Municipal News & Jobs

Automated External Defibrillators, or AEDs, are used by ordinary people to perform an extraordinary task: bringing life-saving equipment to the side of a person whose heart has stopped beating. Beginning September 24, 2025, Reno County EMS staff are out in the community, ensuring local business, schools, churches, and the like, are prepared with public access AEDs. “As of July first,” says Connor Bounds, Education Coordinator for Reno County EMS, “state law requires registration of AEDs through the PulsePoint app. This allows EMS to ensure there are correct locations for community-based AEDs, all batteries and other critical equipment are not-expired and opens to the door for us to provide public education in CPR and first aid. We have already encountered some locations that have added other AEDs, and some that have expired supplies. And we have also had community members express interest in bystander CPR training.” Discussing the importance of bystander CPR and AED use, Bounds shared some shocking statistics, “For every one minute a person in cardiac arrest doesn’t get CPR and doesn’t get the AED applied and used, survivability drops by 10%. There are over 350,000 cardiac arrests outside of the hospital every year, and less than 10% of those survive. Getting this equipment and training out into the community can save lives.”
Read more: Ad Astra Radio | Your Hometown Radio Stations & Local News Source

Some neighborhoods will be seeing a bit more train traffic in the coming years. At its Tuesday meeting, the City of Newton approved a $3.7 million rail spur project. The project connects a stretch of the K&O railroad that ends at the Standridge Color Plant to the under-construction GAF Materials Facility. While the spur would be built southeast of Newton at the Kansas Logistics Park, the resulting train traffic would put into regular use a section of rail where trains are a rarity. Harvey County Now inquired with city staff, as well as Commissioner Rod Kreie on how many more trains the track would see once GAF is up and running. Kreie said, according to recent conversations with GAF they’d expect about 15 trains a day to initially service the facility.
Read more: Harvey County Now

Members of the Holton City Commission expressed agreement with Holton Community Hospital chief executive officer Carrie Lutz that a proposed quarter-percent sales tax at the county level would be a boon for the hospital in light of a reduction in revenues and reimbursements at the federal level. During the commission’s regular meeting on Monday, Lutz met with commissioners to explain the need for the quarter-percent sales tax, which will go before voters in the Tuesday, Nov. 4 general election, noting that at previous HCH-hosted town halls on the proposed sales tax, she had heard “a lot of speculation” on why taxpayer support is needed at this point in time. Commissioners noted that while there are public concerns about the proposed sales tax, an extra 25 cents on a $100 purchase would be a small price to pay in order to keep high-quality hospital services in the Holton community.
Read more: The Holton Recorder

The Lenexa Planning Commission has approved plans for a building that, if given the final OK, will be the tallest development by far at Lenexa City Center. On Oct. 6, the city’s planning commission unanimously recommended approval of preliminary plans for The Rise, located at the southeast corner of 87th Street Parkway and Renner Boulevard. The development is proposed to be an active adult community, with residents required to be 55 or older, according to its developer, REAL Property Group. It will include apartments, office and restaurant space, a parking structure, as well as amenities like an outdoor pool and a rooftop restaurant and bar.
Read more: Johnson County Post

After two unsuccessful attempts to offer electronic scooters and bikes in the city, Overland Park could launch a new e-bike share program that officials hope will have more permanence. The prospective partnership with regional nonprofit BikeWalk KC, if approved, would be wheeled out ahead of the World Cup next summer. It would be part of RideKC’s metrowide transportation network. Unlike past pilot programs with private companies Bird and Lime that included both e-scooters and e-bikes, this new effort would only bring e-bikes to Overland Park streets. The bike share program would have upfront and annual operating costs associated with it, whereas those past programs were effectively free to the city. However, the city will have more opportunity to recoup those costs by taking a larger share of user fees generated by RideKC bike riders. Last Wednesday, the Overland Park City Council Community Development Committee took the first look at the proposed agreement, unanimously recommending its approval. “I think this can be better than the prior programs that we’ve done,” Councilmember Chris Newlin said. Overland Park could get 60 e-bikes to start.
Read more: Johnson County Post

When and where did the Civil War begin? Was it when Abraham Lincoln was elected president? When Fort Sumter was fired on by the Confederacy? A good case can be made that the political event that precipitated the Civil War took place in a rural Kansas town that would become the centerpoint of national debate. Kansas became a territory in 1854. Under the Kansas-Nebraska Act, voters of each state were to determine if slavery would be allowed in that state or not. This led to “Bleeding Kansas” because of the conflict and violence that ensued. For example, Lawrence was sacked by a pro-slavery mob and John Brown led a retaliatory massacre. In order to influence the vote for their respective viewpoints, free staters came to Kansas territory from New England and pro-slavery border ruffians came from Missouri. In a rigged election, the pro-slavery faction won. Free state forces rallied. The Kansas election was found to have been fraudulent. Free staters prevailed in new elections. Eventually, Topeka was designated as the capitol. When and where did the Civil War begin? One can make the case that the adoption of the state constitution in Lecompton, Kansas set in motion the events that would lead to the Civil War. That is why Lecompton can claim to be the “Civil War birthplace” and the place “where slavery began to die.”
Read more: KCLY Radio

This year, the Kansas Department of Commerce and Evergy began talks with TerraPower, a nuclear energy company based out of Washington state, to potentially bring a reactor to the Sunflower State. TerraPower’s Natrium reactor is different from a traditional nuclear reactor like at Wolf Creek. The small modular reactor uses sodium as its primary coolant instead of water. “It’s ability is to retain the heat that comes off the reactor core for a long period of time,” State Rep. Mark Schreiber of Emporia said. “It doesn’t need to be pressurized, so that reduces the amount of the equipment that’s needed to be inside the containment building. And then if the reactor, for instance, shuts down, it still has that heat that can still create steam on the secondary side of the system and power the generator.” Schreiber said over the next 10 years, the Midwest will need to scale up its power generation. The demand for data centers, electric vehicle chargers and new manufacturing is expected to rise as older power plants go offline. He believes the Sunflower State’s central location makes it a perfect spot to build a Natrium reactor.
Read more: KSN-TV

Ground is officially broken for the first Buc-ee’s location in Kansas. A project that’s been years in the making. It promises to be a driver for commerce and tourism alike. Buc-ee’s locations have proven to be popular attractions. There are 54 of these enormous gas station locations from coast to coast. The company’s founder said this will bring business from the interstate to the cash registers, as travelers seek clean bathrooms, brisket, beef jerky and “Beaver Nuggets” too. Wyandotte County leaders on Thursday welcomed Buc-ee’s leaders, who until 2019, only had stores in Texas. “Thank you to the Buc-ee’s team for choosing Kansas City, Kansas and Wyandotte County, right in the heart of America, to be your next place to build something great,” said Mayor Tyrone Garner.
Read more: KSN-TV

A vision decades in the making is connecting two communities through recreation, wellness, and economic growth. The Andover-Augusta Rail Trail initiative aims to turn an old rail corridor into a new multi-use path. It stretches several miles between two cities. The goal: To give people more options to bike, walk and connect safely between communities. “Go to school, you can go to restaurants, you can go to a lot of places. But that one trail will connect you to all three places,” Cody Custer, the program development manager for Bike Walk Wichita, said.
The pedestrian bridge over U.S. Highway 400 links existing paths in Andover and Augusta. “Every step we take brings our communities one step closer together,” Augusta City Manager Josh Shaw said.
Read more: KSN-TV

Tuesday is the final day to register to vote, and across Kansas, sales tax permissions are on the ballot. That is, what sales taxes can be used for. The goal, two counties say, is to reduce the burden on home and property owners. In Pawnee County, voters will decide whether or not to approve the use of sales tax funds for emergency services. County attorney Douglas McNett says it could insulate homeowners from the possibility of raising property taxes. People living in Pawnee County have been living with a 1% sales tax for over 15 years. It was originally implemented to help pay back a bond issue designed to save their critical access hospital. The original goal was to pay for healthcare services. They paid off that bond early in 2021, and it left them with excess sales tax revenue. In 2022, they added EMS to the list of services that could be financed by sales tax. EMS service is completely covered by sales tax.
Read more: KSN-TV

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place today in Parsons to celebrate a new mural. It’s one that serves as both a reminder of the community’s past and a way for folks to come together. Not just to look at it. Part of the grant-funded creation features a large white area where movies will be projected. Early plans are to have showings of The Wizard of Oz and Star Wars. More movies will be shown next summer through a collaboration with the Parsons Public Library. “To see something like this come to fruition. Just it’s heartwarming. It means that the city is continuing on as forward progress that we set in motion two decades ago,” said Jim Zaleski, Parsons Economic Development Director.
Read more: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

A rural Bitcoin mining farm is the new hot button topic in southeast Kansas. “It’s miserable. You know, we listen to it day in and day out when I get up in the morning over a fan and a TV, you hear a humming noise. I don’t care what they do over there. I just don’t want to hear it in my yard,” said Dereck Ranes, Home Owner Across From Facility. Ranes, who lives across the street from a Bitcoin mining facility in rural Kansas, is fed up with the noise and vibrations — making life untenable. The facility holds four shipping containers worth of computers constantly solving math equations to mine Bitcoin, powered by an industrial-sized generator, which runs off natural gas. It emits up to 80 decibels of sound constantly, and a low-frequency hum which can be felt in the surrounding areas. Ranes took his concerns to the Bourbon County Commissioners Tuesday night, who voted to put a moratorium on any expansion of the Bitcoin farm until a compromise can be found. “I’m trying to make sure that we have due process for both sides, that we’re hearing both sides. And I hear what my constituents are saying and I want to help them. And we we did help them with the moratorium, but we still need to listen to the other side, which they’re they’re due to be here next week,” said Samuel Tran, Bourbon County Commissioner.
Read more: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

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.

Members of the Topeka City Council talked about the pros and cons of letting officers wear their uniforms while working in the service of private companies. The Topeka Police Department believes the community would be safer if law enforcement hired by private companies were able to show the public that they are trained police officers. However, some city councilmembers are worried about where the liability will fall. Police Chief Chris Vallejo weighed in on the issue during the Oct. 14 city council meeting. He said the department will take accountability. “Modifying this ordinance, which says gives the chief of police full authority to speak to who can be in a uniform and who cannot be in a uniform in this city,” Vallejo said. “So that gives me an immediate oversight there. So and also, our police officers are trained to follow state law and our internal policies that are superior to any kind of house rules or things like that. They’re already doing their job. I’m just putting them in uniform.”
Read more: KSNT 27 News

THC-infused beverages like those being sold at several locations were among items seized as illegal in Kansas Bureau of Investigation raids statewide executing search warrants at vape shops and CBD dispensaries. “Some THC-infused beverages were seized during these search warrants, but this was not a major focus of the investigations,” Melissa Underwood, communications director for KBI, said. KBI began the investigation Oct. 1 in hopes of seizing marijuana plants, THC vape cartridges, and other items containing suspected illegal concentrations of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. In some instances, weapons and currency were also seized, Underwood said.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

Dustin Raney’s application for a short-term rental at Marion County Lake received some pushback Monday from Marion County Commissioners. Clarke Dirks was the most vocal, saying too many questions needed answers. The commission voted 4-0 to delay action on the proposal. It had been approved by the county Planning and Zoning Commission.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

Since the announcement of the recently retired City Administrator Doug Allen, the city commissioners have been searching for someone to fill the role. In a special meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 8, the commissioners agreed on a contract and hired Nick Rizzio, who currently resides in Arkansas City, Kan. The commissioners agree that Rizzio’s experience and background make him a good fit for Sabetha.
Read more: The Sabetha Herald

With encouragement from city government, the Chamber is trying to attract the Bill Gates-owned company TerraPower. TerraPower announced on Sept. 23 that they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Evergy and the Kansas Department of Commerce to build a facility within Evergy’s service area in the state.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

There was a good reason why Renwick Superintendent Tim Hayden had a big smile on his face when being interviewed about this year’s enrollment: its up. And not just a few students, but 71. Last school year, the district had 1,990 students; this year, it has 2,061. “We’re at a fortunate pace,” Hayden said to the USD 267 Board of Education Monday evening. “We’re growing, and ’that’s helpful for your district.” Full-time equivalent, which is a key factor in state funding, also grew.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

Black Squirrel Fall Fest returns to Broadway Saturday — the city’s annual salute to its mascot. Designated Black Squirrel City in 1972, Marysville will mark the day from 3 to 11 p.m. with afternoon attractions that build into an after-dark lineup. All of the activities will take place on Broadway, between Sixth Street and 10th streets. The day starts from 3 to 5 p.m. with old-fashioned games and Big Wheels on Broadway. Some games like bingo, balloon pop, ring toss, lollipop pull and beanbag ladder toss will come with prizes.
Read more: www.marysvilleonline.net