Municipal News & Jobs

Arkansas City Fire/EMS Department is celebrating the arrival of its newest firetruck, Engine 53. To mark the milestone, the department is hosting a Push-In Ceremony on Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the fire station located at 115 S. D Street. This tradition dates back to the 1800s, when firefighters would push their horse-drawn wagons back into the firehouse after returning from a call.
Read more: KSN-TV

BBQ served up fresh, all for a good cause. It’s the annual “Back the Badge” event this morning, outside the American Bank in Baxter Springs. The fundraiser helps to raise money for needed purchases like equipment, uniforms, and gear for Reserve Law Enforcement Officers in Baxter Springs and Cherokee County. It’s also a way for these officers and the community to get to know each other.
Read more: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

Allen County Regional Hospital administrator Pat Patton sees a strong case for voters’ renewal of a quarter-cent sales tax extension in the November election. Proceeds would go towards support of the hospital It’s a perfect time for William “Pat” Patton to reflect on the state of Allen County Regional Hospital.  Just over a year ago, Patton was named administrator of both Allen County Regional Hospital and Anderson County Hospital in Garnett. He’s seen enough to know what Allen County Regional does well, and how it can improve. But there’s another reason to examine our local hospital. In a month, voters will decide whether to extend a quarter-cent sales tax used to support Allen County Regional Hospital. In place since 2010, the sales tax comes before voters for renewal every five years.
Read more: The Iola Register

From afar, they can look like large collections of plants, growing out of the lake and shooting toward the sky, but there’s a little more to the flora popping up on some Overland Park lakes. Called floating wetlands, these man-made mini islands of native Kansas plants are intended to balance the water’s ecosystem and keep harmful algae blooms at bay. Overland Park is now adding more of them to lakes at city parks.
Read more: Johnson County Post

A go-cart driver, traveling illegally on Atchison streets, now faces a number of charges, including that related to his alleged escape from police. Early this year, the Atchison approved the use of certain UTVs but the ordinance, though, does not allow other, similar vehicles, to be ridden on streets, including golf carts, atv’s, and go-carts.
Read more: MSC 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 district court correctly concluded that the Code does not regulate the number of residential structures per lot through its definitions section. … our construction of the “duplex” definition aligns with that of the district court; we concur that the Code does not restrict the development of such structures to one per lot.
Read the decision: KS Court of Appeals: First Presbyterian Church v. City of Lawrence

K.S.A. 21-6002(b)(2) provides that "[u]pon conviction of official misconduct a public officer or employee shall forfeit such officer or employee’s office or employment." Because the forfeiture is tied to the offense, and the offense is tied to the abuse of a specific position, the forfeiture is limited to the position held when the offense was committed. Cited herein: K.S.A. 21-6001; 21-6002.
Read more: Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2025-23

Zack Daniel said his top goals are encouraging intentional commercial development and supporting residential growth as he takes over as city manager. Last month, the commission announced it had selected Daniel as the new city manager. His contract will be finalized in the next few weeks. 
Read more: The Eudora Times
He said the city has seen its “baked in advantages” help make it attractive to development. It has easy access along K-10 and swaths of developable land are available in the city and just outside the city limits. Those assets, along with the city’s strong community character, made developers take notice, and Daniel believes the regional spotlight is something Eudora can capitalize on.
Read more: LJWorld

The city of Pittsburg held its State of the City event … Mayor Dawn McNay spoke at the event, sharing many new projects, buildings, and initiatives happening within the community, which include a new KBI crime lab, street improvements like lighting and asphalt renovations, and housing developments for residents of all income levels—especially those in lower economic brackets.
Read more: KSNF/KODE

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 State of Kansas initiated an application for the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation (RFT) Program, which was created in the Reconciliation Bill to direct the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to work with states to identify the root challenges facing rural health providers and invest in solutions to improve outcomes for struggling providers. Kansas providers are estimated to receive approximately $1 billion over the next five years.
Read more: The Sunflower State Radio Network

Large-scale facility matters have been a significant talking point for USD 251 North Lyon County for well over a decade, and the district has started a patron survey as part of its latest round of community conversations. On KVOE’s Morning Show on Monday, Superintendent Bob Blair says the overall goal is to ensure the district’s sustainability well into the future.
Read more: KVOE

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation raided multiple locations across the state Wednesday, including at least two businesses in Great Bend, as part of a crackdown on businesses selling hemp products containing THC. Search warrants were served at multiple businesses within city limits.
Read more: Great Bend Tribune

Munis were a touch firmer out long in Wednesday’s trading, as U.S. Treasury yields fell and equities ended up. The two-year muni-UST ratio Tuesday was at 65%, the five-year at 63%, the 10-year at 71% and the 30-year at 89%, according to Municipal Market Data’s 3 p.m. EDT read. ICE Data Services had the two-year at 62%, the five-year at 61%, the 10-year at 70% and the 30-year at 89% at a 3 p.m. read. The Investment Company Institute Wednesday reported inflows of $1.114 billion for the week ending Sept. 24, following $1.138 billion of inflows the previous week. This is the third consecutive week that inflows topped $1 billion.
Read more: Bond Buyer

If any doubts remained about whether the Federal Reserve will be lowering its key interest rate later this month, the budget loggerheads a few blocks away in the nation’s capital may have cemented the move. Particularly if the impasse stretches out past a few days, Chair Jerome Powell and his fellow central bankers likely will err on the side of caution, which in this case would be a bias towards easing, Wall Street experts say.
Read more: CNBC

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced $23 million is available to improve broadband infrastructure through the Broadband Acceleration Grant (BAG) program. Grants up to $1 million will be awarded to offset the capital expenses providers need to deploy service in unserved areas of Kansas. In its fifth 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

In accordance with Executive Order #20-30, Governor Laura Kelly on Tuesday directed flags be flown at half-staff on all state buildings, grounds, and facilities from sunup to sundown on Friday, October 3, 2025, in honor of Hays Police Sergeant Scott Heimann, who was killed in the line of duty on September 28, 2025. “For nearly a decade, Sergeant Heimann was committed to protecting those in Hays, and he made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his community,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “His sacrifice is a debt that we will never forget or be able to repay. My sincere condolences go out to his family and loved ones as they mourn this tragedy, and to all Kansans as we grieve our state’s fourth line-of-duty death in the last three months.”
Read more: Ad Astra Radio

After weeks of waiting for answers, the City of Newton received a summary of test results for the mystery gas emissions at the Fox Ridge Development. In August, Kansas Gas Service detected a flammable gas in the soil while conducting testing at the new development situated on top of the former Fox Ridge Golf Course. The detection of the gas prompted county and state emergency declarations, evacuations, as well as gas service being shut off to 30 households. KDHE contracted a service to test the gas, and after weeks, the city has an answer as to what it is: methane.
“They state that there is no hazard to human health,” City Director of Communications Erin McDaniel said. “The primary source of the methane is from the breakdown of plant material in the soil.”
Read more: Harvey County Now

Flock cameras have returned to Harvey County. Halstead, Bentley and Sedgwick all tried and moved on from flock cameras. Now the Harvey County Sheriff’s Department has picked up the mantle and installed four units of what Sheriff Chad Gay calls an “awesome” crime-fighting tool. Flock cameras are stationary units that take pictures of the back license plate of passing vehicles. They store vehicle information, along with location, date and time, in a nationwide database that law enforcement agencies can search to assist investigations.
Read more: Harvey County Now