UK Variant identified in Ellis County

2021-02-05T08:16:33-06:00February 4th, 2021|

A CDC Emerging Variant, which has been found in 33 U.S. states, was identified in Kansas this afternoon. A Kansas resident in Ellis County was found to have the United Kingdom, or UK, variant known as B.1.1.7. A case investigation is being conducted to determine how the person became infected with this particular variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as if others may have been exposed. No further details are being released concerning the patient, including demographics. The variant was determined through the whole genome sequencing (WGS) conducted through the laboratories at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). [...]

Governor Laura Kelly Announces Kansas Find My Vaccine Tool

2021-02-05T08:18:22-06:00February 4th, 2021|

Governor Laura Kelly announced the launch of the “Find My Vaccine” mapping tool, designed to help Kansans locate sites that are administering vaccines in their communities. The tool is available now on https://kansasvaccine.gov, Kansas’s COVID-19 vaccine website. Kansans in vaccine phase 1 and 2 are recommended to use this tool as a resource for finding providers who are or will be offering the vaccine. “The ‘find my vaccine’ mapping tool allows any Kansan, regardless of where they live, to find the closest vaccine provider to their community,” Governor Laura Kelly said. Source: WIBW News Now

Millions in transportation dollars from COVID-19 bill will go to Wichita and KC areas

2021-02-05T08:18:32-06:00February 4th, 2021|

More than $9.1 million of the roughly $93.6 million Kansas received in federal highway and transportation funds through a COVID-19 relief bill will go to the Wichita and Kansas City areas, officials said Thursday. Gov. Laura Kelly and Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz announced the breakdown of how transportation dollars through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act will be spent during a news conference at the Meridian Center in Newton on Thursday. The legislation, which was signed into law Dec. 27, included $10 billion for state highway and transportation systems, with Kansas receiving about $93.6 million, according [...]

Southwest Kansas medical workers create COVID vaccine videos in nearly a dozen languages

2021-02-05T08:23:32-06:00February 4th, 2021|

What happens when language differences get in the way of understanding the facts pertaining to the COVID-19 vaccine? That’s the challenging reality many in southwest Kansas were facing until two medical professionals came together to start breaking down the barrier. "It's a heavy privilege to be in medicine right now, " said southwest Kansas physician assistant, Erin Keeley. Erin Keeley and Rachael Svaty are medical professionals practicing in southwest Kansas, one of the most diverse places in the state. Not only do the cities make up the densest Hispanic populations in the state, but the communities constitute of racial backgrounds as [...]

Scott City to reset ‘vision’ on Thursday

2021-02-04T15:24:12-06:00February 4th, 2021|

Where does Scott City hope to see itself in the next five years, the next decade and beyond? Local residents will have an opportunity to provide their input during a Scott Community Vision meeting and workshop on Thurs., Feb. 11, from 5:30-9:00 p.m., at the Scott City Middle School commons area. This meeting had originally been planned a year ago, just prior to the pandemic, but the delay may have been the best thing that could have happened, says Scott County Development Committee director Katie Eisenhour. Source: Scott County Record.

Scott City initiates search for city administrator

2021-02-04T15:23:19-06:00February 4th, 2021|

On two previous occasions in Scott City’s history, the city council has hired an administrator to assume more of the dayto-day as well as long-range planning for the city. The last time that position was created was in January of 1996 ... A new time and increasing demands on elected officials have prompted the city council to hire a consultant and begin the search for an administrator. ... [Mayor] Green said the recent decision by City Clerk Brenda Davis to retire on April 20 makes this a good time for this transition to an administrator. Source: Scott County Record.

Olathe school board votes to bring middle, high schoolers back to in-person learning

2021-02-05T08:49:52-06:00February 4th, 2021|

The Olathe school board has voted 5-2 to bring all students back to in-person classes at the beginning of March. The board's decision applies to middle and high schoolers at Olathe Public Schools who are currently in a hybrid learning schedule. Grades Kindergarten through 5th are already learning in-person. These older students will switch to full-time, in-person learning on March 1. Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 - WDAF

Topeka plans to capture and sell biogas generated from city waste

2021-02-04T07:40:18-06:00February 4th, 2021|

The city of Topeka is working to make the Oakland Wastewater Treatment Plant more environmentally friendly, and doing so could be fiscally beneficial as well. Material at waste facilities, which can include waste from flushing toilets, breaks down and creates biogas, said Braxton Copley, deputy director of the city’s Utility Department. That gas can be captured and sold, but Topeka is flaring off the gas until the project is completed. Copley said Topeka partnered with Bluesource to market the gas. He estimated biogas can bring in about $1.7 million in the first year. With the total cost of the project about [...]

Garden City mask ordinance extended 30 more days

2021-02-04T07:26:05-06:00February 4th, 2021|

Garden City’s face covering ordinance was extended again. The Garden City Commission approved another 30-day extension to its face covering ordinance at its regular commission meeting Tuesday. It was approved with by a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners Manny Ortiz and Roy Cessna dissenting. The ordinance was originally approved at the city’s Nov. 17 regular meeting and was designed to expire after 30 days unless extended by a majority vote of the commission prior to its expiration. Source: GC Telegram.

Municipal Bond Trends for February 3, 2021

2021-02-04T07:24:23-06:00February 4th, 2021|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.

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