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A handful of county-level officials who were involved in a small-town Kansas newspaper raid in 2023 will pay a cumulative $3 million to three journalists and a city councilor. In two of the four agreements, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office also crafted a statement admitting regret. Read more: The Lawrence Times

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell wasn't kidding a couple weeks ago when he said a December rate cut wasn't in the bag. Recent remarks from Powell's colleagues point to plenty of apprehension over whether the central bank should deliver its third consecutive easing of policy when it meets Dec. 9-10. As a result, markets have recalibrated their expectations. Whereas traders as recently as a few days ago were pricing in at least a 2-to-1 probability of a quarter percentage point cut, that's now flipped to a coin toss, according to futures markets readings tabulated by the CME Group in its FedWatch [...]

With standing-room-only, the Frontenac City Council voted unanimously to oppose the annexation of land north of the city by the City of Mulberry for use as a solar farm. Several concerned citizens, residents of Frontenac, Mulberry, and Crawford County at-large, urged the council to vote against supporting the annexation. Long-term opponents Judy Prince and Becky Willard repeated arguments against allowing the solar farm to be built, citing the fire hazard created by the storage batteries and Mulberry’s inability to respond and contain those fires in a timely manner, a fact even a pair of Mulberry residents agreed with. Moreover, residents argued [...]

A national penny shortage has forced Barton County officials to examine how they will handle cash transactions, with County Treasurer Jim Jordan outlining two potential rounding methods during a County Commission study session Tuesday afternoon. “This isn’t a really big deal, but you will get calls,” Jordan said. Jordan presented the commission with information on “conventional rounding” and “bankers rounding” as the county anticipates a complete halt to penny circulation following a U.S. Mint directive in August to stop production. Conventional rounding, the more common method, would always round a number ending in $.05 up to the nearest dollar amount. And [...]

The Jackson County Commissioners want to let TerraPower, LLC and Evergy leaders know that, as they seek a location for a new nuclear power plant in the state, Jackson County is open for business. At Monday’s Jackson County Commission meeting, the commissioners signed a resolution supporting the development of a Natrium reactor in the county and outlined the advantages of building a facility here. “We need to get it out there as soon as possible that Jackson County is open for business and we want to be considered for it,” Commissioner Mark Pruett said. In September, officials from TerraPower, a nuclear [...]

It was ripping hot out, and there wasn’t much shade offering respite from the sun that was blazing down. But still, volunteers were out braving the summery conditions, tools in hand, helping to build one of the 14 single-family homes Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City is building in southern Olathe as part of its Pathway at Heritage Park affordable neighborhood in partnership with Pathway Community Christian Church. This project, located around 159th Street and Black Bob Road, is one of Habitat KC’s biggest efforts to date in Johnson County. Aside from some infill projects “here and there,” said Lindsay Hicks, [...]

On Tuesday, the City of Dodge City received a grant to help residents take steps toward achieving their “American Dream.” The city’s Cultural Relations Advisory Board received a grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas to provide financial assistance to Ford County residents working toward U.S. citizenship. Those who receive funds participate in a program called Engage Dodge, which teaches them about their local government. The city says the Naturalization Scholarships will help enhance the lives of those seeking citizenship and create unity within the community. Read more: KSN-TV

The Wichita City Council on Monday announced three finalists for the city manager position. Eighty-nine people applied for the position, according to the city, and the council worked with a search committee and a search firm to narrow the field. Read more: KSN-TV

Reno County Commissioners tabled discussion of increasing commissioner pay for a month Wednesday to gather more information and constituent input. Among Kansas counties with county administrators or managers, Reno County has the lowest commissioner pay at $11,340 per year, Human Resources Director Helen Foster said. She added that commissioner pay is low enough that it prompts questions from employees of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System about whether Reno County is reporting its full salary. Tabling it until December allows commissioners to track how many hours per week they spend on county business. Commissioner Ron Hirst said he has tracked the [...]

Over the past 15 years, the City of Hutchinson issued only about a dozen building permits per year for new single-family homes—and twice as many demolition permits. To meet current housing demand, however, and spur new economic and population growth, there needs to be 10 times that number—annually—for the next decade, according to findings of the Reno County Housing Needs Assessment completed in 2024. It’s no secret that the availability of affordable housing is a serious issue in Hutchinson and Reno County, which contributes to many other challenges, including a growing homeless population and difficulty in attracting new employers. Read more: [...]