Municipal News & Jobs

Municipal News & Jobs2026-08-07T10:07:18-05:00

Kansas Municipal News

Roeland Park residents start petition to get additional protections for essential store workers

A group of Roeland Park residents — who say they are frustrated with limited response from city, county and state leaders — have started a petition to secure protections for grocery store and big box store workers during the coronavirus pandemic. These residents decided to fight for essential worker protections after members of a Roeland Park neighborhood group on Facebook began sharing reports of conditions at essential stores, group member and resident Stephanie Iser said. Iser said while the group has noticed condition improvements since initially reaching out to city, county and state leaders, the lack of a protective order from the county and state puts essential store workers in unsafe conditions daily.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Essential employees keep city services running smoothly in Pratt

Even with COVID-19 restrictions in place, Pratt city employees are continuing to provide all essential services Pratt City Manager Bruce Pinkall assured Pratt City commissioners at their regular meeting Monday, April 20. The meeting was conducted via Zoom video conferencing session. “I’m very proud of how they’re working. They’re setting a good example,” Pinkall said. “Without them, things would come to a screeching halt.” Pinkall said that, despite playgrounds and restrooms being shut down, city parks were being used.
(Read more: Pratt, KS – Pratt Tribune)

Arkansas City commission reviews opening plans

The Arkansas City Commission met in a special study session Friday to discuss Governor Laura Kelly’s four-phase plan and the city’s effort to return to normal operation. City Manager Nick Hernandez said that under Phase I, everything would continue much the same, with only a few changes. He said that some businesses will be allowed to reopen, but will have to comply with several restrictions. “Ten individuals or less in a group, six feet apart for restaurants, plus cleanliness and the ability to have face masks and hand sanitizer,” he said.
(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Neosho County cautious, urges residents to be responsibile

Neosho County Commissioners took steps Friday to lift restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Gov. Laura Kelly announced a three-phase plan Thursday to reopen the state economically, and Neosho commissioners followed Friday morning by rescinding a stricter county order and opening the Erie courthouse on Monday, May 4. The governor’s action also takes effect Monday and lifts statewide stay-at-home orders while keeping some restrictions in place until at least May 18.
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Mayors, the other first responders

Around here, some mayors have shown strong leadership while others have struggled. Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla won national recognition for her response. De la Isla assembled a rapid-response team that meets every morning to assess the latest developments, including one member whose entire focus is to combat false rumors, which mostly spread online. These include one baseless allegation that she was about to place the city under martial law. De la Isla’s task force also monitors supplies of medical equipment, state and national developments, and the latest figures on how the virus is impacting Topekans.
(Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com)

Ark City Dollar General closing

Dollar General, a Tennessee based company, has announced its plan to permanently close the store at 2411 N. Summit St., in Arkansas City. Angela Petkovic, public relations for Dollar General, said that the company is constantly evaluating their store locations in order to find the best way to serve their customers. “We have made the decision to close this location,” she said. Petkovic would not comment on the reason for that decision.
(Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com)

‘People are ready to get out’: Kansans fill Cheney Lake

Campers, jet skis, and boats are out in full force at Cheney Lake this weekend. Park officials say it almost felt like a holiday weekend. Vicki Huff and her family are very familiar with the park. They come out every year during this time. Now they are seeing some new faces, “I think people are ready to get out. They’ve been cooped up,” said Huff. While many businesses are closed from coronavirus, Cheney Lake is using it as a way to recover. “The flooding last year we lost a lot of revenue during that time and last weekend we started out we were 100% full in our utility sites,” said Shayne Coppes, Cheney State Park Manager.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Kansas passes 5,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, coronavirus-related deaths number 134

Public health officials report that more than 5,000 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Kansas. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s coronavirus pandemic report on Sunday listed 5,030 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 134 deaths statewide. The KDHE reported 399 cases in Sedgwick County. The Sedgwick County Health Department reported 426 cases and 13 deaths. Discrepancies between county and state numbers can be due to confirmed cases from one health department not yet being finalized with the other, officials have said.
(Read more: Local News |)

‘A Mission treasure’: After 20 years of service, Mission city clerk Martha Sumrall retires

Martha Sumrall always had an interest in local government, but didn’t begin her journey with the city of Mission until 2000: The Countryside native and now Mission resident became an administrative assistant to the city clerk and former Mayor Sylvester Powell Jr. She became the city clerk five years later, and hasn’t looked back since. After 20 years of being an integral piece of Mission, Sumrall’s journey has come to an end as she retires. She served under four Mission mayors and several city councilmembers, and sat through numerous evening meetings to fulfill her duty as city clerk. Her dedication to the city comes from her love of Mission, but she’ll miss the people more than anything, she said.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2020-5: Tax lid application to hospital maintenance funding

K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 79-2925c allows a city or county to maintain a consistent level of funding in constant or real dollars. Any increase above that level, however, is subject to approval by the electorate, unless the increase falls within the provisions of subsection (b) of K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 79-2925c. …
As the Board of Commissioners of Decatur County, you request our opinion regarding whether a county commission must conduct an election pursuant to K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 79-2925c before raising the mill levy for hospital maintenance to the level authorized by electors in 2016. … To determine whether Decatur County must conduct an election in order to increase the hospital maintenance tax levy to 13 mills, the County will need to determine whether the increased budget exceeds the previous budget adjusted by the CPI and whether any of the provisions of K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 79-2925c(b) are applicable.
(Read more: Kansas Attorney General Opinions)

Lenexa city attorney reflects on 31-year career

City Attorney Cindy Harmison will retire May 8 after 31 years of service with the City of Lenexa. In this Q & A, she reflects on ways Lenexa has changed over the years, her most memorable experiences and the rewards of public service.
(Read more: City of Lenexa)

Counties could get a separate piece of $1 trillion in federal aid

Congressional Democrats are negotiating with Republicans for up to $1 trillion in state, county and local government aid in a CARES Act 2 bill that would include some infrastructure spending such as broadband. County governments would receive their own separate allocations of federal aid. “So we may have three tranches, state, county, because many counties deliver health services and the rest and then the municipalities,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said at her weekly news conference Thursday. Pelosi also for the first time said that the aid for state and local governments might approach $1 trillion.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)

Raising city chickens about more than eggs

Chickens are typically a farm animal, but having four hens in town provides the experience of raising animals, Peabody resident Stephanie Hurst said. “Even just having four a day is plenty for us,” she said. “There’s that, and just having the experience for sure. I wouldn’t say I got them specifically for eggs. I got them basically as pets.” Paige Ensey’s family originally bought their 10 chickens because they were eating a lot of eggs. Now, the 13-year-old also sees the chickens as more than just a way to get eggs.
(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)

Kansas coronavirus update: Gov. Laura Kelly reveals detail of six-week plan for restoring state’s economic life

Gov. Laura Kelly unveiled Thursday night her framework for reopening the state by phasing out restrictions for businesses and social activities over the next six weeks while ramping up efforts to test and trace the spread of a deadly virus that left residents isolated and put the state’s economy in a tailspin. Kelly announced her plans, which begin with the expiration Monday of her statewide stay-at-home order, in a live address to the people of Kansas. She said the blueprint of her exit strategy from the dark cloud created by COVID-19 was a painstaking, intensive exercise in finding a balance. “It’s an effort to balance non-negotiable public health considerations with jaw-dropping, unsustainable economic realities,” the governor said. “It’s an effort to balance state obligations to keep Kansas communities safe with the need for returning flexibility to local leaders. And it’s an attempt to balance the need for stability in the future with agility as we continue to adapt to a rapidly evolving, lethal threat.”
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

SW KS counties look toward reopening as COVID-19 cases continue to rise

Even though confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to rise in southwest Kansas, area businesses could reopen in a few days. When Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s statewide stay-at-home order expires Sunday, individual counties get to decide whether or not they’ll extend it. Finney County made its decision Wednesday. County commissioners voted 4-1 to allow businesses to reopen at their own discretion,as long as they follow new guidelines from the governor when it comes to social distancing, safety measures and limits on the number of people that can be inside a business at one time.
(Read more: KWCH News)

Under governor’s plan, Kansas will allow many businesses to reopen next week

Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday that she will allow many Kansas businesses to reopen next week if they can maintain social distancing and said she hopes to lift all coronavirus-inspired state limits on mass gatherings and other restrictions by June 15. Kelly said in a televised speech that she is lifting a statewide stay-at-home order Monday and moving to gradually reopen the state’s battered economy. But her plan won’t allow bars, gyms, theaters, barbershops, hair and nail salons or state-owned casinos to reopen until at least May 18. Also, local officials will be allowed to impose their own, stricter rules.
Read more: LJWorld.com.

Walmart providing testing in rural Kansas

WalmToday, a mobile COVID-19 testing initiative launched in Kansas to set-up drive-thru sites in certain communities to support access to testing.
Mobile units will travel to  Reno, Butler, Scott, Rooks and Saline counties on a rotating basis each week to test those who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. In addition, all health care providers and first responders can be tested whether or not they are exhibiting symptoms, per CDC guidelines.
(Read more: KAKE – News)

Reno County COVID-19 patient ignores self-isolation guidelines, infects others

“When it comes to dealing with cases of COVID-19 in Reno County, the approach by health officials has been relying on people to use common sense and asking them to follow self-quarantine guidelines. But thanks to one person who didn’t listen, that’s all about to change. “If somebody wants to be selfish and avoid formal quarantine or isolation orders, and risk the infection of other people within the community, we will lock them up,” said Reno County District Attorney Keith Schroeder. Residents were in disbelief Wednesday when Schroeder announced someone who tested positive for COVID-19 didn’t follow isolation requests by the health department and infected at least four others in the community.
(Read more: KAKE – News)

Dodge City meatpacking plants beef up protocols; Ford County maintains high recovery rate

With two national meatpacking plants in the county’s jurisdiction, Ford County is increasing its testing and the plants are beefing up COVID-19 protocols.
The numbers for Ford County have increased to 544 individuals who have had or still have the coronavirus as of April 28. This amounts to 1.6% of the county’s population.
But, according to J.D. Gilbert, a spokesman for the county, 90% of those infected have recovered. No deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in Ford County. Statewide, the deaths from the virus are at 124, or four deaths per 100,000 individuals.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)

From a farm to the library, plenty of services keep minds, bodies active in Olathe

For places that are normally all about hands-on activities, like the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm, it’s a big adjustment but not an impossible one.
One thing staff members are encouraging children to do is write letters to the Farm’s many animals. Alexis Radil, events coordinator at Mahaffie, said not only does that encourage a creative outlet but it can help strengthen kids’ penmanship as well.
Staff members are facilitating the animals’ responses. So far, the animals receiving mail include Smoothie the sheep, Ashley the rooster and multiple horses. The idea is to send back handwritten responses using cursive, as the Mahaffie family would have done, but it also depends on the volume of mail they receive.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Sedgwick County will begin to reopen once Kansas stay-home order is lifted, commissioner says

A Sedgwick County leader says if Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s statewide stay-at-home order is over at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, local businesses will have the choice to open or not.
Commissioner Pete Meitzner joined Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple for a news conference Thursday morning. He said the county will not mandate that businesses have to open.
“There might be some steps where businesses are not allowed to open in maybe the first phase or two, whatever, depending on the industry,” he said.
(Read more: KAKE – News)

With rural Kansas looking to reopen, doctor remains nervous

Dr. Beth Oller would like Kansas to remain under a stay-at-home order a while longer, even as some neighbors in her rural northwest county are restless to see businesses return to normal. Oller and her husband are family physicians in their late 30s in Stockton, a town of 1,300 people roughly halfway between Kansas City to the east and Denver to the west. They watched as the coronavirus pandemic crept ever closer from those two metropolitan areas, each some 300 miles away. The first positive case in Rooks County was one of Oller’s patients, confirmed on Palm Sunday, April 5. A few days after Easter, the doctor’s husband displayed mild symptoms. He later tested negative. Now, as Gov. Laura Kelly prepares to start reopening Kansas businesses next week, Oller worries that the restrictions are being abandoned too soon, with potentially deadly consequences. Meanwhile, neighbors worry that tight restrictions in a rural county with few coronavirus cases will kill their livelihoods.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Reno County Emergency Management offering mobile drive-through COVID-19 testing

The Reno County Emergency Management said starting Thursday this week, a mobile drive-through COVID-19 testing site will be open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at 200 State Fair Road. This testing site is for anyone exhibiting the symptoms of COVID-19 per the CDC guidelines. In addition, all health care providers and first responders can be tested whether they are exhibiting symptoms or not. All appointments will be drive-through observed, self-collection.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Sedgwick County Election Commissioner shares contingency plan for this year’s election cycle

Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Tabitha Lehman on Wednesday provided three goals for a contingency plan for this year’s election cycle — including protecting workers from the spread of COVID-19, protecting voters from being disenfranchised, and protecting the integrity of the election. When asked if the upcoming election can be switched to ‘all by mail’ — Lehman said, “The answer right now is Kansas law restricts any election that has a candidate on the ballot from being conducted solely by mail, so the answer is no.” Lehman explained they normally send out an advance mail flyer in September to encourage people to vote by mail and give them early voting options, but this year they are planning on sending those out in May instead of September.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Covid-19 presenting recruitment challenges for PSU

Covid-19 has brought some challenges for Pittsburg State when it comes to recruitment. Scott Donaldson, Director of Admission, PSU, said, “We’ve talked to kids constantly and the very first thing they tell us is that campus visit really sealed it for us.” While it may be too soon to say if enrollment numbers at Pittsburg State are down for the upcoming Fall semester, students not being able to tour campus is having an impact. “In fact, when we ask students, what’s the number one reason you chose to come to Pitt State or really any college, most of them will tell you it’s when I visited. It’s when I met the faculty, it’s when I ran across a few friends that we’re going there and they told me about it. So the visit is very important.”
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)

Local meat markets busy as ever during pandemic

Many meat packing companies have closed across the United States due to the coronavirus and customers are noticing a resultant meat shortage in grocery stores. It’s all about farm to table these days. So, Coal Valley Marketplace is keeping its supply stocked, so residents can have meat at the dinner table. Dale Helwig, Cherokee County Ag & Natural Resources Extension Agent, said, “Last part of March, first part of April when the Coronavirus hit the packing plants and it slowed down production, prices have dropped about 20% in the livestock industry.”
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)

Saving Main Street: Why State and Local Governments Are Vital for Its Survival

The storefront signs read, “Closed.” Nobody is walking by on the sidewalks. And profits have plummeted or are nonexistent. This is the new norm for Main Street businesses in the era of Covid-19. Since the first stay-at-home orders went into effect, independent small businesses have borne the brunt of the economic hardship brought on by the pandemic.
The nearly 31 million small businesses in the United States are the backbone of the U.S. economy. They make up approximately 44% of economic activity, create almost two-thirds of new jobs and employ almost half of the U.S. workforce, according to the Small Business Administration.
(Read more: Route Fifty)

Riley County Clerk encourages voting by mail, sees a decrease in poll worker numbers

Riley County will still hold in-person polling this election season, but officials encourage residents to vote by mail in anticipation of congestion.
Riley County Clerk Rich Vargo says he has no authority to run the 2020 primary and general elections entirely by mail amid public gathering concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the State of Kansas has not made any exceptions to the laws requiring them to open polling places. Even so, Vargo says the county will be “proactive” in sending out personalized vote by mail applications to all registered voters to encourage them to participate in the upcoming elections that way.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Tyson remains largest cluster for COVID-19 in Lyon County

Emporia’s Tyson facility continues to remain a focal point of the local outbreak of COVID-19 according to the latest cluster data released by Lyon County Public Health Tuesday evening.
Of the 215 local reported cases, there are 95 cases associated with the meat packing plant. Six of those cases are listed as recovered.
“We have been, and continue to, follow CDC guidelines throughout this situation,” Tyson Communications Manager Liz Croston said in an email. “We are working closely with our local health officials.”
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Marion Historical Museum director remembered for enthusiasm, caring

Teresa Mills, who died Saturday, didn’t necessarily match what the board of Marion Historical Museum was looking for when choosing a new director two years ago.
The board was hoping for someone from the community who had a few computer skills and grant writing experience.
Mills was a registered nurse from Washington State who answered a newspaper ad for what she thought would be an interesting job.
(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)

Johnson County hair salons, gyms, shops, restaurants might open as early as next week

Worried about reopening businesses ahead of neighboring counties, a Johnson County health official on Wednesday recommended extending the coronavirus stay-at-home order another week, through May 10. After that, the county could begin a phased reopening of the economy, starting with hair salons, gyms, shops and restaurants — with social distancing restrictions. The Johnson County Board of Commissioners is expected to vote later this week on the order extension as well as a four-phase reopening plan recommended by a task force studying how the county should emerge from coronavirus shutdowns.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Hutchinson extends suspension of utility disconnections to June 1

Disconnections for city utilities have been suspended since late March due to the coronavirus. That suspension was set to expire on May 15, but the city announced this week it is extending that grace period to June 1. Those who prefer paying with a check can use the drop box on the west side of City Hall, 125 East Ave. B, or mail their payment to the same address. There has been an understandable spike in delinquent accounts, but the city hopes that residents will communicate with them to work out a payment plan before falling too far behind. To apply for a pay agreement, go to hutchgov.com/pay-agreement to download an application. You can talk with a customer service representative at 620-694-2621 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Commissioners mull how to reopen Marion County

With Kansas’ “stay at home” order set to expire May 3, county commissioners are turning their attention to how to relax county health department regulations put in place to combat COVID-19. County health nurse Diedre Serene told commissioners she doesn’t expect a new stay-home order to be issued unless something happens during the next week. However, Marion County might look very different from other counties in the state.
(Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)

Firm hired to help Moundridge find new administrator

A consulting firm has been hired to assist the Moundridge City Council in finding a replacement for City Administrator Randy Frazer, who resigned to take a similar post for the City of Arkansas City. Council members formally approved a contract with Osenbaugh Consulting, from Derby, during a special meeting on Tuesday, April 28, at city hall. “I think the extras we’ll be getting is worth the cost,” Councilman Kirk Stucky said.
(Read more: McPherson Weekly News » Feed)

Utah company moving to Moundridge

Scott and Angie Hagerman like the idea of moving into a smaller community like Moundridge. They plan to move here in early May. Currently residing in a suburb of Salt Lake City, Utah—with a population of 30,000 people—Scott Hagerman said he was looking forward to moving his family and business to south central Kansas. The couple own Black Canyon Home and Body, which manufactures and sells (wholesale and retail) beauty products, such as body lotions, hand sanitizer, perfumes, bath salts, shampoo and other hair products.

(Read more: McPherson Weekly News » Feed)

Committee Chairman says muni provisions will be included with state, local aid

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal reaffirmed Wednesday his support for reinstating Build America Bonds and the use of private activity bonds as part of a larger package of aid to state and local governments. Neal, D-Mass., assured members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors that he is working closely with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to include major infrastructure provisions in what members of Congress are calling CARES Act 2. “You are likely to see the details of what we propose in the next few days and certainly within the next week,” Neal said.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)

Junction City transitions back to utility disconnections

On March 17th Governor Laura Kelly issued Executive Order No. 2005 that temporarily prohibited utility and internet disconnects until May 1st. As this order expires, the City of Junction City will allow a transition period before disconnections of water service is done. For those in Cycle 1, accounts located south of Sixth Street or having an account number beginning with digits of 01-12, will be disconnected if the account  is not paid in full by 4:30 P.M.  on Monday, June 15th. For those in Cycle 2, accounts   located north of Sixth Street of having an account number beginning with digits 14-30, will be disconnected if the account is not paid in full  by 4:30 P.M. on Monday, June 29th. 
(Read more: Junction City, KS – News Flash)

Chanute strategic in providing essential services

Even with officials in these tricky times spread out at individual tables in the Memorial Building Alliance Room, updated reports and recommendations were made at Chanute’s City Commission meeting on Monday night. This included a suggestion to not open the city pool this summer. In a landscape that has presented varying outcomes due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, City Manager Jeff Cantrell addressed city employees in his report to the commission. “Operationally, we’re kind of a tricky animal as you guys well know. We can’t just send people home, we have very essential operations, we have to be kind of strategic as to how we do that, if we do that,” Cantrell said. “In the weeks to come, I’m sure management is going to have barometers to move forward as you go forward for recommendations that will follow that. …”
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

‘I need a haircut.’ Sedgwick County moves to give business control over reopening

Sedgwick County took steps Wednesday to encourage a quick end to coronavirus control orders with an eye toward letting businesses make most of their own decisions on how to reopen the economy.
“It’s time for us to move back toward freedom and I need a haircut,“ said Commissioner Jim Howell. “We all need haircuts at this point. It’s time for us to get the businesses back open and if they can do this in a way that mitigates risk, then we ought to let them speak to that and if it makes sense, we ought to let that be our next step.”
Acting as the Board of Health, the County Commission passed a motion by Howell urging Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly not to extend her stay-at-home order — which shuttered thousands of businesses — past its current scheduled expiration date of May 3. Kelly is scheduled to announce details of her plan at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
(Read more: Local News |)

JCCC asking faculty to prepare for primarily online instruction this fall, though hands-on training will be conducted in person

JCCC began informing faculty this week that the college is preparing for a fall semester where instruction will be delivered primarily online, though campus will be open and many hands-on classes will be delivered in person. Johnson County Community College administrators this week began informing faculty that they are planning for a fall semester where instruction will be delivered primarily online, though campus will be open and several hands-on classes will be taught in person. Associate Vice President of Strategic Communications Chris Gray said plans for delivering courses while reducing unnecessary in-person contact were still in their formative stages, but that the college was keeping safety as a top priority.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

JoCo health officer recommends putting off reopening of non-essential businesses until May 11

Johnson County should put off reopening non-essential businesses for a week to protect the county from a possible wave of new infections caused by people traveling from other metro counties with continuing outbreaks, county health officer Joseph LeMaster, MD, MPH, said today. LeMaster told county commissioners Wednesday that although the county has shown a downward trend in cases and hospitals are not overwhelmed, the commission should consider delaying a phased reopening until May 11. That would bring it closer to the May 15 date Kansas City, Mo., has planned.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Merriam Visitor’s Bureau compiles virtual tours, local take-out options during stay-at-home orders

The Merriam Visitors Bureau list of online activities and tours includes a livestream of penguins from the Kansas City Zoo. Photo courtesy of Kansas City Zoo. Physical travel may be off limits during the coronavirus stay-at-home orders, but that doesn’t mean a trip to a United States National Park is out of the question. The Merriam Visitors Bureau over the last few weeks has been compiling virtual tours for residents to view from the comfort of their own homes. Executive Director Karen Crane said although there are many negative impacts stemming from the global pandemic, there are also “glimmers of hope” while communities come together to exchange and create online experiences.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

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