Municipal News & Jobs

The Kansas Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for the fall 2025 round of the agency’s Cost Share Program. More than $157 million has been given to Kansas communities since the Cost Share Program began in 2019. The Cost Share Program provides financial assistance to local entities for construction projects that improve safety, leverage state funds to increase total transportation investment and help both rural and urban areas of the state improve the transportation system. This is the 13th round of projects to receive funding.
Read more: Ad Astra Radio | Your Hometown Radio Stations & Local News Source

His contract with Saline County will end March 31, 2026 and he intends to embark on retirement. Within the next month, the county will be launching the search for a new County Administrator.
Read more: LinkedIn

A new Kansas law in 2024 required cops to publicly file affidavits of probable cause in court whenever they seek forfeiture of assets they seize. Before the case may proceed, a judge must determine probable cause exists to believe the property is subject to forfeiture. In the roughly 13 months since Senate Bill 458 took effect, there have been dozens of ongoing and newly filed cases in district courts across the state, according to a review by The Capital-Journal of Kansas court records. That includes a handful of cases over seizures in Shawnee County and along Interstate 70 in neighboring Wabaunsee County.
Read more: CJonline

In April 2024, firefighters helped form the Derby Fall Prevention Coalition, a group of community partners dedicated to fall prevention. Now a registered nonprofit, the coalition provides in-home services such as installing handrails, raising chairs, or lowering beds to make daily movement safer.
Read more: KAKE

The KBI recently held a meeting with the Attorney General’s office and the beverage wholesale industry regarding THC-infused drinks, leading many liquor stores to stop selling them. Vern’s Retail Liquor in Topeka says its inventory is legal, containing less than 0.3% THC and has yet to remove the drinks from the shelves.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

The police department says the complaints range from parents riding with children hanging off the side or back of the golf cart to children under the age of 18 operating them.
Read more: www.koamnewsnow.com

Last month, DoorDash became officially available for use in Clay Center. The food delivery service allows users to order fast food or groceries via their smartphone and have their items delivered to a specified address.
Read more: KCLY Radio

Randy Smith began his career as a tower climber by accident. Located in Rolla, Kansas, a town of less than 400 in southwest Kansas, Smith has been the area’s go-to tower climber for decades. Now 70 years old, he said he’ll continue getting up in the air as long as he’s able; he enjoys climbing and said he has his entire life. From roofs to playground equipment, he was up in the air as often as possible. 
Read more: KCLY Radio

The lack of new cases puts Kansas about halfway through the 42 days required for a measles outbreak to be considered over, which is two incubation periods of 21 days each, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Cities are trying to figure out how to accommodate the boom in two-wheelers that threaten safety for pedestrians and riders. Requirements on age, licenses and helmets vary from place to place, not to mention rules about where the vehicles can travel.
Read more: Wall Street Journal

One of the metro Amazon centers is in south Kansas City, Missouri, and the other is in Kansas City, Kansas. Mayor Tyrone Garner was on hand Wednesday for the demonstration. “This is a great example of a public-private partnership that has come to fruition. That’s really going to be of value to people here,” Garner said.
Read more: KMBC

Allen County voters will be asked in November to extend a quarter-cent sales tax that’s been in place since 2010, with proceeds going toward Allen County Regional Hospital. The quarter-cent sales tax comes before voters for renewal every five years.
Read more: The Iola Register

For anyone in Wichita or beyond who has been disappointed in the public-private partnership known as the WaterWalk development downtown and the almost $44 million the community has poured into it, Tuesday’s City Council meeting was for you. There were two shockers during a lengthy discussion on the development as a whole and the proposed affordable apartments that an Indiana company wanted to build there, which were denied in what several council members described as a tough vote.
Read more: Homepage

A widely followed measure of inflation accelerated slightly less than expected in July on an annual basis as President Donald Trump’s tariffs showed mostly modest impacts and investors grew more confidence about interest rate cuts ahead. The consumer price index increased a seasonally adjusted 0.2% for the month and 2.7% on a 12-month basis, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday. That compared with the respective Dow Jones estimates for 0.2% and 2.8%.Read more: Economy

The Federal Reserve’s top regulator believes the central bank should shift its focus to protecting the job market, stressing that cutting interest rates in the near term should be considered to support employment and consumer spending. In a speech Saturday, Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said concerns around inflation, specifically how tariffs might impact price stability, will have minimal impact on the economy, but that there are emerging “signs of fragility in the labor market,” that requires the Fed’s attention.
Read more: The Latest

The City of Coffeyville is proud to launch its first-ever “Coffeyville Proud” Beautification Initiative on Friday, August 15, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This new initiative reflects the City’s commitment to community pride and service, bringing together City employees and volunteers to make visible, impactful improvements across Coffeyville.
Read more: Coffeyville, KS – News Flash

Even after its previous workshop, the Sedgwick City Council couldn’t agree on an ordinance that would establish a common consumption area (CCA) in the city’s downtown corridor. The purpose of the CCA, according to Administrative Assistant Izaiah Chapman, is to allow the city to have alcohol in the area during special events, such as the Moonlight Market and Fall Festival, without having to get a special event permit. The resistance from council members came because the proposed ordinance did much more than that and because the area would be hard to control.
Read more: Harvey County Now

As part of its effort to review and evaluate its regulations, the Harvey County Planning and Zoning Department will launch an online survey by the end of the week, according to Karen Roth, P&Z director. The first survey will address accessory dwelling units, which are typically those small homes for kids or aging parents. The surveys allow Harvey County residents to provide feedback, and as such, the department will ask for addresses and other information, such as whether you own land. Rothe said the information will allow her to confirm survey takers’ own land in Harvey County. It will also help the planning commission to create a demographic.
Read more: Harvey County Now

Without any fanfare or adieu, Hesston City Administrator Gary Emry slowly slipped away very quietly. Emry alluded to his retirement during the annual joint meeting with the city council, USD-460 BOE and Hesston Recreation on March 28. Emry made it clear then-City Clerk Jason Thrasher was poised to take over as city administrator, and during the Aug. 11 city council meeting, Thrasher was formally appointed by Mayor David Kauffman.
Read more: Harvey County Now

Drones will soon be first on the scene of Olathe emergencies — carrying AEDs, spotting heat signatures in a fire, or providing a bird’s eye view of a crime scene. The Olathe City Council on Aug. 5 voted 5-0 to approve a three-year contract with BRINC Drones for the Olathe Police Department to start its own “Drones as First Responder” program. Mayor John Bacon and Councilmember Robyn Essex were absent. Olathe joins Lenexa and Prairie Village as communities with DFR programs.
Read more: Johnson County Post