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For years, police officers have used drones to assist their responses at the scene of emergencies. But now, the Lenexa Police Department is using drones as first responders, sending them out ahead of human responders to more quickly understand the situations that police are getting called into. Source: Up To Date

In a dispute stemming from Marion withholding incriminating open records, a judge awarded more than $75,000 Thursday to the District Judge Ben Sexton had ruled April 4 that the city acted in “bad faith” and ordered it to pay the legal fees of Bernie Rhodes, who represents the Among the documents the city concealed was a text message from then-Mayor David Mayfield saying he had met with Sheriff Jeff Soyez and then-Police Chief Gideon Cody three days before police raided the paper’s newsroom and told Cody he “was behind him and his investigation 100%.” Source: Marion County RECORD

Following a public hearing Thursday, Riley County officials nullified the city’s plan to use tax incentives for a duplex development. County commissioners unanimously denied the proposal from the Manhattan City Commission. The plan would have authorized the use of a state program called Reinvestment Housing Incentive Districts, or RHID. Source: themercury.com - RSS Results in news of type article

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

A bicyclist who had suspected drugs in his backpack was arrested Tuesday. According to the Great Bend Police Department, an officer stopped Shon Rome, 49, at 6:14 p.m. following a traffic infraction at Ninth and Heizer. Source: Homepage

The Harvey County Commission decided it wasn’t worth the extra effort and possible risks involved to allow fireworks sales in the county. In April, the commission was asked by Michelle Green, a Burrton resident, to lift the current ban on firework sales in rural Harvey County. Green said the current vendor for fireworks was no longer selling them at his location. In April, Sheriff Chad Gay said he would be in favor of lifting the ban. Gay said he spoke to his department, and they felt issues arose from people setting off fireworks, not usually from stands selling them. The commission [...]

The Johnson County juvenile services department will begin taking in youths from other Kansas counties as a way of recouping some of the costs of running the detention center at 915 W. Spruce St. in Olathe when it is not at full capacity. Commissioners were told last Thursday that officials from several Kansas counties that are overcrowded or don’t have facilities have expressed interest in bringing juvenile detainees to Johnson County for temporary housing while they await court proceedings. Source: Johnson County Post

The city of Lenexa will expand a new program that uses drones to respond to emergency calls before police or firefighters arrive. On June 3, the Lenexa City Council voted 7-0 to approve adopting a resolution amending the 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to include the Drone as a First Responder Program. The resolution included an agreement with Paladin Drones Inc. to purchase six drones along with other operational infrastructure. Councilmember Chris Herron was absent. Source: Johnson County Post

Cyclists will be able to ride nearly 100 miles of uninterrupted trail in eastern Kansas thanks to a new bridge near Ottawa. The Flint Hills Trail runs from Osawatomie to Council Grove. It offers views of riverside bluffs, woods, rolling farmland and the largest remaining tallgrass prairie region — one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world. “There’s a six-mile stretch without any crossroads through the heart of the Flint Hills,” said Jeff Bender, a region supervisor for state parks at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. “And you’re up pretty high — there’s some incredible great viewpoints and [...]

Crawford County will serve as a testing ground for a new AI-driven railroad crossing alert system, thanks to a $450,000 grant awarded through the Kansas Transportation Innovation Program. The project is one of 20 selected statewide for funding by Governor Laura Kelly, who announced a total of $4.5 million in awards to support cutting-edge transportation initiatives across Kansas. Source: www.koamnewsnow.com - RSS Results in news/local-news of type article