Kansas Municipal News
A Kansas gardener is suing for the right to sell honey and fruit from her Ottawa yard
Ellen Finnerty revels in working her backyard garden as much to learn the science as to harvest a juicy watermelon…. Now the Ottawa resident wants to keep bees, too, and ultimately sell her honey, fruits and vegetables at a local farmer’s market. But the city of Ottawa halted her aspirations last year, citing city code. Finnerty holds out hope. With help from a small-government advocacy group, the gardener sued in May, arguing those rules violate the Kansas Constitution. Some cities across the country are changing their codes to allow residents to grow more food or add bees and chickens to their yards. Lawrence, for example, changed its codes in 2016 to loosen rules for residential crops and allow beekeeping and sales of honey and other homegrown foods. In 2019, the state of Indiana struck down all municipal beekeeping bans.
Source: KCUR News
Hospitals in Kansas turn to overseas workers to combat nurse shortage but immigration law gets in the way
Kansas recruiters are looking as far away as the Philippines in Southeast Asia because 21% of registered nursing jobs in the state went unfilled last year. That’s what the Kansas Hospital Association found in a recent report. “Just to kind of put that in perspective, we need four nurses on a unit,” said Cindy Samuelson with the KHA. “If we’re thinking of percentages 25%, that means we only have three.” Prior to the pandemic, the U.S. was already experiencing a shortage of nurses. During COVID-19, the issue was only exacerbated as fatigued nurses left the workforce. Samuelson said the association held its very first virtual job fair to try to reach more potential workers. The group is also partnering with the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and rural organizations to raise awareness of the job opportunities in the medical field.
Source: Dodge City Daily Globe
Governor Kelly Joins Sen. Moran Rep. Davids to Break Ground on De Soto Road Project Near Panasonic
Governor Laura Kelly today joined U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, U.S. Representative Sharice Davids, and other state, local, and private sector leaders for a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off construction of the De Soto Local Road Improvement Project. The Kansas Department of Transportation’s (KDOT) 4.5-mile street improvement project will support the $4 billion, 4,000-job Panasonic Energy electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility currently under construction. The project, which represents the largest private investment in Kansas history, was announced last July.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
Municipal Bond Trends for June 29, 2023
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.
Topeka leaders say they took ‘future of hotel’ into city’s own hands
Topeka Mayor Mike Padilla recalls feeling helpless as Topeka’s West Ridge Mall was auctioned off in December 2021. “There was little that we were able to participate in at that time, and the result wasn’t what we hoped for,” he said Tuesday during his first monthly news conference with acting city manager Richard Nienstedt. What happened with that mall was one reason Padilla supported Topeka’s city government bidding $7.6 million in an auction this month to win the right to buy Hotel Topeka at City Center, 1717 S.W. Topeka Blvd., he said.
Source: CJonline
Municipal Bond Trends for June 28, 2023
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.
Powell says more ‘restriction’ is coming including possibility of hikes at consecutive meetings
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell talked tough on inflation Wednesday, saying at a forum that he expects multiple interest rate increases ahead and possibly at an aggressive pace. “We believe there’s more restriction coming,” Powell said during a monetary policy session in Sintra, Portugal. “What’s really driving it … is a very strong labor market.” The comments reiterate a position taken by Powell’s fellow policymakers at their June meeting, during which they indicated the likelihood of another half percentage point of increases through the end of 2023.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Garden City hires new Parks & Rec chief
Ticia Herd, Executive Director of the Mulvane Recreation Commission for the past 15 years, has been named the new Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Garden City. “Ticia’s excitement about the growth and diversity of Garden City was evident throughout the search process. We look forward to her arrival in early August,” Matt Allen, Garden City City Manager, said. Herd replaces former director Aaron Stewart. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in recreation and a minor in psychology from Pittsburg State University, completed MBA coursework from Friends University, and is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP).
Source: Greater Garden City » Feed
Temporary water treatment facility one of Kansas largest
A water treatment facility that would temporarily become the seventh largest in Kansas was built on site to treat water from the creek. The operation could treat 3,600 gallons of water per minute and put treated water back into the creek that exceeded the obligated water quality criteria.
Source: Backroads News
Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $43.6M in Grant Funding Creation of Over 4200 New Child Care Slots
Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund announced funding awards to 52 statewide organizations for the purpose of creating new, sustainable, high-quality licensed child care slots across the state and accelerating capacity-building in support of families, businesses, and economic development. These grants are part of the Child Care Capacity Accelerator grant program, which was designed to advance the rapid development of additional child care slots statewide. The program will provide $43,593,294 in grant funding, which will create 4,211 new child care slots across the state.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
Wacky Wednesday returns in Crawford County
The Crawford County Historical Museum in Pittsburg, Kansas today hosted its Wacky Wednesday children’s series. This free and family-friendly event featured various themes tailored for children from preschool to 6th grade. Held from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the activities took place both on the museum grounds and inside the museum itself. Bart Taylor, an award-winning educator specializing in US History and Will Rogers, served as the event’s host. As the Creative Curator and Interpreter at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma, Bart brought his expertise and passion for history to engage and entertain the participants.
Source: KOAM News
Newton PD mourns loss of police service dog Bella
A retired police service dog in Newton has died. Bella was only nine years old. The Newton Police Department said she suffered a sudden medical emergency and died Tuesday. The department said Bella was successful at her job. She was a certified patrol and narcotics detection K-9 who joined the department in 2015. She served in the patrol division with Sgt. Tony Hawpe, her handler. After he transitioned to the investigations division, Bella retired in January.
Source: KSN-TV
Nuclear plant eyes Marion Reservoir
Evergy wants to buy 19% of Marion Reservoir’s conservation pool water to use for cooling basins at Wolf Creek nuclear power plant near Burlington. “That has never happened before,” Lisa Suderman, vice chairman of the Neosho Regional Advisory Committee, told county commissioners Monday. The state owns the water in the reservoir. That’s why the request was directed to the state, she said…. Suderman suggested that the county, cities, and Marion County residents who have a stake in Marion Reservoir water meet to discuss getting a retention agreement. A retention agreement applies not to drawing water out of the reservoir but to retaining water in the reservoir. Suderman suggested forming a delegation of every governing body in the county to talk to the water office about such an agreement.
Source: Marion County RECORD
Hillsboro says yes to fences no to animals
Hillsboro property owners who want privacy fences along their side yards can now have them, but people who own agricultural land annexed into the city can no longer claim an agricultural exemption to city regulations. Those changes to city ordinance were made Tuesday during Hillsboro’s city commission meeting.
Source: Marion County RECORD
Century-old bridge to be replaced
A bridge on East Barton County Road crossing Walnut Creek that was built about a 100 years ago will be replaced after the County Commission Wednesday morning approved the project. “It’s one that we’ve been in discussions with for quite a few years wanting to get it replaced because it’s a narrow bridge, 19 feet wide,” said County Engineer Barry McManaman. “Farm equipment has some trouble getting through, in fact, they can’t get through there.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Municipal Bond Trends for June 27, 2023
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.
Seven new warehouses coming near Integra Technologies site in Bel Aire
Michael Le had been eyeing Bel Aire for warehouse development even before Integra Technologies chose to locate in the city. “I was going to build it regardless,” he said of what he’s calling his Bayside industrial development. He said tax incentives in Bel Aire make doing business there attractive. However, he said, the microchip manufacturing and testing plant’s decision to locate a 1-million-square-foot building at the southeast corner of Rock Road and K-254 gives him even more confidence to build close by — across from Wichita Hoops, which is near 53rd North and Webb Road.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Tornado siren failure being addressed by county
A recent spot of severe weather raised some concerns for Derby residents, as a number of outdoor tornado sirens failed to go off in the midst of a tornado warning issued on June 17. District 5 Sedgwick County Commissioner Jim Howell, representing Derby, voiced some of his constituents’ concerns at the commission’s staff meeting on June 20. Sedgwick County Emergency Management Director Julie Stimson confirmed her department is working to resolve the issue. Per a release from the Sedgwick County Emergency Management Department, following the issuance of three tornado warning polygons by the National Weather Service on June 17, multiple means of public warning were triggered including wireless emergency alerts (WEA) to cellphones, the emergency alert system (EAS) over radio/television, NOAA weather radios, billboards, Sedgwick County’s Civic Ready Alerts and the outdoor warning system.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Torline creates collection brick by brick
North Newton resident John Torline, all in all, just wants to put another brick in the wall. But he doesn’t want to do that to oppress people, as the Pink Floyd song implies. He just wants to do it for his brick collection. The wall on the back of the Torlines’ outdoor freestanding fireplace contains various bricks from different Kansas towns, all with writing on them. One says, “Don’t Spit on Sidewalk.” “When I was growing up, my oldest cousin built a fireplace in Wichita,” Torline said. “He used bricks from brick factories that were from Kansas. Just about every town in southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri—about every little town had brick factories.”
Source: Harvey County Now
70 years ago downtown KCK was a shopping entertainment hub. How has it changed?
Years ago, the “other” Kansas City — the one in Kansas — had its own busy downtown. Though less grand than its Missouri cousin, a stretch of Minnesota Avenue west of 7th Street was lined for decades with shops, banks, theaters and eateries. The addition of the towering Town House Hotel came in 1951, which attracted celebrities performing in the area like country singer Patsy Cline. She stayed there the night after her concert at Memorial Hall. Sadly, it was her last one. Cline died in a plane crash on the way back to Nashville A view of the same scene in 2023 shows some storefronts and the tall tower still standing in the background — it’s now a home for seniors.
Source: KC Star Local News
50,000 people will flood into small Kansas town of Wamego on Tuesday
In the Pyro Crew’s planning lair — location undisclosed for security reasons — Chris Hupe produced a layout of the launch site and spread it out across a long table. He stood over the map like a general, stabbing a thick finger at various white squares. “Each of these boxes by themselves could be a small fireworks show,” Hupe said. “We have 81 of them.” He rattled off some more stats: a 225,000-square-foot site, 12,000 pounds of fireworks, 2,051 electronically triggered events, 800 hand-lit shells, 25 “dragons” that throw columns of flames 30 feet in the air. … On Tuesday evening, it will add up to Boomtown, a free pyrotechnic extravaganza that rockets the population of Wamego — a town otherwise best known for its Oz Museum — from 5,000 to something like 50,000 every Independence Day. Families arrive not just from neighboring towns but neighboring states to witness a 30-minute Fourth of July fireworks show that’s among the largest and most ambitious in the Midwest.
Source: Kansas City Star
Newton approves U.S. Golf Adaptive Open
Newton’s Sand Creek Station Golf Course will host the U.S. Golf Association’s Adaptive Open Championship in the coming year. The event will feature 96 men and women, in eight different impairment categories, to compete in the event. “We are here because we have a good partnership here,” said Greg Sanfilippo, senior director of championships for the U.S. Golf Association. “We’ve been here; we’ve done this. We’ll have an awesome championship here, should we be able to do that here in 2024.” Newton hosted the USGA Amateur Links Championship in 2014. The adaptive championship will take place in the second week of July 2024.
Source: Harvey County Now
Municipal Bond Trends for June 26, 2023
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.
Love of comics, cosplay marks 2023 Smallville Comic Con in Hutchinson
The Smallville Comic Con wrapped up another successful convention this past weekend for the 2023 gathering. This year marked the tenth anniversary of the convention, and many came to celebrate. …. “I think with (the con) being this far out west, it gives the chance for everybody around the community, the smaller towns, to actually be able to come in and enjoy the nerdy community,” [Wichita visitor] Ocelot said. “I always do a DC cosplay when I come here.”
Source: Hutch News
Hutchinson’s first Chalk the Town event will include activities, demonstrations
A Hutchinson artist and long-term substitute teacher has inspired a movement. Kara Vaughn, a local artist and long-term substitute teacher in Hutchinson Schools, is working in partnership with Downtown Hutch and the City of Hutchinson to launch the 2023 Chalk the Town event. Vaughn, who draws cartoonish chalk paintings on sidewalks, has garnered more than 30 million views on TikTok and around 400,000 followers. Vaughn had posted her drawings on TikTok (under Varakaughn).
Source: Hutch News
Eudora chooses interim city manager to take over top City Hall spot in growing community
As the city of Eudora gets ready to grow outward, it has looked inward to fill its top City Hall position. The Eudora City Commission on Monday agreed to hire Kevyn Gero as the community’s next city manager. Gero, a former city of Lawrence administrator, has been the assistant city manager in Eudora for about two years, and has been serving as Eudora’s interim city manager for the last six months. “Those six months in our interim role really cemented it for us,” Eudora Mayor Tim Reazin said in a brief interview with the Journal-World. … Prior to joining the Eudora city staff, Gero had worked for more than nine years in Lawrence City Hall. She had served as a management analyst in the city Municipal Services and Operations department, and also played a key role in obtaining accreditation for the Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical department.
Source: LJWorld
Restoring history: Walton changing Stone Building into community center
Dean Davis has helped save buildings for much of his career with the Newton Fire/EMS Department and Walton Fire Department. Now he and Walton residents are working to save a building for the town in quite another way, although that building had a fire in it in 1958. Davis worked for the Newton Fire/EMS Department for 25 years, retiring as deputy fire chief, and also served 55 years with the Walton Fire Department. At Walton, Davis is on the fire board and does a lot of the fire department’s paperwork.
Source: Harvey County Now
McPherson looks to add to make water supply more sustainable
Turning on a faucet and having clean water is something most don’t think twice about but having that easy access is something the staff at the McPherson board of Public Utilities are always thinking about. Chris Unruh, a project manager with BPU says, “There’s a lot that really goes into supplying safe drinking water, being able to provide water for recreational purposes and continue to provide that reliability.” Right now the city is pulling more water from its main source, the Equus Bed aquifer, than is sustainable long term according to BPU general manager Josh Bedel. “The Kansas geological survey did a study years ago and they calculated a safe yield of 10,000 acre feet a year and currently we’re sitting close to 12,000 acre feet a year,” said Bedel. He says water levels are declining about half a foot each year.
Source: KAKE – News
Kansas to receive federal funding for high-speed internet access
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said Monday that the state will receive $451.7 million in federal funding to support the construction of broadband infrastructure to provide access to high speed internet across the state. The governor said the funding will help in moving toward a goal of becoming a top ten state for broadband access by 2030. This investment is being made through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program as part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The BEAD Program, which is led by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) office at the U.S. Department of Commerce, will provide a total of $42.45 billion to State Broadband Offices to expand broadband to unserved areas across the country.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
This years Great Lenexa BBQ Battle championship was unusually close
The 2023 Great Lenexa BBQ Battle finished in a near dead heat, as the 41st annual event concluded with Damn Fine Beef and Swine from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, being crowned Grand Champion, and taking home the Grand Prize of $3,000. Head Chef Ryan Cain had to overcome stifling heat on Saturday, and collected his second Grand Champion finish since he and his wife, Kim, began competing three years ago in barbecue competitions around the Midwest. They bested 168 other competing teams in what officials from the Kansas City Barbeque Society referred to as perhaps the best and biggest event in the Midwest.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Grant Opportunity: Engaging Placemaking for Innovative Communities (EPIC)
EPIC 2023 is a pilot program funded by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission at the Kansas Department of Commerce and the Patterson Family Foundation. EPIC is an opportunity for arts-driven community development projects designed to connect cross-sector local and regional stakeholders. EPIC provides technical assistance, funding, and mentorship through planning and execution.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Pittsburg Kite Festival takes off July 1
Ten thousand kites are making their way to Pittsburg all the way from India for Pittsburg’s first ever Kite Festival, scheduled for Saturday, July 1. This high-flying adventure will take place from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm at Pittsburg High School. Sponsored by Al Patel with Pitt Discount Liquor and Pitt Discount Smokes along with Chirag Patel with the Pittsburg Dairy Queen, this new event is partnering with the Pittsburg Parks & Recreation Department and is free to attend. Patel is providing a kite and thread for all participants. Food trucks will also be set up at the festival for those who wish to purchase food.
Source: City of Pittsburg
Kansas Receives $451.7 Million for High Speed Broadband Infrastructure
Governor Laura Kelly announced today that Kansas will receive $451.7 million in funding to support broadband infrastructure construction to connect all Kansans, ensuring access to high-speed internet across the state. … This investment is made possible through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program as part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The BEAD Program, which is led by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) office at the U.S. Department of Commerce, will provide a total of $42.45 billion to State Broadband Offices to expand broadband to unserved areas across the country. … In anticipation of this funding, the Kansas Office of Broadband Development is completing work on strategic plans for broadband access and digital equity. Data is still being collected to better understand broadband needs, in order to deploy this funding efficiently. The Kansas Office of Broadband Development is encouraging Kansans to complete a speed test and participate in the process. To participate, residents should visit the official website, broadbandks.com, where they can complete a quick and simple online speed test. This test, which only takes a few minutes, will provide valuable data on internet connectivity throughout the state.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Motel owners seek city help to reopen
The Town House Motel in downtown Arkansas City may soon be back in business. The affordable motel which evolved into long-term, low-income housing for some residents, closed in December of 2020. Two of the building owners, Raju Sheth and Hasu Bhakta, approached city commissioners during a work session Friday to discuss reopening the motel. Sheth said that he had been working with building official Mike Bellis with plans to revamp and reopen the facility. A big holdup has been getting an electrician to come and make the necessary wiring improvements.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
Hotel Topeka not fully in city’s hands just yet
The City of Topeka is in the process of finalizing its deal to take over Hotel Topeka. The city won an online auction bid earlier this month to acquire the hotel at $7.6 million. At the time, a city spokeswoman told KSNT 27 News that officials were finalizing the purchasing documents, then the sale would be final. After asking for a status update Thursday morning, the sale is not yet final. “Because Hotel Topeka at City Center is in receivership, the purchase has to be approved by the court. That is unlikely to occur until late July. We do not expect to have an update on whether or not the sale is final until that time.”- (Gretchen Spiker, Director of Communications for the City of Topeka) Spiker also said a request for proposals went out recently that will help the city evaluate the hotel facilities. The city previously expressed it wants to work with private partners and industry experts to develop the property. Topeka’s governing body first expressed interest in purchasing Hotel Topeka after learning it was going up for auction.
Source: KSNT 27 News
City of Readings reach continues to grow with evolution of annual Tornado Trot and Trail
What originally began as a benefit for a community impacted by a natural disaster has grown into an event with an incredible reach far beyond just the local area. The 11th annual Reading Tornado Trot and Trail took place at Reading Park Saturday morning with right around 100 participants either running or riding the route. Organizer Jan Briggs says this was easily one of the largest turnouts they have had for the event in recent memory. The Trot and Trail began back in 2011 as a benefit for the community following an EF-3 tornado that damaged the town and killed one person. Most recently the event has grown and evolved into a fundraiser benefiting Handlebars of Hope. Handlebars of Hope is a charitable organization that provides free bikes for disadvantaged residents both locally and in Mexico. Briggs says by supporting Handlebars the community now gets to play a major role in impacting the lives of so many far beyond their borders.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Wichita police use surveillance cameras to help find arrest shooting suspect in Oklahoma
Police used the Flock Safety license plate reader surveillance system to help find a 45-year-old Wichita man in Oklahoma after he was accused of shooting someone in the middle of the street in broad daylight at 18th and Chautauqua. Jeremi Mothershed will be extradited to Wichita. He has been charged with felon in possession of a firearm and aggravated battery, police said Friday. Police took the suspect vehicle description and used Flock to find a white Audi headed south toward Oklahoma. The vehicle and license plate were then relayed to law enforcement in Oklahoma. Mothershed was arrested by Norman police and booked into the jail on an unrelated charge. He had a 9mm handgun with him, Wichita police said. The shooting in Wichita happened just after 2:50 p.m. June 6 at 18th and Chautauqua. It left a 28-year-old critically injured with a gunshot wound in the upper left leg.“At the time of the incident, officers only knew that the victim was walking around the intersection … when he got into a verbal argument with a male suspect driving a white vehicle when the suspect produced a handgun and shot the victim,” police said in a news release.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Wellington City Council approves $18,974 for the purchase of 20 point-blank ballistic vests
The Wellington City Council met Tuesday to clear their desks of routine purchases and resolutions before the July holiday. The first resolution of the evening completed a request from the Wellington Police Department to purchase 20 point-blank AXBIIIA ballistic vests for $18,974.40. Ballistic vests have a shelf life of five years, and this bid came in at $4,000 under budget. Police Chief Tracy Heath also stated that he would apply for a Department of Justice grant to reimburse the City for half of the cost. After that, the council approved the resolution unanimously.
Source: Sumner NewsCow
Hutchinson raises chicken count
Hutchinson residents can bring more chickens home to roost. The Hutchinson City Council voted Tuesday to increase the number of chickens a resident can own, changing it from three to eight chickens on most city properties, the Hutchinson News reported. Jim Sietnater, interim planning director, told the newspaper that keeping chickens is a growing trend. If someone wants a larger flock of chickens and has the area to do that, they can add an additional chicken for every 250 square feet. That maxes out at 20 chickens. All chickens must be fenced in, with coops being kept neat in appearance. However, roosters are still not allowed in Hutchinson, and the public slaughtering or processing of chickens remains off limits. Mayor John Richardson saw a discrepancy with the ordinance with regard to rural lands in the city, the newspaper reported. In the rural areas, there remain allowances for cattle, horses, sheep, deer, goats, chickens, turkeys, ducks, gamebirds, geese and other poultry. However, pigs are no longer allowed.
Source: The Iola Register
Municipal Bond Trends for June 23, 2023
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.
Shawnee deputy city manager up for job in nearby Merriam
Shawnee’s Deputy City Manager and long-time city employee Caitlin Gard is the final candidate for one of the top jobs in Merriam city government. During its upcoming meeting on Monday, the Merriam City Council will vote on Gard’s appointment to serve as the assistant city administrator.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Man shot with live rounds during Cowtown gunfight slated to get $500,000 from Wichita
A man who was shot with live rounds by a fellow performer during a staged gunfight at the Old Cowtown Museum in September 2020 is expected to get $500,000 from the city. The Wichita City Council will vote on the settlement Tuesday. The victim, who was 24 at the time of the incident, was struck in the head, face and upper body with the live shotgun rounds. His injuries included a punctured aorta and pellets lodged in his skull and left eye socket, and required surgery. “The claimant has offered to accept a lump sum payment of $500,000 as full settlement of all of the claimant’s claims against the City of Wichita,” a city staff report reads…. The agenda report notes that paying the victim, whose name has not been made public, does not constitute an admission of liability from the city.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
By a narrow margin Overland Park voters OK raising sales tax for road construction
By a relatively slim margin, Overland Park voters agreed to raise the city’s sales tax to fund road construction and repair work, extra money that officials say will help slow the use of the controversial chip seal method to resurface streets. In a mail-in election that concluded Thursday, 53.4%, or 19,157 voters, agreed to raise the tax, while 46.6%, or 16,703, voted no. The city saw nearly 25% voter turnout, with 35,897 people casting ballots. The infrastructure sales tax will jump from one-eighth of a cent to three-eighths. The tax will last for 10 years, starting next April. The lower tax had been in place for 25 years and has since been approved three more times by much wider margins than this month’s vote. In 2013, 72% of voters renewed it, and 75% did so in 2008.
Source: Joco 913 News
Hutchinson residents can now keep 8 chickens, but still no roosters
The Hutchinson City Council also decided to increase the number of chickens a resident can own, changing it from three to eight chickens on most city properties. However, roosters are still not allowed in Hutchinson. Jim Sietnater, interim planning director, said keeping chickens is a growing trend. If someone wants a larger flock of chickens and has the area to do that, they can add an additional chicken for every 250 square feet. That maxes out at 20 chickens. All chickens must be fenced in, with coops being kept ‘neat’ in appearance.
Source: Hutch News
Powell Says Interest Rates Likely to Rise Further
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank didn’t raise interest rates last week as it wanted to slow down its historically rapid pace of increases, but stressed it would likely lift rates again in coming months. “We moved very quickly at the beginning, and we’ve gradually slowed down. This is just a continuation of that,” Powell said Thursday at a Senate Banking Committee hearing. The decision to hold rates steady, after 10 consecutive increases, was designed “to give ourselves more time—to stretch out the time for making these decisions.” Inflation and economic activity haven’t slowed as much as many officials anticipated this year, casting more uncertainty about how high they might lift rates. “We’re close but there’s a little further to go with rate hikes,” Powell said. At their policy meeting last week, officials left the benchmark federal-funds rate in a range between 5% and 5.25%. Most of them projected two more increases this year, which would take it to a 22-year high.
Source: WSJ.com: US Business