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Municipal News & Jobs

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

Kansas Municipal News

Shawnee County commission meetings no longer open to public because of coronavirus

Shawnee County officials are changing the way their meetings are held to help limit the spread of germs during the coronavirus pandemic.

All department heads called in to Thursday morning’s county commission meeting at the courthouse unless they had a presentation to show in person.

They did this to keep the number of people in the room limited and allow for 6 feet between each person.

The public is no longer allowed at meetings and will have to address commissioners through letters.

(Read more: KSNT News)

Topeka police limit public interaction amidst coronavirus concerns ‘until further notice’

Police officers in the capital city won’t go to the scene of non-injury crashes during the coronavirus outbreak, and changed their interaction procedures at their headquarters, the Topeka Police Department said Thursday.

Topeka police spokeswoman Gretchen Koenen has now asked the public to call 785-368-9551 to make non-emergency reports, including non-injury crashes. They will still allow public visits to the Law Enforcement Center, but visitors will make a report to officers behind the front desk glass in accordance with social distancing guidelines.

(Read more: KSNT News)

Jackson County resident tests positive for COVID-19

A Jackson County resident has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Jackson County Health Department. This is the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in the county.
Angie Reith, Jackson County Health Officer, said her office was notified last night (Wednesday) by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment that a county resident had tested positive for the virus.
The individual is in isolation and following the recommendations of health officials.
(Read more: Holton Recorder)

Congress considers requiring Fed to buy muni bonds for coronavirus fight

Congress is considering authorizing the Federal Reserve to purchase municipal bonds as one of the ways to support local and state efforts to address the coronavirus pandemic.
A memo circulated Wednesday by House Financial Service Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, D-Calif., suggests that the next wave of federal legislation authorize the Fed to support state, territory, and local debt issuance in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Waters memo also suggests a blanket waiver for state or local governments to provide a local contribution as a requirement for receiving certain federal grants.
President Trump on Wednesday signed the second emergency bill to address the coronavirus following its passage by the Senate earlier in the day. The second bill includes expanded eligibility for unemployment benefits and paid sick leave.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)

Hillsboro Mayor: City’s water safe to drink

The gates at Hillsboro’s water plant are now closed and entry is by appointment only. The step is being taken to protect key city employees from COVID-19.
Hillsboro mayor Lou Thurston said the water department has only two employees trained to perform water testing. The city is putting measures in place to avoid those two coming down sick and being unable to guarantee the safety of the city’s water supply.
(Read more: HILLSBORO Star-Journal)

Shawnee County health officer says most recent order was a tough decision to make

Shawnee County health officer Gianfranco Pezzino said Thursday the public order to close bars, restaurants and movie theaters in the area was the most difficult decision he has had to make to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
“I am fully aware that by signing this order I am crippling businesses,” Pezzino said. “I am probably causing people to lose their jobs — and I know some of these people personally. … It breaks my heart.”
Regardless, he added, “We had to do it.”
The order, which went into effect Thursday morning, limits public gatherings to 10 people or fewer and closes restaurants, dining facilities, bars, taverns, clubs and movie theaters in Shawnee County. Restaurants may continue to offer carry-out, drive-through and delivery services to the public.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

State officials tell closed Kansas schools to teach online, use other options

Kansas school districts should continue to teach students for the rest of the academic year, but it is up to them to come up with their own plans on how to carry that out, a state task force announced Thursday.
Districts can teach by remote learning, sending home packets or even conducting some small in-person classes, the task force said. State graduation requirements will not change, but districts with higher standards may wish to lower them this year.
On Tuesday, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly ordered all public and private schools in the state to close for the remainder of the academic year as a way to combat the spread of the new coronavirus. A task force of about 45 educators was asked to come up with flexible guidelines.
(Read more: Local News |)

Kansas courts to stop operations except emergencies and ongoing trials due to COVID-19

The Kansas Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered all district and appellate courts to stop all but emergency operations and ongoing trials until further notice.
The order came days after after the Missouri Supreme Court and the Federal District Court for Kansas issued similar orders. Last week courthouses across the region postponed trials and other hearings in response to mounting concerns over the novel coronavirus.
“This is an extraordinary measure to match the gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Chief Justice Marla Luckert in a news release. “We have a duty to protect the people who come into our courthouses and courtrooms, as well as our employees and judges. This action allows courts to fulfill core functions while reducing in-person contact.”
(Read more: Local News |)

Education task force outlines learning plan for schools

A task force of educators delivered sweeping recommendations Thursday to Kansas school districts for adapting lesson plans with school buildings mostly shuttered until August.
Gov. Laura Kelly issued an executive order Tuesday to close schools for the remainder of the school year as part of a campaign to limit the spread of COVID-19, setting in motion a massive collaboration of veteran school teachers and administrators to craft a blueprint for continuous learning.
The task force produced a 76-page report with advice for dealing with technology challenges, delivery of meals and other issues. Schools are allowed to provide limited in-person instruction for groups of no more than 10 to accommodate all students.
(Read more: Education – Cherokee County News Advocate)

Coronavirus Hits State and City Budgets

As Americans hunker down at home, staying out of restaurants, arenas, convention centers and neighborhood shops, they are dragging down revenue on which state and local governments depend. The effects will be manifold around the U.S: While Oklahoma will feel the pain of revenue lost from low oil prices, the collapsing tourism sector will hammer states such as Florida and Nevada, analysts said.
Budget officials said they have little sense of how deep the hole might get.
Read more: WSJ.

Douglas County health department orders dine-in restaurants closed, limits public gatherings to 10 people

Douglas County’s health officer has ordered all restaurants, dining facilities, bars, taverns, night clubs and movie theaters closed to the public as a proactive social distancing measure in light of the spreading coronavirus.
In his order Wednesday afternoon, the health officer, Dr. Thomas Marcellino, also prohibited public gatherings of more than 10 people. Both measures will be in effect until at least April 1, according to a news release from Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health.
“It is incredibly important during this time for people to limit their gatherings to less than 10 people as we try to flatten the curve of the spread of this virus and for people to avoid non-essential community engagement and non-essential trips out of their homes,” Marcellino said in the release.
Read more: LJWorld.com.

State says Johnson County has community spread of coronavirus, will get less testing

Testing for the novel coronavirus will be reduced in Johnson County, which has reached the point where the virus is spreading by community transmission, state officials said Wednesday.
The county has the most presumed positive cases of COVID-19 in the state with 12. Five of those cases, Kansas Secretary of Health and Education Lee Norman said, involved people who did not contract the disease through travel or contact with known patients.
Because of this, and because of a limited supply of test kits, Norman said, there will be a “fundamental change” in the public health approach there.
(Read more: KC Star Local News)

Early closure presents unique challenges for rural KS school districts

As school districts across Kansas look for new ways to teach students now that in-person classes are canceled for the rest of the spring semester, some schools are moving completely online for continued learning.
This option doesn’t work well for many rural districts in the state who have students without reliable Internet access at home.
Students in the Southern Cloud school district in the small Cloud County community of Miltonvale, sit outside the school’s front door in the evenings, just so they can use the WiFi. That’s because they either don’t have WiFi at home or it’s not high-speed.
(Read more: KWCH News)

Shawnee County Health officer closes restaurants, bars, theaters

Shawnee County health officer Gianfranco Pezzino on Wednesday ordered the closure of restaurants, bars and theaters, and banned gatherings of 10 or more until further notice.
The order, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, prohibits any dine-in seating but allows for carryout, drive-through and delivery of food and beverages.
Pezzino’s order follows similar measures taken in other counties to limit the spread of COVID-19. So far, no one has tested positive in Shawnee County. Earlier this week, officials said dozens of county residents were under quarantine without symptoms, and others were waiting for test results.
(Read more: News – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Laid off school bus drivers looking for new jobs

With the Governor cancelling classes for the rest of the school year, school bus drivers are off the job.
Mike Tuttle is walking away from his school bus facing the unexpected.
He doesn’t blame the company, this is just another devastating impact from the Coronavirus pandemic. And Tuttle is not alone in this right now..he estimates 4700 to 5200 bus drivers in Kansas are now without a job.
(Read more: KAKE – News)

Virus keeps us home — or in the great outdoors in JoCo parks

So what can we do with so much of Johnson County shut down to stop the spread of the sometimes deadly coronavirus?
The answer: Hunker down at home with books, television, calisthenics, hobbies and household projects — or go outdoors for exercise and fresh air.
So much else has been shut down: schools, libraries, theaters, Johnson County Community College, all but critical child care services at the Jewish Community Center, the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center in Lenexa — and many municipal community centers, including those in Overland Park, Lenexa, Merriam, Mission and Olathe.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Short-Term Bond Market Roiled by Panic Selling

Short-term bonds typically act as a haven in turbulent times. But debt maturing in three years or less has been routed in recent days, punishing investors in markets ranging from corporate bonds to asset-backed debt.

The selloff is the latest example of stressed investors resorting to extreme behavior at a time when the economic outlook is unsettled at best and market liquidity, the capacity to buy and sell quickly without roiling prices, is uneven. Many traders say that high-grade, short-term corporate bonds are being sold…
(Read more: WSJ.com: Markets)

City of Topeka provides downtown businesses with curbside to-go stalls

In an effort to assist downtown businesses and make sure they are still able to provide meals to customers, the City of Topeka has created curbside to-go parking. This was one of the new initiatives City Manager Brent Trout spoke about Wednesday evening during the Shawnee County Health Department’s daily news conference. According to a news release sent out Wednesday afternoon by the city, there are currently eight downtown restaurants taking part…
(Read more: News – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Kroger hiring 10,000 workers, offering PTO for current workers with COVID-19

While several businesses are closing their doors, others are looking for extra help. Kroger, parent company to Dillon Companies, is hiring an additional 10,000 workers across their retail stores, manufacturing plants and distribution centers amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The grocery store also announced it will pay any current part-time and full-time employees for 14 days that are forced to quarantine at home or have been diagnosed with coronavirus.
(Read more: KAKE – News)

Winfield hospital employee donates 1.75 million

Brandon Sultz washes dishes at the William Newton Hospital in Winfield. The 24-year-old just inherited millions, from someone he barely knew. “I’m still in shock, even today, but I mean, wow. What a blessing.”
But Sultz isn’t keeping it all for himself. He’s donating about 1.75 million dollars to the hospital and he’s not going to quit his job. He says it’s a place where co-workers turned into family. ”I want to pay it forward. I just think that the spirit of giving needs to become contagious and my life long goal is to leave my mark on the world.” 
(Read more: KAKE – News)

Morris Co. Health Dept: 2 people test positive for COVID-19, others at risk in Council Grove area

According to the Morris County Health Department’s Facebook page, two individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in Morris County, Kan.

County health officials said they were notified of the positive tests but did not say who notified them. They also did not clarify whether the two cases were Kansas citizens

Because of the way the Kansas Department of Health and Environment tallies its cases, only Kansans who test positive are counted. The two cases, if confirmed with KDHE, could be the state’s 22nd and 23rd.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Wichita’s Towne East Square mall closes at least until March 29

Simon Property Group, one of the country’s largest operators of shopping malls, including Towne East Square in Wichita, is temporarily closing all of its U.S. properties due to coronavirus.
The Indianapolis-based company announced Wednesday that will close all of its retail properties, including its malls, premium outlets and mills in the U.S. This does include Towne East.
(Read more: KAKE – News)

Virus leads to growing, severe selling pressure on muni market

The municipal market was essentially in free fall on Wednesday under mounting, severe selling pressure as COVID-19 fears and fallout continue to deepen.
The world is a different place than it was a mere two weeks ago. The stock market sold off enough on Wednesday to again trigger automatic circuit breakers and shut down trading.
…
The economy is likely entering a recession as COVID-19 fears and precautions have tamped consumer spending, the fuel for economic growth. Economists are predicting gross domestic product will contract for two quarters — with two consecutive quarters of negative readings the definition of recession.
Specifically in the municipal market, all benchmarks were rising at a faster clip than most participants could digest, but perhaps at not high enough levels. Benchmarks showed again that the short end was being hit hardest — 30 basis points up on the one-year and at least 10 up on the long end, but the entire curve was being cut drastically. The primary market was again at a standstill.
Read more: Bond Buyer.

Towne East Square mall in Wichita closes amid coronavirus concerns

Towne East Square mall in Wichita will be closed to shoppers for more than a week amid coronavirus concerns.
Simon Property Group announced in a news release that all of the company’s retail properties, including Towne East Square, will close at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The malls will be closed until at least March 29.
“The health and safety of our shoppers, retailers and employees is of paramount importance and we are taking this step to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities,” said Simon SEO David Simon in a statement.
(Read more: Local News |)

City of Pittsburg urges residents: don’t flush these materials down the toilet

Local utility officials are urging residents not to flush materials other than toilet paper down the toilet.
Fears over the coronavirus (COVID-19) have caused many shoppers to begin panic-buying, making household essentials like toilet paper scarce. During this shortage, people may be tempted to flush other materials such as paper towels, tissues, napkins or baby wipes down the commode.
Unlike toilet paper, these materials cannot disintegrate properly, which can clog sewer pipes, cause sewer line breaks, and put a strain on our local wastewater treatment facility. Even “flushable” wipes can lead to sewer backups.
(Read more: City of Pittsburg)

Sprint cell tower in Shawnee getting 5-foot extension to make room for more antennas

An 80-foot Sprint cell tower along Shawnee Mission Parkway is getting an extension so it can host more antennas.
Located at 12902 Shawnee Mission Parkway, the Sprint monopole was built in 1996 and will have a 5 feet in height added to accommodate new antennas.
The Shawnee planning commission considered the plans in its Monday meeting, which was predominantly conducted via teleconference.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County)

National League of Cities Responds to COVID-19

Over the past two weeks, life in our cities, towns, and villages has changed drastically. Our nation’s top health experts have asked us to stop gathering in large groups in order to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Schools, restaurants, places of worship, small businesses and even some municipal offices have moved online or closed entirely. The most vulnerable people in our communities are worried about having a roof over their heads, a paycheck to cover the bills, and a meal to feed their kids. These are unprecedented times for our nation.
Local leaders are on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic, making difficult, life-saving decisions every hour of every day. That is why the National League of Cities is working tirelessly to support you. Below you will find a recap of our efforts to date.
(Read more: CitiesSpeak)

Stevens County Entities discuss COVID-19 issues

The Stevens County Board of County Commissioners met in special session Tuesday afternoon to discuss the COVID-19 issues. …
Paula Rowden [director of the Board of Health] … said the virus was identified in the United States January 21 and in Kansas March 7. We now have 4,000 cases in the United States. … Paula reminded that there are fatalities but there are more survivors than deaths. But she said don’t be mistaken, we will see it here in our community.
(Read more: Hugoton Hermes News)

Wichita Mayor Whipple self-quarantines after possible coronavirus exposure at meeting

Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple and three City Council members have placed themselves in self-quarantine for the coronavirus after learning that two people at a national conference for city leaders they attended last week have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Whipple said he feels fine, but decided to work from home “out of an abundance of caution” for now after the National League of Cities informed conference attendees that the two people there had the virus.
Council members Becky Tuttle, James Clendenin and Brandon Johnson also attended the conference.
(Read more: Local News |)

Coronavirus Threatens Strained Rural Health Care Systems around the U.S.

If you’re exhibiting coronavirus symptoms and meet the criteria, you should get tested.
But if you live in rural Presidio County, on the western end of the Texas-Mexico border, be prepared to travel. County residents who are severely ill are being told to go to Big Bend Regional Center in Alpine, Texas, which is nearly 90 miles away from the city of Presidio. The hospital will stabilize those patients before sending them nearly 200 miles to El Paso, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Patients in the region seeking test results should be prepared to wait. The 25-bed hospital in Alpine takes samples and sends them to the nearest testing site, also in El Paso. Those tests are reported in a day or two. Three local clinics also have a handful of coronavirus tests, but those are taken by a courier to El Paso on weekdays, and then flown across the state to a lab in Dallas. The turnaround time is three to four days, said Dr. Adrian Billings, with Preventative Care Health Services in Alpine.
(Read more: Route Fifty – All Content)

As COVID-19 spreads in KC metro, here’s how people are stepping up to help

As stores and restaurants shut down and workers head home to socially isolate themselves and their families, people in Missouri and Kansas continue to look outward. They are finding ways to help others — even as needs among the elderly, homeless and most vulnerable grow more severe.
Social media sites are filled with offers to run errands and even pay for groceries for neighbors in need.
Kenzie Borland, a Wichita State University student who lives with her grandparents, said she understands why the elderly and immunocompromised, who are more at risk for COVID-19, can’t leave home right now. After posting on a neighborhood Facebook group, several people said they intended to take her up on the offer.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

‘This is absurd’: Parents, students angry over Kansas closing schools for coronavirus

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s order Tuesday to keep students out of K-12 schools for the remainder of the school year incited an explosion of anger, shock, tears and questions that school officials have not answered yet.
The move, unprecedented for the state, was needed because it became clear that the spread of the new coronavirus “cannot be controlled if school districts return to normal operation,” Kelly said.
Some school districts posted notices as soon as Kelly spoke, promising details to come. But confusion reigned, judging by the social media storm that followed.
(Read more: KC Star Local News)

House, Senate speed toward new $9.9 billion transportation plan

The House and Senate considered last-minute negotiations on a new 10-year transportation plan guaranteeing infrastructure money to every county in Kansas and a mandate to complete unfulfilled promises of the T-Works program launched a decade ago.
House and Senate members Tuesday were pressing to complete legislative work before adjourning early because of the spread of COVID-19 in Kansas.
The Senate approved the $9.9 billion FORWARD plan for construction, improvement, reconstruction and maintenance of the state’s transportation system based on recommendations by Gov. Laura Kelly. Also on Monday, the House came up with a modified $9.9 billion package christened in honor of Dwight Eisenhower and designed to direct more resources to rural areas.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Munis sell off in ‘dislocated’ market amid virus fallout

The municipal market was once again pummeled as financial and government systems around the world grapple with the growing COVID-19 pandemic.
The short end of the municipal curve was again down by as much as 25 basis points by some reads in the 1- to 5-year on Tuesday with sources citing confusion, dislocated pricing, and benchmarking as trades showed selling pressure on the short end of the curve as investors fought for cash.
Meanwhile, New York City may follow San Francisco and enact a “shelter in place” order within 48 hours, the Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday afternoon, which will likely further disrupt the country’s financial capital.
The Federal Reserve Board moved to bolster confidence and liquidity in U.S. financial markets Tuesday as it established a commercial paper funding facility to support up to $1 trillion for the flow of credit to both businesses and households.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)

How is coronavirus affecting the legislature?

Everything got different last week under the Dome.
After legislators spent weeks reading and listening to news about the coronavirus, or COVID-19 as it’s called by heath experts, they quietly and with whispers learned that a member of the Legislature who had been sneezing was tested for the sometimes-fatal disease. The lawmaker tested negative over the weekend–doesn’t have it.
The news doesn’t get much better than that in the culture that lives under the Dome and chats elbow-to-elbow at the third-floor Rail, and crowds into elevators and, well, generally lives in a building only slightly less crowded than a prison yard.
(Read more: DerbyInformer.com – news,news/)

A new wow factor is about to happen in Derby

Over the years I have seen a number of new facilities, businesses and public meeting places that from my view have been significant to the enhancement of Derby.
The opening of Rock Regional Hospital in Derby a little less than a year ago was definitely one of those significant enhancements to Derby. It’s not just from the mere fact of what having a hospital in your community does for improving health care, but as much from the facility itself, and what is inside of it.
I remember when I walked through the doors for the first time. All I could feel and say was “wow.” It didn’t feel like I was in Derby anymore.
(Read more: DerbyInformer.com – news,news/)

Kansas suspends operations at four state-owned casinos

Operations at the four state-owned casinos in Kansas have been suspended until at least March 30. The decision, announced Tuesday by the Kansas Lottery, follows Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order Monday immediately banning gatherings of 50 or more people amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Read more: Pittsburg Morning Sun)

‘I think we are all in shock’: Educators react to schools being closed in Kansas

Many school districts in Kansas only learned the news of all schools across the state closing just hours before the announcement.
“It is shocking — just trying to think about what you are missing out on and what your kids are going to missing out on in the classroom,” said Erin Glamman, who teaches at Rex Elementary School.
“I think we are all in shock,” said Clay Murphy, USD 356 Garnett Schools Superintendent.
Despite the closing of school doors, educators, both private and public, are now enrolled in a crash course working to figure out how to educate their students.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Gov. Laura Kelly orders all K-12 schools closed to in-person education for remainder of school year

Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday announced the mandatory closure of all K-12 school buildings to in-person instruction through the rest of the 2019-20 school year, a move she said was necessary to help stem the spread of the novel coronavirus here and “flatten the curve” in an effort to avoid overwhelming the health care system.
“The reality of this pandemic is that it cannot be controlled statewide if school buildings return to normal operations, or if they respond inconsistently in local communities,” Kelly said. “Unprecedented circumstances threaten the safety of our students and the professionals who work with them every day, and we must respond accordingly.”
Kelly said that state has assembled a task force that will release recommendations on a continuous learning plan for schools in Kansas tomorrow afternoon.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Johnson County doctors have had limited access to COVID-19 tests so far. State officials say that should change soon

With limited access to test kits in Kansas and Missouri, physicians in Johnson County say they’ve been operating under strict guidelines about who can get screened for coronavirus infection. But state health officials suggest the expansion of testing could be in the offing in the coming days.
Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman said at a press conference Monday afternoon that Kansas is now conducting 150 to 200 COVID-19 tests per day, describing the number of kits available in the state as “enough for now.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

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