Municipal News & Jobs

The Lenexa Planning Commission has approved plans for a building that, if given the final OK, will be the tallest development by far at Lenexa City Center. On Oct. 6, the city’s planning commission unanimously recommended approval of preliminary plans for The Rise, located at the southeast corner of 87th Street Parkway and Renner Boulevard. The development is proposed to be an active adult community, with residents required to be 55 or older, according to its developer, REAL Property Group. It will include apartments, office and restaurant space, a parking structure, as well as amenities like an outdoor pool and a rooftop restaurant and bar.
Read more: Johnson County Post

After two unsuccessful attempts to offer electronic scooters and bikes in the city, Overland Park could launch a new e-bike share program that officials hope will have more permanence. The prospective partnership with regional nonprofit BikeWalk KC, if approved, would be wheeled out ahead of the World Cup next summer. It would be part of RideKC’s metrowide transportation network. Unlike past pilot programs with private companies Bird and Lime that included both e-scooters and e-bikes, this new effort would only bring e-bikes to Overland Park streets. The bike share program would have upfront and annual operating costs associated with it, whereas those past programs were effectively free to the city. However, the city will have more opportunity to recoup those costs by taking a larger share of user fees generated by RideKC bike riders. Last Wednesday, the Overland Park City Council Community Development Committee took the first look at the proposed agreement, unanimously recommending its approval. “I think this can be better than the prior programs that we’ve done,” Councilmember Chris Newlin said. Overland Park could get 60 e-bikes to start.
Read more: Johnson County Post

When and where did the Civil War begin? Was it when Abraham Lincoln was elected president? When Fort Sumter was fired on by the Confederacy? A good case can be made that the political event that precipitated the Civil War took place in a rural Kansas town that would become the centerpoint of national debate. Kansas became a territory in 1854. Under the Kansas-Nebraska Act, voters of each state were to determine if slavery would be allowed in that state or not. This led to “Bleeding Kansas” because of the conflict and violence that ensued. For example, Lawrence was sacked by a pro-slavery mob and John Brown led a retaliatory massacre. In order to influence the vote for their respective viewpoints, free staters came to Kansas territory from New England and pro-slavery border ruffians came from Missouri. In a rigged election, the pro-slavery faction won. Free state forces rallied. The Kansas election was found to have been fraudulent. Free staters prevailed in new elections. Eventually, Topeka was designated as the capitol. When and where did the Civil War begin? One can make the case that the adoption of the state constitution in Lecompton, Kansas set in motion the events that would lead to the Civil War. That is why Lecompton can claim to be the “Civil War birthplace” and the place “where slavery began to die.”
Read more: KCLY Radio

This year, the Kansas Department of Commerce and Evergy began talks with TerraPower, a nuclear energy company based out of Washington state, to potentially bring a reactor to the Sunflower State. TerraPower’s Natrium reactor is different from a traditional nuclear reactor like at Wolf Creek. The small modular reactor uses sodium as its primary coolant instead of water. “It’s ability is to retain the heat that comes off the reactor core for a long period of time,” State Rep. Mark Schreiber of Emporia said. “It doesn’t need to be pressurized, so that reduces the amount of the equipment that’s needed to be inside the containment building. And then if the reactor, for instance, shuts down, it still has that heat that can still create steam on the secondary side of the system and power the generator.” Schreiber said over the next 10 years, the Midwest will need to scale up its power generation. The demand for data centers, electric vehicle chargers and new manufacturing is expected to rise as older power plants go offline. He believes the Sunflower State’s central location makes it a perfect spot to build a Natrium reactor.
Read more: KSN-TV

Ground is officially broken for the first Buc-ee’s location in Kansas. A project that’s been years in the making. It promises to be a driver for commerce and tourism alike. Buc-ee’s locations have proven to be popular attractions. There are 54 of these enormous gas station locations from coast to coast. The company’s founder said this will bring business from the interstate to the cash registers, as travelers seek clean bathrooms, brisket, beef jerky and “Beaver Nuggets” too. Wyandotte County leaders on Thursday welcomed Buc-ee’s leaders, who until 2019, only had stores in Texas. “Thank you to the Buc-ee’s team for choosing Kansas City, Kansas and Wyandotte County, right in the heart of America, to be your next place to build something great,” said Mayor Tyrone Garner.
Read more: KSN-TV

A vision decades in the making is connecting two communities through recreation, wellness, and economic growth. The Andover-Augusta Rail Trail initiative aims to turn an old rail corridor into a new multi-use path. It stretches several miles between two cities. The goal: To give people more options to bike, walk and connect safely between communities. “Go to school, you can go to restaurants, you can go to a lot of places. But that one trail will connect you to all three places,” Cody Custer, the program development manager for Bike Walk Wichita, said.
The pedestrian bridge over U.S. Highway 400 links existing paths in Andover and Augusta. “Every step we take brings our communities one step closer together,” Augusta City Manager Josh Shaw said.
Read more: KSN-TV

Tuesday is the final day to register to vote, and across Kansas, sales tax permissions are on the ballot. That is, what sales taxes can be used for. The goal, two counties say, is to reduce the burden on home and property owners. In Pawnee County, voters will decide whether or not to approve the use of sales tax funds for emergency services. County attorney Douglas McNett says it could insulate homeowners from the possibility of raising property taxes. People living in Pawnee County have been living with a 1% sales tax for over 15 years. It was originally implemented to help pay back a bond issue designed to save their critical access hospital. The original goal was to pay for healthcare services. They paid off that bond early in 2021, and it left them with excess sales tax revenue. In 2022, they added EMS to the list of services that could be financed by sales tax. EMS service is completely covered by sales tax.
Read more: KSN-TV

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place today in Parsons to celebrate a new mural. It’s one that serves as both a reminder of the community’s past and a way for folks to come together. Not just to look at it. Part of the grant-funded creation features a large white area where movies will be projected. Early plans are to have showings of The Wizard of Oz and Star Wars. More movies will be shown next summer through a collaboration with the Parsons Public Library. “To see something like this come to fruition. Just it’s heartwarming. It means that the city is continuing on as forward progress that we set in motion two decades ago,” said Jim Zaleski, Parsons Economic Development Director.
Read more: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

A rural Bitcoin mining farm is the new hot button topic in southeast Kansas. “It’s miserable. You know, we listen to it day in and day out when I get up in the morning over a fan and a TV, you hear a humming noise. I don’t care what they do over there. I just don’t want to hear it in my yard,” said Dereck Ranes, Home Owner Across From Facility. Ranes, who lives across the street from a Bitcoin mining facility in rural Kansas, is fed up with the noise and vibrations — making life untenable. The facility holds four shipping containers worth of computers constantly solving math equations to mine Bitcoin, powered by an industrial-sized generator, which runs off natural gas. It emits up to 80 decibels of sound constantly, and a low-frequency hum which can be felt in the surrounding areas. Ranes took his concerns to the Bourbon County Commissioners Tuesday night, who voted to put a moratorium on any expansion of the Bitcoin farm until a compromise can be found. “I’m trying to make sure that we have due process for both sides, that we’re hearing both sides. And I hear what my constituents are saying and I want to help them. And we we did help them with the moratorium, but we still need to listen to the other side, which they’re they’re due to be here next week,” said Samuel Tran, Bourbon County Commissioner.
Read more: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Members of the Topeka City Council talked about the pros and cons of letting officers wear their uniforms while working in the service of private companies. The Topeka Police Department believes the community would be safer if law enforcement hired by private companies were able to show the public that they are trained police officers. However, some city councilmembers are worried about where the liability will fall. Police Chief Chris Vallejo weighed in on the issue during the Oct. 14 city council meeting. He said the department will take accountability. “Modifying this ordinance, which says gives the chief of police full authority to speak to who can be in a uniform and who cannot be in a uniform in this city,” Vallejo said. “So that gives me an immediate oversight there. So and also, our police officers are trained to follow state law and our internal policies that are superior to any kind of house rules or things like that. They’re already doing their job. I’m just putting them in uniform.”
Read more: KSNT 27 News

THC-infused beverages like those being sold at several locations were among items seized as illegal in Kansas Bureau of Investigation raids statewide executing search warrants at vape shops and CBD dispensaries. “Some THC-infused beverages were seized during these search warrants, but this was not a major focus of the investigations,” Melissa Underwood, communications director for KBI, said. KBI began the investigation Oct. 1 in hopes of seizing marijuana plants, THC vape cartridges, and other items containing suspected illegal concentrations of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. In some instances, weapons and currency were also seized, Underwood said.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

Dustin Raney’s application for a short-term rental at Marion County Lake received some pushback Monday from Marion County Commissioners. Clarke Dirks was the most vocal, saying too many questions needed answers. The commission voted 4-0 to delay action on the proposal. It had been approved by the county Planning and Zoning Commission.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

Since the announcement of the recently retired City Administrator Doug Allen, the city commissioners have been searching for someone to fill the role. In a special meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 8, the commissioners agreed on a contract and hired Nick Rizzio, who currently resides in Arkansas City, Kan. The commissioners agree that Rizzio’s experience and background make him a good fit for Sabetha.
Read more: The Sabetha Herald

With encouragement from city government, the Chamber is trying to attract the Bill Gates-owned company TerraPower. TerraPower announced on Sept. 23 that they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Evergy and the Kansas Department of Commerce to build a facility within Evergy’s service area in the state.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

There was a good reason why Renwick Superintendent Tim Hayden had a big smile on his face when being interviewed about this year’s enrollment: its up. And not just a few students, but 71. Last school year, the district had 1,990 students; this year, it has 2,061. “We’re at a fortunate pace,” Hayden said to the USD 267 Board of Education Monday evening. “We’re growing, and ’that’s helpful for your district.” Full-time equivalent, which is a key factor in state funding, also grew.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

Black Squirrel Fall Fest returns to Broadway Saturday — the city’s annual salute to its mascot. Designated Black Squirrel City in 1972, Marysville will mark the day from 3 to 11 p.m. with afternoon attractions that build into an after-dark lineup. All of the activities will take place on Broadway, between Sixth Street and 10th streets. The day starts from 3 to 5 p.m. with old-fashioned games and Big Wheels on Broadway. Some games like bingo, balloon pop, ring toss, lollipop pull and beanbag ladder toss will come with prizes.
Read more: www.marysvilleonline.net

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Topeka and Shawnee County have paid out over $1.4 million in the past two years to settle various claims and lawsuits. A Washburn University faculty member who is a former city official suggests the rise in lawsuits could stem from issues like insufficient training or a permissive management culture.
Read more: CJonline

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

City workers in Arkansas City removed several trees on Summit Street last week and plan to cut down the remaining trees in the downtown area. City spokesperson Shana Adkisson said Monday that tree roots have damaged curbs and sidewalks, blocked drainage and have interfered with underground water and electrical lines. The city is removing the trees to prevent further damage after struggling with maintenance issues and receiving complaints from several business owners.
Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said Friday that he continues to support lowering interest rates but said the central bank needs to be careful amid conflicting economic signals. “I’m still in the belief we need to cut rates, but we need to kind of be cautious about it,” Waller said during an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” On one hand, he said, the U.S. labor market appears to be losing jobs, potentially signaling a broader economic slowdown. On the other, gross domestic product growth remains strong and there remain concerns over inflation, which is still running considerably higher than the Fed’s 2% goal.
Read more: CNBC

McPherson County voters will see a proposal on the November 4 ballot for a ½ cent (0.5%) county-wide sales tax dedicated to funding Emergency Medical Services (EMS). If approved, the tax would begin April 1, 2026. The measure seeks to shift EMS funding from property taxes to a dedicated sales tax, creating the opportunity for county and city officials to reduce property taxes beginning in 2027. Currently, EMS is funded primarily through property tax revenues, which places heavy reliance on local property owners. Under the proposed change, anyone making taxable purchases in McPherson County—including visitors and non-residents—would share the cost, broadening the funding base.
Read more: Ad Astra Radio

A new tourism project is moving forward in the Kansas City area. A development agreement was approved on Monday by the Bonner Springs City Council for the Destination KCK Resort at 118th Street and State Avenue. \The city and the developers, EMAP-KC, have been working for months to finalize a development agreement which moves the long-awaited project forward. The project includes Mattel Adventure Park, which will feature Hot Wheel roller coasters, a Barbie rooftop restaurant bar, Thomas & Friends attraction and more.
Read more: FOX 4 Kansas City

Bel Aire and other cities routinely allow developers to choose the engineer they want to work with on their projects. However, MKEC is one of the contractors Bel Aire is suing over the failed Woodlawn road reconstruction project.
Read more: Ark Valley News

Friends of First Responders Day kicked off in Overland Park on Saturday afternoon. The event gives children with disabilities and their families the opportunity to connect with fire and police personnel in a friendly environment. “It gives us a chance to meet them in a situation where adrenaline isn’t pumping and they’re not in dire need of our services,” said Lieutenant Pat Saysoff. “And they get to experience being a firefighter or police officer for the day.” Kids got to ride in the ladder bucket, operate fire hoses and ride in fire trucks too. They were able to see how police officers take fingerprinting evidence, and how the OPPD bomb squad operates.
Read more: FOX 4 Kansas City

The Overland Park Police Department announced Friday the launch of a new community-focused program. The police department said the goal of the program is to improve interactions between first responders and community members with developmental disabilities, mental health needs or other similar concerns. It aims to improve communications between first responders and the community by providing practical resources to help officers, firefighters and medical personnel quickly identify and respond appropriately to community members who may require a different approach during an interaction.
Read more: FOX 4 Kansas City

History enthusiasts gathered at Valley View Cemetery twice nightly on Oct. 9, 10 and 11 for the Finney County Historical Society’s annual Cemetery Walking Tours. The event takes participants through the cemetery on a guided tour by Johnetta Holmes-Hebrlee, Education Coordinator for the Finney County Historical Society and Museum, meeting characters from Garden City and Finney County’s past, at or near their gravesites. Steve Quakenbush, Executive Director of the Finney County Historical Society and Museum, said the event it about celebrating history and helping people learn about history.
Read more: Garden City Telegram

A sales tax question asking voters if they wish to enforce a half-cent sales tax will be on the Nov. 4 general election ballot. The proposed sales tax is aimed at financing the construction of a new Finney County Jail and a major renovation to the Finney County Law Enforcement Center. Gary Meagher, Interim Finney County Administrator, said the LEC has been plagued by costly issues due to its design with the jail on the third floor and the building’s age.
Read more: Garden City Telegram

An ethics hotline that has been available to Johnson County employees, vendors and contractors since 2012 has recently become open to the general public, and will be subject to future improvements to bring it in line with best practices. The reporting platform quietly became visible on the county website July 16, via a link on the maroon field at the bottom of the county website homepage. Clicking on “Ethics Hotline” leads to an outside webpage where anonymous complaints of possible ethical wrongdoing can be made. The site is run by Navex, a company that specializes in ethics and compliance management. The site offers a way to report electronically or by phone.
Read more: Johnson County Post

From a potential new headquarters for Lockton Cos. to an exclusive members-only club, Leawood’s development pipeline is brimming with diverse and ambitious projects. Here’s a look at five real estate projects that could add corporate office space, luxury apartments and specialized housing for seniors in Leawood.
Read more: Kansas City Business Journal

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation seized hundreds of pounds of marijuana and tens of thousands of pre-rolled joints, THC vapes and edibles during raids last week at 18 retail stores across Kansas. KBI director Tony Mattivi and Attorney General Kris Kobach announced the raids while the first wave were in progress during a news conference with reporters in Topeka. They said retailers for too long had gotten away with brazen violations of state law. Marijuana and THC products remain illegal in Kansas, an abstinent island in an ocean of other states that have given the green light to the substance. Mattivi and Kobach said retailers still routinely sell the illegal goods.
Read more: Kansas Reflector

Humboldt, located in southeast Kansas, will host the first Big Kansas Road Trip (BKRT) Pop Up site for 2026. Organized by the Kansas Sampler Foundation, the one-day event will be held Saturday, May 2, with some activities beginning the day before. Foundation Director Marci Penner announced the news during the opening “Stump” session in Hoxie on October 4, as part of the 2025 Pop Up across Sheridan County. The BKRT Pop Up offers a community open house atmosphere, highlighting local attractions, shops, and eats. Visitors can also enjoy mini-talks and tours featuring unique stories and lesser-known sites.
Read more: KCLY Radio

Clay Center Parks & Recreation and Clay Counts Coalition have partnered together to bring a new program to Clay Center called Girls on the Run. Girls On the Run, a national program, combines physical activity with lessons focused on building confidence, friendships, and life skills to girls in 3rd-5th grade. Because both Parks & Rec and Clay Counts Coalition are committed to creating opportunities that support the health and well-being of kids and families in the community, the program seemed like the perfect partnership.
Read more: KCLY Radio

What began as a friendly visit by Clay Center Fire Chief Johnny Ihnen to a Fire Chiefs meeting in Dickinson County has turned into a newly expanded mutual aid agreement among Clay County Fire Chiefs that will benefit Clay County as a whole. The agreement will help response times around the county in the case of a residential house fire throughout all districts. In many cases, CCFD is able to respond much quicker than the smaller departments, as the smaller stations are run by volunteers who are not at the station at all times.
Read more: KCLY Radio

Wichita State University students earned a record-breaking $39.2 million through applied learning in the 2025 academic year, highlighting the university’s focus on hands-on experience and workforce development. The total marks an 11% increase from last year’s $35.3 million. More students are also participating in these opportunities, with 12,328 applied learning experiences — a 31% jump from last year — through paid work with area businesses, organizations, and on-campus employers, all while continuing their studies.
Read more: KCLY Radio

A new housing initiative is set to launch soon across several counties in North Central Kansas aimed at addressing the issue of dilapidated residential structures. The “Demo to Dirt” program provides financial assistance to help property owners remove unsafe or blighted housing, contributing to safer neighborhoods and enhancing the overall appearance of communities.
Read more: KCLY Radio

Clay County General Public Transportation (CCGPT) is pleased to announce that it has expanded its partnership with Clay County Medical Center (CCMC) to include not just Clay County patients, but patients in parts of the surrounding counties. This partnership will expand CCGPT’s outreach while greatly benefiting patients of CCMC and its area Family Physician Clinics. Don Wright, Public Transportation Director, spoke of this growing partnership.   “We have been working with CCMC about picking up patients and clients to transport to and from appointments. Recently, our surrounding community transportation agencies had asked us if we could expand a little bit to bring patients in since they were unable to.”
Read more: KCLY Radio

A company with a vision of installing “discreet, bespoke,” small, nuclear reactors 1 mile underground for data centers and other electricity-hungry industries plans to put its first reactors in Kansas, Texas and Utah. Deep Fission, which says its technology could meet the “explosive demand for power from artificial intelligence” has signed letters of intent with undisclosed partners in each of those states. In email exchanges, the company said it will not currently disclose the partner and location in Kansas, but would “share more information soon.”
Read more: KCUR News

Silver Lake Schools superintendent Brad Womack announced that he will be retiring in June of 2026, capping off 28 years at the school district. Womack has more than three decades of experience in the Kansas public education system, working his way up from custodian to superintendent. He made the announcement in a letter Thursday, so the Board of Education could begin searching for candidates.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

The School Board is trying to recruit nonresident students to the district to increase enrollment and erase disparities between high school and kindergarten class sizes. During Thursday’s board meeting, Superintendent Stu Moeckel said the district will graduate 140 students this year, and the odds that the district is “going to bring 140 kindergartners in are not going to happen.” Moeckel said this is the second year the district has had nonresident enrollment. He said the first year it started, the district had 61 applicants. He said this year the district ended with 101 applicants, and most of them enrolled. He said at least 10% of the student population in total are nonresident students.
Read more: The Eudora Times

The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education approved renewing the district’s license for its virtual school platform, but Superintendent Dawn Johnson said the district may need to shop around in the future after a price increase this year. With the renewal, the per-student cost of the Acellus Gold Spark Program will increase to $790. With a combined 368 students using the platform between virtual school, alternative school, and Reno County Youth Services, that puts the total cost at $290,720. Johnson said base state aid for 368 students amounted to around $2 million.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

LaHarpe volunteer firefighters paid a visit to My Second Home Daycare in LaHarpe Friday to show the youngsters the equipment they use to keep families safe. The youngsters were allowed to hold the fire hose and check out the department’s various vehicles and equipment. They also were allowed to give the siren and horn a quick blast, much to the delight of the other kiddos.
Read more: The Iola Register

The initial log jam grew significantly after additional rain events, extending its length from 350 feet to around 1,000 feet.
Read more: Salina Journal