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With inflation at 3% and Hays City sales tax collection only up 1% in 2025, Finance Director Kim Rupp told City Commissioners that savings “across the board” helped keep the City operating in the black. “You can’t pinpoint any one particular thing. A couple of departments, Fire in particular, operated almost the whole year under-staffed so they saved some salaries,” said Director Rupp during the January 22nd City Commission Meeting. He added that a number of departments also did not use their contingency funds. “They kept expenses down, even with their regular general supplies and materials across the boards throughout all [...]

Lawmakers are attempting to resolve a water dispute between two Kansas cities and a neighboring county that has spawned three lawsuits, one administrative case and, most recently, a piece of proposed legislation that could modify county authority. The outcomes could determine what roles state officials and local governments will play in securing quality water supplies for future generations. One lawsuit has been dismissed, another is making its way through the court system, and the administrative case before the state’s Water Transfer Panel is in a holding pattern. But a bill that advanced out of a House committee Tuesday would amend state [...]

As dozens of local officials and advocates recently took a peek at Maura Heft’s new three-bedroom home, she proudly showed off her spacious kitchen with dark wood cabinets and joyfully explained that the home came with a finished basement. Heft and her 6-year-old daughter were moving into their first home that they own. They are the first tenants to move into a new type of affordable housing constructed by Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City on the southern edge of Olathe in Johnson County. It’s a 14-home neighborhood built on a community land trust. That’s a real estate tool that allows [...]

The Leawood City Council has approved a new ordinance requiring minors to wear helmets on 'motorized' devices. The ordinance, passed Monday night, requires anyone under age 18 to wear a secured helmet while operating or riding as a passenger on electric-assisted bikes, scooters, skateboards, mopeds, and similar devices. City officials said the change follows concerns raised by police about the increasing use of e-bikes and e-scooters by juveniles, often without helmets. Violations of the ordinance can result in a warning or a citation carrying a $25 fine. Police have said enforcement will focus first on education and voluntary compliance as residents [...]

Across Kansas, more judges are becoming attuned to the mental health struggles of those who step into their courtrooms. In Ellis County, 23rd Judicial District Chief Judge Curtis Brown has witnessed the revolving door of people who are battling addiction and untreated mental illness while simultaneously dealing with the court system. “I really like to try to help people out,” Brown says. “You’ve just got to bring in a human element and help these folks.” More than 250 miles to the east, Johnson County District Judge Robert Wonnell has grown more aware of the behavioral health challenges some people face through [...]

Thursday, Wyandotte County commissioners will decide whether they’ll give back a portion of new sales tax revenue to pay off a domed stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs. The development would go west of 118th Street, between State Avenue and Parallel Parkway, east of 126th Street. All 10 commissioners get to vote on this issue Thursday. Christian Ramirez is the Commissioner for the southeastern portion of the county. The stadium would go in the far western portion. “I don’t, no,” Ramirez said when asked if he knew how he was going to vote Thursday. “I still am reviewing all our comments. [...]

Sedgwick County Fire announced on Saturday via Facebook that it now has a new tool that helps firefighters locate people underwater. The AquaEye Pro is a handheld sonar system designed to help first responders quickly locate drowning victims. According to the company’s website, the tool cuts the average search time by 90%. It can also scan up to 8,000 square meters of water in five minutes, equivalent to 1½ football fields. The device is currently housed at Fire Station 32 in Park City. Sedgwick County Fire says it’s hoping to get another device to keep at a station in Haysville. Read [...]

Sen. Jerry Moran announced on Wednesday that rural Kansas hospitals and community health centers are getting more than $7 million in federal funding. The money comes from fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills, including the one approved by Congress and signed into law by the president this week. “Access to medical care is often a deciding factor for many Kansans when determining whether they will remain in the rural communities they call home,” Moran said in a news release. “These resources will support rural hospitals and community health centers across our state and help to improve outcomes, invest in new medical capabilities, [...]

The Pratt Regional Medical Center is delinquent on its rent, the county says. On Tuesday, KSN obtained a letter sent from an attorney representing Pratt County to the hospital. It is labeled “Notice of Default and Intent to Terminate Lease.” The letter, dated Jan. 23, said the hospital owed more than $1.58 million for rent from October 2024 to January. An additional $99,000 in rent was set to come due on Feb. 1. The letter also accuses the hospital of being out of compliance with two requirements in the lease: the debt-to-income ratio and the cash on hand clause that said [...]

Recent political advertisements from a Wichita organization are raising questions from the public about their legality. Wichita Forward, the group that introduced a citywide 1% sales tax proposal that will go before voters next month, is at the center of the controversy. On Tuesday, a complaint was filed alleging that one of the group’s ads may violate election or ethics laws by using a city employee in campaign messaging. The commercial features Wichita firefighters standing at what appears to be a fire station, along with several vehicles moving around the area. It includes a message from a firefighter named Warren, who [...]