Kansas Municipal News
What Wichita can learn from a Michigan’s city path to seamless mental health care
Grand Rapids [has] a model that Wichita and Sedgwick County might seek to learn from as they work to create a more coordinated approach to addressing mental health, substance abuse and homelessness. Such an approach requires collaboration across a swath of government agencies and nonprofits. Grand Rapids appears to be creating a more seamless system even though it lacks a more centralized single location for social services that cities such as San Antonio have become widely regarded for. Officials in Wichita and Sedgwick County have been considering building a similar hub here. For the past five years, leaders in metro Grand Rapids have been brainstorming about how to improve services for individuals experiencing a mental-health crisis. Those talks – involving local hospitals, nonprofits that provide behavioral health services, law enforcement, city and county officials and even insurers – have led to new initiatives and expansions of existing programs.
Source: KLC Journal
Leawood tweaks pit bull ban, but keeps it on the books
Leawood’s pit bull ban is still on the books, but the way it’s enforced changed this week. The Leawood City Council on Monday unanimously approved an amendment to the city’s dangerous animal ordinance banning pit bulls. This is the latest step in the city’s efforts over the past year to determine what should be done with the ban. The altered ordinance now spells out the characteristics of a pit bull — such as the dog’s ears, eye shape and the length and shape of the dog’s head.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Prairie Village inks $50K deal with environmental consultants
Prairie Village is exploring ways to make its city operations more environmentally sustainable. The city council earlier this month unanimously approved an agreement with Keramida, an Indiana-based consulting firm, to create a sustainability program for Prairie Village. The move aims to help the city reach its commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 or sooner, according to city documents.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Family ‘hit the lotto’ with move to Iola
Max and Candice Grundy have lived in Iola for two years. And already, they take great pride in what they call “our town.” California transplants, the Grundys are known for their recent purchase of Iola’s abandoned water tower, which they envision turning into an Airbnb. Last week, Max, a commercial artist, attended an Iola council meeting where he suggested Iola adopt a flag, giving a dozen examples. Even though he regarded his presentation a “flop,” he thinks the idea of a flag promoting Iola is worthwhile.
Source: The Iola Register
KDHE Announces Recipients of Waste Tire Product Grants
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has announced the recipients of waste tire product grants. “These grants will help handle the costs of proper disposal of many materials scrap tires and assist many important local efforts to promote litter and waste reduction. KDHE applauds the creativity and innovation that our communities have in reusing materials that help support the mission of protecting the health and environment of all Kansans.” said Janet Stanek, Secretary, Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The grants are funded by revenue collected through the tire excise tax, a $0.25/vehicle tire fee. The grants totaled $522,312.25, an almost 20 percent (19.8%) increase from 2022 were awarded to 45 organizations to fund projects that include the use of recycled tire products, including playground surfacing and picnic tables. Visit, kdhe.ks.gov/700/ for information about their projects and dollar amounts awarded.
Source: KDHE
Lenexa latest JoCo city to change building codes after firefighters injured
Lenexa is taking steps to protect firefighters responding to house fires after several first responders were injured last year trying to bring a Shawnee house fire under control. Earlier this month, the Lenexa City Council updated a series of home building codes that will require so-called under stair protection in new home construction.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Here’s everything the Federal Reserve is expected to do today
The Federal Reserve will close its two-day meeting Wednesday with a heavy air of uncertainty as the central bank moves forward in its efforts to bring down inflation and stabilize the troubled banking sector. At the moment, those two goals seem to be in conflict: Getting inflation down requires the same higher interest rates that have inflicted crisis-level effects on banks. Still, after much volatility markets seem to have coalesced around expectations that the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee will approve a 0.25 percentage point, or 25 basis point, increase. But that won’t be all that policymakers will have to address. They’re also on tap to update rate and economic projections, and Fed Chairman Jerome Powell then will have to explain it all at his post-meeting news conference. Here’s a quick look at everything likely to happen.
Source: CNBC
Municipal Bond Trends for March 21, 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, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.
The Fed is likely to hike rates by a quarter point but it must also reassure it can contain a banking crisis
The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates Wednesday by a quarter point, but it also faces the tough task of reassuring markets it can stem a worse banking crisis. Economists mostly expect the Fed will raise its fed funds target rate range to 4.75% to 5% Wednesday afternoon, though some expect the central bank could pause its hiking due to concerns about the banking system. Futures markets were pricing in a roughly 80% chance for a rate hike, as of Tuesday morning.The central bank is contemplating using its interest rate tools at the same time it is trying to soothe markets and stop further bank runs. The fear is that rising rates could put further pressure on banking institutions and crimp lending further, hurting small businesses and other borrowers.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Maize City Administrator Richard LaMunyon to Retire at End of 2023
Mayor Pat Stivers today announced that Maize City Administrator, Richard LaMunyon, has informed the City Council of his intention to retire from his duties at the end of December 2023, after 23 years of service. Richard, a long-time resident of Maize, became City Administrator in 2000 when the city employed eight people (half were part-time), had a geographic size of one square mile, and a population of about 1,800 citizens. Today, Maize is the fastest growing community in the State of Kansas. It now incorporates over ten square miles, employs fifty dedicated workers, and an estimated population of 7,100 residents. During his tenure, city operations grew to include modern facilities at City Hall and Public Works for enhanced citizen services. Growth and economic developments successes include an industrial park district, commercial outlets, sixteen active housing developments and enhancements for quality-of-life amenities.
Source: City of Maize
Riley County: Dangerous dog policy part of broader animal control update
The Riley County Commission on Monday heard a proposal for adding a dangerous dog policy to the county’s animal control regulations. Deputy county counselor Craig Cox presented commissioners with a proposed revision to the countywide animal control resolution, which has remained largely unchanged since it was adopted in 1988. Cox said the proposed addition to the policy would include regulations for keeping dogs that are classified by a court as “dangerous” or “potentially dangerous.” He told commissioners that owners of dogs labeled as such would have to meet certain requirements to keep their dog, such as maintaining a specific type of outdoor enclosure and keeping the animal restrained with a specific type of chain. Owners also would be required to place “beware of dog” signs on their homes before they could get a certificate from the county indicating their dog is registered.
Source: themercury.com
Wichita parking plan would clear the way for price hikes, more parking tickets downtown
The city’s parking plan, up for approval Tuesday, calls for replacing coin-operated parking meters with newer, more expensive technology such as the ParkMobile app, which went into use at Century II last week. The Wichita City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on a plan to hike downtown parking prices and install new technology that would make it easier for the city to issue parking tickets. The Wichita Parking and Multimodal Plan would more closely align the rest of downtown with a recent change at Century II and the former downtown library, where the city removed its coin-operated parking meters, replaced them with a mobile-app payment system and increased prices by 300%. The plan does not say exactly how much rates would change downtown and where pay-to-park would be located. But it does say what the city charges now is too low and that the city should focus its efforts on the most high-traffic areas, such as Old Town. It also calls for the use of license plate readers and other technology to help issue tickets more easily. Any changes should be made with community input, the plan says. The plan aims to maximize profits for city government and downtown businesses through downtown parking pricing and enforcement.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Riley County Commission to hold quarterly meetings in smaller communities
The Riley County Board of County Commissioners are planning to host quarterly meetings this year outside of Manhattan. Meetings will be held at 6 p.m. in the smaller cities within the county. Commission Chair Kathryn Focke says it’s important to make local government accessible to everyone and says she’s hoping to send the message that “commissioners are here to serve rural residents too.” The first of four meetings will take place March 30 at Riley City Hall.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Salina residents lighting up porches for Narcan awareness
Houses in Salina are going green, and not for recycling. Porches are “lighting up” awareness about Narcan in hopes of saving lives. If you see a porch shining a green light in Salina, you have found a house joining the fight against fentanyl. A green porch light means there is Narcan inside and someone who can administer it. Recently, residents out at the Oxford House in Salina began this awareness campaign, and now the campaign is spreading to personal homes as the need increases. Preston Cressler, a volunteer at an Oxford House, says recent overdoses could’ve been prevented, and the green lights are a way to be proactive. He says when people come to the Oxford House and do drug tests, most people don’t even know they have fentanyl in their system. “There’s a lot of people that don’t know that they are using fentanyl, and then they use fentanyl and the next thing you know, they’re on life support in the hospital and their families sitting around them wondering what happened and like it doesn’t have to be that way,” said Cressler.
Source: KSN-TV
‘Only takes one pill.’ Kansas high school freshman died from fentanyl-laced painkiller
Inside the Burris home, a guitar sits in its corner of the living room. A music stand holds sheets of music, where Nicholas Burris, called “Cruz” by his loved ones, would strum along to The Beatles, Queen and Chuck Berry. Rhonda Burris will miss hearing her son’s fingers plucking, moving across the strings. The 15-year-old could pick up songs quickly and had even begun to write his own. Cruz’s parents believe he could have gone far in his musical pursuits. Some days he dreamed of being an engineer for NASA, and other times he would say he wanted to become a contractor. Either way, they said, Cruz was bound to do something great. “There’s nothing Cruz couldn’t do,” Andrew Burris said. Though he was a freshman at Lansing High School, students of all ages would greet him in the hallways — including the seniors. Cruz told his mother, Rhonda Burris, that was his favorite thing about school. “‘People know me,’” she recalled him saying.
Source: KC Star Local News
Can states keep trains from blocking crossings? High court wants feds to weigh in
The U.S. Supreme Court has invited the federal government to weigh in on whether state and local governments can regulate how long trains can block railroad crossings. The invitation means the high court might eventually give a full hearing to the appeal of a lower court ruling that invalidated Ohio’s blocked crossing law. There’s no guarantee the court will grant the appeal, but Monday’s court order keeps the door open for now. Countless people have died when emergency vehicles were delayed at rail crossings, The Kansas City Star reported in an investigation of railroad safety lapses. The high court refused to hear a similar case last year in which Oklahoma argued that lower courts were split over which federal agency has authority over blocked crossings and asked the justices for clarification. Over the past 20 years, lower courts have repeatedly ruled that state and local restrictions on train movements are preempted by the federal laws that govern the railroad industry. Some of those restrictions were passed recently in response to growing concerns that trains were blocking crossings more often and for longer periods. Other states, like Kansas, adopted their laws more than a century ago. While the courts have ruled that only the federal government can regulate train movements, the states note that Congress has failed to pass any laws limiting how long trains can block a crossing.
Source: KC Star Local News
Munis steady ahead of FOMC meeting
Municipals were steady Monday ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting, while U.S. Treasury yields rose as investors considered the stability of the banking sector. Equities ended up. Triple-A benchmarks were little changed, no more than a basis point or two, while U.S. Treasury yields rose five to 12 basis points. … The banking sector crisis, which erupted with the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and resurfaced with the struggles of Credit Suisse, sent USTs on a flight-to-quality bid last week. “The two-year plummeted by well over 100 basis points [since March 8], after the short benchmark attained a multiyear high of 5.08% during [Federal Reserve Board] Chair [Jerome] Powell’s semi-annual testimony,” said Jeff Lipton, managing director of credit research at Oppenheimer Inc. Munis joined “the flight-to-quality bandwagon with 10- and 30-year AAA benchmark yields dropping by 23 and 16 basis points respectively,” he said. “Price advances have been more pronounced on the short-end of the muni curve as yields on the one- and two-year tenors declined by 40 and 39 basis points respectively,” he noted.
Source: The Bond Buyer
Mission latest JoCo city to consider antisemitism measure
Mission is joining some other Johnson County cities in considering the adoption of a non-legally binding definition of antisemitism. Like Leawood and Roeland Park, Mission heard from the Jewish Relations Bureau American Jewish Committee about the national rise in antisemitism — punctuated locally by two recent incidents at Johnson County high schools — and the importance of defining it.
Source: Prairie Village Post
SVB Collapse Shows Smaller Banks Can Pose Risk
For 15 years, regulators and legislators have assumed the biggest risks to the financial system came from a handful of “too big to fail” banks. This month’s failure of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank—and last week’s bank-led rescue of a third lender, First Republic Bank FRC 39.67% increase; green up pointing triangle—suggests that focus on size may have blinded officials to the threat posed by smaller lenders, observers and former regulators say.
Source: WSJ.com: US Business
Fed Faces Tough Decision on Rate Increase
Central-bank officials must balance inflation concerns with new worries about spillovers from banking turmoil. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and his colleagues this week face one of their toughest calls in years: whether to raise interest rates again to fight stubbornly high inflation or take a timeout amid the most intense banking crisis since 2008. The decision over whether to raise interest rates by a quarter-percentage point is likely to hinge in part on how markets digest the forced marriage Sunday of two Swiss banking giants, UBS and Credit Suisse, and other steps to calm fears of contagion in the banking system. Fed officials’ two-day meeting concludes Wednesday.
Source: WSJ.com: US Business
Municipal Bond Trends for March 20, 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, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.
Valley Center Public Library is celebrating its 100th birthday
There have been many constants at the Valley Center Public Library over the years. Storytimes. Easter egg hunts. Best-selling novels. Newspapers. And the bell at the front door. “We still have it,” said Terry Foster, the library’s assistant director. “It’s a counter. It’s a patron counter,” Director Janice Sharp said. “And if you’re out in the stacks, you know somebody has come in,” Foster added. And they’ve been coming in for a century. The Valley Center Public Library is celebrating its 100th birthday this month with a party from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 20 and with a look back at what got it here. “Libraries are for everybody,” Sharp said. “To me, every community should have a library.” Valley Center’s library started in 1923 with a trunk holding a few dozen books the Progressive Women’s Club bought from the state library board and kept in the homes of club members.
Source: AV News
Water Wise: Hays residents meeting challenges of water conservation, quality
Two water officials in Hays, Kansas say that policies put in place in the 1990s are still paying dividends for a city that is often seen as a model for water-use efficiency. Holly Dickman, a water conservation specialist with the City of Hays, said the nearly three-decade-old water policies are important because Ellis County relies on groundwater mostly from alluvial (shallow) aquifers around the Smoky Hill River and Big Creek, which flow near the city. “So, you can imagine that if it doesn’t rain, those rivers and creeks aren’t running quite as much as they would be and so our well levels can decline,” she said. “The city relies on those water sources for drinking water and more, so you get a little concerned when there’s no rainfall and the well levels begin to fall.” Dickman said drought conditions in the 1990s forced the city’s leaders to adopt several water conservation strategies to preserve what water was available.
Source: Hays Daily News
Municipal Bond Trends for March 17, 2023
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman, Beth Warren and Henry Schmidt.
Fed poised to approve quarter-point rate hike this week, despite market turmoil
Even with turmoil in the banking industry and uncertainty ahead, the Federal Reserve likely will approve a quarter-percentage-point interest rate increase next week, according to market pricing and many Wall Street experts. Rate expectations have been on a rapidly swinging pendulum over the past two weeks, varying from a half-point hike to holding the line and even at one point some talk that the Fed could cut rates. However, a consensus has emerged that Fed Chairman Jerome Powell and his fellow central bankers will want to signal that while they are attuned to the financial sector upheaval, it’s important to continue the fight to bring down inflation. That likely will take the form of a 0.25 percentage point, or 25 basis point, increase, accompanied by assurances that there’s no preset path ahead. The outlook could change depending on market behavior in the coming days, but the indication is for the Fed to hike.
Source: Economy
Local Banks Could Leave Gaps That Are Hard to Fill
Tighter belts for smaller banks could count as a big problem for some parts of the U.S. The failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank as well as questions about First Republic Bank’s future have cast a sudden pall on the banking sector. An emerging concern is that customers at community and regional banks, worrying that their deposits aren’t safe, might pull their money, putting it into money-market funds or accounts at bigger banks. Regulators’ move last Sunday to protect depositors at SVB and Signature, and big banks coming together on Thursday to shore up First Republic with a $30 billion infusion of deposit cash, were aimed at avoiding such an eventuality. With hope, these fire lines will hold. Even if any outflows are halted or reversed, small banks may now grow cautious, such as by simply sitting on more of their cash as a defensive measure. Doing so would effectively reduce their capacity to extend credit.
Source: WSJ.com: Markets
Smaller Banks’ Role in Economy Means Distress Raises Recession Risks
Main Street businesses and American families are likely to find it harder to get a loan because of turmoil in the banking industry, denting economic growth and raising the risk of a recession. “The risk in terms of the spark from SVB is real,” said Greg Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon, a strategy consulting unit of Ernst & Young LLP. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank set off fear among depositors that led to the failure of Signature Bank and the move to rescue First Republic Bank.
Source: WSJ.com: US Business
Sedgwick residents turn out to defend their chickens
A full council room of residents concerned about a proposed city ordinance to regulate chickens convinced the Sedgwick city council to table the matter until further changes were made. City staff drafted the proposed ordinance and presented it in January to the council, who chose to hold off until they could get public input. The prior ordinance limited the number of fowl to six but didn’t address coop setback limitations, according to City Administrator Kyle Nordick. He said his research showed neighboring cities with coop structure regulations ranging from 30-50 feet from neighboring dwellings, regulations of the location to include only the backyard, and a required permit for ownership.
Source: Harvey County Now
Wichita looking at plan to shape downtown parking options
If you look around downtown Wichita and you’ll see cars parked everywhere, on the street or in lots. It is something that often goes unnoticed by most but the city of Wichita thinks about parking a lot. Councilman Brandon Johnson says the city has “been looking at downtown streets and parking for quite some time and trying to get more efficient. So looking at where parking is needed, compared to where all it is, what that looks like this plan.” On Tuesday the City Council will vote on a parking plan that looks to improve parking in the city, mostly in downtown. It’s a plan that was researched back in 2018 and 2019 but has been on hold since the pandemic.
Source: KAKE – News
Wichita just updated its tobacco ordinance. What’s changed?
Retail stores, not cashiers, will now shoulder fines and fees when caught selling tobacco to underage customers after the Wichita City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to update the city’s tobacco retail licensing. Previously, individual cashier clerks who sold tobacco, e-cigarettes or vapes to someone under the age of 21 were fined $55 for a first offense, $100 for a second, and $150 for any subsequent offenses — an approach that critics say inappropriately shifted blame away from management.
Source: KLC Journal
Why Sedgwick County plans to burn parkland
Sometime in the next three weeks, drivers may see smoke coming from the northeast corner of Sedgwick County. The Sedgwick County Parks Department plans to do a controlled burn at Northeast Sedgwick County Park, at 127th Street East and 77th Street North. Many people may not realize there is a park in that corner of the county. It’s 600 acres of grass and woods. The County website encourages people to use it for hiking, walking dogs, and riding horses. There’s even a YouTube video for the park.
Source: KSN-TV
Southeast Kansas museum celebrates railroad history
More people are now able to check out a museum in southeast Kansas that celebrates railroad history. The Heart of the Heartlands Railroad Museum in Carona has expanded its hours. It had only been open a few weekends during the summer. It’s now open 5 days a week — Wednesday through Sunday — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on those days. Museum Director John Chambers says the railroads played a important role in developing the area.
Source: KSNF/KODE
City of Emporia enters home stretch in search for next Assistant City Manager
The search for Emporia’s next Assistant City Manager has reached the final stages. Finalists for the position met with four panels as part of the selection process Friday morning. The city is not releasing the names of the finalists in order to protect current employment, regardless, City Manager Trey Cocking tells KVOE News this will not be an easy decision as each candidate brings a unique set of skills to the table. Cocking says the chosen candidate will be stepping into the role at a time when several large-scale projects are currently in the works or underway and will have to be ready to adapt to that environment.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Residents of Lawrence’s Pinkney neighborhood concerned about plans for homeless shelter site
Residents of Lawrence’s Pinkney neighborhood and staff at a nearby preschool are questioning the site where the city plans to place a “village” for people experiencing homelessness, and how the project would be managed. The city has its sights set on the former location of Veritas Christian School, 256 N. Michigan St., for its Pallet Shelter Village. The land purchase and project, estimated at $1.84 million and to be paid from federal COVID-19 relief funds, is now on a timeline to provide temporary cabin-style sheltering for up to 75 people starting this July, pending Lawrence City Commission approval.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Local businesses playing a role in Hutchinson economy after recent layoffs
Recent closures and layoffs in Hutchinson have brought up questions about the local economy and the future of the town. The director at StartUp Hutch says that local businesses are often overlooked in how they drive the local economy, and those businesses are providing jobs that are different than those at a corporation. Jackson Swearer says the local businesses are typically run by people right there in the community, having an impact on more than just their customers.
Source: KSN-TV
Fed poised to approve quarter-point rate hike next week, despite market turmoil
Even with turmoil in the banking industry and uncertainty ahead, the Federal Reserve likely will approve a quarter percentage point interest rate increase next week, according to market pricing and many Wall Street experts. Rate expectations have been on a rapidly swinging pendulum over the past two weeks, varying from a half-point hike to holding the line and even at one point some talk that the Fed could cut. However, a consensus has emerged that Chairman Jerome Powell and his fellow central bankers will want to signal that while they are attuned to the financial sector upheaval, it’s important to continue the fight to bring down inflation. That likely will take the form of a 0.25 percentage point, or 25 basis point, increase, accompanied by assurances that there’s no pre-set path ahead.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Municipal market contemplates fallout from banking crisis
“The failure of Silicon Valley Bank along with Silvergate Bank and the Signature Bank of New York has created what is possibly an inflection point in the bond markets,” John Mousseau, president and director of fixed income at Cumberland Advisors, wrote in a commentary Wednesday noting the flight to quality. “The effect on the fixed-income markets has been nothing short of astonishing.” The crisis cut a wide swath across the market with … daily shifts in tax-exempt movement sometimes aligned with Treasury fluctuations and sometimes against. Some believe regional banks could face intensified scrutiny that stands to impact their role in the municipal market, but that remains to be seen. … While federal intervention has managed to tamp down worries and the crisis doesn’t bear striking resemblances to the 2008 financial crisis — that took down Wall Street investment banking behemoths Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns — it has stirred up painful memories.
Source: The Bond Buyer
One year after the first rate hike, the Fed stands at policy crossroads
The Federal Reserve is one year down its rate-hiking path, and in some ways it’s both closer and further away from its goals when it first set sail. Exactly one year ago, on March 16, 2022, the Federal Open Market Committee enacted the first of what would be eight interest rate increases. The goal: to arrest a stubborn inflation wave that central bank officials spent the better part of a year dismissing as “transitory.” In the year since, inflation as measured by the consumer price index has come down some, from an 8.5% annual rate then to 6% now and trending lower. While that’s progress, it still leaves the Fed well short of its 2% goal. “The Fed will acknowledge that they were late to the game, that inflation has been more persistent than they were expecting. So they probably should have tightened sooner,” said Gus Faucher, chief economist at PNC Financial Services Group. “That being said, given the fact the Fed has tightened as aggressively as they have, the economy is still very good.”
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Central Topeka Grocery Oasis to lease land for planned grocery store
A new agreement for a grocery store in central Topeka has been established. After the former Dillons, 1400 S.W. Huntoon closed its doors seven years ago, it left residents of the central Topeka neighborhood with nowhere to shop for fresh produce. GraceMed Capitol Family Clinic, purchased the then-vacant building and opened the facility almost two years later. Residents said Dillions served as the only full-service grocery store in the entire central Topeka area. The Capital-Journal reported in 2021 that leaders of Central Topeka Grocery Oasis Group and GraceMed were working on a location for a new grocery store, and they were still early in the planning process.
Source: CJonline
Derby officials say limited information was accessed in January system breach
Derby officials said a limited amount of information may have been accessed during a computer system breach that was discovered in mid-January, but there’s no indication that this information was misused. The city discovered a computer network disruption on January 14th, and this affected some systems. The disruption affected email services and caused utility bills to go out late. City officials said the information that was affected included residents’ names, addresses and personally identifiable information. There is no evidence of actual misuse of this information and there’s no indication that it will be misused in the future. As a cautionary step, the city is sending notices to potentially affected people with a posting on Twitter and Facebook. The city has also implemented additional security measures within its computer network and at city facilities.
Source: 101.3 KFDI
There is every reason to trust your community banks today
Residents of small towns in Kansas might think that the much-talked-about banking crisis, currently in the headlines, might not affect them. For the most part, they would be correct. But bad practices at the Silicon Valley Bank and the Signature Bank found themselves unable to supply money to their depositors who were depending upon their funds to operate private businesses. Quick action by the Federal Reserve and FDIC led to action by the Federal Government to guarantee all deposits in both banks, and hopefully, avoid the same crisis among other lending institutions. While both banks have been seized and placed up for sale, there is every reason to think our borrowing, depositing and check writing can continue, without delay, among banks across America. That brings us back to where most Kansas banks are today — in private hands, as community banks. They did not get heavily invested into crypto financing, as SVB and Signature did. And, community bankers still know their reason for existence, which is to serve the consumers who make deposits and borrow funds through their banks.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler
‘We’ve done so much work’: Amtrak potentially making its way through Wichita
The last time Wichita saw an Amtrak train moving through its neighborhoods was in 1979. Over 40 years later the rumble and whistles could be back. “We’ve done so much work locally and regionally to prepare Kansas, Department of Transportation, and Oklahoma Department of Transportation to agree that they think that this is a worthy solicitation for those two states to join together to pursue,” said Sedgwick County Commissioner, Pete Meitzner.
Meitzner said financial issues such as ridership and cost caused the cancellation of many routes. He added whenever there is not enough revenue to cover the cost, the states make up for it. Meitzner said times have changed and Amtrak has made technological advances. He said he’s confident ridership will be up. The Federal Railroad Association (FRA) has approximately 51 billion in grant funding. Meitzner said Oklahoma and Kansas are going to have to split the cost. The grant will pay 80 percent of that cost.
Source: KAKE – News
Kansas Supreme Court to make rare visit to rural Kansas
The Kansas Supreme Court is set to visit a town in north central Kansas for the first time in its 162-year history. The justices on the Kansas Supreme Court will travel to Concordia to conduct a special evening session on April 11, according to the Kansas Judicial Branch’s website. This visit is meant to help familiarize Kansans with the court, its work and the overall role played by the Kansas Judiciary. The session will last from 6:30 p.m. to around 8 p.m. at the Concordia High School.
All members of the public are invited to attend the special session to learn more about the court as it hears oral arguments in two cases. When the hearing concludes, the justices will greet the public during an informal reception.
Source: KSNT 27 News
Emporia residents urged to help set city’s ‘action plan’ during next week’s visioning meetings
Emporians are asked to give their thoughts on community needs and goals during a pair of visioning meetings on the calendar next week. … This part of the process connected to funding through the US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge approved for Emporia back in November. The RDA is working with Atlas Community Studios on the grant, which is being split between Emporia and Tunica County, Mississippi. The USDA expects results of the grant to include an analysis of broadband Internet capacity for homes and businesses, strategy development to improve local housing, new or enhanced cultural and recreational amenities, strengthened workforce development and establishing a peer exchange network.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio
Sales tax cut would cost Humboldt
In late February, the Kansas Senate passed a measure, Senate Bill 248, that eliminates the collection of sales taxes on food for cities and counties as well as that charged by the state. The difference to Humboldt would be about $52,000 garnered from its 1.75% sales tax on designated grocery items. Humboldt collected $462,000 in sales tax revenues for 2022. While that may appear negligible, the fact that state legislators can order such a change goes against the people’s will, Humboldt city administrator Cole Herder said. “It’s not good policy. The people of Humboldt voted to have that tax, and now you have legislators who may not even know where Humboldt is, telling them they are going to cancel that election. Humboldt city administrator Cole Herder talks about a Kansas Senate proposal that would eliminate the collection of sales taxes on food for cities and counties as well as that charged by the state. The measure has been tabled.
Source: The Iola Register