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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

The Neodesha Promise Scholarship Program, which provides an opportunity for Neodesha High School graduates to afford college, has reached quite a milestone. With 36 NHS students receiving promise scholarships in 2025, the program has awarded more than 550 scholarships to 184 graduates since its inception in 2019. The program provides scholarships to eligible Neodesha High graduates covering tuition and mandatory fees at Pell Grant-approved institutions. Neodesha students receiving Promise Scholarships have attended more than 40 different institutions across seven states. Read more: The Iola Register

It was a full house on Friday at the county commission meeting as Josh Albins presented the results of the comprehensive survey to the county commissioners. Of 30,199 residents aged 18-and-over, only 2,303 responded to the survey despite mailers, newspaper ads and billboards encouraging people to participate. According to Albins, 96% of the respondents were permanent residents of the county; 86% have lived in Crawford for 10-plus years. The majority were property owners from the rural parts of the county. The two big issues that drew the crowd were zoning and windmills. Read more: - Morning Sun

Approved agreements on Wednesday night will now allow the development process for the recently purchased 40 acres to begin. The two agreements include a development agreement with Lange Real Estate and a services agreement with Professional Engineering Consultants, P.A. (PEC). The agreement was to contract with PEC for the survey, concept planning, and platting services for the residential development located at the corner of NW 96th and Hoover. City Administrator Kyle Nordick stated that PEC will commence work within 14 days and anticipates completing an application for a preliminary plat within 60 days. Read more: Harvey County Now

Wall Street thinks interest rates are poised to come down faster than the Federal Reserve does—a wager that is already boosting the economy and markets by making it cheaper for Americans to borrow. Bets in the futures market show investors expect that the Fed’s benchmark short-term rate will fall just below 3% by the end of next year, from slightly above 4% now, according to LSEG data. That marks a sizable shift from May, when investors thought that rates would fall only to around 3.5% at the end of 2026. It is also below what most Fed officials are forecasting. Their [...]

According to the Ark Valley news, in response to a new state law — and on the advice of its attorney — the Valley Center school board recently took action to stop livestreaming its meetings on YouTube and delete all previous recordings. Per the new law, if a school board fails to stream the entirety of a meeting (except for executive sessions), it could be subject to a Kansas Open Meetings Act violation. A board member misspeaking or failing to be heard clearly could also constitute a violation. Given the gray areas and to avoid potential risks, the school board followed [...]

The Fort Scott City Commission on Tuesday debated proposed changes to an ordinance that would require food trucks to obtain a license. Commissioners agreed to have the city manager and city attorney draft an addendum to the city's solicitors, canvassers and peddler's ordinance to address food trucks, then discuss the issue again in October. Read more: Fort Scott Tribune Headlines