Kansas Municipal News
This Southeast Kansas museum showcases mining industry in new exhibit
A new exhibit at a Southeast Kansas museum is showcasing the history of the mining industry. The Miners Hall Museum is hosting the Southeast Kansas Coal Camp – West Mineral exhibit. A presentation of the history was hosted by David R. Wallace. The exhibit contains photos, maps, coins, and high school uniforms – giving people an in-depth look at the impact that miners had. “I’m genuinely interested in what has happened here and how this all developed, what happened with the mining, why people come here, where they came from, what they did, when they came here, and how they lived and how they related to each other. It’s an amazing story and it’s our story,” said David R. Wallace, Presenter. The “Coal Camp – West Mineral” exhibit will be on display until June 23.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Emporia takes proactive measures as EPA announces landmark ‘forever chemicals’ regulations
For the first time ever, the Environmental Protection Agency announced a national regulation targeting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Often termed “forever chemicals,” PFAS have permeated air, water, and soil, posing enduring environmental and health risks. “Drinking water contaminated with PFAS has plagued communities across this country for too long,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan, according to a CBS News report. The regulations will have sweeping effects across the country, including municipalities like Emporia. City of Emporia Communications Manager Christine Torrens told The Gazette this week that the city is working proactively to address concerns regarding PFAS chemicals in drinking water. “The City of Emporia has sent water samples to KDHE to determine the current levels of PFAS chemicals present,” she said. “While the results are pending, city staff is in communication with KDHE to promptly receive the findings. It’s worth noting that the water provided to residents not only meets but surpasses KDHE standards, earning awards for its quality over multiple years.” According to CBS News, the new EPA regulations mandates testing for six specific PFAS chemicals in public water systems, aiming to shield over 100 million Americans from potential health hazards associated with PFAS exposure.
Source: Emporia Gazette
Municipal Bond Trends for April 19, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. 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.
Pittsburg proposes neighborhood names and boundary definitions
The city of Pittsburg is considering a significant overhaul to its neighborhood designations, aiming to name each area and establish clear boundary lines. The initiative, spearheaded by the Neighborhood Advisory Council, seeks to enhance community pride and foster a sense of shared ownership among residents. The council recently launched an online survey to gather feedback on the proposed changes. According to community development specialist Sarah Runyon, the primary objective is to create a stronger sense of identity within each neighborhood. “Maybe there is a way that you identify your neighborhood that we don’t know about,” she stated. “This gives us an opportunity to do that.”
Source: KOAM News
Commerce Updates ROZ Student Loan Repayment Program
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced significant changes to the Rural Opportunity Zones (ROZ) program that could increase participation in student loan repayments for people moving to rural Kansas counties. Individuals who earn an associate degree or higher and move to a designated ROZ county they haven’t lived in for the preceding two years are eligible to have up to $15,000 in student loan debt repaid. Previously, individuals had to live elsewhere for the preceding five years to be eligible. Commerce also clarified the language describing a student’s permanent residence. Rural residents who occupied a dorm room or apartment during college and kept their permanent address on their driver’s license as their parents’ residence, for example, no longer would be denied eligibility in the program when they returned to their home community following graduation.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Tiny home village in Kansas City, Kansas, will house those experiencing homelessness
Phil Jorgenson does not like to call it a homeless community. “Because as soon as they move here, they’re not homeless anymore,” said Jorgenson, one of the founders of Eden Village in Kansas City, Kansas. “They’re a community member, and they’re going to be good neighbors.” Built on the site of an old trailer park, near 10th Street and Metropolitan Avenue, Eden Village is slated to provide shelter as well as access to social services for Kansas City area residents in the most dire living situations. It is governed by a 13-member board of directors for a nonprofit organization called Three Dog Night, named after the classic rock band and an Australian saying about being outdoors in the bitter cold.
Source: KC Star Local News
Supreme Court to decide if ban on homeless encampments is ‘cruel and unusual’
Helen Cruz, an unhoused Grants Pass native, knows the indignity first hand. Over five years living in city parks before a nearby church took her in, she says she received more than $5,000 in camping related fines. “I was holding down two jobs when I was out here, and it’s still not enough to be able to rent a place,” she said. “The terms of low income housing here is $1,000 a month, and that’s not workable either.” Still, from Phoenix, to Los Angeles, to Seattle, city leaders and law enforcement groups — members of both political parties — have joined Grants Pass in urging the justices to make it easier to clear tent encampments from the streets. “Cities need to have these ordinances so that they can help incentivize people to accept offers of help,” Evangelis said. “That’s what these laws do.” In its brief to the high court, Grants Pass says lower courts created “a judicial roadblock preventing a comprehensive response to the growth of public encampments in the West” and that the situation threatens “crime, fires, the reemergence of medieval disease, environmental harm, and record levels of drug overdoses and deaths on public streets.”
Source: KAKE – News
Treasury yields fall as investors weigh economic data and Israel strike against Iran
U.S. Treasury yields declined on Friday as investors considered the latest economic data and remarks from Federal Reserve officials, and considered what this could mean for monetary policy. At 4:20 a.m. ET, the yield on the 10-year Treasury was down by over five basis points to 4.5878%. The 2-year Treasury yield was last at 4.9622% after falling by more than two basis points. Yields and prices move in opposite directions. One basis point is equivalent to 0.01%. Investors digested the latest economic data and remarks from policymakers as they considered the outlook for interest rates. Fed officials have in recent days and weeks indicated that interest rates may remain elevated for longer than previously anticipated. “I definitely don’t feel urgency to cut interest rates,” New York Fed President John Williams said on Thursday, adding that this position was linked to strength in the economy. Interest rates would eventually need to be cut, but that would depend on how the economy develops, he said at Semafor’s World Economy Summit.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Quaker Park to remain as is; Emporia City Commission planning to rescind previous resolution deeming park as surplus real property and cease plans for sale or transfer of property
The next step in the Quaker Park saga was supposed to be the validation of signatures on a petition in opposition to the park’s sale or transfer, however, that will no longer be necessary. The reason is that Emporia Commissioners chose Tuesday to have city staff draft a resolution rescinding the commission’s previous action designating the park as surplus real property and initiating the sale and transfer process. Part of the reason for this decision, recommended by Emporia City Manager Trey Cocking, was the number of signatures the petition gathered, more than 800. 462 signatures from registered Emporia voters were needed to make the petition valid and thus force city leadership to either end the sale process outright or place the item on a future election ballot. The protest deadline was 5 pm Monday and the validation process was expected to take two to three days to complete, however, Cocking says there was no need for further action noting the community has made its desire clear.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Thrive Allen County unveils Naloxone vending box at ribbon cutting ceremony
Thrive Allen County conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, April 17th, at 9 a.m. to unveil the new Naloxone (Narcan) vending box installed outside their Iola, Kansas office. The Naloxone vending box, also known as Narcan, houses a medication designed to swiftly reverse opioid overdoses. “By placing items in a FREE and easy to access newspaper-style machine (box), SEK Recovery Resources and Thrive Allen County hopes to break down barriers for immediate first response to an opioid overdose and save lives in Allen County.” – Thrive Allen County. SEK Recovery Resources and Thrive Allen County collaborated to provide this life-saving medication. Data from the CDC shows there were 655 opioid overdose deaths predicted in November of 2023.
Source: KOAM News
More than $90K in damage at Windom Cemetery vandalism
Starla Andreas is heartbroken knowing that vandals defaced her mother-in-law’s grave, along with 46 others. “I think the community is just crying. Why? Why would this senseless act take place? Why would you do this to people that you don’t even know the families,” Andreas asked. Andreas has lived in the rural town of Windom for several years and said that members of the community plan to help clean up the mess left at the cemetery. “I will be out there because not only was my mother’s headstone, but we have friends here in this community and their family members,” Andreas said. “And we don’t want them to suffer no more than we are. But we all are.” McPherson County Sheriff Jerry Montagne said that more than $90,000 in damage has been done here at the cemetery. “Think of your mother, your father, or grandparents, somebody that you love to, you know, that’s the last resting place, you know, the thought of it just puts chills down my spine,” Montagne said. The McPherson County Sheriff’s office continues to investigate and still isn’t sure who may have done it.
Source: KAKE – News
Bill Warren, Century II activists celebrate completion of new $5 million roof
Century II has long been the most recognizable landmark in the Wichita skyline. City leaders have spent years debating whether to tear it down, but Thursday was a big win for people who are fighting to keep it standing. “We’re celebrating the new roof on Century II. It’s gorgeous. It’s bright, it’s blue, and we’re thrilled,” said Celeste Racette with Save Century II. Watching this timelapse from our drone, it’s obvious the $5 million project was no easy task. You can see six months of work and more than 23,000 working hours from start to finish in just a matter of seconds as the crew of about 40 workers buttoned up the last panel. “The importance of getting the roof done, it shows that the city is going to take care of this wonderful, iconic building,” said Racette. One of the people who was at the celebration knows a thing or two about theaters, and he hopes the new roof is only the beginning. “I’ve done hundreds of millions of dollars in new theaters and so forth. But this, by far, is the most iconic building in the city of Wichita. And to tear it down for financial reasons, this incredible building that was built in the 60s, would be a sin,” said movie theater mogul Bill Warren. Warren has made it his personal mission to help save Century II for free.
Source: KAKE – News
Digging deep into the history of Olathe, this documentary filmmaker discovered gems
Gregory Sheffer thought he knew Olathe history. After all, he grew up in the Olathe school system and earned a history degree from MidAmerica Narazene University in Olathe. There was, Sheffer discovered, more to know about Olathe’s history. And through a documentary film project, he’s learned a lot more — and so have the people of Olathe. The project — known as “Olathe – The City Beautiful” — is marking two milestones. The entire series of 20 completed documentaries now has its own You Tube channel, and the last of the documentaries — about Gary Burrell, the Olathe citizen who co-founded Garmin — is expected to be completed this summer. The documentary project has an unusual background. A visit Sheffer, a filmmaker and director, made in the early 2000s to the Lone Elm campground provided the initial spark.
Source: Joco 913 News
Pittsburg Community Schools is looking to help ensure bus safety
Pittsburg Community Schools is contributing to bus safety efforts in Kansas by participating in the Kansas One Day Stop Arm Violation Count for the Kansas State Department of Education. The district emphasizes the importance of safety, especially for students in the “danger zone” outside the bus. Kansas law (KSA 8-1556) requires all motorists to stop when approaching or overtaking a stopped school bus displaying its flashing red lights and stop arm. Motorists are to remain stopped until the bus is no longer displaying its flashing red lights and stop arm. Officials say violation of this Kansas law not only endangers children but is punishable by a fine and court costs in excess of $420. In 2023, Kansas reported 676 Stop Arm Violations. This survey, conducted in coordination with the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS), aims to assess the prevalence of illegal passing of school buses nationwide.
Source: KOAM News
Kansas town council member resigns, keeps bigger role
A man elected to three roles in Graham County has to give up one of them. Jarrod Knoll has been serving as a Graham County commissioner, a Morland City Council member, and a Graham County USD 281 School Board member. Last November, Graham County Attorney Jill Elliott began trying to oust Knoll as a county commissioner. She said state statute does not allow anyone who holds a city office to be a county commissioner. She also said Knoll has not been living in the county commission district he was elected to represent. She says that is a violation of another state statute. Knoll was temporarily suspended from serving as a county commissioner as the case worked through the court system. On Wednesday, Elliott said that her office and Knoll have “successfully resolved the ouster case.” She said Knoll has agreed to resign from the Morland City Council immediately and will begin living in the correct distinct. She also said he can resume his duties as a county commissioner. However, Knoll is also facing charges of unlawful distribution of cannabinoids and bribery. Elliott says that if Knoll is convicted or accepts a diversion to the criminal charges, he will resign his commission seat immediately.
Source: KSN-TV
Topeka selects Interim Chief Financial Officer
The City of Topeka has appointed a new Interim Chief Financial Officer. A spokeswoman with the City of Topeka announced in a release that Ben Hart has been appointed as the City’s Interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) starting Tuesday. Hart has more than 25 years of experience in the public sector, according to the release. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Charted Global Management Accountant (CGMA) for large municipalities in the Kansas City Metropolitan area. “Mr. Hart’s experience and dedication to public service will serve Topeka well as the city transitions into new leadership with the next city manager,” Interim City Manager Richard Nienstedt said. According to the release, Hart’s dedication to public service is evident through his involvement in the Kansas and Missouri’s Society of CPA’s. In that society, he contributed to the governmental accounting committee and the Government Financial Officers Association locally and nationally. Hart will be the Interim CFO until a permanent replacement is found.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Seely honored for 53-year firefighting career in Louisburg
When Brad Seely was a student at the old Louisburg High School in the mid-1970s, there was no sweeter sound than that of the whistle blowing atop the city water tower. That sound meant there was a fire in the city of Louisburg, but, more important, it also meant Brad and a couple of his classmates who also volunteered at the fire station were allowed to leave school. “We’d run out of class,” Brad said. At that time, the high school was located at the current site of the Wildcat Activities Center, and the fire station was located a couple of blocks away near the current site of Fox Hall. Brad started young, sitting in on volunteer training when he was just 13 years old. By the time he was 14, he was already going on calls.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Museum program will highlight 19th century railroads
Community members can learn how railroads built Kansas and the crucial role Osawatomie played in the effort during a program Saturday, April 20, at the Miami County Historical Museum. Speaker Leo Oliva will lead a free presentation called “Railroads of 19th Century Kansas: Progress and Pain” that is set to begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the museum, which is located at 12 E. Peoria St. in Paola. Few industries dominated the economy of the nation in the 19th century more than the railroad, according to a museum news release about the program. “Railroads brought immigrant settlers, created jobs, and fed beef markets in the East. They enabled regular mail service and the adoption of standard time. Most Kansas towns were founded because of the railroad, and few survived without it. Yet the advancement of the railroad industry came at a significant cost to the Plains Indians who were forcibly displaced by this westward expansion,” the release states. “This presentation examines the complicated legacy of railroads and the impact on native peoples who called Kansas home.”
Source: Local News | republic-online.com
Andover hosts grand opening for new fire station
The City of Andover held a grand opening for its new fire station on Thursday. The new station is located south of U.S. Highway 400, and South Andover Road and was paid for by a sales tax initiative over the last two years. It’s the second fire station in Andover. “We broke ground on it in October 2022, so they’ve been working on this and building it for the last year,” Megan Schapaugh, public information officer for the city of Andover, said. “Firefighters started moving in a couple of months ago, but we are finally having our big grand opening.” The grand opening was open to the public. Students from Prairie Creek Elementary School were able to tour the new fire station. “They’ve been taking tours throughout the day today to see the new fire station,” Schapaugh said. Having the second fire station will be an important piece for the City of Andover as it continues to grow. “As Andover continues to grow, it’s important to just add another fire station to help the community stay safe and keep everyone safe,” Schapaugh said.
Source: KSN-TV
Norton County to vote on sales tax to support hospital and EMS
Voters in Norton County are deciding the value of health care in their community. On May 7, they will vote on whether to approve a one-percent sales tax hike to help fund Norton County Hospital and EMS. If voters approve it, the extra penny of tax on each dollar of purchases would begin on Oct. 1. Three-quarters of the money raised would go to the hospital. The other one-quarter would go to EMS. The sales tax would end after 10 years. Norton County Hospital is dealing with financial issues, including inflation and lower insurance reimbursement rates. Officials say the hospital’s average operating margin in 2021, 2022, and 2023 ranged from -15 to -20%. If voters do not approve the sales tax hike, hospital officials say they will be forced to make difficult decisions, beginning with service reductions, followed by staff reductions, and ultimately risking closure. “This is a health care initiative aimed at improving health care within the County of Norton,” Kevin Faughnder, the hospital CEO, said. “When we look at the higher costs, higher operational costs, lower reimbursement rates, and just overall increases in the cost of living today, what we realized was we couldn’t do that on just seeing patients.” The one-percent sales tax increase became the preferred option.
Source: KSN-TV
More than 1,000 false 911 calls in Ford County
Ford County dispatchers have a problem. Too many people are calling 911 accidentally. They say they have taken 1,061 accidental 911 calls since the start of the year. That is about 300 a month. Ford County Emergency Communications wants people to know how easily it happens and not hang up if it does happen. “This is a more common occurrence than you might think. Pressing buttons on the side of your phone, watch, and in some car systems – certain buttons will dial 911. Please stay on the line and let the dispatcher know that it was an accident,” officials said on social media. People who hang up will get a follow-up call from the dispatcher. The dispatcher must ensure the caller is safe and that it was an accident. Ford County also wants parents to know that some old cellphones can still dial 911. So, if you let children play with an old phone, the child could accidentally call 911. “We’ve spoken to several children/babies over the years, who are playing with the phone,” Ford County Emergency Communications said.
Source: KSN-TV
New Topeka flag license plates available to public
The City of Topeka alongside the Greater Topeka Partnership (GTP) revealed the new Topeka license plate that’s now available to the public. Executive Director for Young Talent Rhett Flood spoke on his efforts to make the new license plate a reality. Mayor Mike Padilla was also in attendance to share a few words. Last year the GTP and Forge Young Talent collaborated to design a Topeka flag license plate. “We are so proud to see this new license plate become available,” said Rhett Flood, Forge executive director. “Forge Young Talent worked hard with community leaders to bring the new city flag to life five years ago. Today, we’re unveiling another way to proudly display that design. This new plate allows people to show their pride in Topeka, while supporting efforts to make Topeka a better community for young professionals.” The license plates will be available to purchase for $50 with proceeds going to supporting young professional and talent initiatives, according to the GTP.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Emporia Main Street already noting interest in downtown investment before second-place finish in USA TODAY 10Best Main Street contest
Emporia may have come up just short of the top slot in a national contest, but Main Street Director Casey Woods still anticipates a range of benefits to come for the city. This is Emporia Main Street’s second time as a finalist in this contest. Emporia finished first in its other time in 2016, and Woods says there was a notable increase in investment interest. Emporia was among the 20 finalists for the USA TODAY 10 Best Main Streets in America and finished second to the Detroit suburb of Howell, Michigan. Woods thanked residents for voting. USA TODAY highlighted Commercial Street’s events like the Glass Blown Open disc golf block party and the Great American Market, as well as the presence of the Emporia Granada Theatre. From his viewpoint, Woods says the contest focused attention on Emporia Main Street’s economic development through ventures like the Fab Lab and incubation address along with a range of business loan options.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Planning Commission discusses possible zoning tweaks, potential return of metropolitan area planning concept
Zoning tweaks and a possible revival of a longstanding planning area were part of the Emporia-Lyon County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission’s monthly meeting Tuesday. Board members discussed the potential revival of metropolitan area zoning, or a zone outside the Emporia city limits where the city has some say in zoning matters. The metropolitan area disappeared when the city and Lyon County separately changed their zoning procedures several years ago, and Planning Commission Board Chair Ray Rogers says that model should be at least revisited. Also, board members looked at possibly adding conditional use permit options in several different residential zoning categories as well as potential adjustments to flex use zoning. Rogers says the current zoning regulations were approved with the understanding some adjustments would be needed to “make them more useful to the community.” No action was taken. Separately, board members had a brief overview of Kansas Open Meetings Act and Kansas Open Records Act highlights.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Wichita KS city worker finds loaded gun while doing maintenance in storm drain
A Wichita city worker found a loaded handgun while doing maintenance on a storm water drain in west Wichita, according to a report and police. The black, Taurus Spectrum .380 was found in the drain in front of a home in the 3300 block of West St. Louis, which is close to Sheridan and Central. The gun was found around 9:41 a.m. Wednesday. “The gun will be processed as evidence to determine if it has been involved in any crimes,” Wichita police Lt. Aaron Moses said, adding he didn’t know how long that would take. The gun has not been reported stolen, according to a police report. When asked how many rounds were in the gun, Moses said multiple.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
‘A huge year’: Sedgwick County Zoo could welcome a U.S. record number of baby elephants
The Sedgwick County Zoo now expects to welcome five baby African elephants in 2025. “You may be aware that our elephant herd at the zoo has four pregnancies right now. And we are so excited to tell you today that our fifth and final female is also pregnant, which means our entire breeding herd is now expecting,” zoo CEO Scott Newland told the County Commission on Wednesday morning. If all five pregnancies are a success, Sedgwick County would become the first accredited zoo in the U.S. to have five elephant births in a year,” Newland said. Elephant pregnancies last 22 to 24 months. “They’re essentially pregnant for two years. We will start having potential births at the end of next spring all through next summer,” Newland said. “That’s going to be a huge year for our team, for our zoo, for our community.” The five pregnant females are Simunye, Talia, Xolani, Arusi, and Zuberi. Only Simunye has given birth before, according to a zoo release.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Symphony to perform in Peabody
“Peter and the Wolf” and “Appalachian Spring” will be performed Sunday in the final installment of Sunflower Theatre’s 2023-2024 concert series. The Wichita Symphony performance will be 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 213 E Division Ave., Peabody.
“Peter and the Wolf” is a musical story for orchestra and narrator that introduces individual instruments in the orchestra while the narrator tells the story. The symphony also will perform “Appalachian Spring,” an American ballet by choreographer Martha Graham and composer Aaron Copland. Collaborating for the concert are Sunflower Theatre, Wichita State University, and Barlett Arboretum. Light refreshments will be served after the concert. Admission is free, but donations to help pay for Sunflower Theatre programming and renovation will be accepted.
Source: Marion County RECORD
Beloit USD 273 Bond Issue Questions Defeated In Election
After much discussion, various meetings, and much consternation, the Beloit USD 273 School Bond issue and vote came to a conclusion yesterday (Thursday, April 18th). Question 1 on the ballot included for voters to consider was a New Ag Center, a Renovation of Expansion of Woods/Construction Tech, HVAC Replacement at Elementary & Jr.-Sr. High Schools, and a New Stadium Pressbox and Restrooms at an estimated cost of $16.2 million dollars which would be funded by a 13.5 mill levy increase over 25 years. Unofficial Results from the Mitchell County Clerk’s office are Yes: 823 (37%), No: 1,425 (63%). Question 2 on the ballot could only pass if Question 1 passed. Question 2 on the ballot included for voters to consider was a Jr.-Sr. High School Lockerroom Renovation, Football Field Turf, Track Resurface, and Tennis Court Resurface at an estimated cost of $3.8 million dollars which would be funded by a 3 mill levy increase over 25 years. Unofficial Results from the Mitchell County Clerk’s office are Yes: 644 (29%), No: 1,597 (71%).
Source: Sunflower State Radio Network
KS Supreme Court: “Driving” vs. Attempting to Drive
Under Darrow, Jarmer’s unsuccessful effort to drive her car out of a muddy ditch fails to satisfy K.S.A. 8-1002(a)(2)(A)’s requirement that she was “operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both.” Because the evidence presented establishes only that she attempted to operate her vehicle, the KDR could not suspend her driver’s license under K.S.A. 8-1002(a)(2)(A) following her failed breath test. We thus reverse the suspension of Jarmer’s driver’s license and remand the matter to the KDR for further proceedings.
Read the opinion: Jarmer vs. KDOR
Municipal Bond Trends for April 18, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. 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 April 17, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. 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.
Wall Street pushes out rate-cut expectations, sees risk they don’t start until March 2025
If there was any doubt before, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has pretty much cemented the likelihood that there won’t be interest rate reductions anytime soon. Now, Wall Street is wondering if the central bank will cut at all this year. That’s because Powell on Tuesday said there’s been “a lack of further progress” on lowering inflation back to the Fed’s 2% target, meaning “it’s likely to take longer than expected” to get enough confidence to start easing back on policy.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Stafford County joins in on building boom
There’s a building boom in the Golden Belt, and Stafford County Economic Development isn’t going to be left behind. “We are building nine houses, with five in St. John and four in Stafford,” noted Ryan Russell, SCEDC executive director. The 18-month building project is through the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, through its Middle Income Housing offering.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Power outage prompts rush hour traffic jam on Metcalf in Overland Park
The gusty winds are believed to be responsible for a power outage that turned off the traffic signals at 75th Street and Metcalf Avenue late Tuesday afternoon in Overland Park, prompting a mile-long traffic jam on one of the city’s most-used roadways. Evergy’s online outage map showed that approximately 774 customers were without power in the area of the busy intersection at around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Several businesses in the area were forced to close because they didn’t have power for their computers to work. As of 5:30 p.m., northbound traffic on Metcalf was at a crawl, backed up to 83rd Street, while southbound traffic was backed up to 71st Street. Eastbound traffic on 75th Street was stacked back to Robinson Street, and westbound was back to nearly Lamar Avenue. Evergy’s website shows that the outage was first reported at about 4:20 p.m. and that repairs are a “work in progress.” The estimated restoration time is 6 p.m. Update: Around 6 p.m., the traffic lights at Metcalf and 75th began working again, and Evergy’s outage map online showed most outages in the area around the intersection had been addressed.
Source: Johnson County Post
Mayor Butler proclaims Thursday as “Ron Fehr Day” in Manhattan
At Tuesday’s Manhattan City Commission, Manhattan mayor Wynn Butler proclaimed this Thursday Apr. 18 to be “Ron Fehr Day” in Manhattan to honor City Manager Ron Behr’s commitment to public service in the city and Fehr’s retirement after 24 years as the city manager. “This honor is in recognition of [Ron’s] many achievements,” said Butler. “And on behalf of the City Commission, the City employees, and the citizens of Manhattan in expressing our gratitude and appreciation for many years of loyal and exemplary service to the community.” Fehr has worked for the local city government since 1982 when he was appointed to the newly formed Parks and Recreation Department as Forestry and Parks Supervisor. Fehr was appointed assistant City Manager in 1992 and was acting City Manager for a brief period in 1995 and in late-1999 and early-2000 until becoming the full-time city manager in Apr. 2000. “Ron has worked with 31 commissioners and 27 mayors since 1992,” said Butler. “He has attended 730 commission legislative sessions, 730 work sessions, 31 commission retreats, 305 intergovernmental luncheons, 122 joint city and county meetings and numerous other meetings.” Fehr will be officially honored by the city at a ceremony at City Hall on Apr. 18.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Wichita removes curfew on electric scooters
Wichita City Council members have voted unanimously to do away with the nighttime curfew on the use of electric scooters in the community. The city previously had a restriction that began at dusk or 9 p.m., whichever is earlier, and ended at sunrise. Veo, the company providing the electric scooters, asked the city to look at changes to extend the hours of operation. Wichita is the only city in the Midwest and Plains region that has a curfew on scooters. Interim Wichita Transit Director Penny Feist said the Police Department recommended wording in the ordinance to call for headlamps and reflectors for safety, similar to those required on bicycles. She said the company providing the scooters already has lamps and reflectors on them. The person riding the scooter is responsible for making sure the headlamp is working and Feist said Veo has an app that allows users to report a problem. Feist said data from the past five years indicates that more people are using the scooters around 6 to 7 p.m. The Council voted to approve the ordinance changes to remove the curfew and allow the use of electric scooters during the nighttime hours.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
Powell Suggests Interest Rates Could Stay High for a Longer Period
The Federal Reserve is likely to wait longer than initially expected to cut interest rates given stubborn inflation readings in recent months, the central bank’s top two officials said Tuesday. Policymakers came into 2024 looking for evidence that inflation was continuing to cool rapidly, as it did late last year. Instead, progress on inflation has stalled or even reversed by some measures. “The recent data have clearly not given us greater confidence and instead indicate that it’s likely to take longer than expected to achieve that confidence,” Jerome H. Powell, the Fed chair, said at an event in Washington on Tuesday. He did not say when he believed rate cuts would be appropriate.
Source: NYT > Business
Governor Kelly Announces $18M for 34 Municipalities and Special Districts for Water Infrastructure
Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Water Office today announced an $18 million investment into 34 municipalities and special districts related to water across Kansas. Nineteen Technical Assistance Grants and 15 Water Project Grants are being awarded. “This investment is vital to the water resources and livelihoods of Kansans in these rural communities,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By working together, we are making progress on our water crisis while ensuring communities have access to the resources they need to address their pressing water issues.” The grants were made possible through the 2023 Senate Substitute for House Bill 2302, signed by Governor Kelly in April 2023. That bipartisan legislation invested a record $35 million into the State Water Plan. It added $18 million on top of the annual $8 million for the State Water Plan and $17 million for the two grant funds. This year, the Kansas Legislature added $1 million to the program to meet the needs of additional requests that were made. The first round of funding, which was released on November 1, 2023, received over 122 Technical Assistance applications and 187 Water Project applications. Applicants with emergent water issues, socioeconomic and community factors, conservation plans, and populations of fewer than 2,000 residents were prioritized in the review process.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
This southwest Kansas newspaper printing press is an oasis in an expanding news desert
Print media is struggling in many areas, but it survives in 15 towns thanks to a printing press still churning out newspapers in Liberal, Kansas. The light blue machine takes up most of a warehouse, about the size of a school bus, with newspapers flying through different pulleys as ink is applied. At medium speed, it can spit out 500 papers per minute. Danny Morua, the pressman for almost 20 years, makes a small adjustment, and within seconds is pushing a new roll of paper that weighs 700 pounds back onto the mechanism. “Me casa is su casa,” Morua said while standing next to the behemoth. “Just don’t get too close and get injured.” Despite his own advice, he climbs up and down the printing press like it’s his own playground. What used to be a community staple is now almost obsolete. But here in Liberal, Morua and his small crew are printing weekly papers for small towns across four states. It’s helping keep those other community papers alive and slowing the growth of news deserts where people can’t find local news. “I love turning something that comes out looking basic and adding so much color to it, and knowing that I printed that,” Morua said. Over half of Kansas counties have either just one newspaper or none at all according to a study by the Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media.
Source: KAKE – News
Wichita could go to a stage-two drought in mid-late summer if more rainfall doesn’t come
Water restrictions may come as soon as mid to late summer if we don’t get rain soon. The city of Wichita says if Cheney Lake levels don’t get higher, you might not be able to water your lawn as often. Right now, the lake is 3% points away from the city having to go to a stage-two drought based on a 12-month average. “I’ve been out there. It’s, it’s a little jarring to see it so low, and to know that that’s where the city water comes from., and to see it dwindling in that way,” said Homeowner Jonathan Peters. The city of Wichita says to combat the drought we need consistent rainfall. Currently, Cheney Lake sits at 72% conservation pool level. It went down 0.9% in March. If it gets down to 69% we will be in a stage-two drought. “If we moved to stage two, some of those mandatory restrictions could be limiting the days that you’re allowed to water your lawn, and this is for those on city water,” said Wichita Communications Manager Megan Lovely. Lovely says if you’re on city water and we do go to a stage-two drought, you could get in trouble if you don’t restrict your water use. “If you’re using too much water, you could get a little notice you might get a little bit of a bill,” said Lovely. Lovely adds because the lake is so low, it doesn’t look good for this upcoming summer. “With Kansas weather, we never know what’s going to happen but we are anticipating going to stage two, it is very unlikely that we will not,” said Lovely.
Source: KAKE – News
Hoisington teacher wins ‘Wheel of Fortune’
A middle school English teacher in Hoisington, Kiley Klug, took her language skills to the big stage, winning “Wheel of Fortune.” “At the end of the day, it didn’t really matter how much I won or if I won; I just wanted to experience that and check it off my bucket list,” Klug said. Klug says being a middle school English teacher, she loves all word games. She applied multiple times before getting her shot. After she got the “yes” she’d been waiting for, she began thinking of logistics. Klug says as a teacher, she wasn’t sure what they would be able to afford. “We were trying to decide who to go with us; my husband was like, ‘Yeah, it’s probably just gonna be the two of us. I just don’t think we could swing four plane tickets. That’s a lot of money.'” Then, everything fell into place. Klug formerly spent some time advocating for Dravet syndrome, an epilepsy syndrome, on the side. Her son Owen has Dravet syndrome. The organization she worked for contacted her to train new influencers. “They wanted me to be like a coach, a trainer,” Klug said. “And so I said, ‘Yeah, absolutely. I’ll do that for sure.’ And they said, ‘You’ll be compensated for it.’ Like, ‘OK, I’d do it for free, but whatever.’ I got paid around the time we were debating whether or not we could take our kids, and I kid you not, it was exactly the amount of four plane tickets. So I just feel like all of these doors just opened.”
Source: KSN-TV
City puts resources into affordable housing for disabled residents
A Wichita apartment complex that houses people who are low-income and disabled is in the process of rebuilding. On Tuesday, the Wichita City Council approved industrial revenue bonds for a sales tax exemption for the rebuild at The Timbers. The apartment complex is knocking down its older units built in the 1970s to create new ones that follow updated ADA guidelines. What the City did Tuesday was grant The Timbers $13 million worth of industrial revenue bonds for a sales tax exemption. In simpler terms, that means they don’t have to pay sales tax on supplies they buy for their renovation project. Having the exemption from the City will help The Timbers unlock funding from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. “When you apply for the tax credit program, it’s based on points, so if you have local, in this case, city contribution, which would be in the form of a sales tax exemption, it increases our points when we apply to KHRC,” said Patrick Jonas, CEO and President of the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation, which currently owns The Timbers. He said they chose not to apply for grant funding from the City for the upcoming second phase of the project. They plan to rely more on the KHRC for the dollars they need.
Source: KSN-TV
Need a job? City of Wichita has 293 positions open
The City of Wichita is hosting a career fair from 1- 4 p.m. on Monday, April 22, at the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas, 2021 N. Amidon, Suite 1100. Applications will be accepted for all job openings, and staff will be on hand from the following departments to answer questions: Airport Police and Fire; Fire; Information Technology; MAPD (Metropolitan Area Planning Department); Municipal Court; Park & Recreation; Police; Public Works & Utilities; and Wichita Transit. The City has 293 open positions across its departments, including multiple seasonal opportunities. To learn more and apply for a job, visit www.wichita.gov/jobs.
Source: KSN-TV
Governor calls tax plan ‘too expensive’; expert weighs in
Gov. Laura Kelly is weighing in on a tax package sent to her desk, which includes a slew of tax cuts. The package received bipartisan support in the Senate, with one Democrat voting in favor of the plan, and it passed unanimously in the House. However, Gov. Kelly said Tuesday that her initial interpretation of the bill is that it’s ‘too expensive.’ “I think what I said when it got passed, though, is it’s a little out of the ballpark. It’s too expensive so I really need to take a look at that and have some serious conversations with my budget people looking forward to see if my gut sense is that it is too expensive and not sustainable,” Kelly told reporters Tuesday. Kelly is tight-lipped on whether she’ll veto the plan. She only has about a week left to decide as lawmakers return to the statehouse next week. The package that passed just hours before lawmakers adjourned this month provides property tax relief and eliminates the income tax on social security. It also removes the state food sales tax by July 1. It is something Gov. Kelly has been pushing for since her re-election campaign in 2022. Another key feature of the plan includes moving the state to a two-rate income tax system. It eliminates the bottom bracket and reduces the top two brackets by 0.15%.
Source: KSN-TV
City looks at plans to restore buildings destroyed in April 2023 storm
Chanute city commissioners looked at plans from owners of four buildings in downtown Chanute destroyed by a storm in early April 2023. Buildings the commission reviewed at last Monday’s meeting were 23/25 W. Main,; 29 W. Main; 101 S. Grant; and 313 E. Main. Commissioners looked at a packet of plans for each property and also heard from some owners. The city hired Keystone KC Engineering, LLC in order to develop studies for each of the buildings. City Manager Todd Newman said the owner of 23/25 W. Main has a plan to replace the building. The owner, who lives in New York, plans to finish the roof repair by the end of June and then begin the process of restoring the inside. “I think that one I would just monitor over the next 90 days, see what happens,” Newman said. Garrett Sharp, owner of 29 W. Main, spoke to commissioners about that building. Newman said in terms of damage, this building is probably in the worst condition out of the four the commissioners looked at last week. “Just bad luck,” Newman said.
Source: The Chanute Tribune