Hundreds of people in Lyon County are concerned about a rezoning plan being considered by the county commissioners that could potentially cause them to lose their farms. Angel Cushing owns a small goat farm of less than 40 acres in northern Lyon County. The new plan would require her to prove the agricultural purpose of her land because it is less than 40 acres.
Source: KSNT News
In 1900, Iola Portland Cement Company was the largest plant of its kind in the United States. From 1900 to 1903, it was also the single largest employer in Allen County, and so had the honor of naming the factory’s housing settlement in honor of one of its own: S.H. Bassett, an official who worked there. Not much of Bassett remains today, save a few foundations and “shotgun” style houses, which earn their name since it is almost impossible to detect an individual from out of a group.
Source: The Iola Register
A fundraising effort dubbed Project Bookshelf has begun to add new books for the new Iola Elementary School, now under construction. A new fundraiser has started to help fill the library with books once the new Iola Elementary School is built. Volunteers with the USD 257 Endowment Association have launched Project Bookshelf, with the aim of buying assorted books for readers at varying grade levels, explained organizer Becky Nilges.
Source: The Iola Register
The Johnson County Museum earlier this year received an award from the Kansas Museum Association for its efforts to collect and showcase the local community’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Kansas Museum Association recognized the Johnson County Museum with an Award of Excellence for its project, “Collect, Curate, Partner, Serve: Johnson County Museum’s Response to COVID-19,” which examines the pandemic’s impact on Johnson County and the community’s response to it. The association gave this award during its virtual luncheon last month.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Kansas’ dairy industry has grown significantly during the past two decades, with an outlook for continued growth. Milk production in Kansas during October 2020 totaled more than 330 million pounds. This is up 4% from last year, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. There are twice as many dairy cows in Kansas as there were twenty years ago. As of October, more than 170,000 dairy cows were in circulation. This number is 7,000 more than last year, the USDA reported.
Source: Community – Cherokee County News Advocate
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has named Commerce Secretary David Toland as the new Lieutenant Governor. Toland will take over in January after the current Lieutenant Governor, Lynn Rogers, moves into the State Treasurer’s office. Rogers was appointed last week to fill a vacancy created when Treasurer Jake LaTurner was elected to the 2nd District Congressional seat.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Kansas health care workers have begun receiving the first of the state’s coronavirus vaccines amid an ongoing surge in cases that has left hospitals stressed. A spokeswoman says that five employees of the Via Christi Ascension health care system received shots Monday at its St. Francis hospital in Wichita, including a critical care nurse, a housekeeper for a COVID-19 unit and a respiratory therapist. Doses of a vaccine made by Pfizer began arriving in Kansas after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized its emergency use Friday. Kansas officials expect the state to receive the first of two doses for 23,750 people this week.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Overland Park developers on Monday won a second chance at building a $55 million apartment complex at the Ranch Mart South shopping center — a controversial project that was at first unanimously rejected by the City Council. EPC Real Estate Group is proposing the apartment complex, which will require redeveloping a strip of deteriorating duplexes and an existing parking structure at the shopping center, on the southeast corner of 95th Street and Mission Road. The Overland Park Planning Commission voted 7-3 to approve the rezoning for a scaled back version of the complex, which will now include 190 apartments, down from 210. The new proposal will next go to the City Council for final approval on Jan. 11.
Source: Joco 913 News
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.
Prospective applicants for the Broadband Acceleration Grant Program at the Kansas Department of Commerce now may submit their intent to apply. The program was created to expand broadband access to rural and underserved communities across the state. Over the next 10 years, the program seeks to invest $85 million toward bridging the digital divide in Kansas, with broadband modernization funding provided through swift legislative action during the 2020 session. A maximum of $1 million per grant will go toward funding projects that provide access to high quality, reliable broadband throughout Kansas, with priority given to applications that address unserved areas, economically distressed communities, and areas of compelling need. The deadline for intent to apply has been extended to Friday, December 18, 2020, with final applications due by noon on January 7, 2021.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
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