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Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said Friday that he continues to support lowering interest rates but said the central bank needs to be careful amid conflicting economic signals. “I’m still in the belief we need to cut rates, but we need to kind of be cautious about it,” Waller said during an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” On one hand, he said, the U.S. labor market appears to be losing jobs, potentially signaling a broader economic slowdown. On the other, gross domestic product growth remains strong and there remain concerns over inflation, which is still running considerably higher than the Fed’s [...]

McPherson County voters will see a proposal on the November 4 ballot for a ½ cent (0.5%) county-wide sales tax dedicated to funding Emergency Medical Services (EMS). If approved, the tax would begin April 1, 2026. The measure seeks to shift EMS funding from property taxes to a dedicated sales tax, creating the opportunity for county and city officials to reduce property taxes beginning in 2027. Currently, EMS is funded primarily through property tax revenues, which places heavy reliance on local property owners. Under the proposed change, anyone making taxable purchases in McPherson County—including visitors and non-residents—would share the cost, broadening [...]

A new tourism project is moving forward in the Kansas City area. A development agreement was approved on Monday by the Bonner Springs City Council for the Destination KCK Resort at 118th Street and State Avenue. \The city and the developers, EMAP-KC, have been working for months to finalize a development agreement which moves the long-awaited project forward. The project includes Mattel Adventure Park, which will feature Hot Wheel roller coasters, a Barbie rooftop restaurant bar, Thomas & Friends attraction and more. Read more: FOX 4 Kansas City

Bel Aire and other cities routinely allow developers to choose the engineer they want to work with on their projects. However, MKEC is one of the contractors Bel Aire is suing over the failed Woodlawn road reconstruction project. Read more: Ark Valley News

Friends of First Responders Day kicked off in Overland Park on Saturday afternoon. The event gives children with disabilities and their families the opportunity to connect with fire and police personnel in a friendly environment. “It gives us a chance to meet them in a situation where adrenaline isn't pumping and they're not in dire need of our services,” said Lieutenant Pat Saysoff. “And they get to experience being a firefighter or police officer for the day.” Kids got to ride in the ladder bucket, operate fire hoses and ride in fire trucks too. They were able to see how police [...]

The Overland Park Police Department announced Friday the launch of a new community-focused program. The police department said the goal of the program is to improve interactions between first responders and community members with developmental disabilities, mental health needs or other similar concerns. It aims to improve communications between first responders and the community by providing practical resources to help officers, firefighters and medical personnel quickly identify and respond appropriately to community members who may require a different approach during an interaction. Read more: FOX 4 Kansas City

History enthusiasts gathered at Valley View Cemetery twice nightly on Oct. 9, 10 and 11 for the Finney County Historical Society’s annual Cemetery Walking Tours. The event takes participants through the cemetery on a guided tour by Johnetta Holmes-Hebrlee, Education Coordinator for the Finney County Historical Society and Museum, meeting characters from Garden City and Finney County’s past, at or near their gravesites. Steve Quakenbush, Executive Director of the Finney County Historical Society and Museum, said the event it about celebrating history and helping people learn about history. Read more: Garden City Telegram

A sales tax question asking voters if they wish to enforce a half-cent sales tax will be on the Nov. 4 general election ballot. The proposed sales tax is aimed at financing the construction of a new Finney County Jail and a major renovation to the Finney County Law Enforcement Center. Gary Meagher, Interim Finney County Administrator, said the LEC has been plagued by costly issues due to its design with the jail on the third floor and the building’s age. Read more: Garden City Telegram

An ethics hotline that has been available to Johnson County employees, vendors and contractors since 2012 has recently become open to the general public, and will be subject to future improvements to bring it in line with best practices. The reporting platform quietly became visible on the county website July 16, via a link on the maroon field at the bottom of the county website homepage. Clicking on “Ethics Hotline” leads to an outside webpage where anonymous complaints of possible ethical wrongdoing can be made. The site is run by Navex, a company that specializes in ethics and compliance management. The [...]

From a potential new headquarters for Lockton Cos. to an exclusive members-only club, Leawood's development pipeline is brimming with diverse and ambitious projects. Here’s a look at five real estate projects that could add corporate office space, luxury apartments and specialized housing for seniors in Leawood. Read more: Kansas City Business Journal