Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2024-3: Election-Day Buffer Zone

2024-03-06T15:29:37-06:00March 6th, 2024|

Synopsis: County election officers may constitutionally prohibit electioneering on private property within 250 feet of a polling place on election day. Cited herein: K.S.A. 21-6602; 21-6611; 25-2430; 25-2435. Source: Kansas Attorney General Opinions

Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2024-2: Transient Guest Tax

2024-03-06T15:25:38-06:00March 6th, 2024|

Synopsis: The Transient Guest Tax Act is a nonuniform act. As such, a county may exempt itself from provisions of the Act under its home-rule powers through a charter ordinance or resolution. Sherman County’s Charter Resolution No. 18 was a permissible use of its statutory authority. However, once it exempted itself, Sherman County cannot then require the Kansas Department of Revenue to collect the tax. Cited herein: K.S.A. 12-1696; K.S.A. 12-1697; K.S.A. 12-1698; K.S.A. 12-1699; K.S.A. 12-16,113; K.S.A. 19-101; K.S.A. 19-101a; K.S.A. 19-101b; K.S.A. 75-704. Source: Kansas Attorney General Opinions

City manager pushes for updated Newton city plan

2024-03-08T08:30:42-06:00March 6th, 2024|

After looking over the current comprehensive plan for the City of Newton, planning commissioners realized that much of the plan had already been done. Daniela Rivas, Newton’s city manager, said at the planning commission meeting on Monday, March 4, that she would like to see a “refresh” of the plan as well as begin work for the new comprehensive plan. The current plan deals with the city’s goals for several areas, such as land use and transportation. City employees said the plan is a guide for the direction they take. The current plan is for 2010 to 2030. Source: Harvey County [...]

Wichita City Council lifts ban on corporate political donations, with one requirement

2024-03-06T13:23:19-06:00March 6th, 2024|

The Wichita City Council voted Tuesday to lift a short-lived ban on corporate campaign contributions to city candidates. The rollback of the campaign finance reform was approved 7-0 as council members came together in support of an amendment requiring candidates to report the name of the principal owner of the company that gave to their campaign. Another amendment introduced by council member Brandon Johnson that would have banned the practice of giving multiple donations through different companies failed 3-4 without the support of the council’s three Republican members or Mayor Lily Wu, a Libertarian. In cases where one limited liability company [...]

USD 259 parents petition to stop closure of six schools

2024-03-06T13:22:27-06:00March 6th, 2024|

After the Wichita Public Schools board voted to close six schools, parents are petitioning to have the decision reviewed on the state level. Parents KSN News has spoken to are upset, and you can see it. In the video above, you can see signs dotting a lawn, protesting the BOE decision and encouraging parents to get involved. On Tuesday, parents started going door to door to get a petition signed trying to stop these closures. Parents say closing the six schools was a decision they don't feel they had a say in. "I think it's pretty evident that most of us already felt [...]

Wichita Fire Department to host Citizens’ Fire Academy this spring

2024-03-06T13:21:07-06:00March 6th, 2024|

The Wichita Fire Department will be hosting another Citizens' Fire Academy this spring. Classes will be held every Tuesday evening starting in April and go through the beginning of June. Although the WFD has not released what time the classes start, they say the classes will last 2-3 hours and take place at the Regional Training Center, 4746 E. 31st St. S. #4494. The last meeting will be held at a City Council meeting to recognize the participants for completing the academy. (...) "The Wichita Fire Department Citizens’ Fire Academy is dedicated to increasing public awareness by familiarizing and informing the citizens [...]

Abilene in the running for best historic small town contest

2024-03-06T13:20:06-06:00March 6th, 2024|

A small town situated in the heart of Kansas is in the running for a national contest hosted by USA Today. The Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau announced in a press release on Monday, March 4, that Abilene will be a finalist for USA Today's Readers' Choice 'Best Historic Small Town' contest. Abilene came close to the number-one spot in 2022 and 2023. "This honor is truly remarkable!" Director of the Abilene Convention & Visitor's Bureau Julie Roller-Weeks said. "Achieving this recognition once is a significant accomplishment, and securing it for six consecutive years in a nationwide contest against other exceptional small [...]

Governor Kelly Announces More than $14M to Improve 37 Kansas Airports

2024-03-06T13:18:57-06:00March 6th, 2024|

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that 58 projects at 37 airports have been selected to receive $14.3 million through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP). “Improvements made to our aviation infrastructure are vital to local economies, even in rural parts of Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “These enhancements ensure that no matter where they are in the state, businesses and communities have every opportunity to grow and prosper.” The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation received 135 applications seeking more than $84 million for projects in this round of KAIP grants. The selected projects focus on pavement preservation, safety, and air [...]

Powell reinforces position that the Fed is not ready to start cutting interest rates

2024-03-06T13:17:38-06:00March 6th, 2024|

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday reiterated that he expects interest rates to start coming down this year, but is not ready yet to say when. In prepared remarks for congressionally mandated appearances on Capitol Hill Wednesday and Thursday, Powell said policymakers remain attentive to the risks that inflation poses and don't want to ease up too quickly. "In considering any adjustments to the target range for the policy rate, we will carefully assess the incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks," he said. "The Committee does not expect that it will be appropriate to reduce the [...]

Solar Regs not about single project

2024-03-06T12:29:01-06:00March 6th, 2024|

Thursday evening, Feb. 29, the Barton County Planning Commission held a public discussion meeting at Barton Community College campus. The Barton County Planning Commission will hold another meeting Monday, March 4, to begin working through the feedback that has been received on the DRAFT changes to the “Current” Barton County Zoning Regulations – Version II as they pertain to Solar Energy Conversion Systems (SECS) and the future development of Large Scale Non-Commercial SECS or Commercial Scale SECS in Barton County. This meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Upstairs Meeting Room at the Hoisington Activity Center at 1200 Susank Road, [...]

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