News

A new lawsuit by a Prairie Village resident contends the charter ordinance the city is using to authorize $30 million in bonds is illegal. At issue is a new “municipal complex” the city wishes to build, which would combine the police and municipal court in one building and a new city hall on the other side of the property at 7820 Mission Road in Prairie Village. The city is using a charter ordinance passed in 2016 to finance a roughly $3 million streetlight project to prevent citizens from voting on the project, despite a recent poll finding that residents overwhelmingly want the opportunity [...]

For years, fans of “The Wizard of Oz” have been flocking to the Oz Museum in Wamego. If it’s been a while since you visited, you might want to get there soon. An important prop from the 1939 movie is currently on display — and it’s never been seen in public before. Source: themercury.com - RSS Results in news of type article

The City of Dodge City has announced that Phase 6 of the Downtown Streetscape Project will begin on Monday, June 23, per a post on Facebook The construction areas will include a section of 2nd Avenue between Gunsmoke Street and Front Street, the El Capitan Statue area, and Front Street between 2nd Avenue and 1st Avenue, including the parking area, as shown on the map below. Source: Western Kansas News

Ogden’s former city treasurer on Monday in Riley County District Court pleaded guilty to misappropriation of public funds and submitting false expenses. Jimmy Bond, 71, pleaded guilty to one count of misuse of between $25,000 and $100,000 public funds and one count of official misconduct by submitting false expenses over $25,000. Source: News Radio KMAN

The Mulvane Recreation Commission, Mulvane Chamber of Commerce, Mulvane Community Foundation and Mulvane Senior Center are partnering on an event to celebrate the city’s new mode of public transportation from 10 to 11:30 a.m. June 30 in the senior center parking lot. Source: www.derbyinformer.com - RSS Results in news/area_news of type article

Ogden’s former city treasurer on Monday in Riley County District Court pleaded guilty to misappropriation of public funds and submitting false expenses. Jimmy Bond, 71, pleaded guilty to one count of misuse of between $25,000 and $100,000 public funds and one count of official misconduct by submitting false expenses over $25,000. He was serving as treasurer to the township of Ogden when he said the hiring he did for cemetery maintenance was not done legally. Source: themercury.com - RSS Results in news of type article

Monday was a busy day at the Hillsboro water plant. A hot, windless weekend had created an algae bloom at Marion Reservoir, meaning iron and manganese levels had shot up in the town’s water supply. Water plant employees —three in total, plus Richard Fine, a retired Agco employee who helps out — learned of the bloom immediately, thanks to a buoy system that measures oxygen levels at the reservoir water intake. Source: Marion County RECORD

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

The Topeka City Council voted to approve cuts to city code regarding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) under the condition the matter be referred back to committee so that future amendments can be made. City Councilmember Spencer Duncan motioned to approve changes recommended by Policy and Finance Committee during the Tuesday, June 17 meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Karen Hiller and passed 5-1 with Deputy Mayor Brett Kell voting no. The proposed amendments came after news the city was about to lose $45 million in federal funding unless the city removed language pertaining to DEI. Source: KSNT 27 News

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has issued a declaration of disaster Wednesday due to widespread damage caused by recent storms and flooding. Kelly issued the proclamation just after 2:30 p.m. on June 18. The declaration was prompted by recent severe weather in parts of central Kansas from June 16-17. Kelly's declaration allows for resources to be used to help provide state assistance to areas hit by the severe weather. The Kansas Division of Emergency Management has partially activated the State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka to monitor flooding and help counties with any weather-related recovery needs they might have at this time. [...]