info

The bill that creates the entity that would own the Kansas City Chiefs stadium in the Sunflower State passed out of the State House Tuesday night. Lawmakers added the Mayors of Olathe and KCK as likely voting members to the board. This is what KCK Mayor Christal Watson, along with Unified Government of Wyandotte County Administrator David Johnston, wanted. Both went to Topeka on Tuesday, March 10, to talk about this. The House Commerce Committee rejected Wyandotte County’s ask Thursday, March 12, but the full House ended up adding Wyandotte County’s CEO on Tuesday, March 17th. “We have value,” Watson said [...]

Marion County commissioners approved a resolution Monday banning commercial wind energy conversion systems in multiple townships in the county’s unincorporated areas. Commissioner Mike Beneke cast the lone dissenting vote. The resolution prohibits commercial and utility-scale wind projects, including turbines, substations, and related infrastructure, in 15 identified townships. The ban applies to new applications and construction but does not restrict small-scale wind systems for personal use. Read more: Marion County RECORD

Goessel residents warned not to let infants and pregnant women drink nitrate-laced tap water is waiting a repeat test before its water supply is cleared. A test last week indicated nitrate levels 10% above a federal standard, resulting in a warning not to give tap water to infants younger than 6 months or pregnant women or to use it to make infant formula. The sample measured nitrate at 11 milligrams per liter, according to the notice the city distributed. The notice said the city expected to notify residents within 30 days of retesting. Read more: Marion County RECORD

The Lenexa Police Department reported its animal control officers are seeing more raccoons in the area exhibiting signs of canine distemper. The viral disease typically affects animals like raccoons, foxes and skunks, and it could cause them to come across as disoriented, lethargic or abnormally tame, per a social media post from Lenexa police. LPD said residents should never feed wildlife as it increases contact between animals and can contribute to the disease spreading. If you find a raccoon that looks sick or is acting unusual, contact the dispatch center at 913-477-7301. Residents are also encouraged to check their pets vaccination [...]

Property taxes in Johnson County have been a major topic of concern for many residents, especially retirees worried about being priced out of their homes. But the assessed value is only half of the story. The other half is the mill levy, the rate at which your property is taxed. Jane Zaccardi, a retired Johnson County resident, said the increases have been difficult to manage. "Being a retired person and essentially [on] a fixed income, that kind of jump is not sustainable," Zaccardi said. Read more: KSHB

Mayor Christal Watson launched her first "Christal Clear Conversations" town hall Tuesday afternoon, kicking off a community engagement series aimed at increasing transparency and collaborative problem solving between the Unified Government and Wyandotte County residents. The event was held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the KCK Town House Tenant Association, located at 1021 N. Seventh St. in Kansas City, Kansas. Most attendees were residents with questions and issues about senior services, transportation and safety. Watson and her staff shared resources and took questions, and several residents offered their own solutions. Read more: KSHB

A water test on March 4 showed nitrate levels in Rural Water District 101, which serves the Yoder area, of 13 milligrams per liter (mg/L), which is above the state and federal level for maximum contaminant level, Reno County announced on Monday, March 16, in a news release. The state and federal maximum is set at 10 mg/L, Reno County Public Works Director Don Brittain wrote in the release. He wrote that nitrates in water come from a combination of natural, industrial, and agricultural sources. Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

Allen County commissioners are considering a new sales tax proposal to fund emergency medical services after last year’s effort failed. Allen County commissioners are weighing a second attempt at asking voters to approve a sales tax dedicated to emergency medical services. At Tuesday morning’s commission meeting, discussion focused on how to better inform the public after a previous proposal in November 2024 fell short. Commission Chair David Lee described the concept as a targeted funding source for ambulance services, asking fellow commissioners whether they want to move forward with a measure. “It would go to support the ambulance services — nothing [...]

Iola and Allen County are launching new initiatives to boost economic development, tackle workforce shortages, and attract high-wage jobs to the region. Camille Lavon spent her first six months as economic development director for Iola and Allen County doing a lot of listening and learning. Her goal: to become as intimately familiar as possible with what the local business climate had to offer, and what needed help. Some of the challenges were hardly a mystery, reflective of southeast Kansas as a whole: businesses are struggling in an area with aging infrastructure,  affordable housing shortages and declining population. Mostly, companies have found [...]

A long-awaited upgrade to Humboldt’s animal shelter is complete, replacing a decades-old facility with a modern space designed to better care for animals and serve the community. Construction on the new building at 700 S. First St. began in January and was led by Hanson Contracting of Humboldt, whose crew handled the bulk of the work on a tight timeline. For Animal Control Officer Sheri Modlin, the new shelter is a major improvement over what the community has relied on for years. The previous structure, she explained, consisted of just four outdoor kennels and dated back to around 1970. “We’ve always [...]