With the latest policy in relation to the proposed Flint Hills Digital Campus set to be considered by Emporia City Commissioners Wednesday afternoon, Emporia City Manager Trey Cocking discussed the steps taken thus far since the potential project’s announcement two weeks ago. Cocking’s latest comments on the matter came during the monthly Q&A with Trey segment on KVOE’s Talk of Emporia Tuesday morning, where he addressed many of the comments and concerns that have been expressed in recent weeks by those opposed to the development. Specifically, Cocking was asked his response to the common statement that the project is a “done [...]

Kevin Warsh’s first meeting as Federal Reserve chairman concluded Wednesday with no change in interest rates and a nod to possible hikes ahead. The meeting also saw the removal of key language indicating a bias toward future cuts within a dramatically shorter policy statement. The Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously to keep its benchmark overnight borrowing rate anchored in a range of 3.5%-3.75%. The federal funds rate has held there since the central bank lowered rates by three-quarters of a percentage point in the latter part of 2025. With a bevy of intrigue over Warsh taking the central bank helm, [...]

The Reno County Commission met for a special session Monday evening at the courthouse to discuss potential regulations for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Data Centers. Despite lengthy debate, the commission failed to reach a consensus on new policies or conditions for either industry. As a result, no specific guidance was provided to the Planning Commission, and the status quo remains in place. Future applications for these facilities will continue to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Read more: Ad Astra Radio

At the center of the financing logic behind a STAR Bond project is a simple premise: the project has to generate visitors — and ideally, visitors from outside Great Bend. That’s not just the city’s goal. It’s the state’s requirement. The STAR Bond project has been in development since 2022, when Great Bend Economic Development began collaborating with designers to shape what the Expo Complex expansion could look like. STAR Bond financing was created by the Kansas Legislature in 1999 as a tool for cities and counties to develop major commercial, entertainment and tourism areas. Read more: Great Bend Tribune

A concentrated effort spanning multiple agencies helped the Hesston Police Department solve the most recent burglary at Dan’s Cycle. On May 6, a white cargo van crashed into the front entrance of the business, and five dirt bikes were quickly loaded at 4 a.m. by four individuals. By the time HPD responded, the suspects were gone. “We went through some camera footage and found a tag,” Police Chief Chris Eilert said. “It was a stolen van out of Kansas City, but we’re not sure why it wasn’t indicating on Flock. We were able to track it using Flock back to Kansas [...]

Scooter safety was on the minds of both county and city commissioners last week. Ellis County Commission Chair Neal Younger commented during his personal time on June 9 that more training may be called for because “kiddos are just flying” and driving down highways. He suggested that the city and the county may need to work together regarding scooter safety. Hays City commissioners Sandy Jacobs and Shaun Musil also used their personal comment time on June 11 to state their scooter use concerns. “I’m just going to say it — somebody’s going to get killed. So I’m going to say it [...]

The Edgerton City Council has denied a temporary ban on data centers, making it the second community in Johnson County to consider and deny a moratorium this month. Next door in Gardner, the city council considered but ultimately denied a similar proposed six-month ban on June 1. The Edgerton City Council on Thursday voted 3-2 to deny a six-month moratorium, which would have temporarily prevented applications for facilities where the primary use was a data center. After City Attorney Todd Luckman provided a brief clarification on the measure’s language, Councilmember Josh Lewis immediately made a motion to deny the six-month ban. Edgerton [...]

Overland Park could become the latest Johnson County city to require kids on electronic bikes and scooters to wear helmets or else face a fine. It’s the latest step in a long line of discussions among residents and local officials in Johnson County about how to keep kids safe when they ride the increasingly popular devices. Just last month, Overland Park established a new set of city codes prohibiting anyone under the age of 16 from riding class 3 e-bikes, which are throttle-assisted bikes capable of reaching higher speeds. On Wednesday, the Overland Park City Council Public Safety Committee voted unanimously [...]

After a month of deliberation, Edgerton made the move to deny an application Tuesday night for an $860 million data center in Logistics Park Kansas City. The Edgerton Planning Commission voted 3-2 to deny the data center application from Dubai-based DAMAC Digital on Tuesday night. Commissioners Adam Draskovich, Jeremy Little and Jordyn Mueller voted to deny the application, while Commission Chair Tina Mathos and Commissioner Ray Soemer voted against denial. “I feel like it’s a short-term victory,” said Kellie Wakefield, an Edgerton resident. “It’s not completely denied. We’re just going to have to continue voicing our preference for the direction of [...]

Yates Center city officials are asking residents to conserve water after Saturday night's storms. According to a Facebook post by the city, some pumps are not working properly after an electricity outage. While city water crews are working to fix the problem, residents are asked to conserve water as much as possible for now. Read more: www.koamnewsnow.com