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President Donald Trump took the first step Thursday to reclassify marijuana, but the move won’t affect Kansans unless the state changes its laws, a law enforcement professional said. Trump signed an executive order to drop marijuana from a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act to a Schedule III drug. In 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended the change, indicating marijuana has medical use. The change doesn’t take immediate effect on the federal level, but it will not affect Kansans unless laws are changed, said Ed Klumpp, a retired Topeka police chief and a lobbyist for the Kansas Peace [...]

School board officials for USD 247 agreed to close Southeast Elementary School in Weir at the end of the 2025-26 school year, according to the Pittsburg Morning Sun. A dropping enrollment coupled with projected renovations in excess of $750,000 to the 109-year-old school, prompted the decision. A public hearing Tuesday to discuss the issue was held at the district’s high school in Cherokee. Ten attended. The population of Weir, which is southwest of Pittsburg, is about 560. Read more: The Iola Register

High winds whipping across Kansas quickly spread grass fires in areas across the state Thursday and forced the evacuation of a Buhler elementary school and an area in Reno County. Buhler USD 313 said on Facebook around 1:45 p.m. that Plum Creek Elementary was being evacuated because of a nearby grass fire. Read more: Wichita Eagle

Crawford County commissioners extended a moratorium on certain energy development projects in Crawford County through 2026. The Commission voted Dec. 12 to prohibit solar and wind development for a year, while commissioners develop a new comprehensive plan, the Pittsburg Morning Sun reported. The moratorium was amended to include digital mining centers for such things as cryptocurrency, the newspaper reported, while a second moratorium is in the works to address nuclear energy. Read more: The Iola Register

Synopsis: County election officers’ duty to destroy ballots pursuant to K.S.A. 25-2708(b) is directory and not mandatory, and such duty must give way to a search warrant or subpoena compelling the production or preservation of such ballots pursuant to a criminal prosecution or investigation. However, mere notice of a pending criminal investigation is likely not enough to forestall the directive to destroy ballots. Cited herein: K.S.A. 25-2708. Read more: Kansas Attorney General Opinions

Synopsis: K.S.A. 79-2988(b)’s use of the word “shall” is mandatory. K.S.A. 79-2988(b)(2) states a governing body seeking to exceed the revenue neutral rate shall notify the county clerk about the date, time, and location of the public hearing on or before July 20. Because the Sedan City Clerk notified the Chautauqua County Clerk of a new hearing date less than 10 days before September 2, 2025, this statutory requirement was not met. Thus, the county clerk lacked statutory authority to send out a second notice. But, in a situation where a public hearing is rescheduled and the governing body notifies the [...]

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.

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.

Prior to joining the PPMC in 2024, she worked as Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Derby and as the Real Property Section Manager, managing affordable housing unit programs for the City of Wichita, and was honored with the Kansas Association of City/County Management's Early Career Excellence Award in 2022. Sarah has a Master of Public Administration from WSU and a BA in Communications from Baker University. Source: City of Towanda

While the appeal is under review, The Cozy Inn will be allowed to finish the mural, with the understanding that changes may be required. Read more: KSN-TV