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One by one at a city council meeting last month, Olathe residents — most of them retired city employees — came forward to voice concerns about rising health insurance premiums. Nine speakers in all addressed the council at its Nov. 4th meeting. “Ever since we received this information about the 2026 cost increase, we’re trying to figure out how we can afford it,” retired Olathe police officer Damon Bell said. “And to be honest, this is scary.” Health insurance premiums are going up across the U.S., and a high-profile battle over subsidies for those on the federal ACA marketplace led to [...]

A two-story house, pointy at the top and painted red like a child’s drawing, is in the spotlight in Leavenworth. It stands out for its warm color, popping against the foliage wrapping it. Just under its peak, a large yellow butterfly hangs from a shingle. Matching the black, barnesque door are dark holes where windows used to be. The siding and shutters are peeling. Boards cover upper-floor windows and have been up long enough to grow mold. The vegetation surrounding the building threatens to swallow it whole. The nicknamed “Butterfly House” isn’t known today for its storybook facade; it’s an example of [...]

As the first snowflakes of the winter dusted Hutchinson on Monday morning, City of Hutchinson Public Works Director Cecil Weible and his crew stood prepared to keep the city’s roads clear and ice-free. “We had all of our equipment ready before everyone went home for Thanksgiving, and we had people out this morning looking for slick spots,” Weible said. Fortunately, Monday morning’s snow was not only small in its amount but it was a light snow, which precluded city crews from having to pretreat city streets ahead of its arrival, he said. “With a snow like this, the wind will blow [...]

Mayor Brad Finkeldei said he believes downtown Lawrence will be transformed, the city will expand west of Kansas Highway 10 and more development is coming in the next year or two. Finkeldei, first elected to a four-year term in 2019 and reelected in 2023, previously served as mayor in 2021. Traditionally, the person who receives the most votes in an election will serve as vice mayor for the first year of their term, then as mayor the following year. The candidate who received the second most votes in the election follows as the next vice mayor. The new commission — which [...]

City Clerk Bailey Saylor was designated as Interim City Administrator by the Lyons City Council during Monday evening’s meeting. This is one of a number of actions taken in the wake of the resignation of Troy Houtman on Nov. 17. As part of a motion setting out interim duties and responsibilities, Steven Thomas was designated as deputy city clerk, with Elizabeth Ramsey to continue in her role as assistant city administrator. The Council also as part of that motion eliminated the position of Human Resources Director, which they will re-evaluate in June. In a related action, the Council authorized Mayor Alicia [...]

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.

Douglas County currently has a policy that says the accounts can’t have fund balances that are more than 25% of their revenues. Douglas County Administrator Sarah Plinsky said, instead, the 20% to 25% range should be a minimum. Read more: LJWorld

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 commissioning of Wichita’s new water treatment plant has been delayed again. The City of Wichita said in a news release Wednesday that the delay is due to ongoing problems with the clarifiers. Clarifiers allow solids to settle at the bottom of the water so they can be removed. The new $500 million plant, near 21st Street and Hoover Road, is replacing the city’s 80-year-old water plant. It was constructed by Wichita Water Partners, which currently owns the plant but is slated to turn over ownership to the city once the facility is fully operational. That was originally supposed to happen [...]

At a special meeting Tuesday, the council voted 5-2 to negotiate a contract with Dennis Marstall. Councilmen Brandon Johnson and Mike Hoheisel voted no. “I am concerned about potential undue influence by elected officials in the process and potentially the selection committee,” District 1 City Council member Brandon Johnson said. “I am concerned about an expectation that immediately excludes one of the finalists.” Marstall is currently the county administrator of Lancaster County, South Carolina. Read more: KSN-TV