A brief but powerful tornado killed a 64-year-old man in northern Sedgwick County early Sunday morning, blowing his home off its foundation. The storm touched down for just two minutes and struck without tornado warnings or sirens activating beforehand. Read more: Wichita Eagle

A lone horse rider carrying letters arrived the City of Horton on Monday evening. The horse hooves clopped on the city street, indicating to a large crowd of people that he was nearby. The scene sounded like it would almost be set in 1860-1861, when the iconic Pony Express would be in operation. Read more: Hays Daily News

De Soto Mayor Rick Walker says revenue from a planned $3 billion data center campus is an opportunity to grow the city. But one resident is concerned that leaders are moving too fast and not weighing the negative impacts on the community and environment. Read more: KCUR

On Tuesday, commissioners approved a charter resolution to change the way the treasurer’s department collects back property taxes. A 2019 charter resolution requires Harvey County Treasurer Amy Perkins and her department to apply payments to the most current delinquent property tax bill, which means that in order to pay off the most delinquent tax, owners must pay off all of their taxes. If they can’t pay the whole thing, they often decide there’s no benefit in paying any of it off. The new resolution, which will take effect 60 days from the time it is published two weeks in a row, [...]

Strong communities are built on more than businesses alone—they are built on places where people gather, connect, and build relationships. That vision is at the heart of The Zarah Coffee Shop, Great Bend’s newest locally owned coffee destination. Read more: Great Bend Tribune

The NWS preliminary damage survey says the tornado started at 1:14 a.m. in Sedgwick County and lasted for two minutes. Read more: KSN-TV

A third accident involving a motorist and a bicyclist in Allen County has prompted Iola Police Chief Jared Warner to speak about traffic safety regarding two-wheeled vehicles. Read more: The Iola Register

The meeting comes after community members urged city commissioners earlier this month to adopt a moratorium on data center development over concerns of large amounts of energy and water consumption, noise pollution, higher utility bills and more.  Read more: The Lawrence Times

Bucyrus — population: 168 — is only about 35 miles south of Kansas City, but enough farmland and red barns sit between the last suburban subdivision and the town’s quiet main street that it still feels like country. Read more: Washington Post

The Dodge City Commission is being asked to approve a $10 million agreement to purchase thousands of acre-feet of water rights, a proposal city officials say would help secure the community’s water future for decades. According to city documents, the proposed contract would allow Dodge City to purchase 3,732 acre-feet of water rights from JR Farms and Reinert Partnerships. City staff describe the acquisition as a significant investment that could benefit local residents “for generations to come.” Read more: Dodge City Daily Globe