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A new statewide bipartisan water program task force established over the summer aims to create a long-term sustainable strategy for Kansas’ water challenges. State Sen. Kenny Titus, R-Manhattan, is co-chairing the task force with State Rep. Jim Minnix, R-Scott City. The task force is in the early stages of its multi-year effort. “We basically have three phases laid out in the task force,” Titus said in an interview Monday on KMAN. “We need to identify the problems we have, how we want to solve those problems, and then how we pay for the solution.” Read more: themercury.com -

Big name retailers such as Freddy's, Chipotle and QuikTrip are all eyeing expansions in Andover, the fastest growing city in Butler County. That's because the suburb east of Wichita has grown to an estimated population of more than 16,000, which can bring in more amenities like restaurants and shops, said Lori Cullum, the president and CEO of Andover Area Chamber of Commerce. Read more: Wichita Business Journal - Local Wichita News

The U.S. Department of Justice is backing CoreCivic in its legal battle with the city of Leavenworth as the company seeks to reopen a shuttered prison it owns there as an immigrant detention center over the objection of local officials. The DOJ filed a statement of interest in federal court on Tuesday, characterizing the city’s resistance as an illegal effort to undermine the federal government’s immigration enforcement. Read more: Wichita Eagle

A law enforcement tool for tracking suspect vehicles has been quietly put to use in Reno County. Flock is a system that reads license plates and notifies law enforcement when someone drives by with a plate associated with a crime or missing person. Law enforcement can also search for footage of vehicles by looking up their license plate information, as the Flock system keeps a comprehensive, but short-term record of all vehicles that pass by. The default amount of time that license plate data is stored in the system is 30 days. According to a presentation Flock gave to Cowley County [...]

Fiscal Shocker is an interactive tool designed to compare the fiscal health, revenue structure, and spending priorities of local governments across Kansas. By standardizing and visualizing key financial indicators—such as property tax reliance, revenue structure, and expenditure patterns—it helps users identify similarities and differences among jurisdictions. The tool supports more informed decision-making for policymakers, researchers, and engaged citizens by making local government finances clearer and more comparable. Learn more: Fiscal Shocker

HB 2304 requires local governments to report certain local economic development incentive program information to the Secretary of Commerce. The Kansas Department of Commerce recently hosted a webinar related to the implementation and compliance with the law. Some helpful links: Webinar Powerpoint Template to submit information Browse the Kansas Transparency Database Explorer

Iola City Council members will discuss Monday whether to move to a five-member governing body. When Iolans go to the polls in November, only those living in the southwest quadrant of town will have a choice to make, at least when it pertains to local governance. That’s because of Iola’s voting ward makeup, which has been in place since since the eight-member city council was established in 2011. Councilwoman Kim Peterson would like to change that. At Peterson’s request, City Council members will consider Monday whether to implement changes in how Iolans choose their elected leaders, and how many would be [...]

Locals eager to share their thoughts and concerns about Savonburg will gather for a community conversation at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The annual get-together is once again hosted by Thrive Allen County, and will be held in the Savonburg Community Building, where they’ll discuss the city’s strengths and immediate and long-term challenges. Read more: The Iola Register