Sedgwick County Fire District 1 announced Tuesday that its first K9 has retired. Benny, born in 2017, began his service as an Accelerant Detection Canine through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in 2018. He was partnered with Investigator Rusty Vollintine and the Topeka Fire Department until Vollintine retired in 2023. The pair later joined SCFD1 as part‑time investigators in 2024. Since joining the district, Benny has responded to 30 structure fires across the region — 13 of them fatal — and his work has contributed to six felony arrests. Read more: KSN-TV

The district has selected Cody Rierson, one of three candidates considered for the role. Rierson currently serves as superintendent of Moundridge USD 423 and previously worked as principal at Lincoln Elementary School in McPherson. The district said he is known for building a positive, collaborative environment while keeping students at the center of every decision. Read more: KSN-TV

Hutchinson USD 308 board members learned why voters turned down the district's $110 million bond last year at a meeting Monday. Discovery Works Collaborative shared results of a survey that showed 63% of people said the price tag was too high. Another 55% said it was because of the proposed location of the middle school. The same amount said they do not need to build when enrollment is going down. Read more: KSN-TV

Cowtown Days is a two-day event in Baxter Springs, Kansas that celebrates the city's cultural heritage as the "First Cowtown in Kansas" with a car show, bouncy castles, live music, and other activities. Read more: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

City leaders approved a settlement of just over $1 million tied to two sex discrimination cases involving the Topeka Police Department on Friday. City of Topeka councilmembers, City Manager Robert Perez and others gathered for a special meeting at 11 a.m. on May 1. Perez called for the special meeting to convene to discuss the settlement of one or more lawsuits. Read more: KSNT 27 News

Overland Park, Kansas, wants to streamline and regulate its zoning code to improve housing availability and offer a variety of housing within city limits. There's been a lot of change in Overland Park since the city updated its zoning code more than 30 years ago. "Apartment complex, apartment complex, apartment complex," Jeffrey Strom, Overland Park resident, said. "It's cool, but I'm never going to be able to afford [those]." The current housing development process is complex. Overland Park's director of planning and development services explained it could be why there's not as many housing options. Read more: KSHB News

“This is the room of dreams,” said Jerry Daniels at Tuesday night’s Community Conversation. And complaints, hopes, and fears. Thrive Allen County hosted the annual event where Thrive staff members help citizens arrive at a consensus on a handful of “must-do” issues. Tuesday’s group of about 20 settled on the need to beef up the town’s communication avenues, foster community-wide pride and generate more involvement in civic affairs.  Read more: The Iola Register

The City of Lawrence’s annual budget doubled from $261 million in 2020 to $520 million in 2025.  In the six years between 2020 and 2026, the city’s revenue will have increased 52% because of increases in utility fees and property tax valuations. In spite of this increase, the city has faced recurring budget deficits, and the city is now trying to identify $4.5 million in savings for its 2027 budget so it can operate a new fire station in northwest Lawrence.  Read more: The Lawrence Times

The list of Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) ‘millionaires’ — those who will accrue $1,000,000 in benefits in the first 20 years of retirement — soared to 5,170 last year. That’s an increase of 412 over last year. Eight of the top 25, nearly a third, come from K-12 school districts. The entire list is available at kansasopengov.org. Read more: The Sentinel

Three Topeka City Council members say they are committed in trying to put a sales tax initiative on the Aug. 4 ballot. During the annual Nehemiah Action Assembly on April 30, council members Michelle Bradberry and David Banks stated their support for a sales tax initiative for affordable housing. Marcus Miller sent his support via a statement. To bring in continuous funding for the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund, its oversight committee suggested a 0.1-cent sales tax. They also suggested 50% of the collected taxes go to at least one of the four homeless solutions identified in the study from 2024, [...]