Kansas Municipal News
Walnut River in Winfield one of worst spots for flooding
This past week’s heavy rainfall caused rivers and creeks to rise sharply in parts of South-Central and Southeastern Kansas leading to flooding and flash flooding. The worst flooding was at Winfied where the Walnut River was 6 feet above flood stage, Sunday (5/17). However, the water level was falling fast and should drop below flood stage on Monday. Officials urge drivers to avoid crossing any flooded roads.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)
Finney Co. healthcare workers come together, distribute supplies to people in need
As coronavirus cases continue to increase in Finney County, organizations are stepping up to help provide supplies to the area. Finney county currently has the second highest number of confirmed cases. Healthcare workers from Centura Health, St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, and a group from LiveWell Finney County distributed supplies Saturday including masks, hand sanitizer and information. Centura health was able to round up 25,000 masks and 2,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to hand out to neighborhoods in need. Dr. Toni Greene,group vice-president and physician executive at Centura Health, says the groups did all this out of a mobile site serving a few hundred people.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Ark City’s Nick Hernandez leaves trail of accomplishments
Nick Hernandez is ready to saddle up and head west to Dodge City to become city manager there. His last official day as city manager for the City of Arkansas City is May 22. Reflecting on his nine years steering municipal government here, Hernandez said that some of the major accomplishments include the new water treatment facility and helping Creekstone Farms to recover from a fire and supporting its expansion. He is also pleased with improvements made to recreational facilities and streets. A hike-bike trail around the southwest part of the city is expanding, and more Wilson Park Master Plan improvements are pending. “The numerous grant opportunities we have received for trails, parks and roadways have certainly been bright spots over the past eight years,” he said.
Read more: Cowley Courier-Traveler.
Municipal Bond Trends for May 14, 2020
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.
Got coronavirus symptoms in Johnson County? You can now sign up for a free test
As Johnson County lifts more coronavirus restrictions, it is expanding testing for residents with symptoms of the disease. Beginning Monday, they can make an online appointment to get a free test with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment. But testing supplies and appointment times remain limited.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Libraries in Johnson County take steps toward reopening; Overland Park celebrates 60
The Johnson County Library, which serves the entire county, with the exception of Olathe, set a May 18 date for reopening its book drops at the Blue Valley, Lenexa City Center and Monticello branches only. Starting May 26, the drive-thru windows will open at those three branches for patrons to pick up held materials. Go to jocolibrary.org to place a hold on that book you wish you could have read during the coronavirus stay-home order. The Olathe Public Library was working on a phased plan to resume holds and checkouts by the end of May.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Topeka’s Polk-Quincy viaduct redesign plan called ’a win-win’
Creating a six-lane freeway on Interstate 70 from MacVicar to 4th Street in downtown Topeka is one of 40 highway expansion projects Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department of Transportation announced Thursday. Kelly, KDOT secretary Julie Lorenz and Sen. Carolyn McGinn revealed the projects as part of the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, a 10-year engineering initiative approved in March by the Kansas Legislature. The IKE program will target major highway projects for modernization and expansion every two years rather than once every decade under previous programs. “Working alongside local officials and stakeholders through the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, we can build a transportation future for Kansans that meets the needs of our communities, helps grow our economy and creates jobs,” Kelly said.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Wichita officer refuses $10 coffee treat — then surprises woman with free Starbucks
A Wichita police officer received a public compliment after buying Starbucks for the woman who had offered him free coffee. The Wichita Police Department received a note this week that Police Chief Gordon Ramsay shared in a Facebook post. “Officer compliment of the week — highlighting the good things our officers do every minute of everyday. … Nice work Officer Kevin McKenna!” Ramsay said.
(Read more: Local News |)
Wichita mayor outlines plan to open city facilities and programs
The City of Wichita will begin reopening city facilities and programs in phases, Mayor Brandon Whipple announced Thursday. A news release from the city said the plan is aimed at being responsive to the community’s needs for programs and services but is flexible to prioritize the health and safety of staff and residents. The city is coordinating with the county and state to best formulate reopening regulations, the release said. “Employees are working hard to prepare buildings and programs and institute robust health and safety processes.”
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Gov. Laura Kelly to allow barbers, gyms to reopen Monday; delays full relaunch of bars, sports
Gov. Laura Kelly signed an executive order transitioning the economy next Monday to a less-robust-than-anticipated phase of her statewide COVID-19 recovery plan for reopening businesses and facilities shuttered during the pandemic. Kelly said Phase 1.5 — not the full Phase 2 contemplated previously — would retain the 10-person maximum on gatherings of people. It would allow barber shops, tattoo parlors, hair salons, tanning shops and nail salons to open for customers by appointment only. Also Monday, fitness centers and health clubs can open for business but cannot offer in-person group classes and or make full use of locker rooms. She said this phase lasting through the month of May would allow for indoor graduation ceremonies if limited to no more than 10 persons who maintained social distancing. Comparable outdoor drive-through celebrations will be acceptable, she said.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
Mission council approves phased COVID-19 plan that will keep aquatic center closed this summer
The city of Mission is the latest in Johnson County to decide not to open its municipal pool for the 2020 season. The Mission city council on Wednesday evening approved a resolution outlining the city’s reopening plan, which included not opening the Mission Family Aquatic Center this summer due to limitations brought on by COVID-19. City Administrator Laura Smith said among the deciding factors were the lack of lifeguard applicants and the inability to “flip a switch and open up these facilities” to coincide with the fluid dates of reopening plans. “It becomes this waiting game and this guessing game about when is the right time to fill a pool, can we get our guards certified, can we get open,” Smith said. “I think we came to the conclusion that we would not really be able to effectively do that.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Overland Park EMS Chief survives COVID-19, thanks his caregivers at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission
Jason Green, the emergency medical services chief for the Overland Park Fire Department, spent more than a month at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission — including 18 days on a ventilator — fighting COVID-19. Green’s prognosis wasn’t great, and at one point intensive care staff thought he wasn’t going to make it. Now, after recovering from the virus and being reunited with his wife and two daughters, Green wanted to show appreciation for his critical care team. Thursday morning Green and his family surprised his caregivers with a special show of appreciation in front of the hospital. Green said he wanted to thank the team that gave him the opportunity to see his oldest daughter off to Kansas State University in fall 2020.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Shawnee outlines re-opening plans for parks and recreation
The Shawnee Parks and Recreation Department on Wednesday afternoon unveiled its re-opening plan for facilities that closed and services that discontinued during the COVID-19 shutdown. The plan outlines a phased approach for the Shawnee Civic Centre, programs, classes and camps, rentals of park shelters and courts, and Shawnee Town 1929. Additionally, city staff reiterated tentative plans to open the Thomas A. Soetaert Aquatic Center this summer. “Thank you for bearing with us as we navigate and adapt to continuing recommendations from local, state and national health organizations,” city staff wrote in the announcement. “We are eager to fill our parks, programs, facilities and museum site with energy and laughter again.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Paola Family Pool will not open this year due to pandemic
Local youths and adults won’t be able to use the Paola Family Pool this summer, as it will remain closed throughout the 2020 swim season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city announced Thursday, May 14. “For us, late February started as usual. City staff solicited advertisements for pool concession workers and lifeguards,” city officials stated in a news release. “Then, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and forced city staff to rethink the typical timelines, processes and procedures for the pool.” During the past two months, city staff members have evaluated the city’s ability to safely and effectively open the municipal pool for the 2020 season, and the issue was discussed at length during the Paola City Council meeting Tuesday, May 12.
(Read more: The Miami County Republic)
Municipal bond yields continue to drop after large deals get done
The municipal market saw yields grind lower Thursday by as much as seven basis points on the short end. Triple-A benchmark yields on the long end declined four basis points. Yields on all triple-A benchmark curves out to nine years are now below 1%. The largest bumps were again on the very short end of the curve. Utah brought a surprise AAA general obligation deal that saw yields bumped six or seven basis points in a repricing while more inflows were reported. Refinitiv Lipper reported municipal bond funds inflows of $581.943 million in the week ended May 13 after experiencing $408.424 million of outflows in the previous week.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)
Emporia discusses potential budget cuts
City Finance Director Janet Harrouff gave Emporia City Commissioners recommendations on potential budgetary cuts that could be made as the city continues to navigate the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday morning via Zoom. The recommended cuts are a proactive measure at this time, Harrouff said, to help mitigate any lost tax revenue in the coming months. So far, the city has not seen a decrease in property tax or sales tax revenues because of how they are distributed. “With property taxes, we receive a distribution in January and a distribution in June from the county for the big ad valorem payments,” she said. “The distribution we received in January was higher than what we had budgeted, so we really won’t know the exact amount of the decrease in ad valorem taxes until we get our payment in June.”
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
Wichita mayor announces phased-in approach to reopen city, local programs
Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple announced Thursday the city’s four-tier plan to reopen the city amid the coronavirus pandemic. Whipple said city employees are preparing safety protocols, supplies, information and signage for city hall and other city buildings. “We want to not only to get back to the services that people expect but also make sure that we are having extra emphasis on public safety,” said Whipple.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Some Lawrence leaders open to idea of tolled express lanes on SLT as long as existing lanes remain free
City leaders indicated they were more open to using tolls to fund the expansion of the western leg of the South Lawrence Trafficway as long as some lanes would still remain free. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission received an update from the Kansas Department of Transportation on the study to expand the western leg of the SLT using both open-access lanes and tolled express lanes. Decisions on whether any portion of the potential expansion will be tolled have yet to be made, but consultants with HNTB, who are working with KDOT on a study for the project, told the commission the tolled expressway was an option they want to consider.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Lawrence leaders say they favor budget cuts over tax increases in the face of revenue loss due to COVID-19
Lawrence city commissioners said they were largely uninterested in raising taxes to make up for the millions in revenue that the city projects it will lose because of the coronavirus pandemic, but they aren’t ruling out any options right now. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the City Commission received updated 2020 revenue projections to account for the pandemic and resulting economic slowdown and directed city staff regarding several policy decisions impacting the budget. Those included how much of the city’s savings commissioners are willing to spend down
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Some restaurants look to provide outside dining; city to consider more flexibility for downtown restaurants
When restaurants begin to reopen for in-house dining, some of those dining options will actually be outside. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted unanimously to approve changes to the city’s temporary special event permitting process that allow businesses more flexibility in how they use their properties, and additional options are being discussed. Interim Planning Director Amy Miller told the commission that her office has been in contact with a lot of businesses, specifically restaurants, that are looking at ways to use their private parking lot to serve customers.
Read more: LJWorld.com.
Municipal Bond Trends for May 13, 2020
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.
KDHE updates travel-related quarantine guidelines
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) will issue regular mandates on travel-related quarantines for international, domestic, and cruise-related travel. People in Kansas are asked to quarantine for a period of 14 days starting from the day they arrive in Kansas. Regularly check this list to stay up-to-date on travel-related guidance. Please refer to the KDHE Isolation and Quarantine FAQ for additional information. (Note: these mandates do not apply to critical infrastructures, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, including healthcare and public health, needed to continue operations during this pandemic.)
(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)
‘He’s going to be so very missed’: Community remembers fallen Overland Park officer
Overland Park Police Officer Mike Mosher was laid to rest Wednesday. People came from near and far to pay their final respects. “I want to make it very clear that my dad is not gone. He’s just not here,” Mike’s daughter Tyler Mosher said. Things came to a standstill Wednesday afternoon, as family, friends, law enforcement and community members gathered to remember the Overland Park police officer. “He’s going to be so very missed,” Christy Zeeff said.
(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)
Marion County Commissioners continue planning for summer
Marion County Health Department Health Administrator Diedre Serene explained to the Commissioners during their May 11 meeting that cases will not be taken off the case count once they have recovered. The number will not go down. “At this time all of our cases are out of quarantine (minus the one death) and they pose no risk to the community at this time,” said Serene. “The KDHE has very good guidance for business owners as well as families. As we learn more about the virus, the guidelines change as well as while we move through these phases. And don’t forget to wear masks, uses good handwashing, and practice good social distancing.” Serene explained that the suggestion to wear the mask is only a suggestion but a very strong one.
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)
Three Crawford County museums to receive $25,000 in funding
Three local museums are receiving $25,000 in funding. The Crawford County Commission approved continuing funding for the Crawford County Museum Fund. The fund was established to assist local museums with operations, funding, and programming. Between the Crawford County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and county funds set aside, Crawford County Historical Museum, Miners Hall Museum, and Girard History Museum will receive $25,000 each. Devin Gorman, Executive Director, Crawford Co. Convention And Visitors Bureau, said, “As everybody’s out and ready to do things again, certainly would encourage you to check out local museums if you’re looking for something to do. It should be a good opportunities to still space yourself and learn something maybe about history here locally and as you’re not looking to travel long distances.”
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)
GCCC applies for tax credit grant
The Garden City Community College Board of Trustees approved the submission of an application to the Kansas Department of Commerce for a tax credit grant at Tuesday’s board meeting. If approved, the program would allow GCCC to sell tax credits toward the purchase of up to three Anatomage tables that can be shared with 10 to 12 rural high schools with populations under 15,000, said GCCC president Ryan Ruda. Anatomage tables provide 3D, high-resolution mapping of the human body and are generally more precise than traditional cadaver labs.
(Read more: News – The Garden City Telegram)
Tax revenues will be affected by pandemic
Taxing entities in Marshall County are taking a look at their long-term financial planning as the pandemic affects local economies and tax revenue sources. “If the restrictions of the pandemic stretch out for several more months, we are going to see the bubble effect come into play for some of our businesses,” said Blue Rapids Mayor Jerry Zayas. “Orders placed with businesses a couple of months ago will not be placed during the months of rest, causing no work for people in June through August. Couple this with no summer camps, schools and little activities for children, and we are going to have to think of innovative ways to keep people busy and somehow employed.” The five-year, half-cent sales tax approved by Marshall County voters in November to benefit Community Memorial Healthcare went into effect in April. CMH chief financial officer Dan Fehr said the tax revenue could not be arriving at a “more opportune time.”
(Read more: The Marysville Advocate)
SCCC to continue emergency remote instruction for summer term
Summer classes at Seward County Community College will continue in the emergency remote instruction format, announced dean of arts and sciences Luke Dowell. The college’s academic affairs team made the decision as COVID-19 positive test results continue to increase in Seward County. “After speaking with our instructors, we have concluded this is wisest for our community,” Dowell said. “Everyone is eager for life to go back to what is more familiar, but it’s more important to protect the health of our students, staff and faculty.” “In Seward County, we are a bit behind the progression seen in other regions of the state, and that isn’t something to take lightly,” said SCCC President, Dr. Ken Trzaska. “At this point, our first concern is health and wellbeing of all our Saints family.”
(Read more: Western Kansas News)
Fed expects muni lending program up in few weeks, while issuers forge ahead
Federal Reserve leadership said their municipal short-term lending program will be up and running in a matter of weeks, not months, while municipalities forge ahead and price deals to a mostly receptive muni market. In a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing Tuesday, Fed Vice Chair of Supervision Randal Quarles said he expects the Fed’s Municipal Liquidity Facility as well as its Main Street Lending Program to be open in a matter of weeks. Committee Chairman Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, told Quarles he was concerned on how quickly the Fed could get those programs operating. “I don’t think we’re looking at months, but it would be premature for me to say exactly how many weeks it would be before they will be operational,” Quarles said. “But it is the highest priority of what we’re working on.”
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)
Kansas lawmakers look to prevent lawsuits over coronavirus
Republican legislators in Kansas are joining a broader effort to shield doctors, hospitals and businesses from lawsuits stemming from the coronavirus, with business and medical groups pushing them to act quickly. The effort faces strong opposition from labor unions, trial lawyers and some Democrats. They fear that such measures could be too broad and keep patients, consumers and employees from using the court system to hold businesses and medical providers accountable for negligence or misconduct.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)
GCCC Receives USDA Grant to Supplement New Carpentry Program
Garden City Community College is the recipient of a $16,000 Rural Business Development Grant for its new fall carpentry program. This news was presented by GCCC administration during a regularly scheduled meeting of the GCCC Board of Trustees, which met Tuesday. The grant, awarded by the Rural Development division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will assist GCCC with the purchase of classroom tools and equipment for a new carpentry program which commences Fall 2020.
(Read more: Greater Garden City » Feed)
Hiawatha Community Hospital easing back into elective surgery procedures
Hiawatha Community Hospital announced Wednesday that the hospital is easing back into elective surgery procedures. Hospital CEO John Broberg provided information on a news release that stated the hospital is following the roadmap to safely resume elective surgery after the COVID-19 pandemic, which was developed by the American College of Surgeons, American Society of Anesthesiologists, Association of periOperative Registered Nurses and American Hospital Association as well as collaborating with other regional hospitals such as Stormont Vail and Mosaic.
(Read more: hiawathaworldonline.com)
Sedgwick County Fair canceled amid coronavirus concerns
The Sedgwick County Fair has been canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, fair officials announced Wednesday. A post on the Sedgwick County Fair’s Facebook page says restrictions on mass gatherings and public health protocols have presented challenges that fair officials count not overcome. The fair was scheduled to run from July 8 through 11 in Cheney. “We take public health and safety seriously and so after much discussion we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Sedgwick County Fair,” the post says. “We are truly sorry for the inconvenience and for the disappointment.”
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Johnsonville meat packing plant in NE Kansas shuts down due to Covid-19
A Kansas meatpacking plant has shut down after five employees tested positive for the coronavirus amid continued problems at packing plants in the state and across the country. The shutdown at the Johnsonville plant in Holton took effect Wednesday. Jackson County Health Officer Angie Reith says it was a “tough decision.“ Johnsonville said all employees will continue to get paid, and downtime will be used to implement even more aggressive safety protocols before reopening. Some new safety protocols include placing additional barriers between workstations where social distancing is not possible.
(Read more: KFDI 101.3)
McPherson County Food Drive a huge success
When the McPherson County Food Bank let it be known they were in need of food donations, the community took them seriously, donating food by the trolley full. The city of McPherson hosted a food drive last week to help fill the food bank. Over the course of three days, the McPherson Trolley was manned at Dillons and Walmart. Community members shopped and dropped off food and monetary donations at the trolley. Donations exceeded all expectations. “It was a huge success,” Joni Regnier, CVB Director for the City of McPherson said. “We couldn’t have done it without the McPherson Police Department, city of McPherson employees and the city of McPherson residents were amazing. They donated food, the trolley was full and we collected $3,966.25 in monetary donations.”
(Read more: McPherson Weekly News » Feed)
Ford County receives food, shelter funds
As part of Phase 37 of CARES Act funding, Ford County has received $21,290 in total to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county. According to Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas, the selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from the American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Jewish Federations of North America; The Salvation Army and United Way Worldwide. The local board — made up of Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas, The Salvation Army, Western Kansas Mexican American Ministries (Genesis Family Health), Friendship Feast, The Manna House, The Crisis Center of Dodge City, Compass Behavioral Health and United Way of Dodge City — was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.
(Read more: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS)
Pratt library opens, Kiowa County offers curbside service
Libraries around Kansas opened to the public this week. Pratt Public Library at 401 South Jackson reopened its doors on Friday, May 8, ending an almost eight-week C0VID-19-mandated shutdown. Several library locations in Kiowa County began offering curbside service on May 11, an exciting option for patrons in Greensburg, Mullinville and Haviland. “We’re not experiencing a lot of foot traffic yet and our public areas provided for reading newspapers are closed, but books and materials are available for checkout as usual,” said Head Librarian Eric Killough. “But the coffee pot’s not on—that’s a bummer.”
(Read more: News – PrattTribune – Pratt, KS)
Cosmosphere plans safe reopen, camp season
The Cosmosphere anticipates reopening safely to the public beginning May 22 following more than a month of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. This plan is contingent on the reopening phasing as directed by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
City of Topeka plans to open buildings to public Monday
Topeka city manager Brent Trout plans to reopen city government buildings, including Topeka Municipal Court, to the public for business on Monday, he said Tuesday. Trout made that announcement near the end of that evening’s city council meeting. That gathering was closed to the public in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, though citizens could submit comments by email in advance.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
Will Wichita pools open? Shutdown among cost-saving proposals to ease COVID-19 impact
Wichita could shutter municipal swimming pools and splash pads for the season to help shore up a nearly $10 million budget deficit caused by the coronavirus pandemic. City Park and Recreation Director Troy Houtman said Monday that under at least one cost-cutting plan he floated to city manager Robert Layton, the popular summertime gathering spots would stay closed until next year. The result would be $450,000 to $475,000 in savings — about half of the roughly $900,000 Houtman said he’s been asked to cut from his department’s budget to help ease COVID-19’s immediate toll.
(Read more: Local News |)
Municipal Bond Trends for May 12, 2020
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.
Johnson County’s reopening comes with confusion, caution
With their dining rooms dark for weeks during the COVID-19 crisis, Johnson County restaurants were primed to welcome customers back Monday. Employees donned masks, sanitizers were at hand, disposable menus were available, and some tables and chairs had been removed to make for social distancing. But where were the customers?
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Firefighter of the Year says expect the unexpected
Firefighters are known for their job description – fighting fire. But firefighting is much more than that one element. Just ask Kyle Gasaway. Gasaway, who has been a firefighter for a decade, recently won Derby Fire Department’s Firefighter of the Year award. One of the reasons he won that award was because of his work during a water rescue call last year. At the time, Gasaway was off duty and was helping out Mulvane’s volunteer fire team. Torrential rain had flooded the area, and a woman stuck in her car got swept off the road.
(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)
Shawnee County Health Department responds to employers requiring negative coronavirus test
The Shawnee County Health Department responded Tuesday after being notified that some employers are requiring all employees to have a negative coronavirus test result before returning to work. SCHD said it’s not recommended for asymptomatic people to be tested for the coronavirus. The health department also said testing and other related resources are currently focused on people with symptoms and other high risk groups identified by he health department.
(Read more: KSNT News)
Committee awards third round of response grants in Reno County
Eight nonprofit organizations received a total of $25,150 on Monday in the third round of grants issued from the Rally Reno Nonprofit Response Fund. The money comes from a $110,000 pool funded by donors of the United Way of Reno County and Hutchinson Community Foundation. The grants are aimed at expanding local nonprofits’ capacities to continue providing services during the COVID-19 crisis. A total of $95,700 in grants have been awarded to 26 organizations since the fund was established in April.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)