The paperwork was signed on Wednesday to make Chihuahua, Mexico, Wichita’s newest sister city. Leaders from Wichita and Sedgwick County came together at the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom to make the five-year agreement official.
Read more: KSN-TV

The wheat Liberty Bell is a fond memory for those who were involved with its creation. They also hope it’s a point of pride for the community for years to come. Half a century ago, Goessel had the chance to celebrate America’s 200th birthday in a uniquely Kansas way. The small town 35 miles north of Wichita put together a replica of the Liberty Bell made out of wheat. Donna Duerksen was the team lead for the group of volunteers. “We were especially grateful when we had about 200 different volunteers come throughout the community and surrounding areas to help us weave the wheat straw in and out of this frame,” Duerksen said.
Read more: KSN-TV

The city said that it has received two petitions: One proposes an ordinance to prohibit data centers, and the other proposes an ordinance to ban battery energy storage systems.
Read more: KSN-TV

City leaders discussed a rental registry and inspection program during the Topeka City Council meeting Tuesday. Property Maintenance Director for the City of Topeka John Schardine presented the topic to the council, calling it the Rental Registry Pilot Program. Schardine emphasized supporting responsible landlords and property owners while also improving housing conditions and accountability. Schardine said the program would collect data from landlords and rental properties, then maintain it in a city-administered database updated annually. The database would be open to the public and display a 24-month rolling property tier, inspection history and violation history.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

South Hutchinson has enacted a one-year moratorium on data centers and battery energy storage systems. City officials will research zoning regulations and best practices from other municipalities during the moratorium.
Read more: Hutch News

Soccer fans boosted spending in U.S. World Cup host cities, with Philadelphia and Kansas City among the beneficiaries. The Scots drank every drop of beer in Boston. The Dutch filled Kansas City’s hotels. The French chowed down on Philly cheesesteaks.
Read more: Wall Street Journal

Proponents argue data centers are a “generational opportunity” for economic growth, while opponents raise environmental and transparency concerns. Both supporters and protesters agree on the need for clear regulations to manage the impacts of data center development.
Read more: CJonline

Kansas state law requires industries, including data centers, to obtain a permit before using water resources. Data centers can secure water by purchasing it from city utilities, applying for a new water right, or buying existing rights from other users. State officials say existing water users are legally protected from new industries impairing their supply. While a data center might use a million gallons of water a day, this is a fraction of the state’s total usage, with agricultural irrigation accounting for about 85%.
Read more: CJonline