Kansas Municipal News
People are leaving rural Kansas, new data shows why
Population growth in Kansas isn’t keeping up with the rest of the country, according to a map from the U.S. Census Bureau, and one reason is people are leaving rural areas of the state. The Kansas Sampler Foundation and the Kansas Office of Prosperity recently released the results of their own survey after getting input from hundreds of young people in rural areas about their moves. Childcare, internet access, and housing are some of the biggest motivations for people deciding not to stay in the state. Some issues like broadband may be a bigger concern in small towns, but not all are specific to rural areas.
Source: KSN-TV
The city of Fort Scott is looking for a new city manager
After 6 months under a new city manager, Fort Scott is already looking for another city manager. Jeremy Frazier submitted his resignation on Monday night….A meeting will be held tomorrow night, where commissioners will discuss who will take over on an interim basis.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Kansas resident’s ‘F*** Biden’ flag can’t stay in yard, town says
“F*** Biden and F*** you for voting for him!” These are the words on a flag the City of Blue Rapids deemed too inappropriate to be in David Sain’s front yard. After being required to take the flag down, Sain said he disagreed with the decision the city made. “You know, I don’t know why they are making me take it down,” Sain said. “It is my freedom of speech and my First Amendment right,” Sain said. The call to make Sain take the flag down came from a resident of the tiny town of around 1,000 people in Marshall County. … The city ultimately cited Sain with promoting obscenity, as defined in the “Kansas Uniform Public Offense Code.”
Source: KSNT News
More jobs could come to Topeka with city & county’s $491,900 plan to incentivize companies’ growth
A local economic development group plans to use hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to bring more jobs to Topeka with the city and county’s blessing Wednesday evening. Shawnee County Commissioners Kevin Cook, Bill Riphahn and Aaron Mays, and Topeka Mayor De La Isla, Deputy Mayor Mike Padilla and city council members Hannah Naeger and Mike Lesser all voted on approving the four incentive projects proposed by the Joint Economic Development Organization. JEDO is a partnership between the City of Topeka and Shawnee County which has come up with four different projects intended to bring jobs to the area.
Source: KSNT News
Kansas sees tax collections beat expectations by 11% in July
Kansas is reporting that its tax collections in July were 11% greater than expected, good news even as the spread of the more contagious COVID-19 delta variant has some officials worried about the economy. The state Department of Revenue says Kansas collected nearly $603 million in general tax revenues last month. Its official forecast predicted $543 million, making the surplus $60 million. It was the 12th consecutive month in which tax collections were greater than expected. Revenues have been less than anticipated in only three months during the past four years. July’s surplus came after Kansas ended its 2021 budget year on June 30 with tax collections and cash reserves approaching $2 billion.
Source: KAKE – News
Traveling health care workers assisting local hospitals as COVID hospitalizations rise
“We just don’t have enough nurses over there,” said Debra Robinson. Robinson has been a nurse for more than 40 years. She says right now the need for nurses and other health care workers is higher than ever. “I’m not sure there’s going to be enough to take care of us,” said Robinson. “I gotta stay healthy, because… I’m just not sure if there will be enough if I were to get sick. Yeah, and that’s scary. That’s real scary.” Just before the pandemic, Robinson became a traveling nurse, something she says a lot of hospitals around the U.S. are utilizing because of the lack of workers. “We don’t have the same amount of staff to care for our patients. This time around we will run out of staff before we run out of beds,” said commissioner Sarah Lopez during the Sedgwick County Commission meeting Tuesday morning. Lopez says the recent spread of the delta variant combined with the nursing shortage is a recipe for disaster.
Source: KAKE – News
Critically ill rural Kansans struggle to find proper healthcare as metro hospitals continue filling up with Covid patients
During the pandemic, we’ve often focused on bigger metro hospitals like in Wichita. But when they start filling up, it creates a domino effect making it sometimes impossible for rural patients to get the help they need. Preston Sauers is the CEO of Kingman Healthcare Center. Like many rural communities, the pandemic hit hard for him and his team. “Her statement to the ER provider was, I shouldn’t have listened to facebook. I should have gotten the vaccine,” said Sauers. Over the weekend, a young patient came in with COVID. After doing everything the doctors could, they decided she needed to be transferred for additional care. After days of trying, the closest option wasn’t even in Kansas.
Source: KAKE – News
Lead pipes are a problem, but not locally
According to a report released two weeks ago by The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the United States has between 9.7 million and 12.8 million lead pipes that carry water from the water main under streets to residences. Adjusting for population, the group estimated that Kansas has 5,446 lead pipes per 100,000 residents. That makes Kansas third on the list of states with the highest number of service lines. According to local sources, those pipes aren’t in The Harvey County Now coverage area. Danny Entz, Director of Public Works in North Newton, said the town has never had lead main lines, but may have had lead service lines (the lines that run from the main pipe to the water meter) at one time.
Source: Harvey County Now
Merging the past with the present in Wilson
One of the most notable things in Wilson is the Czech egg. It stands at 20 feet tall and is the biggest in the world. The egg is a tribute to the Czechoslovakian history of Wilson. During holidays and celebrations, they are exchanged to symbolize new beginnings, love, friendship and good things to come. The egg attracts people from all around the world. “My mom is from Czechoslovakia so we stopped, we stopped by here. It was an unexpected adventure kind of, and we always have adventures wherever we go. Ask my family behind you,” said Edward McFall, who was visiting from Colorado.
Source: KSN-TV
Overland Park leaders researching changes to pit bull ban
In Overland Park, Kansas, city leaders are now researching changes to a possible ban on pit bulls. Currently, it’s illegal to own a pit bull inside city limits. Several residents have been working to change that. Critics call the ban subjective since animal control officers have to relay on how a dog looks to identify the dog’s breed. The city’s ban defines pit bulls as any dog that’s a Staffordshire terrier breed, any American pit bull terrier breed, as well as dogs “which have the appearance and characteristics” found in those breeds. Kansas City’s NPR Station, KCUR, reports at least 25 people spoke at last week’s Overland Park public safety committee meeting about the ban. They report only one person was against repealing the ordinance, which has been in place for 16 years. And, in a recent citywide survey on the ban, most of the 1,600 responses were in favor of repealing it.
Source: KAKE – News
Voters to see three city sale tax questions in November
There will be three separate City of Great Bend sales tax initiatives on Nov. 2 general election ballot. These would help fund quality of life improvements, pay off the city’s debt incurred for a new police station and cover the cost of changes to the benefit package for the Police and Fire departments. This was the consensus of the City Council after over two hours of arduous soul-searching discussion during a work session following its regular meeting Monday night. The session was called to finalize the tax questions so they can be submitted to the County Clerk’s Office. A formal council vote will come at the Aug. 17 meeting. The city is looking at a .25% sales tax for quality of life improvements (like upgrades to Heizer Park and other recreational facilities), .15 for bond servicing (such as the bond to install automated water meters) and an additional sales tax to possibly fund a change in the retirement plans for police officers and firefighters. This involves moving the fire and police retirement plan.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
AG Derek Schmidt asks Kansas Supreme Court to put lower court’s Kansas Emergency Management Act ruling on hold
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt yesterday asked the Kansas Supreme Court to clarify the status of state emergency management law by putting on hold a lower court’s decision that invalidated recent legislative reforms while it considers whether part of the law is unconstitutional. “The issues the court sought to reach had been rendered moot by the expiration of the pertinent section of SB 40. Yet the court charged forward with its constitutional agenda notwithstanding that it had already ‘denie[d] the plaintiffs any relief as being moot and untimely,’” Schmidt wrote in a motion asking the Supreme Court to stay the lower court’s ruling pending the appeal. Earlier this month, Johnson County District Court Judge David Hauber found the new legislative enactment, known as Senate Bill 40, unconstitutional. Schmidt on July 21 notified the district court that he would appeal the decision to the Kansas Supreme Court and asked the lower court to stay its decision in the case, pending the appeal. The motion for stay was denied by the district court last week, and Schmidt has now formally appealed. In the district court filings, Schmidt noted that the court’s ruling was causing “unnecessary and disruptive confusion,” in part because many provisions of Senate Bill 40 were not at issue in the case but it nevertheless appears the court ruling may have found them “unenforceable.” Schmidt said he is hopeful the Kansas Supreme Court will act quickly to remove any confusion that could potentially hamper the State’s ability to respond to a future disaster emergency because of confusion about what law is in effect.
Source: Kansas Attorney General News Releases
Air quality in Wichita rated unhealthy for second day
The city of Wichita said the air quality index is 152 as of 8:30 a.m. and is rated unhealthy again. The air is due to western wildfires and smoke being transported into Kansas by the wind. Smoke can cause health problems, even in healthy individuals. Common health problems include burning eyes, runny nose, coughing and illnesses such as bronchitis. Individuals with respiratory issues, pre-existing heart or lung diseases, children and the elderly may experience worse symptoms.
Source: KSN-TV
Overland Park City Manager Bill Ebel announces retirement, effective March 2022
Overland Park City Manager Bill Ebel has decided to retire next spring, ending an 11-year stint at the helm of city administration. Ebel served a total of 21 years with Overland Park, including time at the city’s public works department and as director of planning and development services. “After 43 years of public service to my country and my community I’ve decided it’s time to retire,” he told the City Council Monday, referencing his career in the U.S. Army before moving into city administration. His employment is set to end March 1, 2022, and his last day of work will be Feb. 25, he said. “Thank you for the opportunity and I look forward to the next six months where I don’t expect the pace to slow down at all around here,” he said.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Prairie Village to consider citywide mask mandate
The city of Prairie Village is looking into issuing its own citywide mask mandate and could vote on a draft order in two weeks at the city council’s next regular meeting. While Johnson County continues to strongly encourage residents to wear masks in indoor public spaces, there hasn’t been a countywide mask mandate in place since the county lifted its last emergency order in late April. At Monday night’s city council meeting, Councilmember Jori Nelson unexpectedly made a motion to reinstitute a citywide mask mandate in Prairie Village. In making the motion, Nelson noted Johnson County has reported more than 1,700 new COVID-19 cases in the last two weeks and said a mask mandate is the way to protect Prairie Village residents. “We simply can’t wait for the county, other municipalities or the state legislature to do the right thing,” Nelson said. “It is our responsibility to keep our residents and our workforce safe, we can do it.”
Source: Prairie Village Post
As national eviction ban expired, Wichita’s rental aid program picked up the pace
Wichita’s emergency rental assistance program paid out $3.1 million in aid in July alone, an increase in payments that could help some struggling or unemployed tenants stay in their homes after a federal eviction ban expired over the weekend. The national eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expired on Saturday at the end of the month, officially ending the patchwork of bans on evictions during the coronavirus pandemic. It was the only remaining moratorium that covered Kansas renters after top state lawmakers allowed the statewide eviction and foreclosure ban to expire in late May. The CDC’s ban had initially been set to expire at the end of June, but the Biden administration extended that deadline and signaled it would be the last postponement. The one-month delay was intended to allow state and local rental assistance programs more time to distribute federal aid and halt evictions.
Source: Wichita Eagle
Survey examines future of rural Kansas
A statewide survey of ideas for making rural Kansas a more compelling place for young adults to put down roots revealed the need for government investment in expansion of child care options and strengthening of entrepreneurial business pipelines. The state’s Office of Rural Prosperity worked with the Kansas Sampler Foundation to examine what Kansans aged 21 to 39 thought about recruiting and retaining them in small towns and remote counties suffering depopulation. The foundation drew upon 460 survey responses from all 105 counties and 175 follow-up interviews to identify why people chose to live in rural areas and why it might have been difficult to make that choice. The report acknowledged significant lack of affordable housing and access to broadband as determinants of the future in rural regions of Kansas. The document recommended local government leaders accept the necessity of forming a “culture of open minds and positivity.” That includes valuing diversity of culture, age, gender and thought, the report said. In addition, the state ought to craft a program reaching students in K-12 classes that speaks to the idea of harnessing skills, interests and passions of young rural Kansans useful in building sustainable rural communities. The objective is to convince the youngest Kansans they have a bright future no matter the size of their city or town.
Source: The Iola Register
Pott. County approves motion to post full salary range for public works administrator vacancy
Seven months after the Pottawatomie County Public Works Administrator job became vacant, the county commission is still struggling to find the right fit. The commission voted 2-1 Monday to advertise a full salary range for the position. In the past, the county administrator only had authority to offer pay at the starting wage ($70,000) and up to 25 percent above that ($88,000). Commission Chair Greg Riat says that has handicapped the county’s ability to find the right fit. Commissioner Pat Weixelman opposed the motion, preferring the county take a different approach. By comparison, Riley County’s assistant public works director position was advertised at a salary range of $92,000 to $110,000, which is well above what Pottawatomie County had been advertising. Riat says he’s fielded a number of concerns from Pottawatomie County residents over some of the county’s infrastructure. He says the county nearly got sued over issues with the Shannon Creek Road bridge near Olsburg.
Source: 1350 KMAN
Voters casting ballots in city council primary elections for Wichita, Park City
Voters are going to the polls to narrow the list of candidates for city council races in Wichita and Park City. Wichita has two council races. In District 3, incumbent Jared Cerullo has six challengers: Jerome Crawford, Ian Demory, Jason Carmichael, Mike Hoheisel, Cindy Miles and Tevin Smith. District 6 has incumbent Cindy Claycomb and five challengers: Maggie Ballard, Martin Garcia, Loren Hermrick, Jr, Dereck Reynolds and Andy Speck. Park City has a Ward 1 council race, with incumbent John Lehnherr challenged by Angie Carter and Charley Davidson. Polls are open until 7 p.m. The top two candidates in each race will advance to the November 2nd general election.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
92nd annual edition of Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo to open in Phillipsburg
When the chutes open for the 92nd annual Kansas Biggest Rodeo, more than 525 cowboys and cowgirls will be ready to rope, run and ride. Out of the fourteen champions from last year’s Phillipsburg Rodeo, eight return to defend their titles. One of them is Kansas cowboy Jesse Pope. The Waverly, Kansas bareback rider is ranked seventh in the world standings and is having one of the best years of his young career.
Source: Salina Journal.
Municipal Bond Trends for August 2, 2021
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 and Beth Warren.
Customers of Kansas’ largest natural gas utility could pay cold snap costs for 10 years
Customers of Kansas’ largest natural gas utility could be paying off costs from February’s deep freeze for the next 10 years, the company revealed Friday. The Kansas Gas Service, which serves more than 640,000 Kansas customers, filed plans with regulators to issue securitized bonds for approximately $390 million in extraordinary costs from the cold snap — plus carrying costs — and recoup the sum from customers over five, seven or 10 years, increasing residential bills by anywhere from about $5 to $11 per month. If the Kansas Corporation Commission doesn’t approve the arrangement, KGS said it would request to recover the costs over three years “to minimize the carrying costs” of the debt. Its plans come after Black Hills Energy announced in June that its customers bills would increase by an average of $12.23 per month for five years to recover what amounted to a year’s worth of gas charges in one month.
Source: Derby Informer | Area
Wichita likes school site for new police station, but use of track could be a hurdle
Wichita is poised to buy part of the former Southeast High School as the site for a new Patrol East police substation, but there’s a disconnect between the city and school district over potential public use of a running track at the site. The city is expected Tuesday to buy five acres of open property for $218,000, to replace the dilapidated Patrol East station at Cypress Park. Mayor Brandon Whipple said Friday morning he’s not expecting much, if any, opposition when the plan comes before the council.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Formerly homeless Sedgwick County jail deputy rode his bike to work. Then this happened.
Sedgwick County jail deputy Caleb Harris no longer needs to ride his bicycle to work. Harris, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and recent transplant from California, began working at the jail earlier this year after being homeless with his wife. Their luck seemed to be turning. Then the car they used to live in broke down. It was the same vehicle their first child was born in. So Harris started riding his bike to and from work, a 22 mile round trip. Officers found out about the hardship of their colleague and decided to raise money to help his family, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office said Friday in a Facebook post.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
This is not your father’s inflation
Anybody who remembers the 1970s remembers the Great Inflation, when retirees on fixed incomes struggled to make ends meet. They probably also remember what happened next, when the Federal Reserve under Paul Volker tightened the money supply, driving down prices by driving down the economy, forcing two recessions that lowered consumer spending and increased unemployment. For the last four decades, inflation has been not much more than a bad memory for most people. This year, however, it has reappeared as a cause for concern. Fear of a return to 1970s-style inflation is driving calls for a retreat from the free-spending goals of the Biden administration, which some Republicans claim have overheated the economy. They are calling for Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to do what Volker did, and raise interest rates to cool demand. That would be a mistake.
Source: The Iola Register
Haze and Smoke From Pacific Northwest Fires Reach Kansas
Many areas of the state are experiencing hazy conditions, and some are wondering if a nearby fire is taking place. What you’re experiencing is from a fire – but not from nearby. Fires in the Pacific Northwest are sending smoke across the nation, including Kansas.
Source: WIBW News Now
Kelly Administration updates COVID-19 guidance for school districts
Governor Laura Kelly announced a new, updated summary document created from recommendations in KSDE’s Navigating Change: Kansas’ Guide to Learning and School Safety Operations as a reference guide and tool for schools ahead of the start of classes. The document continues the state’s practice of mirroring guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition to the guidance, Governor Kelly and KSDE are encouraging school districts to submit requests for ELC Grant Funds. The state of Kansas received $87 million to fund equipment, testing, and medical staff to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools.
Source: hiawathaworldonline.com
LEED Platinum — Prairie Village’s new public works building on track to earn rare eco-friendly distinction
Prairie Village’s public works department is eager to move into its new $10 million facility at 3535 Somerset Drive. The new building, which replaced the decades-old facility at the same location, features a solar panel array, state-of-the-art heating and cooling systems, a washing bay for trucks, a garage with several ports and more. As final touches are being made, the new facility is on its way to achieve Leadership in Environment and Energy Design, or LEED, Platinum certification — the highest rating possible for measuring a building’s environmental impact.
Source: Prairie Village Post
This Bird Has Fueled A 26-Year Political Fight Between Commerce And Conservation In Kansas
Bouncing over the sand sage-covered hills in his pickup truck, rancher Stacy Hoeme combs the shortgrass prairie of his ranch searching for leks — the mating grounds of the lesser prairie chicken. Despite being one of the bird’s biggest champions and most successful conservators, Hoeme opposes putting the bird on the federal threatened species list. “I just want them to maintain the birds,” he said. “It’s a big hassle when they get listed for the ranchers.” The small, Nerf football-sized bird has become an unlikely proxy in a 26-year tug-of-war between industry and conservationists and their competing visions for how to use the riches of America’s Great Plains.
Source: KCUR News
New law honoring fallen Lenexa firefighter will benefit families for years to come
The legacy of a Lenexa firefighter will live on to help others, years after his death. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed the Michael Wells Memorial Act Monday morning. The new legislation is named after Lenexa firefighter Michael Wells. It expands benefits to families of firefighters and other first responders who lose a loved one due to service-connected conditions, like cancer. Wells passed away in September 2019 from esophageal cancer. He died two days after his 39th birthday. At the time of his death, Wells’ family wasn’t eligible for the same benefits as other fallen first responders because his death wasn’t considered a line-of-duty death.
Source: KSN-TV
Riley County making progress with mobile vaccine clinics, but is it enough?
Mobile vaccine clinics are helping, but Riley County is still nowhere close to its goal of a 70% vaccination. That’s according to county health department director Julie Gibbs, who spoke to county commissioners Monday via Zoom. She said 45% of all eligible people are fully vaccinated, according to Web IZ, the state’s reporting system. Commissioner Kathryn Focke asked if Gibbs had a target date for hitting 70%, which is the approximate threshold at which a community may begin to achieve herd immunity, experts say. “No target date,” said Gibbs, underscoring a problem health departments around the country are currently battling: the number of people seeking vaccines has plateaued.
Source: themercury.com
KDOT grants $1M for more road work
Another stretch of 16th Street will be rebuilt under a state transportation program. The Kansas Department of Transportation recently announced the approval of a city of Parsons grant under the state’s City Connecting Link Improvement Program designed for highways that run through cities. Parsons will receive $1 million for a pavement restoration project. Darrell Moyer, the city’s director of engineering and public works, said on Thursday that the work will be done on South 16th (U.S. 59) from South 21st Street to the Little Labette Creek bridge. The new work will connect with a project now underway on the highway in front of Labette Health from South 21st to Commerce Drive.
Source: Parsons Sun
How the Infrastructure Proposal Would Fund Roads, Bridges and Public Transit
The bipartisan infrastructure package working its way through the Senate will provide nearly $150 billion in new surface transportation and transit funding, part of a broader $1.2 trillion plan the White House has called a “once-in-a-generation investment.” While the investment would rank among the largest in transportation infrastructure in the nation’s history, experts say it will not uniformly close the gap in funding needed to address structural deficiencies. Public transit systems, for example, have a $176 billion backlog in funding, according to a report by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The infrastructure package would provide $39 billion in funding for transit over five years. That’s $10 billion less for public transit than was initially proposed in the initial infrastructure framework.
Source: Route Fifty
Can we make cheaper bridges? A KU professor thinks so
As you drive over one of the nearly 600 bridges in Sedgwick County, you’ll notice that most of them are concrete bridges. Through a project at the University of Kansas, that might change one day. William Collins, an associate professor in the department of civil, environmental, and architectural engineering at the University of Kansas recently won an award from the American Institute of Steel Construction to study innovative steel bridge designs. Such designs could lead to bridges that cost less across their lifespan than bridges in use today. “Steel is more expensive than concrete but if we can come up with a solution that doesn’t need to be replaced… this option could be more cost effective and save money in the long term, even if it’s more money up front,” Collins said.
Source: Wichita Eagle.
Governor wants to build on economic momentum in Kansas
With private sector investment in the Kansas economy on another record pace, and the unemployment level among the nation’s lowest, Gov. Laura Kelly brought her “Back in Business Tour” to Western Kansas this week. With stops in Scott City and rural Lane County, this wasn’t just an opportunity to recognize the state’s recovery from the pandemic, but learn what can be done to continue this economic momentum.
Source: Scott County Record.
In firearms range truce, city and county move to separate but shared locations
After months of sometimes testy negotiation over the future of an aging law enforcement firearms range, the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and Hutchinson Police Department have decided to each go their own way. The split, in the end, should benefit both agencies, city and county leaders learned during a joint meeting of the Hutchinson City Council and Reno County Commission earlier this week. That’s because each agency can build a range that better meets their particular needs, with redesigns that will address training desires beyond just annual qualifying at the shooting range. Under the new arrangement, the city will now control and develop the existing range on several acres at the end of Bonebrake Street, while the county will build a new range on county-owned land next to the landfill.
Source: Hutch News.
Municipal Bond Trends for July 30, 2021
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 and Beth Warren.
Treasury yields fall after key inflation data line up with expectations
U.S. Treasury yields fell Friday after a key inflation reading came in near economists’ expectations, indicating inflationary pressures may be ebbing slightly. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell 4.2 basis points to 1.227% at 11:30 a.m. ET. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond shed 2.7 basis points to 1.889%. Yields move inversely to prices. One basis point equals 0.01%. The personal consumption expenditures index — the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation — increased 3.5% in June from a year prior. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expected a 3.6% jump.
Source: CNBC
Electric cars are ready for longer commutes of rural Kansas
Electric cars and trucks might prove a perfect fit for rural Kansas. “They’re better vehicles. They’re more reliable. They’re less costly. They’ll save people money,” said Peter Zalzal, an attorney with the Environmental Defense Fund. “They’ll clean up the air and they’ll help to address climate change.” While the building of charging stations has come mostly in urban areas, Zalzal said rural areas have built-in advantages — along with some hurdles that urban areas don’t. Most people in rural areas live in single-family homes. That gives them easier access to electricity in a garage or carport to charge overnight than someone living in an apartment complex or high-rise.
Source: The Iola Register
Researchers to share findings from law enforcement contact study
Researchers who have been gathering data to determine whether racial-, ethnic- and other bias-based policing is a problem in Lawrence and Douglas County will present their preliminary findings on Monday, Aug. 9. The study asked law enforcement officers from Baldwin City, Eudora, Lawrence and University of Kansas police departments and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to gather data on the demographics of drivers and pedestrians they contacted, the reasons why, plus the results of the stops — whether someone was let go with a warning, ticketed, searched, arrested and so on.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Committees of turkey vultures have begun to descend upon Kansas in greater numbers.
For the past five years or so, former state Sen. Randall Hardy has watched a few dozen turkey vultures roost in a tree next to his garage. He can tell when the migratory birds return to his central Salina neighborhood each spring as the colors begin to change. “The roof is colored with white,” the District 24 Republican said, “and if you aren’t careful where you park your car in the driveway, it can change colors overnight as well.”
Source: Wichita Eagle
DOE says new building codes to cut energy costs by $138B, but EV backers see failure to advance charging
Updated building codes would save U.S. homes and businesses $138 billion in energy costs over the next three decades, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) concluded and shared in an announcement last week. However, electric vehicle advocates see a missed opportunity to advance charging infrastructure with the new rules. The International Code Council (ICC) finalized building codes in 2020 as part of a process that gets repeated every three years. DOE issued its conclusions on the energy cost savings of the most recent codes last week, and states and municipalities can now adopt the codes. The ICC-approved updates to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) would improve energy cost savings in residential buildings by more than 8.6% relative to the previous code, the agency found. Similarly, the updated commercial building codes could result in energy cost savings around 4.3%.
Source: Smart Cities Dive – Latest News
Customers of Kansas’ largest natural gas utility could pay cold snap costs for 10 years
Customers of Kansas’ largest natural gas utility could be paying off costs from February’s deep freeze for the next 10 years, the company revealed Friday. The Kansas Gas Service, which serves more than 640,000 Kansas customers, filed plans with regulators to issue securitized bonds for approximately $390 million in extraordinary costs from the cold snap — plus carrying costs — and recoup the sum from customers over five, seven or 10 years, increasing residential bills by anywhere from about $5 to $11 per month. If the Kansas Corporation Commission doesn’t approve the arrangement, KGS said it would request to recover the costs over three years “to minimize the carrying costs” of the debt.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Kelly recommends mask policies, COVID testing and community partnerships for Kansas schools
New guidance Friday from Gov. Laura Kelly ahead of the start of classes recommends schools actively plan vaccination clinics, implement universal masking policies and create a robust testing plan for faculty and students. The updated guidance also requests that students in classrooms and school other settings maintain 3 feet of physical distance, but states this recommendation should not be a barrier to keeping students from in-person learning. When distancing is not possible, Kelly recommends schools ensure other preventative measures and guidance, like wear masks, are in place. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also has recommended masks for all teachers, staff, students and visitors regardless of vaccination status. This includes on school premises and all forms of public transportation.
Source: Kansas Reflector
Who Can Tell You To Wear A Mask In Kansas As COVID Surges? It’s Complicated
The delta variant of the COVID-19 virus has 84 of the 105 counties in Kansas caught in a regional hot zone. Meanwhile, more than half of all eligible Kansans are not vaccinated. That leaves Gov. Laura Kelly faced with whether to use emergency powers to fight the resurging public health crisis even as that authority remains in legal limbo. A Johnson County judge’s order found a new law limiting her emergency powers flawed. While that case awaits the outcome of appeals, Kelly has yet to take forceful action in response to the resurging pandemic — like mask mandates that could slow the state’s economic recovery and that would surely draw strong resistance.
Source: KCUR News