Overland Park, Kansas, wants to streamline and regulate its zoning code to improve housing availability and offer a variety of housing within city limits. There's been a lot of change in Overland Park since the city updated its zoning code more than 30 years ago. "Apartment complex, apartment complex, apartment complex," Jeffrey Strom, Overland Park resident, said. "It's cool, but I'm never going to be able to afford [those]." The current housing development process is complex. Overland Park's director of planning and development services explained it could be why there's not as many housing options. Read more: KSHB News

“This is the room of dreams,” said Jerry Daniels at Tuesday night’s Community Conversation. And complaints, hopes, and fears. Thrive Allen County hosted the annual event where Thrive staff members help citizens arrive at a consensus on a handful of “must-do” issues. Tuesday’s group of about 20 settled on the need to beef up the town’s communication avenues, foster community-wide pride and generate more involvement in civic affairs.  Read more: The Iola Register

The City of Lawrence’s annual budget doubled from $261 million in 2020 to $520 million in 2025.  In the six years between 2020 and 2026, the city’s revenue will have increased 52% because of increases in utility fees and property tax valuations. In spite of this increase, the city has faced recurring budget deficits, and the city is now trying to identify $4.5 million in savings for its 2027 budget so it can operate a new fire station in northwest Lawrence.  Read more: The Lawrence Times

The list of Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) ‘millionaires’ — those who will accrue $1,000,000 in benefits in the first 20 years of retirement — soared to 5,170 last year. That’s an increase of 412 over last year. Eight of the top 25, nearly a third, come from K-12 school districts. The entire list is available at kansasopengov.org. Read more: The Sentinel

Three Topeka City Council members say they are committed in trying to put a sales tax initiative on the Aug. 4 ballot. During the annual Nehemiah Action Assembly on April 30, council members Michelle Bradberry and David Banks stated their support for a sales tax initiative for affordable housing. Marcus Miller sent his support via a statement. To bring in continuous funding for the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund, its oversight committee suggested a 0.1-cent sales tax. They also suggested 50% of the collected taxes go to at least one of the four homeless solutions identified in the study from 2024, [...]

Mission Clean Energy's $600 million solar and battery storage facility near Wichita will support regional grid growth and generate $2.35 million in annual tax revenue, according to the company's estimates. Read more: Wichita Business Journal - Local Wichita News

With the arrival of the FIFA World Cup, Kansas City will take center stage across the Midwest, playing host to six games, multiple teams’ base camps and a soccer FanFest billing itself as the “heart” of the celebration — think music, food and drink and big screens. Visitors and residents alike will be able to arrive at the site of the festival — the World War I Memorial and Museum — from 15 points across the KC metro for just $5. Read more: Wichita Eagle

Wichita city staff rejected calls to repeal an ordinance banning back-in parking downtown, opting instead for warnings and better signage. The decision came after 281 citations were issued to drivers who backed into stalls since paid parking began last year. Read more: Wichita Eagle

Following several weeks of storms where Spring Hill saw damage, but didn’t qualify for state or federal relief funding, the small city is going to craft its own emergency plan for the future. During last Thursday’s City Council meeting, council members supported creating a local storm recovery plan for times when the damage doesn’t qualify for state or federal assistance. While specifics weren’t mapped out during the discussion, the plan would identify private contractors the city could have on-call for debris cleanup, lay out overtime policies and procedures for the Public Works and Police departments and establish a line item in [...]

The Lawrence Police Department will soon host an event to talk to residents about Connect Lawrence, a controversial camera surveillance program the department rolled out in July without community input. The program is run by tech company Axon Fusus. Residents and businesses can volunteer to register their security cameras and contact information with the police department, allowing police to see where cameras are located and request footage if a crime occurs nearby. According to the program’s website, camera locations and footage will also be used by the fire department. “It’s about helping our officers respond smarter, more efficiently, and helping the [...]