Municipal News & Jobs

Kansas Trails, Inc. (KTI) has launched as the state’s first nonprofit organization focused on uniting and supporting Kansas’s trail community. Its mission is to make trails across the state more accessible, sustainable, and widely used—now and for future generations.
Read more: KCLY Radio

Communication and transparency are some of the most common characteristics residents are looking for as the city plans to hire a new city manager. Earlier this summer, the commission chose to end City Manager Kevyn Gero’s contract and placed Assistant City Manager Zack Daniel in the interim position. The city is in the process of putting together a job posting for the position. The Eudora Times asked locals what they would like to see in a new manager as the city continues to discuss economic development, housing and the need for more city services.
Read more: The Eudora Times

New details have been unveiled about the attractions and economic impact for the $500 million mixed-use Champtown development in Park City. The highly anticipated project is expected to become a major draw for visitors to the Wichita region and the state of Kansas with a wide range of retail, restaurants and a boardwalk full of experiences including an aquarium, butterfly pavilion, multi-sport venue and hotel across 160 acres along I-135.
Read more: Wichita Business Journal – Local Wichita News

Iola City Council members will take a look at charging telecommunications companies to use its water towers for transmitters. Iola does not charge telecommunications companies to use its water towers for various transmitters and other pieces of equipment. That may soon change. The topic arose Monday after the owners of KwiKom Communications announced the company will no longer pay a franchise fee to Iola for its services.
Read more: The Iola Register

According to the July 2025 economics report published by the Kelce College of Business at Pittsburg State University, local manufacturing is driving the area’s gross domestic product (GDP). Nationally, the manufacturing industry earned $7.2 trillion in 2024, according to IBIS World. That revenue was spent on materials (53.7%); research and development and artificial intelligence technology (23%); wages (11.9%); and rent, utilities, and depreciation (5.4%); leaving a combined profit margin of 6 percent. In the Pittsburg Micropolitan Statistical Area (PBSA), which is generally all of Crawford County, manufacturing is the backbone of the local economy, contributing more to local GDP than any other industry, accounting for $368,099,360, or 19 percent of the area’s GDP in 2023.
Read more: – Latest Stories

THC beverages that police took from Carlsons’ Grocery last week in spite of the county prosecutor’s advice were returned six days later. Police still believe the beverages are illegal, but the county attorney has said no charges will be filed. The beverages have been selling well. At least 12 containers sold between Friday, when the merchandise was returned, and Monday.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

Nearly every seat was full Monday night for a Peabody City Council meeting that included introduction of new Police Chief Matthew Neal, as well as an audit presentation by Loyd Group.
The next night, at a special meeting, the council voted to hire Paul Leeker, a Sedgwick County budget analyst, as city clerk, filling a vacancy that has existed for more than a year.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

A divided Federal Reserve on Wednesday voted to keep its benchmark interest rate steady, despite a barrage of criticism from President Donald Trump and dissents from two top officials. The Federal Open Market Committee, the group that sets the overnight borrowing rate, voted 9-2 to stay on hold. The federal funds rate will continue to be set in a range between 4.25%-4.5%. The level sets what banks charge each other for overnight lending, but influences a slew of other rates across the economy.
Read more: Finance

Rachel McClaran looked for the next career step that would help her have a larger impact on students. That step was becoming the new superintendent in the Sedgwick School District. “I never want to be stagnant,” she said, sitting her in Sedgwick office. “Sedgwick was such a good opportunity and a nice-sized community, and I didn’t have to move out of the area.” McClaran worked for four years in the Newton USD-373 office and one year as Northridge Elementary School principal in Newton. Then she went to Valley Center as Wheatland Elementary principal.
Read more: Harvey County Now

Liquor-by-the-drink sales generate about $190,000 each year for Jackson County, according to county officials. At a recent a recent Jackson County Commission meeting, Commission Chairman Mark Pruett outlined how those funds are allocated. Each quarter, the county receives a payment from the state’s alcoholic liquor tax fund. Jackson County receives 70 percent of the state sales tax on liquor sales from establishments located within the county but outside city limits.
Read more: The Holton Recorder

Overland Park recently opted out of a state law that would have put restrictions on the city’s authority to issue bonds to help fund public developments and infrastructure projects. The move was necessitated by the fact that Overland Park recently surpassed more than 200,000 residents, according to the latest U.S. Census. Under a state law from the 1950s, cities of that size in Kansas must hold public elections to issue at least $200,000 in bonds. The law, which Overland Park officials have called “outdated,” predates both the city of Overland Park itself and the Home Rule constitutional amendment that deferred community control in Kansas to local governments.
Read more: Johnson County Post

With Overland Park’s plans to move city hall to the College Boulevard and Metcalf area and Black & Veatch’s plan for a new, $1 billion headquarters, attention is back on long-range plans to reimagine the center of the city. Historically defined by large office users, the corridor has been a hot topic for many years as Overland Park ponders the future of the area around its convention center — dubbed OP Central.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Merriam is razing three more downtown buildings as part of its broader flood control efforts along Turkey Creek. The Merriam City Council earlier this month approved the demolition of three buildings, all currently unoccupied, along Merriam Drive next to the city’s farmers market pavilion. City officials cite flood mitigation or potential redevelopment efforts in its downtown stretch as the reasoning behind demolishing the buildings at 5700, 5718 and 5726 Merriam Drive.
Read more: Johnson County Post

A first-of-its-kind “build-for-rent” subdivision in south Johnson County is fully leased just months after finishing construction. Peak Enterprises finished the 78 single-family home subdivision at the southwest corner of 175th Terrace and Pflumm Road in Overland Park, called The Homes at Wolf Creek. All are rental homes.
Read more: Kansas City Business Journal – Local Kansas City News

More than 30 people attended the latest Washington County Commissioners meeting to hear a 90-minute discussion on the future of local ambulance services. While no decisions were made, attendees—including officials from Clifton, Linn, and Washington—reviewed options and were encouraged to consult with their city councils about maintaining current services or pursuing a countywide model.
Read more: KCLY Radio

Even as the pressure piles on, Diana Thompson is not going to abandon her job. A lifelong resident of Comanche County in south-central Kansas, Thompson has worked as the administrator for Pioneer Lodge nursing home in Coldwater since 2003. She bets that most of the 1,600-plus county residents do not fully understand the challenges she faces to meet the daily needs of her 25 residents. Thinly spread finances are her biggest stressors. The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act isn’t alleviating any of her concerns. The budget document signed by President Donald Trump on July 4 will, over a 10-year period, cut $1.2 trillion from Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, according to the Associated Press. Medicaid, known as KanCare in the state, provides health coverage to more than 366,000 Kansans, including low-income families and children, seniors and people with disabilities. More than 185,000 Kansans receive SNAP food benefits.
Read more: KLC Journal

The Johnson County Fair in Gardner, Kansas, is underway this week, bringing plenty of fun for the whole family. The fair features a carnival, a parade, animal shows, vendors and more. The carnival is open 6-11 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 4-11 p.m. Saturday. Tickets or wristbands are required for carnival rides. While the rides and games don’t open until the evening, there is plenty going on throughout the day. 4-H contests and other animal shows go on as early as 9 a.m. The parade also begins at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Read more: Top Stories

The Parsons Police Department launches a new app to help residents stay informed. According to the department, the purpose of the app is to provide a faster, easier, and more convenient way to find information. The app will have information on the following topics; Press releases, alerts, crime updates, department news, and contact options.
Read more: www.koamnewsnow.com – RSS Results in news/local-news of type article

A new resource is now available in western Kansas, offering parents in crisis a secure and anonymous option to surrender a newborn.  With the help of two Garden City Community College students, Garden City is now home to the first Safe Haven Baby Box in the western part of the state and the third location in the state. The newest baby box is located at Garden City Fire Station #3, at 3535 Schulman Ave.
Read more: KSN-TV

Sedgwick County Commissioners, Wichita City Council members, and the Wichita School Board met Tuesday to brainstorm ways for more cooperation and to more efficiently use taxpayer dollars. The meeting was a response to a June town hall where the public submitted almost 140 ideas for improvements. Local leaders focused on ways to improve mental health services, decrease crime and homelessness, and grow the Air Capital economy. One of the ideas that could help in all those areas is one being developed by the Wichita Public Schools Board: Community schools.
Read more: KSN-TV