News

The Kansas Legislature’s auditors reported Monday the state Department of Commerce didn’t consistently adhere to internal evaluation processes and maintain transparency in selecting recipients of $99 million in federal infrastructure and economic development funding. Kristen Rottinghaus, deputy auditor of the Kansas Division of Post Audit, said the review raised questions about the commerce department’s compliance in early 2022 with its method of scoring the 250 qualifying applications and the authority wielded by Secretary David Toland to include his personal analysis of applications in wake of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible applications were to be scored by two state agency staff members, [...]

Municipal market participants Monday cheered the survival of their prized tax exemption in the first draft of a sweeping House tax bill but weren't quite ready to pop the Champagne. The release of the Ways and Means Committee tax bill Monday kicks off complex and high-stakes negotiations during which the muni market could find itself again in the crosshairs. Source: The Latest

A small Kansas city with fewer than 25,000 people is packing a big punch for its historical bonafides. Abilene recently earned a spot on USA TODAY’s 10Best list of the best historic small towns worth visiting in 2025, snagging the No. 2 spot. Source: Homepage

Wichita could become one of the first cities in Kansas to recycle and reuse wastewater for drinking. The Wichita City Council approved a nearly $1.2 million study to figure out how the city could implement recycling and reusing water from its wastewater treatment plants. The recycled water could go for industrial uses as non-potable water or go back into the drinking water supply from direct potable reuse water. Source: Homepage

The City of Newton and Harvey County share maintenance responsibilities for the differing sides of E. First Street. The city also upkeeps a section of the road stretching out to Hillside. The county has the responsibility to upkeep the road from Hillside on. Due to existing and possible development at the Kansas Logistics Park, as well as the airport, the city has sought to expand and improve E. First Street from Newton to Oliver. As the city and county co-own both the airport and the Logistics Park, the city asked the county to share in the costs of the entire study. [...]

Amazon shoppers in Kansas City, Kansas, could soon have their packages delivered by drone. On Monday, the Unified Government Planning Commission approved a final development plan for Amazon.com Inc. to add a drone delivery launch area to its existing fulfillment center at 6925 Riverview Ave. Source: Kansas City Business News - Local Kansas City News | Kansas City Business Journal

The Topeka Police Department (TPD) is launching a new initiative to reduce violent crime in the Capital City this year. Dan Garrett with the City of Topeka announced in a press release the TPD will be launching the Police and Community Together initiative this month. The PACT program aims to increase community safety, involvement and engagement. The TPD will host a community kickoff picnic from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 22 at the Little Oakland Park at 900 Northeast Chester Avenue. People will have a chance to meet with TPD Chief Chris Vallejo, his senior command staff and [...]

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.

A dog park is coming to Humboldt.  At their meeting Monday evening, City Council members approved a two-part park — one section for smaller dogs and the other for larger dogs — in the southwest corner of town at the intersection of First and Pine streets.  Source: The Iola Register

In the Manhattan city limits, the county’s new regulations on fireworks will not apply. On Monday, Riley County officials proposed an updated resolution that would extend the sale of fireworks by a couple days and increase the fee for a fireworks' sales permit. The updates follow Senate Bill 199, which passed in April. It permits the year-round sale of fireworks for permanent retailers and extends the sale for seasonal vendors. However, counties retain the authority to regulate when to sell and discharge fireworks, and Riley County's commissioners discussed Monday that the county will just extend the firework sales window by a couple [...]