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Panasonic announced Friday that it would make major cuts to its global workforce. But local officials said they continue to ramp up to begin EV battery production at the company's new plant in De Soto. During an investor call Friday, the Japanese company announced it would cut 10,000 jobs globally, representing roughly 4% of its total workforce. Panasonic plans to cut about 5,000 jobs in Japan and 5,000 jobs internationally by end of the company’s fiscal year, which ends in 2026. Source: Kansas City Business News - Local Kansas City News | Kansas City Business Journal

Wichita City Council members vocalized support toward securing sustainable funding for the city’s Affordable Housing Fund Thursday night at the second annual Nehemiah Assembly. The Sedgwick County Commission Chair also committed his support to expanding the city’s municipal ID program to all county residents.  The assembly, hosted by Justice Together, a grassroots coalition of interfaith communities, announces the organization’s policy pursuits. Last year, the group asked officials to commit to the municipal ID program – which launched this spring – and work on sustainable funding for the multi-agency center, Wichita’s year-round homeless services center known as the MAC. The ID program [...]

Advocates for a countywide recycling program will address Iola City Council members Monday to share their vision of how a joint city-county venture can succeed in Allen County. The group has tried in recent years to get a system in place, but has yet to find traction with either the city or county governing bodies. Monday’s discussion will include information from Todd Bemis of Coffey County, who will be on hand to explain how that system works. Source: The Iola Register

With children’s shouts echoing off of playground equipment, the Logan Manor doesn’t look or sound like your typical nursing home. That’s because it’s also a school. This rural farm town, with a population of 436, recently welcomed nursing home residents and students into its new intergenerational facility, called the Logan Intergenerational Family Education Center. By bringing different age groups together under the same roof, LIFE Center administrators are hoping to foster connection and learning across generations. Source: themercury.com - RSS Results in news of type article

Despite the controversial opinions of the USD 402 bond issue, the $55 million no-levy increase was passed unofficially this week. The bond passed with 1,745 total Augusta voters casting their ballot. Of those unofficial votes, 1,174 were yes and 571 were no. The post-election ballot audit, which is required by Kansas Statute 25-3009, was held on Thursday evening in the Butler County Commissioner’s room. The three-person team audited 1% of precincts that included Ward 1 and Ward 4. Source: Butler County Times-Gazette

Sedgwick County recently announced that its new 2026 budget simulator has gone live as of May 6. Available at the county website, the simulator is a hands-on tool intended to get citizens to explore and influence how property tax-supported funds are allocated. The interactive simulation is part of the county’s commitment to transparency, civic education and inclusive public participation. Source: www.derbyinformer.com - RSS Results in news,news/* of type article

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday held its key interest rate unchanged as it awaits fluctuations in trade policy and the direction of a sputtering economy. In a move that carried little suspense given the wave of uncertainty sweeping the political and economic landscape, the Federal Open Market Committee held its benchmark overnight borrowing rate in a range between 4.25%-4.5%, where it has been since December. The post-meeting statement noted the volatility and how that is factoring into policy decisions. Source: Bonds

County Commissioners began discussions to restructure those departments within the county that the commission is over. They also ordered a safety study for the Elm Creek Lake Dam. Commissioner Mika Milburn talked about the need for an interim reference addendum to the county’s 2002 policy book as the commission revisits and revises it. She suggested assigning reference numbers to the forms and procedures as they make or revise them for easy reference during revision and in the final product. County Clerk Susan Walker has started adding reference numbers to forms as they are being amended. She has also requested an administrative [...]

It tore through the landscape, buildings and people like a fire does through a forest. But it wasn’t a fire. It was a different kind of gift from Mother Nature—an F5 (now called an EF5) tornado, and it caused damage and fatalities in Harvey, Sedgwick and Marion counties on May 25, 1917. It was part of one of the most intense and longest continuous tornado outbreak sequences on record, said Kris Schmucker, curator and archivist with the Harvey County Historical Museum and Archives in Newton. The outbreak killed at least 382 people, Schmucker said. Source: Harvey County Now

Johnson County voters will decide this November whether the special public safety sales tax that paid for the new courthouse and medical examiner facility should be continued for another 10 years. County commissioners voted Thursday to put the Public Safety III quarter-cent tax on the ballot, saying it is a way to maintain vital county services at a time when inflation and ebbing revenues are straining the budget. The sales tax was originally approved in 2016 and is set to expire in March of 2027 unless voters extend it. Source: Johnson County Post