Kansas Municipal News
12 schools in NE Kansas have been targeted by school threats
Law enforcement agencies across Kansas have been on high alert after a series of school threats that have targeted at least 12 schools in the northeast Kansas area. Six northeast Kansas school districts have had threats made against them recently, prompting some law enforcement agencies to heighten enforcement efforts.
Source: 1350 KMAN
‘A breakdown’: Kansas missed signs dead ex-official worked both sides of $425k grant
A former Kansas Department of Commerce official suspected of embezzling public funds handled money for a community foundation that received a $425,000 grant while he oversaw the same grant at the state agency that awarded it, an apparent conflict of interest now coming under scrutiny. Two top Commerce officials — Lt. Gov. David Toland, who leads the agency, and Robert North, the agency’s general counsel — signed off on the grant amid warning signs that the official was working on both sides of the grant. The former official, Jonathan L. Clayton, died in August in a single-vehicle crash as he faced mounting suspicion of wrongdoing and as a past felony conviction in Pennsylvania became more widely known in Kansas. Until October 2023, Clayton had been the director of economic recovery at Commerce, where he oversaw more than $100 million in programs funded by federal pandemic dollars. The agency didn’t conduct a criminal background check before hiring him. Clayton’s death has attracted significant attention, coming after he went missing on Aug. 3 and before an apparently posthumous email from him made allegations of misconduct involving Commerce, which the agency denies. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation in late August said it had found no evidence of foul play, but the investigation was continuing.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Lawrence adds 11 new city services for residents to request in city’s app, including pothole repairs
The city of Lawrence’s app now allows residents to make 11 new types of service requests, including pothole and pavement repairs and stormwater issues. The city announced the expanded service requests offered by the web app, called SeeClickFix…
Source: LJWorld
Wichita to continue Stage 2 water restrictions, increase enforcement
The City of Wichita said it will increase enforcement as it continues Stage 2 water restrictions. … “During the last two months, efforts on education were prioritized over issuing fines,” said the city. “Going forward, staff plans to increase enforcement, including issuance of fines if warranted, while still continuing educational efforts on ways to cut back on water use.”
Source: KWCH
Lyon County Commission discusses VisionFirst Economic Development report
The Lyon County Commission reviewed the findings and recommendations found in the VisionFirst Economic Development Report, Thursday morning. The report outlines recommendations for streamlining economic development efforts in Emporia and the surrounding areas by bringing entities like RDA, the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce, Emporia Main Street, and Visit Emporia under one umbrella organization. The report, which was commissioned by the City of Emporia, was recently presented to the county and several key stakeholders, including the Regional Development Association and Emporia Enterprises. According to Chair Rollie Martin, the VisionFirst report outlines a more unified, strategic direction for economic development in Emporia and Lyon County. The key recommendation suggests consolidating economic development efforts, which currently involve multiple entities, under one primary organization. It proposes dissolving Emporia Enterprises and shifting its responsibilities to the RDA, which already has the authority to handle many of these tasks, including acquiring property for economic development purposes.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Board of County Commissioners discusses next steps following Lenexa City Council vote on homeless services center
Following the Sept. 17 Lenexa City Council denial of a Special Use Permit for the proposed Homeless Services Center, the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners voted today to terminate the real estate purchase agreement with MAA Krupa Lenexa LLC for the La Quinta property. Given the timeliness of contractual requirements, the Board took special action outside of its previously published calendar. “While I’m deeply disappointed in the Lenexa City Council’s denial of the SUP application, we needed to take swift action today to preserve as many federal COVID-19 relief funds as possible,” said Mike Kelly, Chairman of the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners. “Because we know there is a clear need to serve our unhoused population, we will work diligently to reallocate these resources toward investments that help vulnerable residents find permanent housing, employment, mental health services, and assistance with rent and utilities. While this project would have been a monumental step toward each of those needs, we knew that more work would always be necessary, so we will continue to collaborate with willing partners to address the housing crisis in our community.”
Source: Johnson County Kansas |
Olathe Police partnering with FBI on new firing range training facility
The Federal Bureau of Investigations will contribute some funds to the Olathe Police Department’s new firing range planned in southern Olathe. On Tuesday, the Olathe City Council voted 6-0 to approve a 20-year memorandum of understanding with the FBI for shared use and shared cost of building the facility near 167th Street and Interstate 35. Additionally, the city council approved an agreement with Turner Construction for the design and construction of the firing range. Councilmember Matt Schoonover was absent from the meeting. Firing range project to cost around $15M.
All the features of the new firing range planned in southern Olathe are still being settled, but on Tuesday, Olathe Police Chief Mike Butaud showed pictures of a police firing range under construction in Michigan off of which Olathe could base theirs. The plan is to build a range with some indoor and outdoor training spaces. In its capital improvement plan list, the city has budgeted just over $13.1 million for the project. The FBI will kick in another $2 million to help build it.
Source: Johnson County Post
Officials celebrate Kansas’ ‘economic transformation’ at new soybean plant
While this southeast Kansas town’s population peaked more than 100 years ago, the opening of the region’s largest ever economic development project means its best days are ahead, Lt. Gov. David Toland said Thursday. Toland spoke to a crowd of more than 100 state and federal lawmakers, economic development officials and construction company representatives who gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Bartlett soybean crushing plant just south of Cherryvale. The town’s population peaked at 4,700 in 1920 and is now 2,200. Toland, a Democrat and Iola native who also serves as commerce secretary, said the project reminds him of southeast Kansas’ “glory days.” “When heavy industry was pouring into this region and our towns were booming,” Toland said of the early 20th century, “it looked a lot like this, and we’re doing it again.” The $375 million plant, which began accepting shipments of soybeans in February, can house 49 million bushels of the crop and will help create food, animal feed and fuel, officials said. Now that it’s operational, Bartlett executives said, it will employ about 60 full-time workers.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Changes are coming to the housing voucher program in several Kansas counties
Changes are coming to the housing voucher program in several Kansas counties. Sedgwick, Butler, and Harvey County, excluding Newton, are moving to payment standards set by ZIP code for their housing voucher programs. In Wichita, people previously received a flat rate for their voucher. Starting Jan. 1, the amount someone receives will be based on ZIP code. The change is happening through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Wichita City Council member Brandon Johnson is concerned about landlords who don’t have good motives
I always think about the ways they try to get out of dealing with people, and one of those per this change is that these rates don’t apply to those already under a lease or a contract,” said Johnson. “It only happens when you renew or a new person enters the system.” Johnson says this could allow residents to afford to live in an area with a higher median income. Officials say the change will not only be complicated to administer for city staff but will also require education for residents. That’s why the city’s housing department is developing a tool similar to the one already used in Boston. It lets you enter your income, bedroom size, and whether you pay for utilities like electric, gas or trash. It also will tell you the affordability of that home.
Source: KSN-TV
Mulvane officials say water is safe to consume
Mulvane residents are assured that their water is safe to consume despite a more pronounced chlorine smell. The City of Mulvane normally gets its water from Augusta. However, recently, the line running from Augusta to Mulvane under the Walnut River failed, leading Mulvane to switch to its groundwater reserve system. That water is treated through Reverse Osmosis, which passes it through a filter that removes minerals, salts, and other impurities and disinfects it with chlorine. The water from Augusta is surface water, which was first treated through lime softening, then chlorine. That process removes calcium and magnesium from the water, along with some organic material. The water is then disinfected with chlorine. The chlorine typically binds with residual organic material, creating harmless chloramines, which also reduce the strength of the chlorine smell. Mulvane says until repairs are made, residents may notice a stronger chlorine smell in their water. However, it is safe, and there is no cause for concern. The city is waiting on a boring crew to put a new line underneath the river. There is no timeline on when that will take place.
Source: KSN-TV
Washburn law school receives funding for rural practice program
A local law school receives $1 million to expand rural legal practice across the Sunflower State. Washburn University School of Law has received a large grant to expand the school’s Rural Legal Practice Network and Externship Program. This $1 million grant comes from Patterson Family Foundation in Kansas City Missouri, according to a news release from Washburn University. With the funding, the program is able to be developed by creating a more diverse network of rural practitioners that gives access to legal resources and an opportunity for students to connect and learn from mentors.
Source: KSNT 27 News
City of Topeka loses gender discrimination lawsuit, has to pay nearly $500,000
The verdict for a gender discrimination lawsuit involving the Topeka Police Department (TPD) came down on Thursday. A jury in a federal court delivered unanimous agreements on Sept. 19 for the cases of two plaintiffs, Jana Kizzar (formerly Jana Harden) and Colleen Stuart, who sued the City of Topeka and former TPD Police Chief Bryan Wheeles in early 2023. The women made accusations that the TPD was a “good ol’ boys system” with a pattern of gender discrimination. The lawsuit was filed under the Title VII Civil Rights Act of 1964. Court documents obtained by 27 News show both women will be awarded large sums of cash in the lawsuit from the City of Topeka.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Salina K-9 killed in the line of duty
A K-9 member of the Salina Police Department has died in the line of duty. “It is with a heavy heart that the Salina Police Department announces the passing of one of our canines, K-9 Tyrann,” the SPD said in a news release. Police say “Ty” died Wednesday in an accidental fall from an elevated position. He was on duty at the time. “Ty was an active and faithful public servant, serving since February of 2021,” the department said. “His loss will be felt by the department members and the community.” The SPD is working on services for Ty and will notify the public of the date, time and location. Services for Tyrann will be arranged, and the public will be notified of the location, date, and time.
Source: KSNT 27 News
City of Topeka invites community to help celebrate ‘Good Neighbor Day’
Topekans are being invited to take part in National Good Neighbor Day at a local library later this month. The City of Topeka posted to social media Wednesday, Sept. 18 about the special upcoming event which will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library’s Learning Center. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about community engagement and getting involved in their local neighborhoods. People will also be able to learn how to use the SeeClickFix app to help improve the city and get safety tips from the Topeka Police Department. Activities for children, such as face painting and a balloon artist, will also be on site. You can find the library at 1515 Southwest 10th Avenue in Topeka. For more information on Good Neighbor Day at the library, you can contact Bianca Burnett at lburnett@topeka.org or call 785-368-3663.
Source: KSNT 27 News
City may take another look at its animal ordinance
A new city of Parsons law that increased penalties for dogs at large that bite people or attack other animals may be revised again in the future. Parsons City Commissioner Tom Shaw on Monday brought up the dog ordinance and said he thought it needed to have more stringent penalties for owners allowing their dogs to run at-large. Now the penalty for having a dog at-large is a $30 fine plus $110 in court costs. That didn’t change when the ordinance was amended earlier this month. The recent ordinance change offered penalties for dogs that bite. If an at-large animal bites a person, the owner will have to pay a minimum fine of $500 in addition to other penalties allowed in the ordinance. If an at-large animal attacks or wounds another domestic animal, the owner will pay a minimum fine of $400 in addition to other applicable penalties.
Source: Parsons Sun
Municipal Bond Trends for September 19, 2024
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.
Municipal Bond Trends for September 18, 2024
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.
Fed slashes interest rates by a half point, an aggressive start to its first easing campaign in four years
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday enacted its first interest rate cut since the early days of the Covid pandemic, slicing half a percentage point off benchmark rates in an effort to head off a slowdown in the labor market. With both the jobs picture and inflation softening, the central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee chose to lower its key overnight borrowing rate by a half percentage point, or 50 basis points, affirming market expectations that had recently shifted from an outlook for a cut half that size. Outside of the emergency rate reductions during Covid, the last time the FOMC cut by half a point was in 2008 during the global financial crisis. The decision lowers the federal funds rate to a range between 4.75%-5%. While the rate sets short-term borrowing costs for banks, it spills over into multiple consumer products such as mortgages, auto loans and credit cards. In addition to this reduction, the committee indicated through its “dot plot” the equivalent of 50 more basis points of cuts by the end of the year, close to market pricing. The matrix of individual officials’ expectations pointed to another full percentage point in cuts by the end of 2025 and a half point in 2026. In all, the dot plot shows the benchmark rate coming down about 2 percentage points beyond Wednesday’s move. “The Committee has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent, and judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are roughly in balance,” the post-meeting statement said.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Cyber attack on city of Wichita limited to police records, internal investigation finds
A ransomware attack that crippled the city of Wichita’s network for more than a month starting in May was limited to a Wichita Police Department records system, city officials said Wednesday. That means the Russian hacker group — LockBit — that claimed credit for the attack did not access bank card numbers, social security numbers or other private information about city customers or residents — unless the Police Department kept those records as part of an investigation. The breached records include potentially sensitive information about witnesses, victims and suspects in 77,000 police cases. They included incident reports, arrest reports, supplemental reports, property reports, accident reports and traffic citations, City Manager Robert Layton said. Layton, who has previously avoided disclosing key details about the cyber attack, said on Wednesday that the city’s internal investigation is now considered closed, so he can provide more information to the public. “We haven’t really been able to get out the information on the data itself, and I think that was one of the most important things we wanted to talk about, to kind of ease people’s concerns about their water bill information, for instance, and payment information, that type of thing,” Layton said.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
What the ongoing worker shortage looks like in Kansas
Where people in Kansas are moving to most. Fewer Americans moved in 2022, according to the latest Census data, but of those who did, 1 in 5 moved to a different state. Population growth has returned to pre-pandemic norms; Southern states continued to record influxes in population, while the Northeast saw the biggest drops, particularly in New York and Pennsylvania. These trends largely continued into last year, according to United Van Lines’ annual movers study. States with the most outbound moves in 2023 were New Jersey, Illinois, and North Dakota, which moved up 15 spots from the year before. Stacker compiled a list of states people from Kansas are moving to the most using data from the Census Bureau. States are ranked by the number of people who moved from Kansas to a different state in 2022. By now, the headlines are likely familiar: The “most unusual job market in modern American history.” The “Great American Labor Shortage.” The massive disruption to the job market wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, when by the latter half of 2021 almost half of American companies were reporting a worker shortage, impacted every corner of the nation. Since then, however, the job market has shifted back to more typical levels of employment, giving many Americans a renewed sense of normalcy. But some industries and parts of the country are still hurting for workers—a trend with ongoing ramifications for consumers and workers alike. JobTest.org analyzed Bureau of Labor Statistics data compiled by the Chamber of Commerce to illustrate the current state of Kansas’ ongoing labor shortage based on a national analysis. The analysis uses the most recent data available at the national and state levels, from July and June 2024 respectively. According to government jobs data, there were 8.2 million open jobs in the U.S. in July and only 7.1 million unemployed workers. Even if every unemployed worker had a job, the nation would still have millions of unfilled positions.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle