The meeting comes after community members urged city commissioners earlier this month to adopt a moratorium on data center development over concerns of large amounts of energy and water consumption, noise pollution, higher utility bills and more.  Read more: The Lawrence Times

Bucyrus — population: 168 — is only about 35 miles south of Kansas City, but enough farmland and red barns sit between the last suburban subdivision and the town’s quiet main street that it still feels like country. Read more: Washington Post

The Dodge City Commission is being asked to approve a $10 million agreement to purchase thousands of acre-feet of water rights, a proposal city officials say would help secure the community’s water future for decades. According to city documents, the proposed contract would allow Dodge City to purchase 3,732 acre-feet of water rights from JR Farms and Reinert Partnerships. City staff describe the acquisition as a significant investment that could benefit local residents “for generations to come.” Read more: Dodge City Daily Globe

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 [...]