Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Municipal News

Municipal Bond Trends for March 21, 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.

Newton City Clerk Denise Duerksen has been named City Clerk/Finance Officer of the Year

City Clerk Denise Duerksen has been named the 2024 Mildred Vance City Clerk/Finance Officer of the Year for the State of Kansas. This award is presented each year to a City Clerk or Finance Officer who has made significant contributions to the State association, the profession and their community. Denise has worked for the City for almost 33 years and has served as city clerk since 2007.
Source: City of Newton

Municipal Bond Trends for March 20, 2024

Municipal Bond Trends for March 19, 2024

A painting on the side of Cozy Inn that prompted a lawsuit against the city of Salina will remain unfinished and the city won’t take action against it for the time being. The Salina City Commission voted to approve a stipulation in the Cozy Inn vs. City of Salina case during a special meeting Monday. … According to the stipulation, this “status quo” means that the city won’t take any enforcement action against Cozy Inn as long as the hamburger shop won’t take “further action to complete the sign” while the case is pending in the U.S. District Court.
Source: Salina Journal

Small-town renaissance: Rising leaders help two Kansas communities defy expectations

There’s a commonly held belief that small, rural Kansas communities are evaporating from the windswept plains, plagued by a dwindling, aging population, and haunted by pressures of a modern world. Don’t tell that to the residents of Chase, population 390 in Rice County, and Pawnee Rock, population 190 in Barton County. Long dismissed, even mocked, as wide spots along U.S. Highway 56, folks there are making their stand, spurred by an influx of new families. “We’re proud of where we are from,” said Chase Mayor Tom Kizzar. “There’s not much left, but we are going to go down swinging. We’re doing alright. We’re trying.”
Source: KAKE – News

Groundwater measurement results mixed in western Kansas

Preliminary groundwater level measurements compiled by the Kansas Geological Survey show mixed results for western and south-central Kansas in 2023, with some areas in the northwest and west-central part of the state experiencing increases for the first time in three or more years. “In the Ogallala portion of the High Plains aquifer, the aquifer had a chance to ‘reset’ in 2023, given some timely rains in the summer months,” Brownie Wilson, KGS water-data manager, said. Measurements in those areas reflect a rebound from lower-than-normal groundwater levels caused by the extreme drought conditions seen in 2022.
Source: Garden City Telegram

Leawood moves ahead with renovations at 2 major city parks

New shelters at Leawood City Park and playgrounds at Tomahawk Park got unanimous approval Monday from the Leawood City Council. The new fixtures will update structures that are decades old, said Chris Claxton, director of city parks, recreation and cultural arts.
Source: Johnson County Post

Prairie Village City Council gets first look at new city hall design

Prairie Village residents will soon be able to provide input on a new $30 million city hall project. The Prairie Village City Council on Monday got a first look at renderings for the new city hall, a project officials have been working on since 2022.
Source: Johnson County Post

New communication coming to all Ellsworth County first responders

Communication is improving for first responders in a central Kansas county. It’s all thanks to a $670,000 federal grant from Senator Jerry Moran’s office. Ellsworth County is using the money to buy 162 vehicle and handheld radios. The ones they have right now are close to 30 years old, and finding the parts to repair them is difficult.
Source: KSN-TV

Overland Park adopts its first official electric vehicle plan

Overland Park has started to solidify its electric vehicle plans, taking steps to possibly add more electrified vehicles to its own fleet and expand its public charging infrastructure. … The vote this week on the new plan falls short of formalizing any policy decisions — like whether or how much to charge drivers to use any public charging stations. Those discussions are expected to happen later. Instead, the 95-page plan is meant to help the city make plans “to implement a thoughtful strategy identifying needs and best practices” for EVs. Read the full adopted EV readiness plan here.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Municipal Bond Trends for March 18, 2024

Yates Center Police Department help raise money for autism awareness

Yates Center Chief of Police, Michael Strode is at the forefront of a new initiative to raise money for autism awareness. After discussions with his officers Chief Strode says they decided they wanted to find a way to help students in their school district. “The couple of teachers that I’ve talked with are ecstatic. They love the fact that we are willing to get involved and help. Of course, we have a very wonderful working relationship with our school anyway. [] being a small town of a little less than 1300 people, we all already know each other and work well with each other,” said Strode. The department is selling challenge coins. These coins that also can be described as medallions are designed in the same shape as the departments seal. On one side of the coin the seal is shown clearly. On the other a heart made of puzzle pieces with the words, It’s ok the be Different, surrounding it. These coins are being sold for $10 each. Strode says the proceeds will then go to the Organization of Parents and teachers who will then decide the best way to spend the money to help students with special needs. Strode says that this is not the first time the department has done something like this to raise money for an organization.
Source: KOAM News

Marysville City Council Selects New City Manager

Marysville city council met in special session last Thursday, and following executive session unanimously approved a motion to extend an offer to Joshua Haverkamp for the post of City Administrator, with a contract to be negotiated. Mayor Todd Frye indicated no update at the regular meeting Monday evening. Haverkamp was among three finalists interviewed for the position, and is currently with the Kansas City, Missouri city manager’s office. He is a graduate of Kansas State, with a major in political science and a master’s in public administration.
Source: Sunflower State Radio Network

Groundwater levels dropping in Kansas

The Kansas Geological Survey is reporting lower groundwater levels across the state.
The Survey, based at the University of Kansas, said while small increases were reported last year in western and northwest parts of the state, most other areas are tracking declines in water levels. There is an ongoing drop in levels of the southwest portion of the mighty Ogallala aquifer, which continues to shrink following back to back declines totaling almost five feet in 2022 and 2021. Authorities are also tracking ongoing declines of the Equus Beds, which serves Wichita and Hutchinson; and the Great Bend Prairie aquifer, which provides water for Pratt, Stafford and parts of neighboring counties.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Wichita planning group releases plan for electric vehicles

The Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WAMPO) has released a plan to support electric vehicle use in the area.
The Electric Vehicle Network Plan is described as a strategic roadmap designed to facilitate the widespread adoption of electric vehicles throughout the Wichita area. It outlines EV ownership, expands charging infrastructure, and promotes sustainable transportation practices. By establishing a robust network of charging stations, WAMPO aims to eliminate range anxiety and make EV ownership accessible to all residents. The plan is open for public comment through April 11th, and there are two ways for Wichita area residents to provide input.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

City of Garden Plain to host city flag, logo contest

The City of Garden Plain announced they will be hosting a city flag and logo design contest for the community. A selection committee will review all entries and choose the winning design that will be presented to the Garden Plain City Council for official adoption on or before May 1, 2024. The winner will be recognized at a City Council meeting and will receive a $250 cash prize.
Source: KAKE – News

Clearwater Police announces death of officer in early morning car crash

The Clearwater Police Department and the City of Clearwater announced the death of a city police officer in a car crash.
In a post on the city’s Facebook page, Police Chief Kirk Ives and Mayor Burt Ussery said Officer Scott Hollingsworth died early Saturday morning while returning home from his shift. Hollingsworth had been with the department since March 2023.
In part, the post reads, ‘on behalf of our entire community, we offer our prayers, love and condolences to Scott’s wife, Hadley, daughter, Claire, parents, Greg and Nataly, and siblings, Jordan and Sydney during this time of unbelievable loss.’
Source: KAKE – News

Supreme Court sets rules on when public officials can block social media users

The Supreme Court on Friday laid out a new test for determining when actions taken by government employees on social media — such as posting messages, deleting comments or blocking users — constitute official business verses personal conduct.
The distinction has become critical as millions of local, state and federal government workers increasingly use social media to communicate with the public, often on “mixed use” accounts that also include purely private, non-official content.
“When a government official posts about job-related topics on social media, it can be difficult to tell whether the speech is official or private,” wrote Justice Amy Coney Barrett in a unanimous opinion in the case Lindke v. Freed. “We hold that such speech is attributable to the state only if the official (1) possessed actual authority to speak on the state’s behalf, and (2) purported to exercise that authority when he spoke on social media.”
In short, Barrett explained, the distinction turns on “substance, not labels.”
Source: KAKE – News

Pitt Plastics breaks ground on new facility expansion

Pitt Plastics, known as one of Pittsburg’s most iconic businesses for over 50 years, has broke ground on a new expansion building that is planned to be completed in 2025. The expansion is planning to add 200,000 square feet to the Pitt Plastics facility. The construction is being undertaken by Koehn Construction Services.
Source: KOAM News

Altamont, Kansas prepares for new pocket park

A pocket park is coming to the city of Altamont, Kansas. City officials are working to convert Lansdowne Garden into the unique space. The small area at the corner of US-160 and Huston Avenue has been unoccupied for quite some time. The vision consists of two patios with a space for food trucks to set up, a farmers market, a veterans memorial, and a community garden. A $10,000 grant from Network Kansas has already helped install the first patio. “I think it’s important that we are proactive in our positions and listening to the wants and the needs of our community and figuring out ways that we can fund those things without dipping into their pockets and having to, you know, get more tax dollars,” said Heather Beasley. The Local Health Equity Action Team in Labette County awarded Altamont a $1,000 grant to start the community garden. The city has applied for more grant funding to fund the veterans memorial and a shade structure.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Kansas towns compete for ‘best small town’ title

Two Kansas towns are neck-and-neck in a nationwide contest set to determine the best small town in the Midwest. Voting is currently open for a contest hosted by USA Today to find out which small town people think is the best of the best in the Midwest. The leaderboard has 20 towns listed in its ranks this week, with Marysville and Council Grove both near the top. (…) Council Grove has access to a wealth of history thanks to its numerous historic sites, according to the town’s website. The National Park Service (NPS) lists the Santa Fe National Historic Trail, Kaw Mission State Historic site, Lanesfield Historic site and more as noteworthy places to visit in town. Council Grove is also located near a scenic tallgrass prairie and the nearby Flint Hills. (…) Primarily known for its abundance and love for the local black squirrel population, Marysville is located along the historic Oregon Trail in northern Kansas, according to the town’s website. The town shows its love for its local squirrels by building artistic statutes of them every year. More than 30 squirrel statues can be found across Marysville.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Municipal Bond Trends for March 15, 2024

(Some) exotic pets allowed

Exotic pet ownership can be found in most cities, including Topeka. Before giving exotic pets a try, owners need to consider how the city regulates said ownership and what is permitted. Topeka senior animal control officer Jessica Bowers said the city ordinances give a broad definition of exotic pets, so it can incorporate animals not yet considered when the code was written.
Source: CJonline

Exotic pet provisions are typically found in Section 2-300s of many Kansas city codes.

Legislators plan to end program for local property tax cuts, cut state tax instead

Kansas Republicans are advancing plans to abolish an unfunded program intended to help local governments provide property tax relief. Instead of putting money into the local ad valorem tax reduction fund for the first time in two decades, Republican lawmakers would formally end the program and put money toward cutting state property taxes…. Republicans say the logic behind their bills are that the LAVTRF, if it were funded, would be roughly the same amount of tax relief as cutting the state mill levies.
Source: CJonline

Businesses’ lawsuit against City of Lawrence to close homeless camps will go to jury trial in early 2025

A group of Lawrence businesses’ lawsuit against the City of Lawrence, which asks a Douglas County court to close a pair of homeless camps, is scheduled to go to trial at the beginning of 2025. According to updated Douglas County case filings, the case will go to a jury trial in late January 2025. The first day will be Jan. 20, 2025, and the trial will resume from Jan. 28 to Jan. 31 of that month. As the Journal-World has reported, the lawsuit is asking a judge to declare a city-sanctioned camp — Camp New Beginnings — located behind Johnny’s Tavern in North Lawrence and an unsanctioned camp behind the Amtrak depot in East Lawrence as public nuisances. Rick Renfro, a founder and owner of Johnny’s Tavern, and Johnny’s North Lawrence Inc. are among the 24 plaintiffs in the suit.
Source: LJWorld

Trial for lawsuit between church and City of Lawrence begins

The question of just how many duplexes are allowed on one lot under Lawrence’s city code was front and center as the two-day bench trial for a church’s lawsuit against the City of Lawrence began Wednesday morning…. First Presbyterian Church is suing the city and Dallas-based Fountain Residential Partners to halt a project that would combine two lots at 2300 Crestline Drive into an approximately 9-acre site and build a more than 300-bedroom apartment complex. Rather than one large building, the project plans filed in 2020 instead call for those units to be spread across 57 duplexes and six detached dwelling structures on the lot.
Source: LJWorld

Newton loves a parade: crowd turns out to watch house moving

People lined the north end of North Main in Newton and the south end of North Main in North Newton during the move as if there was a parade going by. People watched while others took photos or videos. The transport was slow moving since power lines going across the street had to be lowered to make way for the house. Local law enforcement helped out by blocking traffic control so the white house could pass.
Source: Harvey County Now

Park City equipment company expands in region with 30 jobs in next decade

Midwest Truck Equipment, a Park City-based truck equipment and body parts business, was approved Tuesday by the local City Council to expand its footprint at 61st Street North near Seneca St. The truck equipment company is constructing a 35,000 square-foot building to add to its current building across the street at 200 W. 61st North, according to an agenda report. Midwest Truck is a distributor for Knapheide, a national truck body and bed manufacturer with roots in Quincy, Illinois. It serves the Wichita area and southern Kansas with Knapheide truck bodies. With 17 employees, the company plans to expand operations and add three full-time jobs for its first year, then add 30 over the next 10 years, the report said. “It’s so new,” Midwest Truck owner Mike Hahnfeld said of the project. “We’re just trying to get everything started and going and all that right now.” Park City unanimously approved Tuesday the use of up to $3.5 million in industrial revenue bonds, with a 100% property tax exemption for the next five years, for Midwest Truck Equipment to acquire, construct and equip its new facility. This will also include a sales-tax exemption on materials during construction.
Source: Wichita Business Journal

City of Wichita deploying Veo electric scooters ahead of spring

The City of Wichita says with the nice weather residents and guests will start seeing Veo electric scooters around town again. During the winter, most of the electric scooters are put away. “As of [Wednesday], they have deployed around 80% of the rest of the fleet,” said Megan Lovely, the communications manager for the City of Wichita. There are rules for riding an electric scooter in city limits. (…) The City of Wichita also encourages riders to wear a helmet for safety. You can ride a Veo by downloading the VeoRide mobile app, available for Apple and Android.
Source: KSN-TV

Half dozen tornados hit Wabaunsee County, sheriff’s office says

The Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office shared pictures of Wednesday’s storm. At 7:43 p.m., the National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for Wabaunsee, Geary and Morris Counties. Shortly later, at 7:50 p.m., a tornado was reported on the ground in Alma heading northeast. The KSN Storm Tracker and Meteorologist Jack Maney caught video of the tornado above. According to the sheriff’s office, at least half a dozen tornadoes were confirmed by spotters and sheriff’s office staff. Damage has been reported to structures in the rural area of the county. The sheriff’s office reports that tornadoes struck no cities. Wabaunsee County Emergency Management will be making a full damage assessment on Thursday. At 8:25 a.m., WCEM said most of the damage was 5 miles southwest of Alma. Sheriff’s deputies, emergency management and the county’s road and bridge department are inspecting the damage.
Source: KSN-TV

Kansas congressman introduces bill to help rural hospitals

Kansas congressman Jake LaTurner has introduced a bill that would allow previously closed rural hospitals to re-open and apply for a designation to help them continue to serve their communities. The Rural Emergency Hospital Adjustment Act would create a designation of Rural Emergency Hospitals. Previously closed hospitals can apply for the designation and if they meet the eligibility requirements, they can re-open their emergency and outpatient operations. The designation will allow certain hospitals to convert to the new Medicare provider designation, which would allow rural hospitals to continue operating with limited services. Hospitals are only eligible for the designation if they met the requirements when the legislation was signed into law on December 27th, 2020. LaTurner’s bill would extend the eligibility date to January 1st, 2015, for hospitals that were either critical access hospitals or rural hospitals with no more than 50 beds.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

County extends wind farm construction moratorium

Labette County commissioners, on a 2-1 vote, agreed to extend the moratorium on wind energy project construction in the county through the end of September. The delay allows the county’s planning and zoning committee more time to get zoning regulations in place. The current moratorium expires on April 21, commissioners heard Monday. Commissioners Terry Weidert and Vince Schibi approved the extension. Commissioner Cole Proehl voted against it. The vote followed an update by Marc Jones, planning and zoning committee chair, on the planning committee’s progress toward zoning regulations. Jones offered commissioners three options for action. The first was to allow the current moratorium to expire. The second was to extend it, which commissioners approved 2-1 to extend it to Sept. 30. The third option was to approve a resolution that would require all industrial renewable energy projects to have agreements with the county on roads and other issues before development begins. Commissioners discussed the third option as well after Proehl motioned to implement it as a way to continue the dialogue with renewable companies interested in the county. County Counselor Brian Johnson said commissioners would have to repeal the moratorium extension first then asked for a closed session with the commission for an attorney-client discussion.
Source: Parsons Sun

Grant could bring ‘welcome’ change

New “Welcome to Humboldt” signs could be in the making thanks to Allie Utley, granddaughter of the late Dick Davis, baseball historian and founder of Humboldt’s Walter Johnson and George Sweatt Fan Club. Utley most recently spearheaded the erection of a sign along U.S. 169 south of town recognizing hometown baseball greats Johnson and Sweatt. Utley, an Iola native who now lives in Overland Park and is an active organizer, plans to apply for a grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Rural Murals program to help replace Humboldt’s aging signs on the south and north entrances to town. They were installed in 2009. Discussion at Monday’s Humboldt Council meeting was favorable and included talk of a more modern look for the welcome signs. The city would match the state’s share of funding if Utley were successful in securing the grant, which has a limit of $7,500. As for the baseball greats, Utley said Tuesday afternoon that she hopes they can be incorporated into a new design. “Obviously, they are near and dear to me. Perhaps the welcome sign can be a snapshot of Humboldt that gives a subtle nod to Walter Johnson and George Sweatt. They had a large impact on the town, but certainly are not its only focus.”
Source: The Iola Register

City crews working to clean up homeless camps in south Topeka

The City of Topeka is working to clean up homeless camps in south Topeka on Monday. City Spokeswoman Rosie Nichols said the City of Topeka’s Street Department is currently working on the abatement of the encampments. She said crews started Monday morning and should be finished by Tuesday, but the cleanup could take until Wednesday. Several camps belonging to homeless individuals living along the Kansas River were cleared on Tuesday, Feb. 27 as part of a larger enforcement effort. The work is being implemented in a phased approach to enforce a camping ordinance passed last year limiting where people can camp in city limits. The city will work to clean up the area east of the Kansas Avenue bridge along the Kansas River and north of the levee in the near future. The cleanup is expected to begin on or around March 25, depending on weather conditions.
Source: KSNT 27 News

City of Lawrence plans: Open Pallet village, prohibit camping, establish police office downtown

The City of Lawrence is planning to open a village of shelters for people experiencing homelessness Monday, soon end support at the sanctioned North Lawrence campsite, prohibit camping in that area and establish an office for police officers who will patrol downtown full time. A two-page report in the Lawrence City Commission’s meeting agenda for Tuesday, March 19 lays out staff members’ plans in a bit more detail on all the planned changes. The report does not ask for the commission to vote to approve any plans. The Lawrence Community Shelter will operate the Village, a community of 50 cabin-like structures on North Michigan Street for people experiencing homelessness. People will start moving into those shelters on Monday, March 18. Construction at the site has been complete for months, but the shelter needed to hire enough staff members to manage it. The city has previously said that veterans, older people, women emerging from domestic violence situations and people with disabilities who require specialized support and care were among the people the Village would aim to serve. It was less clear from Tuesday’s meeting agenda whether more vulnerable people would be given priority to move in. The first guests who will move in at the Village are all people who reside in the city-sanctioned camp in North Lawrence, which the city dubbed Camp New Beginnings, followed by others who stay in nearby camps, according to the report.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Rossville community clears debris after EF2 tornado damages town

A local man lost much of his property to Wednesday’s EF2 tornado. The next day, many in the community showed up to lend a helping hand. Chad Shafstall’s friend experienced the wicked storm that rolled through Rossville around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. “It messed his house up pretty good,” Shafstall said. “Took out all of his buildings to speak of. Luckily, he was just fine. He was in a safe room in the basement and that kept him from having any issues.” From roofing companies, to Rossville’s chief of police directing traffic, Shafstall said the community quickly came to their aid. “We’ve got Free State down there hooking his power up, and Dultmeier Construction’s patching his roof to keep any water damage from happening,” Shafstall said. “Everybody’s doing their part.” Additionally, Shafstall said nearly 20 local students on spring break showed up to help clear debris that was spread across a half mile. “When something goes wrong, we might not always get along personally with each other’s views, but when it comes down to it, when somebody needs a helping hand, I always say ‘be your brothers keeper,'” Shafstall said. “It’s easy to see, St. Marys, Silver Lake, Rossville — small town community, middle of the U.S.A. — it’s what we do.”
Source: KSNT 27 News

Shawnee County tornado sirens turn controversial for some local residents

A local emergency management spokesman is weighing on why the decision was made to turn tornado sirens on during Wednesday night’s storms. Tornado sirens could be heard across Shawnee County in the evening hours on March 13. 27 News spoke with Dusty Nichols with Shawnee County Emergency Management about the thinking behind setting off the county’s tornado sirens. Tornados were reported in nearby counties with Shawnee County being placed on alert by the National Weather Service (NWS) as the storm system moved through northeast Kansas. Nichols said the sirens were activated as reports of tornadic activity came in from weather radar and storm spotters on the ground. The sirens were turned on for their three-minute cycle as emergency management’s policy is to get locals to pay attention to the weather and turn their televisions on. The move was made out of caution, but ultimately received mixed responses from locals. Nichols said while some people called Shawnee County Emergency Management to say thanks for sounding the sirens, others were upset about the sirens despite the close proximity of tornadoes being reported on the ground near the Rossville area.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Emporia nominated for USA Today’s favorite main street

Emporia has been nominated by USA Today as one of the nation’s favorite main streets for the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards. Every year nominees are selected by a panel of experts. This year six 10Best editors narrowed the final list of nominees. Each year the panel of experts selects 20 cities across the nation. “Emporia Main Street has been nominated as one of the Best Main Streets in the country by USA TODAY! Help us win the top spot by voting each day between NOW and Monday, April 8th,” Emporia Main Street wrote on Facebook. In 2016 Emporia took the title of best main street and now Emporia Main Street is reaching out to its community to take home another win.
Source: KSNT 27 News

FREE Rural Health and Prosperity Grants 101 Workshop

Registration Now Open!

FREE Rural Health and Prosperity

Grants 101 Workshop

Mark your calendars! State and federal agencies are again collaborating to present a Rural Health and Prosperity Grants 101 Workshop in McPherson on April 16 & 17, 2024.

Two track options to choose from, Health and Community. Health and social services providers, community and economic developers, city commissioners, city and county staff, faith-based and community leaders, school board members, workforce development boards, and bankers or other lending organizations are encouraged to attend. Discover grant opportunities, hear success stories, and get application tips for your community or organization. Visit the event page for more info!

Rural Health and Prosperity Grants 101 Workshop

April 16, 2024 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. | April 17, 2024 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

McPherson Community Building | 122 E. Marlin Street, McPherson

For more information, contact Kerri Falletti at (785) 207-5206 or kerri.falletti@ks.gov.

Municipal Bond Trends for March 14, 2024

Wichita vs. Griffie: Constitutionality of Noise Ordinance

This case requires us to decide whether the provision within Wichita Municipal Code of Ordinances (W.M.O.) § 5.24.010(c) criminalizing “noisy conduct tending to reasonably arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others” is unconstitutionally overbroad under the First Amendment. Both the district court and the Court of Appeals held the provision constitutional. We disagree. Applying the substantial overbreadth doctrine used by Kansas courts to adjudicate First Amendment overbreadth challenges, we conclude the noisy conduct provision within W.M.O. § 5.24.010(c) is unconstitutionally overbroad because it prohibits a substantial amount of protected activity in relation to the provision’s plainly legitimate sweep. But our conclusion does not require us to strike subsection (c) in its entirety because there is a satisfactory method of severing the unconstitutional “noisy conduct” provision from the constitutional “fighting words” provision within the same subsection.
Source: Kansas Supreme Court

Liberal city buildings to see solar panel installation

Green energy is becoming more important than ever and soon, the City of Liberal will be dipping its toes into just that. A handful of buildings throughout town will soon see the installation of solar panels, and Solar Grids Chief Operating Officer Jacob Koke said the project has been in the works for a little while. “We’d started working with the City of Liberal and took into account what their utility bills are and then did an analysis of multiple different sites throughout Liberal,” Koke said. “We determined the four best sites as far as having the best exposure to the sun …”
Source: Liberal First

Municipal Bond Trends for March 13, 2024

Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: Mary Billington, Baxter Springs Museum

What town is in the very corner of Kansas? In southeast Kansas, it is the historic community of Baxter Springs. Today we’ll learn about how this community is honoring its history and that of the region. Mary Billington is director of the Baxter Springs Heritage Center and Museum, and the Route 66 Visitor’s Center in Baxter Springs. Baxter Springs is located in Cherokee County.
Source: Hays Daily News