Local government officials consider hyperscale data center development with an eye toward economic benefits and property tax revenue that would allow them to meet Kansas residents’ demands to lower taxes. But in Kansas and nationally, an outcry against data center development is rising, with a recent Gallup Poll showing that 48% of Americans “strongly oppose” building data centers in their neighborhood, while an additional 23% fall into the “somewhat oppose” category. A scant 7% “strongly favor” and 20% “somewhat favor” the idea. Data center distrust is so strong that Kansans are putting forward petitions to stop local governments from developing the facilities. In return, at least three Kansas cities are suing constituents over those petitions — Edgerton, El Dorado and Emporia. In Tonganoxie, residents are raising money to start a legal fight over a proposed data center.
Read more: News Radio KMAN

Emporia voters will have their say on two of the most contentious development issues facing the city this year after city commissioners voted Wednesday to place citizen-initiated ordinances addressing high-impact data centers and battery energy storage systems on the November. Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 3799, placing a proposed ordinance prohibiting the installation and operation of high-impact data centers within Emporia on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
Read more: www.emporiagazette.com

Country music icon Dolly Parton, whose influence stretched far beyond the stage and into the homes of millions of children — including families in Lyon County — died Tuesday at age 80. Parton died Aug. 25 following a brief battle with cancer, according to her representatives. She died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville surrounded by loved ones. (People.com) Parton leaves behind a career spanning more than six decades as a singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist. But for thousands of Kansas families, Parton’s legacy can also be found on children’s bookshelves.
Read more: www.emporiagazette.com

A Kansas City, Kansas, street has been renamed in honor of a local officer killed in the line of duty one year ago. A ceremony took place Wednesday afternoon, on the one-year anniversary of the tragic line-of-duty death of Officer Hunter Simoncic. Campus Boulevard at Kansas City, Kansas Community College is now Officer Hunter Simoncic Boulevard from the intersection at State Avenue through campus, to Parallel Parkway.
Read more: FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV

Finney County residents showed up on the sidewalk along the 2300 block of East Kansas Avenue, in front of Tequila’s Mexican Grill, on Saturday to protest against the development of data centers in the county. Husband and wife, Rance and Shelby Schribvogel, organized the protest. Shelby Schribvogel said they organized it because the people’s voices need to be heard since the Finney County Commission, local city commissions and the Finney County Economic Development Corporation have been ignoring people against bringing data centers to the county.
Read more: Garden City Telegram

While the city held a public hearing about its budget, it was Flock cameras that drew the most comment at Newton’s Aug. 24 commission meeting. For the third meeting in a row, residents asked for public discussion and more information about a system of 11 automated license plate readers installed around Newton. “Put it on the agenda,” Newton resident Maggie Snow said to the commission. “Review the procurement. Who among you is willing to ask that Flock be placed on a future agenda so these questions can be publicly discussed?” The cameras are a part of a larger network of tag readers that take pictures and store information about vehicles that drive by them. The sheriff’s office employs them in Harvey County, as does the City of Hesston. According to the company, there are roughly 120,000 of these cameras in the U.S. in 6,000 cities.
Read more: Harvey County Now

A new park in North Newton will have a variety of features to mimic the natural surroundings. That’s according to North Newton City Council Member and North Newton Parks and Recreation Committee Chair Marissa Murphy. She said those could include logs, grasses, moveable parts and water. The structures still are yet to be determined, Murphy said. The proposed park is north of Kauffman Museum’s main entrance, as well as around the sidewalk there into the trees.
Read more: Harvey County Now

A strange smell prompted a call to the Hesston Police Department. Coming from the area of Emma Creek Road and Hesston Road, the HPD was notified of a possible gas odor. When officers responded, it was quickly determined the smell was not gas but rather the application of chicken manure to fields to be used as fertilizer.
Read more: Harvey County Now

The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment and the Mid-America Regional Council partnered to host workshops for cities and other community partners in the region to develop a model policy for e-mobility devices – which includes e-bikes, e-scooters and more. A copy of the model policy is available online. The initial convening in January 2026 highlighted the need for consistent policy throughout the region that improved safety and was easy for the public to understand. Representatives from local municipalities have provided feedback multiple times to shape the final version of model policy.
Read more: Johnson County Kansas