News

Great Bend Police Officer Paul Millard spent much of Aug. 9 sitting on a dunk tank platform, grinning as kids lined up their pitches to dunk him. It’s not uncommon for the school resource officer to participate in community events. But as the day went on, word quietly spread that a hero was sitting atop the dunk tank. The video player is currently playing an ad. Less than 24 hours earlier, Millard had stopped a 17-year-old with a handgun after a shooting in the parking lot at Towne East Square — action that Wichita police credited with saving lives. Read more: [...]

The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider implementing esports teams at middle and high schools. Kansas State High School Activities Association board members voted in April to sanction esports as an interscholastic activity beginning in the 2025-26 year. If given approval Monday, the district would begin registering buildings based on student interest and available resources, according to the meeting agenda item. The agenda says the growing sport lends itself to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) learning, and students who aspire to compete in college could be recruited or offered scholarships. Read more: The Lawrence Times

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Friday gave a tepid indication of possible interest rate cuts ahead as he noted a high level of uncertainty that is making the job difficult for monetary policymakers. In his much-anticipated speech at the Fed's annual conclave in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the central bank leader in prepared remarks cited "sweeping changes" in tax, trade and immigration policies. The result is that "the balance of risks appear to be shifting" between the Fed's twin goals of full employment and stable prices. Read more: Bonds

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) today announced that the measles outbreak affecting southwest Kansas has officially ended. Two full incubation periods, for a total of 42 days, have passed since the last confirmed case was reported. As there is not an active outbreak in southwest Kansas, KDHE is no longer recommending the early measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination dose for infants 6-11 months old. Health care providers should now refer to the standard childhood schedule for MMR administration. Read more: KDHE, KS - News Flash

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced a new round of funding totaling $341,000 is available through the Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program. Now entering its fourth round, the SEED initiative continues to support economic development and quality-of-life improvements in Kansas’ smallest communities. Read more: Press Releases Archives - Kansas Department of Commerce

Rising electricity demand, in part due to AI needs, along with the increasing cost of alternatives should cushion the impact for green energy. The government delivered a shock to the renewable energy industry when it took away subsidies for solar and wind as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. It’s a shock the industry can actually absorb—and maybe even benefit from in the long term. Read more: WSJ.com: Markets

The Lyon County Commission approved the purchase of a 4-month pilot with Hyper to automate 10 non-emergency call types for a total of $16,200 to be paid from the Dispatch Contractual Services fund. The new program, developed by new San Francisco based startup Hyper, is designed to respond to calls related to utilities, parking, controlled burns, and other non-911 issues. An AI voice, customizable by gender and talking speed, will ask for information and process it, transferring the caller if needed. Read more: www.emporiagazette.com - RSS Results in news,government/*

With the Kansas Jayhawks playing their home games in Kansas City last season, Lawrence businesses lost revenue. However, with an upgraded stadium, business owners are ready for the rewards that come with it. It's been 644 days since KU last played in Lawrence. And just judging by how many people are around town, Jayhawk fans are happy that KU is finally back home. Read more: FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports

Overland Park will soon replace what flag experts had ranked as one of the worst city flags with a new one that seeks to evoke the city’s park identity and nods to its history. The new flag proposal — which follows months of mulling and public engagement — comes at the tail end of a wider city brand overhaul that staff have been working on. During that process, the city engaged North American Vexillological Association, an international nonprofit organization of flag experts and enthusiasts that had ranked the old city flag as one of the worst in the country. Read more: [...]

The De Soto City Council approved a plan to develop a $3 billion data center campus near the Panasonic plant and will back it with industrial revenue bonds. California-based Beale Infrastructure plans a 1.14 million-square-foot data center campus at the northwest corner of 103rd Street and Edgerton Road in Flint Commerce Center. Beale, a portfolio company of Blue Owl Capital Inc., specializes in data center development. The project is expected to create 155 jobs by 2040. Read more: Kansas City Business Journal - Local Kansas City News