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On February 16, 2026 the Ellis City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 1504 which permits the safe and responsible use of electric scooters and e-bikes within city limits. The implementation of the safety guidelines was announced in this month’s Ellis community newsletter (The Town Crier) and by the Ellis City Police Department on social media on March 9, 2026. “As the popularity of alternative transportation continues to grow, City officials recognized the need to create clear regulations that promote safety while allowing residents to enjoy these convenient and eco-friendly modes of travel,” wrote Ellis City Clerk Ashley Scheibler in the introduction [...]

While Emporia Main Street competes in a nationwide contest to determine the best Main Street in the country, one area town is in a similar competition organized by the same group. Council Grove is one of 20 participants in the USA Today 10Best Small Towns in the Midwest. 10Best notes the 25 historic sites in the town, as well as the Madonna of the Trail statue, historic downtown and the close proximity to Council Grove Lake as attractions. Read more: KVOE

Three automated miniature robots and pair of LEGO sets have been added to Aubrey Westhoff’s educational arsenal at Iola Elementary School, which she uses to spark students to use their imaginations. Armed with a $1,000 grant from Cox Communications, Iola Elementary School is primed to let its students’ imaginations run wild  through a pair of new tools. At first glance, the tools would appear at opposite ends of the technology spectrum. But look closer, and you’ll see how connected they really are. The first is a set of three new Dash Wonder Workshop Robots, named Dash (of course), Flash and Clash, [...]

City officials appear to be interested in starting a conversation about a second sales tax election in Wichita after nearly 82% of voters rejected the first proposal last week. “It has to be community driven,” City Council member Mike Hoheisel said during a retreat Friday. The council discussion was open to the public but held away from City Hall at Century II and not streamed on the city’s YouTube channel. Council members signaled, based on voter feedback, that they wanted to still be able to fund the homeless services endowment and the public safety improvements that totaled $375 million of the [...]

Marion County Commissioners Monday approved a resolution banning wind energy conversion systems in a portion of the county. The resolution covers the four townships in the southwest corner of Marion County, basically the area around Goessel and to the south of the city of Hillsboro. A separate resolution that would prohibit large scale solar systems in the same area is expected to come before Commissioners for action next week. Commissioners Monday agreed to sign a letter of support on behalf of an application being submitted to the Kansas Department of Commerce for tax credits in support of the restoration of the [...]

Nex-Tech has made a $75,000 loan to support Bricks Co-Working Hub, a new business and community space in Russell. Bricks will operate open workspaces, office rental, conference room rental, virtual office services, and provide a space for collaboration and creativity in the downtown business district of Russell. The loan was disbursed from the Nex-Tech Revolving Loan Fund, which provides funds to eligible local businesses to create jobs and sustain local socioeconomic activities. This investment will serve the rural communities of northwest Kansas. Read more: Great Bend Tribune

Overland Park wants to make it easier to use its “missing middle” pilot program on lots that may not have been developable before. Several months after Overland Park launched its housing pilot program, the city is now considering whether to temporarily amend its development codes to encourage the use of the program, particularly on infill and atypical-shaped lots. The idea is to allow homes with a pre-approved design in the Portfolio Homes pilot program to be built on properties that might not typically pass legal muster for residential development due to their shape, size, setbacks or their inability to have public [...]

Overland Park wants to make it easier to use its “missing middle” pilot program on lots that may not have been developable before. Several months after Overland Park launched its housing pilot program, the city is now considering whether to temporarily amend its development codes to encourage the use of the program, particularly on infill and atypical-shaped lots. The idea is to allow homes with a pre-approved design in the Portfolio Homes pilot program to be built on properties that might not typically pass legal muster for residential development due to their shape, size, setbacks or their inability to have public [...]

Kansas wants to create a sports authority to own the new Kansas City Chiefs stadium. Public rather than private ownership of the stadium will shield more than $1 billion from being collected as income taxes. Kansas has agreed to finance 60% of $4 billion in stadium projects. Those projects include a 65,000-seat domed stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, and other developments near the Legends and in Olathe. Kansas will fund the stadium using sales tax and revenue bonds, or STAR bonds. Those bonds take out debt that will be repaid with future sales tax dollars from inside a stadium district. A [...]

A state program that funds projects that use waste tire products has announced nearly half a million dollars in grants to Kansas schools and communities. On Monday, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced that $493,709.55 was awarded to 32 projects across the state. The projects will use recycled tire products for things like playground surfaces and picnic tables. Read more: KSN-TV