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Wichita city leaders are saying that something has got to give to address the city's expected budget deficit. It's in the millions of dollars. Council members are debating whether a property tax or a sales tax could address the shortfall. At Tuesday's City Council workshop, council members debated the budget shortfall and possible solutions, including adding a 1% sales tax and/or raising the mill levy for property taxes. Source: KSN-TV

Police in Liberal are investigating a series of violent acts they say are carried out by a group of teens who may be organizing themselves as a gang. The incidents, which involve kidnapping, assaults, and other crimes, police say, are raising serious concerns within the community. In a public safety announcement published on social media, Liberal police say the group may meet the legal definition of a criminal street gang under Kansas law. Source: KSN-TV

Ness City Schools is moving forward with a $24 million bond proposal aimed at addressing longstanding facility issues, safety concerns, and outdated infrastructure, following years of temporary fixes and community discussions. The proposal includes the construction of new locker rooms, a gymnasium, and a connector between the district’s elementary and high school buildings, which currently sit across the street from each other. Source: KSN-TV

The city of Pittsburg reaches an agreement that will allow two organizations to spend more money in hopes of bringing in more money to the city. On Tuesday night, city commissioners agreed to increase economic development agreements, with Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce and Pittsburg State to 65-thousand dollars. It's a increase of $10,000 compared to the past. The organizations use it to fund projects and events to help bring more people and money to Pittsburg while bringing in the right people to get the job done. Source: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

Arkansas City High School this week implemented a new visitor check-in system as part of the district’s ongoing commitment to school safety, district officials said in a written statement. As of Tuesday, Securly Visitor is in place at ACHS’s main entrance. All visitors who plan to enter the building beyond the front office must present a government-issued photo ID at check-in. The system will scan the ID, complete a quick background check, and print a visitor badge that includes the guest’s name, photo, and destination within the school.  Visitors who are only stopping by the front office will not need to [...]

Facing a deficit of several million dollars in coming years, Wichita elected officials are talking about the possibility of increasing or adding taxes. Options could include a 1% city sales tax or a property tax rate increase, officials said during a recent city workshop. Current estimates show the city expects a $3.8 million deficit in 2026. That increases to $10.8 million the following year. The estimated deficits would be caused mainly by cost increases, including staff wages, as well as expected lower interest earnings. Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

Wichita school district officials say they don’t have plans now to come back to voters to ask for a smaller bond issue vote. Voters narrowly rejected a $450 million bond issue earlier this year. “We have no plans,” the district’s Chief Financial Officer Addi Lowell said Thursday at the first meeting of a new citizen financial oversight committee. That committee could eventually come back with a recommendation for another public vote on a bond proposal, though. Right after the February election, officials with the district and the Vote Yes campaign had signaled that a smaller bond vote could be a possibility. [...]

The city of Wichita is moving forward with plans to hire a consulting firm to assist in its search for a new city manager. The Wichita City Council approved issuing a request for proposal to hire a search firm Tuesday. The firm will assist in multiple public engagement opportunities as the job description is developed and as final candidates are considered. Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

Kansas water issues, particularly those relating to irrigation ditches, was the topic of the Finney County Historical Museum’s Evening at the Museum event on Tuesday. Kevin Salter, Inter-state Water Engineer with the Kansas Division of Water Resources, was the presenting speaker. The event was kind of like a Water Rights 101 class, Salter said, specifically looking at Kansas ditch and the development of Kansas Water Law. Source: Garden City Telegram