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Arkansas City High School this week implemented a new visitor check-in system as part of the district’s ongoing commitment to school safety, district officials said in a written statement. As of Tuesday, Securly Visitor is in place at ACHS’s main entrance. All visitors who plan to enter the building beyond the front office must present a government-issued photo ID at check-in. The system will scan the ID, complete a quick background check, and print a visitor badge that includes the guest’s name, photo, and destination within the school.  Visitors who are only stopping by the front office will not need to [...]

Facing a deficit of several million dollars in coming years, Wichita elected officials are talking about the possibility of increasing or adding taxes. Options could include a 1% city sales tax or a property tax rate increase, officials said during a recent city workshop. Current estimates show the city expects a $3.8 million deficit in 2026. That increases to $10.8 million the following year. The estimated deficits would be caused mainly by cost increases, including staff wages, as well as expected lower interest earnings. Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

Wichita school district officials say they don’t have plans now to come back to voters to ask for a smaller bond issue vote. Voters narrowly rejected a $450 million bond issue earlier this year. “We have no plans,” the district’s Chief Financial Officer Addi Lowell said Thursday at the first meeting of a new citizen financial oversight committee. That committee could eventually come back with a recommendation for another public vote on a bond proposal, though. Right after the February election, officials with the district and the Vote Yes campaign had signaled that a smaller bond vote could be a possibility. [...]

The city of Wichita is moving forward with plans to hire a consulting firm to assist in its search for a new city manager. The Wichita City Council approved issuing a request for proposal to hire a search firm Tuesday. The firm will assist in multiple public engagement opportunities as the job description is developed and as final candidates are considered. Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

Kansas water issues, particularly those relating to irrigation ditches, was the topic of the Finney County Historical Museum’s Evening at the Museum event on Tuesday. Kevin Salter, Inter-state Water Engineer with the Kansas Division of Water Resources, was the presenting speaker. The event was kind of like a Water Rights 101 class, Salter said, specifically looking at Kansas ditch and the development of Kansas Water Law. Source: Garden City Telegram

The Garden City Commission approved a non-federal match contract with the Kansas Water Office at its regular meeting Tuesday. The contract offers support for the Garden City Water Reuse Project. Mike Muirhead, Garden City Public Works Director, said the idea for the Garden City Water Reuse Project first presented to the Upper Arkansas Advisory Committee, also known as the RAC, asking for funding support in the State Water Plan, which is developed by the Kansas Water Authority and administered by the Kansas Water Office. Source: Garden City Telegram

More than 500 new housing units will be needed across Cowley County by 2030 in order to meet demand, Winfield City Commissioners learned during a housing study update at their Thursday work session. The updated study, conducted by Hanna:Keelan Associates, Inc. of Lincoln, Neb., helps assess current housing conditions, identify future needs, and outline actions to be taken, according to Winfield City Manager Taggart Wall. Source: www.ctnewsonline.com - RSS Results

The Kansas City, Kansas Community Identification Act adopted by the Unified Government does not facially violate K.S.A. 21-5432(a)(1). Because the person providing a Community ID card would not necessarily know an applicant’s immigration status, the person would likely lack the mens rea required under K.S.A. 21-5432(a)(1)(A). Additionally, it would be difficult for anyone to violate K.S.A. 21-5432(a)(1)(C) because it is unlikely the person providing the Community ID card as provided in the ordinance would ever know an applicant was being exploited for the financial gain of another. However, it is possible, in particular instances where this information is known, issuance of [...]

The Quality Places Division at the Kansas Department of Commerce is encouraging Kansas communities interested in moving local housing initiatives forward to take advantage of a special free event Tuesday, April 29, in Great Bend. Hosted by the Housing Interagency Advisory Committee (HIAC), the event is targeted at communities that have completed a Housing Assessment Tool (HAT) or have a structured housing plan in place. State and federal partners will discuss resources, connections and funding guidance communities will need to address existing housing gaps. Source: Kansas Department of Commerce