Kansas would still tax food more than just about anywhere else in the United States, even if a proposed reduction before the Legislature becomes law. For all the talk among lawmakers this year about taking a bite out of the cost of groceries, the plan closest to passing amounts to a nibble. Annual savings for many families would likely add up to less than $100 — $1.92-per-week. A proposal to cut the food sales tax rate from 6.5 percent to 5.5 percent sits in Senate Bill 22, a large, highly-controversial measure that makes numerous changes to the state’s tax code. The [...]

Members of the city’s affordable housing board want to allow two homes to be built on one lot as long as at least one is designated as an affordable home or rental. As part of its meeting Monday, the Affordable Housing Advisory Board reviewed a preliminary draft of changes to the city’s land use code that would allow two homes to be built on a single lot under certain conditions. One of the homes would have to be permanently designated as affordable housing and both homes would need to meet existing design standards for residential neighborhoods. Planning Director Scott McCullough explained [...]

The Lawrence City Commission will hold a two-hour executive session instead of its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday. The session will last approximately two hours and will be used to discuss applicants for the city manager position. There are no other items on the commission’s agenda. City Manager Tom Markus announced in September that he planned to retire, and has since said he will leave his position around June. The city hired California-based search firm Ralph Andersen & Associates to conduct a national search for Markus’ replacement. Read more: LJWorld.com.

A plan for the Islamic Center of Kansas to construct a multi-faceted religious facility for Muslims from both sides of the state line gained preliminary approval from Overland Park planning commissioners Monday. But its location near West 163rd Terrace and Roe Avenue — between Blue Valley Middle School and the Cottages at the Wilderness subdivision — has galvanized neighbors who say the size and scope of the proposed 110,876-square-foot facility make it a bad fit for the area. “It was understood to be the kind of religious facility that could find a home within a neighborhood,” said attorney Doug Patterson, who [...]