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Governor vetoes government competition bill

2024-05-21T09:28:43-05:00May 21st, 2024|

Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday vetoed a bill requiring cities and counties to rebate property taxes if they compete against certain businesses such as fitness centers, day care facilities and restaurants. Kelly vetoed a bill that was packaged with a child and dependent care tax credit that the governor supports along with an expanded property tax refund for seniors and property tax rebates for veterans with disabilities. Source: Sunflower State Journal

Wichitans want solutions for homelessness. Can they accept them in their backyard?

2024-05-21T09:28:18-05:00May 21st, 2024|

As Wichita struggles to address a growing homeless population with uncertain funding, crucial details surrounding a future city-operated homeless shelter or resource center remain unresolved. Among several homelessness-related initiatives promoted by the city is a multiagency campus and center, often referred to as the MAC – a one-stop resource center that would house supportive low-income housing and two 24/7, low-barrier homeless shelters; one communal, one not.

Court confirms how Prairiefire’s available funds should be applied to defaulted STAR bonds

2024-05-21T09:27:39-05:00May 21st, 2024|

The bank overseeing Prairiefire's nearly $65 million in defaulted sales tax revenue (STAR) bonds now has a clearer path forward as to how it should apply available funds from the Overland Park development to its first portion of outstanding debt. A judge in Minnesota's Hennepin County District Court on Thursday issued an order confirming that UMB Bank, the trustee for Prairiefire's STAR bonds, should proportionately split about $4.2 million across $14.9 million in principal and $1.75 million in interest that came due in mid-December. The order also clarifies that future interest will accrue on delinquent interest at the retail and entertainment [...]

Fed Gov. Waller wants ‘several months’ of good inflation data before lowering rates

2024-05-21T09:26:55-05:00May 21st, 2024|

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, citing a string of data showing that inflation appears to be easing, said Tuesday that he does not think further interest rate increases will be necessary. However, the policymaker added he will need some convincing before he backs cuts anytime soon. "Central bankers should never say never, but the data suggests that inflation isn't accelerating, and I believe that further increases in the policy rate are probably unnecessary," said Waller, who has been generally hawkish in his recent views, meaning he supports tighter monetary policy. Source: CNBC - Bonds

Abilene reinstates water fluoridation

2024-05-20T16:31:28-05:00May 20th, 2024|

The persistence of oral health experts succeeded as they swayed one Abilene City Commissioner to change her vote during Monday’s commission meeting, ending in a 3-2 result to reintroduce fluoride into the city’s water. Before the commission voted, several local and Topeka experts made comments to the commission. Source: Abilene RC

Schools closed, power still out for thousands in JoCo following severe storms

2024-05-20T14:05:12-05:00May 20th, 2024|

A line of thunderstorms packing gusty winds caused damage to numerous Johnson County neighborhoods late Sunday night, and at least three schools in the area were closed Monday due to the storms’ lingering impacts. The National Weather Service office in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Johnson County at about 10 p.m. The warning said there was the risk of wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour and hail up to the size of quarters. Wind gusts ended up damaging trees throughout the area. Large tree branches crashed down onto several homes’ roofs, and even more fallen tree branches [...]

Lenexa unveils renovated Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center, which will open later this month

2024-05-20T14:04:21-05:00May 20th, 2024|

After years of planning and renovations, Lenexa’s “flagship outdoor pool” is ready to reopen to the public. Following a two-year, $15-million redesign, Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center — formerly Indian Trails Aquatic Center — will open for the summer swim season on Saturday, May 25, with a new look and bevy of new amenities. “The community was the one wanting something that had way more features to it,” said Mandy Danler, project manager and assistant director of Lenexa Parks and Recreation. “While it can be costly, that’s what they wanted. So we brought it all under here and did what we could to assure that [...]

Golf cart users request more latitude on Great Bend streets

2024-05-21T09:27:50-05:00May 20th, 2024|

The Great Bend City Council will consider an ordinance permitting and regulating the use of golf carts, micro-utility trucks and work-site utility vehicles on certain streets in town when it meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 20, at City Hall, 1209 Williams St. The meeting in the Council Chambers is open to the public and will also be livestreamed for the public to view on the City Council Facebook page. According to agenda materials, the current Standard Traffic Ordinances adopted by the city prohibit the use of these vehicles on city streets. However, by separate ordinance, the use of micro-utility trucks [...]

Evel Knievel Museum to move from Topeka to Las Vegas

2024-05-20T13:58:51-05:00May 20th, 2024|

A museum dedicated to famous motorcycle stunt performer Evel Knievel is heading west later this year. The Evel Knievel Museum, which has been located in Topeka since its founding in 2017, will move to Las Vegas after the final day of business, according to museum co-founder Matt Patterson. A new museum is already under construction in Nevada. The move comes after months of speculation for the future of the museum's property, which it shares with a Harley-Davidson store. KSNT-TV reported in December 2023 that the property at SW 21st Street and Topeka Boulevard was sold to Shawnee County. The museum will [...]

Lawrence is short a fire engine because of staffing shortages, union says

2024-05-20T13:54:49-05:00May 20th, 2024|

Lawrence has been short a fire engine most of the day Thursday, and firefighters expect that to happen again — maybe as soon as this weekend — because of staffing shortages and overtime cuts. Seamus Albritton, president of IAFF Local 1596, the firefighters union, said normal daily staffing for Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical operations is 39 firefighter-paramedics, but that minimum has been cut to 36. “Usually if we did not have 39 people available to work due to various reasons such as leave, we would call firefighters back for overtime to fill those vacancies allowing us to keep all units in service for [...]

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