Municipal News & Jobs

The massive site near De Soto was once home to a factory that produced gunpowder for artillery shells in World War II and rocket propellants during the Vietnam War. But bit by bit, parts of the site have been deemed safe by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Almost 400 acres will be allocated to become part of what will be Johnson County’s biggest park.
Read more: KC Star

In Harvey County – which is just north of Wichita – the lack of code language led to a two-year lawsuit with the landowner and the crypto company, which Harvey County eventually won. They’ve now approved a moratorium on all such projects, meaning no such projects can apply to locate in the county until the county finishes writing codes on the matter. Thus far, Douglas County officials are betting they don’t need a moratorium while they work to write language in their codes. The code-writing process though is proving to be a complex one.
Read more: LJWorld

Harvey County Treasurer Amy Perkins told commissioners that her biggest complaint has to do with how the county applies property tax payments when someone gets behind. Perkins explained that a charter resolution in 2019 requires her to apply payments to the most current property tax bill, which means that in order to pay off the most delinquent tax, owners must pay off all of their taxes. If they can’t pay the whole thing, they often decide there’s no benefit in paying any of it off.
Read more: Harvey County Now

Amelia Blackwood has been appointed as City Administrator, where she will manage daily operations, carry out city council policies, and lead efforts to support ongoing community growth and services. In addition, Lindsay Clark has been appointed as City Clerk.
Read more: KCLY Radio

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.

Anna Popp has created 15 murals in Great Bend and surrounding Kansas towns, with at least three more planned for summer 2026. The remarkable works of art have transformed areas throughout the community.
Read more: KU Alumni

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced $16.3 million is available to improve broadband infrastructure through the Broadband Acceleration Grant (BAG) program. The program is designed to offset high costs that are required for building networks in places where distance and low population density make private investment difficult to attain. “High-speed internet is an industry standard and should be available for use on a daily basis by individuals and businesses alike,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The BAG program supports the prosperous future we’re building for all Kansas residents which includes having reliable and affordable access to broadband infrastructure, regardless of zip code.” In its sixth year, through the bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE), the Broadband Acceleration Grant program aims to provide high-quality, reliable broadband access throughout the state, prioritizing unserved areas, economically distressed communities and areas of compelling need.
Read more: Kansas Department of Commerce

Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday voted 3-1 to move forward with a plan for the Tenant Eviction Defense pilot program they approved in March. Once the program is up and running, a nonprofit legal service provider will attend the weekly answer docket, which is when tenants who have received an eviction notice have a chance to deny claims that a landlord has made in a petition. The provider and project team will work to speak with renters as well as property owners or landlords at the docket. They will hand out paper or online intake forms to tenants to assess their demographic information and “circumstances of eviction to determine whether legal advice or representation is warranted.” With the commission’s approval, county staff members will now issue an informal request for proposals. 
Read more: The Lawrence Times

Officials from Mulberry, Arma, Frontenac, and Pittsburg met with county officials at Memorial Auditorium in Pittsburg Wednesday morning to check in with each other and brainstorm ideas to support each other.
Read more: – Morning Sun

Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas Interim President Lyle Butler says his reaction to the recent Michelin layoffs, which will impact 100 employees, was the same as many in the community: disappointment. “My first feeling is for the employees and their families, because that forces change,” he said. The RDA was the first to release information last Thursday, announcing it had been notified of Michelin’s decision to restructure its agricultural track and wheel operations, laying off 100 Emporia employees as part of a phase-out expected to continue through the end of 2026. Michelin is the latest of several companies to scale back or cease operations in the city, with other notable examples including Tyson Foods, Thermal Ceramics and, most recently, Hopkins Manufacturing.
Read more: www.emporiagazette.com

Scooters and e-bikes have raised concerns about safety, and another Kansas City suburb is doing something about it. Olathe now has new rules in place. The goal is to keep everyone safe. The City of Olathe is asking all parents and guardians to go over these new rules with their kids. One change includes: Anyone under 18 years old must wear a helmet when riding an electric scooter or e-bike. “We want our children to be safe. We want our parents to be informed about the capabilities in what they’re purchasing in that device,” City of Olathe Public Information Officer Cody Kennedy said. “But we also want to ensure our traveling public are safe, our pedestrians are safe and everybody understands the rules of the road.”
Read more: FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV

The Finney County Commission adopted a Special Use Permit application form for data centers and amendments to the Special Use Permit Base application form at its regular meeting on Monday. Mackenzie Phillips, Finney County Development and Administrative Coordinator, said on Feb. 17 of this year the Commission approved a resolution establishing Article 36 in the county’s Zoning Regulations which deals with Special Use Permits. “Article 36 created a new framework for the review and approval of land uses that may involve unique impacts, operational considerations or broader policy implications and that require approval by the Board of County Commissioners,” Phillips said. Implementation of Article 36 included the establishment of a Special Use Permit application process which includes a base application form that applies to all Special Use requests and separate, supplemental application forms which are tailored to individual use categories, Phillips said.
Read more: Garden City Telegram

Six people spoke during the Finney County Commission’s Public Comment period during its regular meeting on Monday. Speakers Jackson Turner, Tucker Turner, Ross Marston, Polly Witt, Rance Schreibvogel and Harold Mai spoke against Data Centers coming to the Finney County area. Jackson Turner said he knew the meeting was not about a specific Data Center coming to the area, but the application form in the event someone approaches about putting in a Data Center but said there’s already a project in the works.
Read more: Garden City Telegram

A proposed two-year moratorium on commercial solar projects in Jackson County failed on a 4-4 vote during the Jackson County Planning Commission meeting last Thursday evening. During the meeting, which drew about 40 people to the Jackson County Courthouse, 15 minutes of comments from both proponents and opponents of a solar moratorium were allowed, with each person allotted one minute to speak. At the end of the discussion, planning commission member Doug Fisher made a motion to approve a two-year moratorium on commercial solar projects in the county. The motion was seconded but did not pass on a 4-4 vote.
Read more: The Holton Recorder

Most people in Johnson County who follow the Royals already knew by Wednesday morning that the former Sprint campus near 119th Street and Nall Avenue was out of the running for a new baseball stadium location. That much had been announced by the team back in January. But the news on Wednesday that the Royals reached a deal with Hallmark Cards to build a downtown stadium near Crown Center — bringing a downtown location that much closer to reality — meant that some of the neighbors who had vigorously opposed it for Johnson County could exhale a little more.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Kansas utility regulators are weighing the benefits and costs of approving construction of a $493 million transmission line that would travel through four southwest counties. Multiple Kansas landowners protested the line’s construction and route during nearly three days of hearings in March at the Kansas Corporation Commission, which will make a decision on the proposal by May 13. They contend the line will disrupt agricultural activities, harm the environment and offer few benefits for Kansans. Utility officials said the line is necessary to provide electricity stability for Kansas, as well as 13 other member states in the Southwest Power Pool. Rapid growth in energy usage and grid challenges that occurred during 2021 Winter Storm Uri require improvements to the grid, they said.
Read more: Kansas Reflector

A ballooning housing market. Thinning resources for homelessness services and affordable housing projects: Wichita’s housing challenges remain after voters overwhelmingly rejected a 1% sales tax that could have addressed them. What’s next without a $150 million allocation earmarked for affordable housing and Second Light, the city’s homeless resources campus? That set-aside was only about 18% of the total tax that would have been collected. There’s little evidence that Wichita voters don’t see the need for more resources to go into housing and homelessness. The bigger problem, according to polling done by Wichita Documenters and Wichita Forward, was voters’ lack of trust and the current high cost of living. 
Read more: KLC Journal

Leaders in Sublette held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new splash pad on Wednesday. The Haskell County Rotary Club raised $400,000 to make this addition to the rec center. The splash pad will be 2,360 square feet, have seven water features and five more water sprays spread through three areas — a toddler bay, family bay and action bay. There will also be a seating wall for parents. The site where it is being built is bordered by a park and athletic fields. Because of its close proximity, the water used at the splash pad will be used to water the rec’s soccer field.
Read more: KSN-TV

Emporia is facing more layoffs after it was announced Thursday that Michelin would cut 100 jobs and rework its operations there. It’s another blow to Emporia’s job market, which has faced roughly 1,200 job losses over the past few years according to the Regional Development Association (RDA). Eight hundred of those cuts were related to Tyson Foods closing a processing facility there in 2025. On Monday, KSN News spoke with leaders from Emporia organizations, who are focused on workforce and business development, to understand how the community could bounce back from the trend.
Read more: KSN-TV

Twenty‑five years ago, Hoisington High School students were preparing for a memorable prom night. It was also the night an F4 tornado struck. The Hoisington tornado of April 21, 2001, caused widespread damage and heartbreak. The storm destroyed 200 homes and 12 businesses, and another 200 homes received minor to moderate damage. One person died, and 28 others were hurt. The tornado touched down southwest of town and quickly moved into the city.
Read more: KSN-TV

Residents of Galena are taking matters into their own hands – after they say they’ve lost federal and state support over the city’s landfill. Facebook group Galena Kansas Neighbors for Clean Air has been pushing back against the landfill on the outskirts of the city, which they feel is polluting the environment. Recently, group member and EcoSavvy Insights founder Kaylann Loraine has been collecting signatures for an environmental risk survey through her organization. The survey collects data about symptoms possibly caused by the landfill – where and when odors occur – and any other complaints.
Read more: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

The Kansas City Royals are moving from their longtime home at Kauffman Stadium to the downtown Crown Center area, partnering with Hallmark Cards on a $3 billion project that includes a mixed-used development with a new ballpark as its centerpiece. Royals owner John Sherman was joined by Hallmark chairman Don Hall Jr., Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, along with other local and state dignitaries, in making the announcement Wednesday near Hallmark headquarters. While the finalized master plan has yet to be complete, Sherman said the $1.9 billion stadium would break ground next year in the middle of Crown Center as part of the first phase of an 85-acre project. Two-thirds of the funding will come from private sources and the remaining one-third from public partners, including money earmarked by the state for stadium projects.
Read more: Western Kansas News

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.

“The (incentives are to) fund both our growing population and also resident demand,” Danielle Gabor, Haysville’s economic development director, said. “…we have several housing developments that are either underway or are on the horizon. So because of that increase, we wanted to increase our dining options.”
Read more: Wichita Eagle

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.

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.

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller on Friday said current economic conditions are complicating the approach to interest rates, with policymakers facing a potentially long-lasting inflation shock and a labor market with no job growth that nonetheless appears stable. Against that backdrop, Waller said the Fed could have to stay on hold for a prolonged period until the economic direction becomes clearer.
Read more: CNBC Bonds

A new study that followed thousands through their lives found no evidence that fluoride in drinking water had a negative effect on young people’s IQs. Researchers found that children exposed to fluoridated water did not experience lower IQ or reduced cognitive performance later in life, according to findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The research followed more than 10,000 people in Wisconsin, tracking fluoride exposure during childhood and measuring cognitive performance over decades. Participants were tested at age 16 and again throughout adulthood into their 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.The result: no measurable difference between people who grew up in communities with fluoridated water and those who did not.
Read more: WCVB Top Stories

Crews contained a wildfire that started at a dairy in west Kansas on Sunday. The fire started around 1:15 p.m. at Syracuse Dairy. The Kansas Forest Service said embers from burning hay bales and silage spread to grass nearby. Winds gusting up to 40 mph caused the fire to spread. An estimated 10 to 15 haystacks burned, but the exact number is unknown because of heavy smoke.
Read more: KSN-TV

Reno County is improving its emergency response by opening two newly built emergency medical services station. An open house was held Friday for the new station near Fifth Avenue and Adams Street in Hutchinson. EMS Chief Dave Johnston said the new stations were built in some high-traffic areas to help EMS improve response time.
Read more: KSN-TV

Residents and history buffs of Lyon County traveled the historic Santa Fe Trail Saturday, albeit a bit differently than back in the day. Rather than riding horses and buggies, residents gathered for a bus tour of the trail that stretched from Allen to Wilmington with several stops along the way to view historic sites in the area. Organizer Jan Huston says the tour was not just about educating participants at the trail itself, but also about our own local history. She noted that of the thousands of individuals who utilized the trail, many played a vital role in the founding of our local area, including Charles H. Withington, the first settler of the area, who founded the community of Allen and acted as the area’s first “Real estate agent.”
Read more: KVOE

The city of Emporia is encouraging homeowners to apply for Home Repair grants if they qualify — and if the city gets grant funding for the overall project. Funds will help with what are called essential home repairs “to improve safety, livability and energy efficiency” like gutter work, roofing, heating, electrical systems, windows, plumbing and insulation. Qualifying homeowners must be deeded and the occupant of the home. The property has to be located in the Emporia city limits, be on a permanent foundation and need eligible repairs. There are income qualifications — homes with four or fewer residents have a limit of $42,050, while homes with five to eight residents have a limit of $55,550. The city says there will be priority for elderly residents, people with disabilities and homes with three or more bedrooms. People can apply online at emporiaks.gov/homerepairgrant. People with questions can email Community Housing Specialist Jeff Lynch at jlynch@emporiaks.gov.
Read more: KVOE

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is expressing dissatisfaction this week over the lack of progress made on water legislation in the statehouse this year. Water is drying up in the Sunflower State, as research shows some communities could run out of fresh water in as little as 25 years. Water supply issues in Kansas include multiple reservoirs filling up with sediment and the drying up of the Ogallala Aquifer underground. Kelly identified water as a top priority for the 2026 legislative session, but it ultimately got lost in the shuffle of bills passed this spring. Kelly told our Kansas Capitol Bureau she wishes more got done with water legislation as the 2026 legislative session comes to a close.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

Riley County had its first nuisance abatement trial last week, but the legal matter might not be fully resolved for another five to six years, the county commission learned Monday. The multi-year timeline, county counselor Jacob Hansen told commissioners, would be for the entire appeals process if the case went all the way to the Kansas Supreme Court. However, Hansen said he’s hopeful the initial Riley County District Court portion of the case would have some clarity soon. District Magistrate Judge John McNish took the case under advisement after a four-hour bench trial Friday, Hansen said.
Read more: News Radio KMAN

Fairway is trying to clamp down on unlicensed short-term rentals, even as the city expects a spike in property owners renting out homes during this summer’s World Cup. City officials say they anticipate the number of Airbnbs and other short-term rentals to double or even triple during the month of the World Cup this summer. But a new Kansas state law makes a Fairway city ordinance limiting such rentals temporarily unenforceable during the global soccer tournament. So, last week, city officials took a new tack, approving much steeper penalties for unlicensed rentals as a means to regulate the properties.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Leaders from Wichita, Sedgwick County and Wichita Public Schools came together to tackle some of the community’s biggest challenges. At Monday’s tri-government meeting, leaders emphasized the importance of working together across all levels of local government. Wichita’s City Manager Dennis Marstall says one of the top priorities is building a stronger future workforce, starting with students.
Read more: KSN-TV

The Wichita Police Department showed off its new “drone hive” on Monday. The hive will house three drones and charging stations on the roof of the QuikTrip at Washington Street and Douglas Avenue. QuikTrip donated $600,000 to WPD to set up the hive. That will pay for operations for the first five years, then the city will pay $61,000 every year to maintain it. Police have said that the new location is a hub for street racing and that having the drone hive nearby will improve response across the city.
Read more: KSN-TV

Fort Scott’s economic growth plan for the year has hit the ground running, so far, and now, two new businesses are generating new jobs for the city. “It’s all manufacturing, it’s all blue collar. And that’s what our bread and butter is in Bourbon County,” said Brad Matkin, Fort Scott City Manager. Two new businesses coming soon to Fort Scott are what Matkin describes as a perfect fit for the local economy. They’ll bring 260 new industrial jobs into the community over the next couple of years – allowing for more opportunities for stable and well-paying work.
Read more: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

Haven High School has some new members. Their FFA program just welcomed nine new chicks into the world. The Haven City Council agreed to table and issue a resolution to allow the school to waive its ownership fees and construction fees for building the coop, with the unanimous intention to approve this once the appropriate ordinance is drafted. The chickens will be used to help the FFA students achieve the supervised agricultural experience that they need for the program.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

Blue Valley Technologies (BVT) is excited to announce that residents and visitors will soon be able to enjoy free public Wi‑Fi at Marysville City Park, just in time for Mother’s Day weekend. This is part of an infrastructure project made possible by a matching grant program through the Kansas Office of Broadband Development’s ADOPT (Advancing Digital Opportunities to Promote Technology) Program. The new public Wi‑Fi installation will provide reliable internet access throughout the park, supporting community gatherings, family events, and local activities. It will also enhance security and provide everyday connectivity for parkgoers. Whether sharing photos, accessing information, or staying connected while enjoying the outdoors, the service is designed to enhance the park experience for all ages.
Read more: The Sunflower State Radio Network

Firefighters across the state of Kansas responded to multiple wildfires recently, with windy conditions making them difficult to contain. The Kansas Forest Service reports that Tanker 95 and DFMO Williams were released after assisting local crews. Burning silage and hay bales produced embers that spread into nearby grass and continued to spread due to strong winds. The wildfire progress stopped, and crews remained on scene to monitor and patrol. This week shows that the Fire danger is forecasted to be high to very high across much of Kansas, according to the forest service. They remind you if you are conducting a burn to have adequate water and personnel on site, reinforce and monitor firebreaks, and check and re-check any burns from today and the past several days.
Read more: Western Kansas News

The former small-town Kansas mayor pleaded guilty to three counts of misdemeanor disorderly election conduct in Comanche County on Monday. He agreed to pay a $2,000 fine and serve a year of probation, court records show.
Read more: Wichita Eagle

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.

The Solid Waste staff isn’t just looking forward to more space on the campus; they’re also excited about new “smart trucks” that MSO is testing out right now.
Read more: LJWorld

The law creates two programs offering financial incentives for law students and lawyers. Another program offers up to $20,000 per year in loan repayment for attorneys working in qualifying rural counties.
Read more: CJonline