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Municipal News & Jobs

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

Kansas Municipal News

“Rally Reno” to provide local economic relief

Three local agencies have joined together to launch an online program that enables residents to put dollars in the hands of their favorite retail, service and hospitality businesses, while also helping those affected by layoffs or pay cuts.
The Hutchinson Community Foundation, Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber, and United Way of Reno, with the support of unnamed donors, have created “Rally Reno County.”
The program operates off the basic premise of “buy local, give local.”
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

With shortage of coronavirus tests, Johnson County might pay private labs to do more

In the face of rapidly rising coronavirus cases in Johnson County and a clampdown on who can get tested, officials on Thursday called for more funds to pay private labs to step up testing.
“Yesterday we spoke with four different labs that are able to carry this out,” said Sanmi Areola, who started this week as director of the Johnson County Department of Public Health and Environment. “The opportunity to do the testing is there, but we do need the resources to be able to implement it.”
The number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in Johnson County increased by four Thursday morning, bringing the county’s total to 50, by far the highest in Kansas. Just a day earlier, Johnson County health officials reported an additional 10 cases of COVID-19.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Short-Term Treasury Yields Go Negative in Scramble for Cash

Yields on the safest, short-term Treasurys settled into negative territory for the first time in more than four years, as investors continued clamoring for cash and safe dollar assets even as some markets showed signs of normalization.
The one-month Treasury bill yield closed at minus 0.041% Wednesday and the three-month ended at minus 0.046%, the first time they have closed the day below 0% since late 2015, according to Tradeweb. Yields remained in negative territory early Thursday with the yield on the three-month Treasury at minus 0.028%.
(Read more: WSJ.com: Markets)

64,000 newly out of work in Missouri, Kansas as coronavirus shuts down U.S. economy

Nearly 65,000 people in Missouri and Kansas filed unemployment claims last week as the coronavirus shut down many parts of the U.S. economy.
Federal data released Thursday shows that 40,508 Missourians filed initial unemployment claims for the week ending March 21. That’s up from 4,016 the previous week — an increase of more than 900%.
In Kansas, 23,687 workers filed new unemployment claims last week. That’s a spike of 1,250% over the 1,755 Kansans who filed claims the week prior.
Across the country, the seasonally adjusted number of initial unemployment claims filed last week increased to nearly 3.3 million, an increase of more than 3 million over the previous week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
(Read more: Kansas City Breaking News, Crime & Sports |)

Wichitans use 3D printers to make face shields for first responders and health officials

First responders and health officials are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. They are battling more than the virus, but also a shortage of protective gear.
“They are in need of face shields and part of the way you can do that immediately is with 3D printing,” said Nathan Smith, WSU Project Innovation Hub Manager.
Wichita Police Department, Sgt. Teddy Wisely is teaming up with other community members to use 3D printers to make personal protective equipment. “Our goal is to produce this equipment, donate it, and help slow the spread of the virus,” said Sgt. Wisely.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Some private golf courses are open, while Overland Park and Leawood shutter courses during COVID-19 shutdown

Private golf courses in the Shawnee Mission area may be an option for members who want to get outside and enjoy some exercise while practicing safe social distancing.
The golf course at Milburn Country Club in Overland Park remains open for members to use. An email distributed to members on Tuesday afternoon provides instructions and guidelines on practicing safe social distancing, and describes staff’s efforts to keep everyone safe and healthy.
The golf course at Mission Hills Country Club is also open for members only, although golf carts will not be made available.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

City manager search down to four in Ark City

Arkansas City commissioners are moving forward with hiring a new city manager, planning to conduct candidate interviews in private tomorrow.
…
Four candidates will be interviewed for a total of four hours in executive session, according to the agenda and information provided by spokesperson Andrew Lawson.
The names of the candidates were not revealed publicaly, but Lawson said all four will be interviewed in person. He also said the commission plans to keep the same general timeline as previously outlined for making a hire.
(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Chanute says worker quarantine won’t have an effect on water

The Chanute Water Department continues to do routine hourly tests on drinking water despite a city employee in quarantine.
City Manager Jeff Cantrell did not specify that the employee was from the water department, but said the employee having been quarantined would have no impact on drinking water or other utility operations.
(Read more: www.chanute.com)

Lyon County has one more positive COVID-19, one presumed positive

Lyon County Public Health officials confirmed two more cases of COVID-19 in the county Wednesday.
There is one more confirmed COVID-19 case in Lyon County and another patient who is presumed positive, according to Lyon County Public Health.
Wednesday’s announcement doubles the amount of cases in the county.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Lyon County-wide stay-at-home order begins Thursday

Lyon County Public Health Officer Renee Hively issued a stay-at-home order for all county residents during a Facebook live press conference Wednesday morning.
The order … will remain in effect through April 25, unless amended sooner, superseded or rescinded.
“A stay-at-home order was signed by me and the county commissioners yesterday,” Hively said. “What does this mean to you? It means currently all individuals living in Lyon County, Kansas, are ordered to stay-at-home or at their place of residence, unless they are going for reasons of essential activities.”
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Interest rates starting to come back down; Dramatic municipal bond rally reverses recent coronavirus-driven selloff

The municipal market experienced an enormous rally Wednesday, swiftly reversing from the pronounced sell off it had experienced over the course of several wrenching, dislocated trading sessions due to the effects of the coronavirus.
Municipal benchmark yields were lowered by 60 to 80 basis points (0.60% to 0.80%) across the curve. Some trades pointed to nearly a 1% bump on short-term paper.
… The Fed’s actions to buy short-term munis clearly is having a meaningful impact on this market.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)

MSRB responds to COVID-19 rocking the market

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board will be publishing daily data summaries, pushing back comment deadlines and suspending a price alert in response to market volatility and COVID-19 concerns.
The MSRB published its first data summary Wednesday morning and plans to publish them every morning. Since the spread of the virus, the municipal market has tumbled through high “unprecedented” trade volume and large outflows.
“The municipal market touches the lives of every single American because it finances over two-thirds of the state and local infrastructure that is bearing the brunt of the coronavirus crisis,” said MSRB Board Chair Ed Sisk. “Dislocation in this critical capital market damages investor confidence and has an outsize effect on the financial health of communities around the country.”
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)

County Update: Commissioner Becky Fast on ‘getting through unprecedented times’

During these uncertain times, it’s very important to keep connections alive with your local, state, and federal elected officials to inform them what you are feeling, observing, and thinking. As community spread of COVID-19 continues throughout our region, Johnson County is taking aggressive action to flatten the curve and protect the health and livelihood of our residents.
The County is working closely with regional hospital CEOs, state, and federal health officials, and emergency response officials across the metro area (Jackson County, KCMO, Wyandotte County/KCK). We are working together to mitigate the spread to preserve the capacity of our hospitals for those who need medical care.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

‘We are all in this together’: Shawnee mayor issues statement on community response to COVID-19

In a message Tuesday evening to Shawnee residents and businesses, Mayor Michelle Distler offered empathy to the community and provided updates on the city’s action plan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Distler recommended everyone heed the advice from the CORE 4 partner governments in the Kansas City metro area as well as federal and state guidelines.
And in bold text, Distler urged residents to continue shopping at local businesses, utilizing curbside pickup and other social distancing measures, in order to keep the local economy intact as much as possible. A complete copy of her address is below.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

AG Derek Schmidt: New rules to keep government meetings transparent during COVID-19 ‘social distancing’ limitations now in effect

New rules for state and local governments to comply with the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) during ‘social distancing’ emergency restrictions have been approved by the State Rules and Regulations Board and are now legally binding, Attorney General Derek Schmidt said today….
Overall, the new regulation advises public bodies to keep the need for transparency prominently in mind if stay-home orders or other pandemic-response requirements prevent the public from attending meetings or cause members of public bodies to meet without physically gathering in person. Public bodies subject to the KOMA should “take any actions as may be necessary and reasonable under the circumstances of the emergency declaration to advance the state policy that ‘meetings for the conduct of governmental affairs and the transaction of governmental business be open to the public.’”
(Read more: Kansas Attorney General News Releases)

MHK Together raises over $100K in grocery assistance

More than $100,000 has been raised by the community to support grocery assistance to those experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MHK Together, a collaboration between the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, 502 Media Group, Konza United way, and Shepherds Crossing began raising money Friday with a goal of matching the $150,000 donations supporting the initiative from the Ward & Brenda Morgan, Lincoln & Dorothy Deihl and Mary Vanier Donor Advised Funds.
By Wednesday afternoon, the donations amounted to $105,000. Blade Mages with the 502 Media Group explains the purpose of MHKTogether.org
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)

$5 million of HIRE Fund loans have been awarded to Kansas hospitality businesses

Within 48 hours of Governor Laura Kelly announcing the establishment of the Hospitality Industry Relief Emergency (HIRE) Fund, all $5 million allocated for the loan program have been awarded.
“The hospitality industry in Kansas was one of the first to be hit financially by the COVID-19 crisis,” Governor Kelly said. “Department of Commerce Secretary David Toland and the teams at Commerce and NetWork Kansas moved swiftly to stand up the HIRE Fund program and process applications in a short period to help us quickly get these critical dollars into the hands of hospitality businesses across the state.”
The initial response to the HIRE Fund program was overwhelming. More than 1,400 applications for funding were received, with more than 800 submitted within 24 hours of the program being announced.
(Read more: hiawathaworldonline.com)

Old-time gas stations beloved landmarks of Marion County’s past

From Tampa to Florence, old gas stations throughout Marion County stand as a reminder of American days gone by.
David Mueller owns a renovated gas station in Tampa that has been around since the 1950s.
“It had always been kind of a landmark,” he said. “The problem was it was in such disrepair. It was a matter of visualizing what it used to look like and what it could look like again.”
(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)

What businesses and residents need to know about Sedgwick County’s stay-home order

The essential activities and essential businesses outlined in Sedgwick County’s stay-at-home public health order offer many reasons why residents can leave their homes for the next 30 days.
County commissioners, acting as the Board of Health, approved the draft 3-2 on Monday and sent it to public health officer Garold Minns, a physician at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, who signed it Tuesday morning.
(Read more: KAKE – News)

Douglas County leaders to consider paid leave for all employees not working under stay-at-home order

Douglas County leaders will soon consider approving paid leave for county employees who will not be working because of the coronavirus outbreak.
As part of its meeting Wednesday, the Douglas County Commission will consider a proposal to pay employees regardless of whether they must report to work under the stay-at-home order issued by local health officials in response to the virus. Department heads have identified essential and nonessential staff, the latter of which would be put on administrative leave with pay for the duration of the shutdown under the proposal, according to a county agenda report.
Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health has issued a stay-at-home order beginning Tuesday, and that will remain in place through April 23. The order closes all businesses and functions that are deemed nonessential.
Read more: LJWorld.com.

Kansas residents hunker down amid virus’ economic fallout

Aircraft parts maker Spirit Aerosystems temporarily suspended production work for Boeing at its Wichita facility on Tuesday amid the coronavirus outbreak that has been sending shock waves through the economy and has more than half of Kansas residents under shelter-in-place orders.
The move came after Boeing announced Monday that it was suspending operations at its Seattle-area facilities.
Gov. Laura Kelly announced Monday that she was limiting public gatherings to 10 people or fewer, after originally instituting a 50-person cap. She said she wasn’t issuing a statewide shelter-in-place order as some other governors have done because 89 of Kansas’ 105 counties had yet to see a confirmed coronavirus case as of Monday morning. But she warned that such an order could become “unavoidable in the coming days.”
Read more: LJWorld.com.

White House and Senate strike a deal on historic $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill

The White House and Senate leaders reached a deal early Wednesday on a massive $2 trillion
relief bill — said to be the largest rescue package in American history — to combat the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
“At last we have a deal,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said after 1:30 a.m. ET from the floor of the Senate.
Efforts to pass the measure have taken on urgency as hospitals, companies, states and individuals have all pleaded for needed resources to battle the pandemic.
Read more: CNBC.

Municipal bonds rally on hope of stimulus, Fed action from Washington

The municipal market rallied significantly Tuesday as participants placed bets that a stimulus package from Washington was coming closer to being reality and news that the Federal Reserve may be given authority to buy longer-dated municipal debt made its way around the Street.
The short end in particular was rebounding from the extraordinary sell off of the past two weeks after the Fed yesterday announced it would include variable rate demand obligations as well as short-term paper to its balance sheets.
While there was still no definitive answer from Washington on what the stimulus package might fully entail and whether the Fed would buy longer-term munis even if given that authority, the market was baking it into secondary trading on Tuesday.
(Read more: The Latest)

Reno County Commission challenges community to respond to avoid ’shelter in place’ order

While there were no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Reno County on Tuesday, county leaders called on residents to be even more vigilant in staying home and away from public places to avoid having to impose formal restrictions on movement.
The county’s number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 remained at two, despite results from 22 tests coming back from state labs overnight.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Sedgwick County health official signs stay-home order; it starts at midnight

Local officials are urging people not to panic as Sedgwick County enters the hunker-down phase of the coronavirus pandemic.
The county’s health officer signed a stay-at-home order Tuesday to fight the spread of the coronavirus disease COVID-19. Sedgwick County joins nearly half of the United States population in being urged to stay home.
“There’s no need to panic; there’s a need to be careful right now,” Sedgwick County Manager Tom Stolz said.
(Read more: Local News |)

AG Derek Schmidt provides guidance on law enforcement duties and authorities during COVID-19 declared emergencies

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt today provided law enforcement agencies and county prosecutors statewide with legal guidance to assist in performing their duties while emergency declarations related to the COVID-19 pandemic are in effect.
The guidance, in the form of a memorandum, has been produced by the Attorney General’s Office in response to questions from law enforcement agencies and officials about their duties and authorities arising from emergency orders issued by federal, state and local officials. The memorandum explains the legal framework of the different emergency authorities and describes how they may interact. In particular, it provides guidance for law enforcement agencies on their role in enforcing emergency orders from the federal government, the governor, local mayors or county commissions, and state and local health departments. In some local jurisdictions, as many as six separate emergency authorities may have been invoked and be in effect concurrently.

A copy of the attorney general’s memorandum for law enforcement and prosecutors is available at https://bit.ly/2WEkbIQ.
(Read more: Kansas Attorney General News Releases)

Saline County approves temporary leave directive for COVID-19

The Saline County Board of Commissioners approved a temporary policy for county employees affected by the coronavirus. The policy that was voted on at the board’s 9 a.m. Tuesday meeting allows 80 hours of advanced leave by the county to county employees who have depleted their paid leave or have not earned leave because they are new employees. Marilyn Leamer, human resources director for the county said this would provide relief to employees who are quarantined …
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Labette County discuses local response to coronavirus

Labette County commissioners met in special session Monday afternoon to hear updates on the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commission Chairman Lonie Addis was in the commission room in the county courthouse and Commissioners Doug Allen and Fred Vail attended via phone.
So far, Labette County has no confirmed cases of the disease caused by the coronavirus.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Franklin County issues stay-at-home order

Franklin County Health Officer Dr. Bud Ransom issued a stay at home order Tuesday for the county in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
All non-essential businesses should be closed effective at 12:01 a.m. March 26. This order will last for 30 days….
The health department said everyone should stay at home except for essential duties for business continuity or government functions, to get food, care for a relative or friend, get necessary healthcare or perform activities related to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
(Read more: KSNT News)

Saline County has no positive coronavirus cases, no shelter-in-place order

Saline County still has no confirmed positive cases of COVID-19, according to a news release from the county at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The release said, however, that no positive cases reported does not mean that there isn’t a potential for a positive case to exist in the community. It is possible that a person hasn’t met the requirements for testing set by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and has been advised by a medical provider to self-quarantine.
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)

Shawnee council works to hold meeting within parameters of social distancing, 10-person limit

An air of uncertainty hung about the Shawnee council chambers last night, while city leaders and staff conducted a council meeting in line with social distancing guidelines and a 10-person limit.
Some cities in the Shawnee Mission area canceled their meetings or agreed to conduct their meetings remotely, while other cities’ council meetings took place last week. Shawnee’s meetings fall on the second and fourth Monday each month, and last night’s meeting happened to occur the day before a metro-wide stay at home order for 30 days was to begin.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County)

Marion County departments tackle COVID-19 response

County department heads met with county clerk Tina Spencer Tuesday morning and are announcing procedures to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus at county offices.
“Marion County is committed to protecting the health and well-being of our community and work force,” Spencer said. “We are not closing the courthouse at this time; however, we are taking steps to limit counter access within individual county offices. Many services are available online, or can by handled by phone or by mail, and we highly encourage people to use the alternative service delivery methods as they follow the recommendations to practice social distancing. …”
(Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Topeka bus service safety in coronavirus crisis debated

The Topeka Metro transit service will temporarily stop charging fares as part of an effort to make its buses safer amid the current coronavirus crisis.
That was among two steps the board of directors of the Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority voted 7-0 to approve late Thursday afternoon, said its president, Jim Ogle.
Topeka Metro said in a news release that the board adopted “a no-fare policy as well as rear door bus entry to improve social distancing inside the buses.”
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Voters reject De Soto’s park plan. With COVID-19 threatening revenue, it’s on hold

De Soto Mayor Rick Walker said he was disappointed that voters on Tuesday rejected a proposed bond issue for a long-planned citywide park improvement plan.
But even if the $3.3 million bond issue were approved, Walker said officials would have had to seriously reconsider whether the project is still feasible as the coronavirus pandemic threatens city revenue.
Some officials worry the metrowide stay-at-home order that took effect Tuesday will cut into consumer spending and residents’ incomes, which could lead to plunging revenues from sales and income taxes.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Osage County introduces program to bring essentials to self-isolating residents

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office has launched a new program to assist those in need during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Sheriff’s Office staff and pre-approved volunteers will be available to pick up necessities, like prescription medications, groceries and more for those who are unable to leave their homes, according to a Facebook post from the Sheriff’s Office.

The Office said that they will offer this assistance Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To use the service, call the administrative line for the Osage County Sheriff’s Office at 785-828-4657.

(Read more: KSNT News)

Schools adjust to lunch on go

For students, parents, teachers and others in Newton Unified School District 373, Monday was supposed to be the first day back to school after spring break.
It wasn’t. At least not school the way they knew it two weeks ago.
On March 17, Randy Watson, the commissioner of education in Kansas, and Gov. Laura Kelly announced that all public school buildings in Kansas would be closed for the remainder of the year in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
(Read more: Education – Morning Sun)

Newton City facilities closing in response to COVID-19

To protect the health of City employees and the public and help limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the City of Newton will close City facilities to the public starting Wednesday, March 25.

The closure is planned to last through April 12 and will be re-evaluated then. The City will strive to limit the disruption of services as much as possible during this time.

“We are taking this step to do what we can to help curb the spread of the virus,” said Interim City Manager Kelly McElroy. “Delivering services and caring for our residents remains our highest priority. We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate the public’s understanding and patience during this unprecedented time. We are all in this together as we work to ensure the safety of our community.”

(Read more: KWCH News)

Bourbon County Declares Emergency, Issues New Guidelines

Bourbon County Commissioners announce a state of emergency declaration in response to their first confirmed coronavirus case.
In a special session, Commissioners declared a state of local public health emergency for 60 days or until they are able to recover.
During this time, all non-essential businesses can remain open but will have to prohibit the public from being allowed within their facility.
This goes for bars, restaurants and car repair shops.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)

Spirit Aerosystems suspends Boeing work in Wichita

Spirit Aerosystems says it is suspending work for Boeing that is performed here in Wichita. The suspension also includes facilities in Tulsa and McAlester, Oklahoma. The move comes after Boeing announced it was temporarily suspending production at its plant in Washington.

Spirit did not say how many employees this would impact, but the suspension begins on Wednesday, March 25 and will last two weeks, until April 8. The company says it will continue to pay employees who are sent home during the two-week period. Spirit says it will also use the time to further deep-clean and sanitize work spaces and facilities as they continue to protect against COVID 19.

The company says when production resumes on Boeing programs, they will align costs and workforce to the new level of production set by Boeing, which could potentially include “additional workforce actions.”

(Read more: KWCH News)

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