisha were Trev Johnston, Tripp Korte and Ryker Roach.  In their [...]

In her annual report to Iola City Council members Monday, economic development director Camille Lavon said her focuses include strengthening existing businesses and entrepreneurs. Hit the ground running? Camille Lavon arrived as economic development director for Iola and Allen County last summer, going at Usain Bolt-like speed. In the six months since, Lavon has garnered a greater appreciation for what the economic needs are in an increasingly tumultuous climate, particularly for southeast Kansas. She noted, in response to a question during Iola’s City Council meeting Monday, that Iola stacks up favorably with other communities across the region in terms of economic [...]

With the proposed 0.75% sales tax increase on the March 3 ballot, City of Hutchinson officials outlined all the cost-saving and efficiency measures they have taken to maintain the city’s current levels of service at Tuesday night’s Hutchinson City Council meeting. Below is the list of cost-saving and efficiency measures taken by the city. Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

When asked what she is most proud of when it comes to the Hutchinson School District, Superintendent Dr. Dawn Johnson quickly pointed to the faculty and staff. “Educators are a unique lot. They’re a great lot, thank goodness for them,” Johnson said. “You just don’t stop being a teacher at 4 o’clock, you know, when you leave for the end of the day. So, so many of our teachers support in other ways in the community.” Teachers throughout the district volunteer at community organizations like the Boys & Girls Club, and are actively involved in supporting students and their families outside [...]

Jessica Thompson isn’t often prone to hyperbole. But she can’t help but gush when talking about a housing rehabilitation initiative, made possible through a $1.4 million grant from Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka. “We’re just really excited about it,” said Thompson, chief strategy and development officer for Thrive Allen County. “This is going to change a lot of lives, for the better.” With the grant, Thrive plans to assist at least 50 Allen County homeowners with critical repairs to their houses. The program is targeted for those who fall within the low-to-moderate income brackets. Special considerations will be given to [...]

An Iola city councilman says the city should consider adding columbariums at Highland Cemetery, as a low-cost option for families to hold loved ones’ cremated remains. Columbariums can be considered as a low-cost alternative for loved ones who turn to cremation instead of traditional burials for funeral services. Dying can be expensive. And it’s often unexpected. “A lot of people don’t plan for that situation,” Iola City Councilman Mark Peters noted at the Council’s Jan. 20 meeting. Faced with assorted funeral costs for a traditional funeral, many opt for a less expensive option — cremation. Read more: The Iola Register