Municipal News & Jobs

More residents may soon become eligible for Overland Park’s property tax rebate pilot program this year. With roughly $110,000 left in the pot set aside for city property tax rebates this year, the city is looking at expanding the eligibility criteria to include more household income levels in the program. Currently, only extremely low and very low income households — defined under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s guidelines for the Kansas City metro area — are eligible for the rebate. However, the city could expand that to include low-income households as well.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Just one month into the pilot, the city of Prairie Village is expanding its drop-off composting program. The Prairie Village City Council on Aug. 18 unanimously agreed to purchase three more KC Can Compost smart bins for a total of five drop-off composting locations. Since launching on July 1, KC Can Compost has collected more than 8,000 pounds of food scraps (as of Aug. 18) from the two bins originally approved as part of the pilot program.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Weeks after the Olathe Planning Commission denied a proposal for a massive cold storage facility, residents who live by the proposed site poured into the City Council chambers, pleading with council members to deny the project over concerns of it posing an environmental hazard. In a meeting Tuesday night, the City Council unanimously approved tax incentives to help fund construction for parts of the project, but the development proposal itself still needs to come back to the dais for final approval.
Read more: Homepage

Twice in the past five years, supermajorities of voters have turned down proposals to build new high school baseball and softball fields in Louisburg, Kansas, home of the Wildcats. The school board had no intention of asking again. Its new plan was to fund a scaled-down version of the project by entering into a 10-year, $4 million lease-purchase agreement with First Option Bank. Adding in interest, the fields would cost about $4.8 million. Unlike proposals before it, though, the annual payments of more than $400,000 would be funded entirely through the school district’s capital outlay budget, meaning construction wouldn’t require a property tax hike. But 568 people signed a protest petition that was filed with the Miami County clerk in July — more than twice the threshold of Louisburg voters necessary to trigger a referendum vote on whether the project can proceed.
Read more: Homepage

A Shawnee police dog that was stabbed in Kansas City, Kansas, Aug. 5 is back to work after nearly a month of recovery. Dagger, a K9 police dog with the Shawnee Police Department, returned to full duty Tuesday after he was stabbed while responding to an aggravated robbery call on Aug. 5.
Read more: Homepage

The Kansas Supreme Court is seeking public input on proposed Rule 1405, which would create a standing Rural Justice Initiative Committee. If approved, the rule would set the structure for the committee, including membership and terms. The committee would oversee the implementation of recommendations from the Rural Justice Initiative Final Report, track the effectiveness of those efforts, and explore ways to improve access to legal services in rural areas.
Read more: KCLY Radio

“History was made here today.” That’s how one person described the test flight of a drone that delivered a piece of medical equipment to a rural hospital nearly 30 miles away. It was a pioneering effort to see how unmanned aircraft can benefit rural hospitals and patients in the future. 
Read more: KCLY Radio

A new vending machine in Garden City is offering free doses of Narcan to anyone who needs them. Compass Behavioral Health announced that its outpatient office at 1111 E. Spruce St. has partnered with DCCCA to provide the medication, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The machine is available to the public at no cost.
Read more: KSN-TV

Being a helpful member of your community doesn’t have an age limit, as shown by second grader Tiffany Hernandez from Burrton. She’s been coming to the Newton and Burrton public libraries since she was 18 months old. Now, the 7-year-old is giving back to places she says are a couple of her favorite places in the world. “The kids section, and the books,” Tiffany said when asked what her favorite part of the library was. But Tiffany has another passion; earlier this year, she got into making hair bows. But Tiffany wasn’t going to just give these handcrafted bows away. This second grader also has an entrepreneurial spirit, so she decided to sell these at the Burrton farmer’s market. But instead of saving the money for herself, Tiffany decided to donate all of the earnings, around $100, to both libraries.
Read more: KSN-TV

The City of Haysville has been ordered to pay a $250 fine for violating the Kansas Open Records Act. The Kansas Attorney General’s Office says the city violated the KORA when it didn’t produce photographs requested by a resident without providing any explanation as to why they were not provided. He realized he did not receive all of the requested records when the photos were presented in a jury trial.
Read more: KSN-TV

A federal judge determined the City of Topeka did not discriminate against a former Topeka firefighter. Brentley Dorsey was not selected for promotion because he scored lowest amongst seven candidates, not because he was disabled and Black, according to Wednesday’s ruling by Holly Teeter. Dorsey filed the claim in 2023, claiming he was not promoted to fire inspector, fire marshal or fire chief because of his race and because he had leukemia. He claims white employees with less experience were promoted instead.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

The Junction City Police Department is unveiling a new mural highlighting the cultural history of the city’s Ninth Street District. Painted by local artist Cierra Marrero, the new mural transforms the police department’s memorial display area into a story of honor and community pride. One side features a Junction City police officer representing duty and service, while the other side depicts a jazz musician with a saxophone paying tribute to the jazz scene the Ninth Street District was once known for.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

The City of Topeka reports that more than 500 people in the Capital City are experiencing homelessness this year following a recent head count. The City of Topeka reported on Wednesday, Sept. 3 the results of its summer 2025 Point in Time Homeless Count. More than 40 people participated in the one-day count that occurred on June 25 to take a measure of the city’s current homeless population. A total of 524 people and 413 households are experiencing homelessness in Topeka and Shawnee County, according to the county. A total of 180 are considered to be unsheltered or not living in an emergency shelter or transitional housing.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

Police in Carbondale say some local residents are preventing utility workers from doing their jobs by scaring them off their properties. The Carbondale Police Department (CPD) posted to social media on Aug. 29 saying that there are some reports locally of residents “chasing off” utility workers while they are trying to perform their job duties. Police said the workers are wearing identifiable clothing, are driving in marked vehicles and possess valid identification. The CPD reports that, in one situation, a firearm was involved and that “this is dangerous and not okay.” Police are encouraging residents to respect utility workers who are in the area and say that people who threaten or point firearms at them could be arrested.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

The ground vacuuming will cease as Newton Fire and EMS take over the monitoring of Fox Ridge’s mystery gas emission. That’s about all for new developments into the situation, which prompted a voluntary evacuation request and emergency declarations from both the Harvey County Commission and Gov. Laura Kelly. “Newton Fire/EMS will continue to monitor above-ground levels every four hours,” City Communications Director Erin McDaniel stated. “Since monitoring began, gas levels have only been detected below the surface.” On Aug. 22, Kansas Gas detected a flammable gas in the soil at the Fox Ridge site while doing testing in the area. The company then began to attempt to determine if it was responsible for the emission or if it came from another source.
Read more: Harvey County Now

How do you want Newton to change, grow and develop? That’s the question the City of Newton is asking residents as it creates a new comprehensive plan titled “Newton Next.” The plan will replace the ReNewton plan, adopted in 2010. “This is a chance for Newton to come together and imagine what’s next,” Mayor Rich Stinnett said. “We want every resident, business owner and community partner to be part of this journey.” According to the city’s announcement, “the plan will serve as a roadmap for how the city grows, preserves its unique character and prepares for future needs in areas such as housing, transportation, land use and economic development.” The ReNewton Plan was slated to stretch from 2010 to 2030.
Read more: Harvey County Now

Three children played in a colorful, engaging room Friday morning at Sedgwick Elementary School while a song about bumblebees played in the background. The kids were at the Cardinal Kids Learning Academy at the school. “We are a licensed childcare,” Director and Childcare Provider Merry Kirkpatrick said, adding that mostly teachers’ children and community members’ children are enrolled. This is the first year for the daycare. There are a total of seven children enrolled.
Read more: Harvey County Now

On August 21, 2025, Hays city staff were asked to research and making recommendations regarding implementation of an Ordinance requiring SafeBar Alliance and Bystander Training as part of future liquor license renewals. The direction to explore implementing an Ordinance aimed to prevent alcohol-facilitated sexual violence, like the program required by Lawrence’s 2020 Ordinance 9566, followed a half-hour presentation to the Hays City Commission Work Session from representatives of Jana’s Campaign and Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services.
Read more: Hays Daily 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.

As the 150th anniversary of Pittsburg’s founding approaches, community leaders and private citizens are planning birthday celebrations throughout 2026. The executive committee, which is made up of the heads of the subcommittees, met on Wednesday to compare notes. While still in the planning stages, Pittsburg 150 is exploring several options across several categories to celebrate the auspicious occasion.
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