News

City leaders made adjustments to a controversial utility bill Tuesday night. At the city council meeting on the night of Dec. 2, city leaders agreed to change the name of what you’re paying for retail water services and sanitary sewer services. Currently people in Topeka pay a “readiness to serve” charge. Now, after a vote from the governing body, people will be paying a “base charge.” The readiness to serve charge is a monthly fee for people on all water meters whether it’s used or not. While causing confusion from people in the community, and some even saying it’s not fair, [...]

World Cup in the Flint Hills? Well, not for games — but Wabaunsee County is developing a marketing campaign to attract spectators with the help of the Kansas Department of Commerce. The state is disbursing over $177,000 in tourism marketing grants to 20 entities. On the list is Wabaunsee County Economic Development, which is set to begin a targeted campaign aimed at FIFA World Cup travelers to inform them about the Flint Hills, both in general terms and when it comes to specific attractions. Wabaunsee County is using a better-than-$7,400 grant for this purpose with the World Cup coming to Kansas [...]

Deep Fission says it plans to install a nuclear reactor underground at an industrial park in southeast Kansas. Parsons, Kansas, will be the site of a California startup’s first ever 1-mile-deep nuclear reactor — with support from county commissioners, both Republican Kansas U.S. senators and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration. Deep Fission will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking on Tuesday at Great Plains Industrial Park. Company leaders hope to receive U.S. Department of Energy authorization and get its nuclear reactor up and running by next Fourth of July. Read more: The Lawrence Times

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.

Super Pass pool program holders in northeastern Johnson County will have access to another municipal pool for the 2026 swim season. After dropping out in 2024, Roeland Park will rejoin the Super Pass program next summer. The Roeland Park City Council unanimously approved the move at its meeting on Nov. 17. The program allows pass holders access to any participating city pool, which in 2025 included Fairway, Mission and Prairie Village. Those three cities are set to remain in the program next year, and Roeland Park will be added back. In previous years, Leawood and Merriam also participated in the program [...]

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 [...]