Buying a La Quinta Inn and Suites in Lenexa to convert it into a homeless shelter is going to cost more and may take longer than expected — should the county commission ultimately go ahead with the move. The growing cost and elongated timeline are due to an increase in the amount required to buy out the hotel and a delay in finding an entity to run it.
Source: Johnson County Post
County Commissioner Carl Wood said he enjoyed attending the recent Kansas County Commissioner Association Conference at Kansas Crossing this past week, adding that he learned a lot. Commissioners were offered classes in state law, media relations, budgets, and many other subjects. But what made the biggest impression on Wood was how impressed other commissioners from around the state were with Crawford County. Ranking 11th in population out of 105 counties, Crawford is not on the same level as Johnson, Wyandotte, or Sedgewick Counties in terms of resources, but the county still makes a big impression across the state.
Source: Morning Sun
The Emporia Police Department is rolling out a striking redesign for its 13-vehicle fleet, aimed at enhancing visibility and community engagement. The decision to update the department’s vehicle aesthetics came after careful consideration and collaboration within the department, according to Police Chief Ed Owens, as the department’s new vehicles become available through a fleet agreement with Enterprise Leasing.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Leawood police Capt. Brad Robbins will become the new chief of police beginning May 4, the Leawood City Council has decided. Councilmembers unanimously approved Robbins’ appointment during a special meeting called Wednesday afternoon for that purpose. Robbins, a 29-year veteran of the Leawood police department, has most recently served as support services division commander, supervising the investigation, traffic safety and community education units. He has also acted as the department’s public information officer.
Source: Johnson County Post
The rental registration ordinance requires owners of all rental dwelling units in the city limits to be registered beginning July 1. These owners also must maintain accurate and complete registration information, modifying the registration within 30 days of any change. … Eventually, the city wants to implement inspections of rental units to make sure they meet codes, but this ordinance was the first step of many to achieve that. The second ordinance restricts parking on front yards and streets. The ordinance does not affect side or back yards.
Source: Parsons Sun
Shawn Vincent will start as the new City of Uniontown Clerk on April 29. Vincent, 50, lives near Uniontown and operates a small cow/calf farm. He graduated from high school in Manhattan, KS, and is currently working on a bachelor’s degree…. Sally Johnson, who has been the clerk for 11 years will be training Vincent full-time until the week of May 20, then will continue training part-time “and do other things that have been put on the back burner until the end of the year,” she said.
Source: Fort Scott Biz
Several Supreme Court justices on Monday questioned the wisdom of an Oregon city’s ordinance that penalizes homeless people for sleeping in public, but the court’s conservative majority seemed wary of having federal courts intervene…. “The city’s hands will be tied [if the lower decision stands]. It will be forced to surrender its public places as it has been,” Theane Eangelis, an attorney for Grants Pass, told Chief Justice John Roberts during a two-and-a-half hour argument. “The Ninth Circuit has effectively imposed a municipal code … to regulate what the city can do in its public spaces.”
Source: Route Fifty – All Content
After receiving requests from residents, Hesston is moving its dog park . The dog park is currently located at 505 W Lincoln Blvd. It is moving to the city center by Hickory Park located at 400 E Hickory St. which has a playground. “Families will now be able to exercise their dogs while their children use the adjacent playground, creating a whole family experience,” said city administrator, Gary Emry, in an email.
Source: Harvey County Now
An affordable senior living complex opened on Friday in Bel Aire, but before doors opened, it was already full with a large waitlist. Homestead Affordable Housing has launched 14 projects like this one across the state in an effort to meet the needs of low-income seniors looking for a place to live. The one in Bel Aire has 36 units, which are already full. The non-profit now has 170 people on the waitlist, searching for an alternative. “We’re doing everything we can to make the units more affordable rent,” said Homestead Affordable Housing President Tom Bishop. Bishop said their 14 properties in Kansas provide the opportunity for low-income seniors to live comfortably. “The lowest targeted rent is 30% of area median income. For one bedroom, I think that’s $305 a month,” said Bishop. George and Regina Wilson were the first ones to move into the property. They said their former homeowner raised the rent, and they could no longer afford the monthly payment. They said they are now thankful to have their new community in Bel Aire. “It really took the stress away. When they put that key in our hand, it was really a blessing,” said Regina Wilson.
Source: KSN-TV
Green Frog Brewing has been open for about a month in the small town of Douglass. On Friday, they already had customers at four in the afternoon. “We do some traditional styles and we do brown ales and red ales. Peanut butter porter. Honey beer,” said Jay Sanderson, head brewer at Green Frog. “Open for four weeks, it has gone really, really well. Business has gone way better than we thought it would have. We sold out of four beers already so I am brewing faster than, the sales are going up faster than I can stay up. Which is a great problem to have.” Sanderson said they have invested in more equipment to make more beer. And they may need it now that they can sell beer outside their own doors without having to use a distributor in the wake of Kansas House Bill 2421 being signed into law. The bill allows microbreweries to distribute their own beers and hard ciders to clubs and restaurants as well as at public venues. “And people are like, wow, where’s the beer from? It’s from this place in Douglass,” said Sanderson. “Now, with the new law going in on July 1st, we can take our beer to take it out to bars, restaurants, places where it will generate more foot traffic in here for us.” Sean Willcott brews beer and offers it for sale in northern Kansas with Willcott Brewing & Taproom of Holton. “It was very challenging to get our product to market. There’s a reason Kansas ranks 49th in the country for beer production,” said Willcott on Friday. “This is Kansas Craft Beer Week, so this is a perfect time for such a huge industry win.”
Source: KSN-TV
200 W Douglas Ave, Suite 110
Wichita, KS 67202
(316) 264-3400
info@ransonfinancial.com
Registered municipal advisor with the MSRB and SEC
© 2026 Ranson Financial Group LLC. All rights reserved.
