News

Actress Cate Blanchett calls them “everything that is wrong with the human race,” and says they “should be eradicated from the face of the earth.” Comedic actor Ricky Gervais also hates them, per an October story in The Guardian, as do actors Danny DeVito and Hugh Grant. So maybe it’s unsurprising that California, home to the stars, has been at the forefront in regulating leaf blowers. Beverly Hills was reportedly one of the first to ban sales of gas-powered leaf blowers — and that was in 1978. California Gov. Gavin Newsom followed that up with a statewide ban on the sale [...]

On Thursday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall joined fellow Republicans to introduce the Back the Blue Act, led by Senator John Cornyn. The bill is designed to strengthen protections for law enforcement officers and provide them with new tools to stay safe. It creates tougher federal penalties for anyone who kills or tries to kill a law enforcement officer or judge, including life in prison or the death penalty, and imposes stricter punishments for assaults on officers. Read more: KCLY Radio

The Federal Reserve is poised to deliver its third straight interest rate cut Wednesday, while simultaneously firing a warning shot about what's ahead. Following a period of remarkable indecision about which way central bank policymakers would lean, markets have settled on a quarter percentage point reduction. If that's the case, it will take the Fed's key interest rate down to a range of 3.5%-3.75%. However, there are complications. Read more: CNBC Bonds

Ron Ballad, who has led the Arkansas City public school district since 2005, announced at the school board meeting Monday that he plans to retire in July next year. Before being hired as superintendent, Ballard was business manager and assistant superintendent at USD 470. He's been with the district for 27 years. Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com

The City of Emporia has released its 2026 Annual Budget Book, a new resource aiming to help its citizens better understand the annual budget. The 86-page document defines several key terms involved in the budgeting process, explains the calculations used to determine property tax liabilities, details each fund included in the budget, and lists the major changes that contributed to the allocations made. The resource also highlights planned city projects for 2026. Read more: www.emporiagazette.com

The Wichita City Council on Tuesday decided to move forward with a possible special election on a 1-cent sales tax. Council members voted 7-0 to pass an ordinance that would put the question on the ballot. But that was just the first reading; the council will need to vote again next week. During the meeting, dozens of residents spoke in favor of and against the sales tax vote. Read more: KSN-TV

The Kansas Board of Education has a big wish list for the state legislature. However, the board believes one recommendation deserves some extra attention. During the Kansas Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9 board members came up with their annual list of legislative priorities. This is a list of education policies the board would like to see the legislature address during the upcoming session. Lawmakers typically refer to this list while drafting bills related to education. This year, the board has several key recommendations, one of which has to do with bus rider safety. Read more: KSNT 27 News

The Arkansas City Commission has approved changes to zoning regulations that will allow some homeowners to build front-yard carports under specific conditions. The amendments were adopted Dec. 2 and come in response to the severe June hailstorm, which left many residents looking for permitted options to protect their vehicles. Principal Planner Josh White told commissioners that several neighborhoods without rear-alley access had limited options under the previous rules. The new standards create a narrow exception for single-family and two-family homes on those lots. Read more: Cowley Post

The Kansas man who made national news after being charged with voting illegally, resigned his position as mayor of Coldwater. The Coldwater City Council announced Monday that it had accepted the resignation. “We will continue with the daily work of the city ensuring that all services and operations move forward without interruption,” a city statement said. “Our priority is keeping the community informed and maintaining stability during this transition.” Read more at: Wichita Eagle

A Shawnee County judge on Tuesday upheld an attorney general's opinion saying that Johnson County exceeded its authority to ask voters to renew a public safety sales tax to fund mental health and emergency medical services. Read more: Sunflower State Journal