Municipal News & Jobs

The population report uses U.S. Census Bureau data to track populations. In total, 34 cities gained more than 100 people in the past year, compared to 18 in 2023.
Read more: CJonline

Some of them are comparable to what Lawrence is proposing. Others are hundreds of dollars higher. Some have tiers, or extra services, or even include swimming pool access.
Read more: LJWorld

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.

Marshall County voters will decide during the November 4th general election whether the sale of liquor by the drink should be allowed in public places without a food sales requirement. Marshall County voters subsequently approved the sale of liquor by the drink with a 30% food sales requirement.
Read more: KMZA

The bond will fund: A middle school addition, including six new classrooms; and an elementary school addition, featuring two classrooms, a music room, and a covered connection.
Read more: KNZA

On Tuesday, August 12, an unmanned aircraft departed Kelly Hills UAS Airfield in Seneca carrying an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and landed 30 minutes later at Charles E. Grutzmacher Municipal Airport in Onaga. According to a release, the flight demonstrated how advanced drone technology can help bridge healthcare gaps for rural communities.
Read more: KMZA

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.

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday voted 4-1 to increase the special tax that applies to hotel stays in hopes of better preparing for and capitalizing on an influx of World Cup visitors. The World Cup is expected to bring thousands of international fans and millions of dollars to the Kansas City area next summer. Six matches including a quarterfinal match will be played between June 16 and July 11, 2026 at Arrowhead Stadium. For each game, officials estimate the impact to the area will be similar to what a Super Bowl would be, and the effects will ripple far beyond Kansas City. The transient guest tax is a special sales tax that applies to stays in hotels and short-term rentals. Increasing the rate to 8% from 6% could bring in approximately $940,000 in increased revenue in 2026, according to the city.
Read more: The Lawrence Times

A data center campus soon could take root in De Soto across the street from Panasonic’s $4 billion EV-battery plant. Mount Sunflower Properties LLC, managed by Beale Infrastructure, is under contract with PBР Logistics LLC, a Flint Development Group entity, to buy land in Flint Commerce Center at 103rd Street and Edgerton Road to develop a data center campus.
Read more: Kansas City Business Journal – Local Kansas City News

Nearly two months since passing the ordinance, councilman Robert “Bob” Lauck expressed his concern Monday night regarding the city’s procedure for overgrown lawns. Around mid-June, the city amended its ordinance dealing with tall grass when it becomes a public nuisance, growing over six inches. Initially, the ordinance noted the steps taken if the city has to step in to mow an overgrown lawn. However, the ordinance did not list a penalty amount.
Read more: – Latest Stories

Federal Reserve officials worried at their July meeting about the state of the labor market and inflation, though most agreed that it was too soon to lower interest rates, minutes released Wednesday showed. The meeting summary depicted divergence of opinion among the central bankers, whose vote to hold their key rate steady came despite objections from two Fed governors who argued in favor of cutting. Policymakers noted rising threats to the economy that would warrant monitoring, though they largely agreed that their current stance was the appropriate way to go.
Read more: Finance

Following a failed bond issue this past spring, ahead of the new school year the USD 263 Board of Education took action to bring the item back before voters in the November general election — this time with a few tweaks. As part of the special election in April 2025, voters in the Mulvane school district soundly (60%) voted against a $9 million bond issue for a new early childhood education center. A $50 million bond issue for safety and security enhancements at all district buildings was more narrowly defeated, with 52% of voters against it.
Read more: www.derbyinformer.com – RSS Results in news/area_news of type article

They fly quietly at night, scouring the countryside for insects on which to feed, surrounded by an aura of mystique and possibly fear. They cannot see very well, if at all, and are marvels of the natural world for using echolocation to navigate. They are the bats of Kansas.
Read more: Harvey County Now

Rural neighbors of a massive warehouse project near 199th Street and Gardner Road have lost a court case that sought to declare the city of Edgerton’s 2020 annexation of more than 600 acres near their homes illegal under Kansas’ “narrow corridor” law. Johnson County District Court Judge David Hauber issued a ruling Wednesday in favor of the city of Edgerton, delivering a disappointment to neighbors who have been fighting the NorthPoint warehouse development for five and a half years.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Republic County Commissioners voted unanimously to place a ballot measure before voters on November 4th, asking approval of up to $17.86 million in revenue bonds for a new Public Safety Building. The measure will give residents a straightforward choice: “yes” or “no.” While county leaders have yet to disclose the exact location or full funding plan for the proposed jail facility, officials had initially suggested more details might be available this week. The ballot question references a charter resolution authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds to finance the construction and equipping of a county public safety and law enforcement facility.
Read more: KCLY Radio

The USD 379 school board is nearing a request for public feedback on an upcoming tax-neutral bond issue. The current six-mill bond levy is scheduled to expire in September of 2026. USD 379 will hold a bond election in March of 2026 to ask voters to renew the tax-neutral six mill bond levy, and they are considering two options: a deferred maintenance-only bond or a consolidation bond. Due to the significant decline in enrollment and its projected continuation, the district is investigating ways to reduce its footprint through the consolidation of buildings in Clay Center. 
Read more: KCLY Radio

Voters in Prairie Village, Kansas, will be faced with an unusual question on their ballots in about three months: Shall the city abandon the mayor-council form of government? We’ll hear about how a fight over zoning and housing wound up in a legal battle over the city government’s structure itself. Even if voters agree to “abandon” the current structure this November, though, there’s no plan for replacing it with a different model.
Read more: News

Erica Schlender reveres this ground, homesteaded by her great-great-grandfather, where he put down roots that continue to anchor her.  She thinks of the effort that each generation of her family poured into this soil near Moundridge, raising crops and children and tending it not just for the moment but for the future. And she thinks about the house she wants to build here and the children she wants to raise here, while continuing the farm for generations. Schlender is reflective of a trend that emerged in the most recent Census of Agriculture in Kansas: a growing number of young farmers and women in agriculture. There were more than 34,000 female producers in Kansas in 2022, up nearly 2,000 over 2017.
Read more: KLC Journal

Erie Market in Erie, Kansas will close by August’s end when River Grocery LLC’s lease expires, leaving residents without local grocery access.
Read more: www.koamnewsnow.com – RSS Results in news/local-news of type article

The Parsons Police Department and the Labette Community College Foundation have partnered to establish the Parsons Police Legacy in Leadership Scholarship, an endowment that will help local students pursue careers in law enforcement, criminal justice, or civic leadership.
Read more: www.koamnewsnow.com – RSS Results in news/local-news of type article

Firefighters traded their gear for purrs and whiskers Monday as they teamed up with Pawsprints of the Heartland to help promote cat adoptions. Instead of responding to a fire call, members of the fire department posed with adult cats in need of homes.
Read more: www.koamnewsnow.com – RSS Results in news/local-news of type article

Finney County has hired Derek Ramos as its next county administrator after a nationwide search. Ramos is currently the assistant city manager in Garden City and has more than 17 years of experience in government, education, construction management, and financial advising. He also served nearly a decade as dean of facilities management at Garden City Community College.
Read more: KSN-TV

Wichita Park & Recreation is finding creative ways to conserve water during ongoing drought conditions. This week, the department announced that its Aquatics, Park Maintenance, and Golf divisions are teaming up to reuse water from Aley and McAfee Pools. Instead of sending the water down the drain, the Park Maintenance team is pumping it out and transporting it to ponds at MacDonald Golf Course.
Read more: KSN-TV

Voters will decide this fall whether to approve nearly $28 million in school improvements that would bring all Oakley students under one roof. The $27,995,000 proposal would expand the high school into a single PreK–12 campus and demolish the district’s elementary and middle schools. Julie Crum, USD 274 Superintendent, said the work is badly needed.
Read more: KSN-TV

An opening date has been set for the new gambling and entertainment center that will occupy the former Wichita Greyhound Park. The property, initially known as the Golden Circle historic horse racing facility, is now being called Gilley’s and is scheduled to open on Dec. 15. Developed by Wichita businessman Phil Ruffin, the facility will feature approximately 1,000 historic horse racing machines.
Read more: KSN-TV

Construction begins on a key Pittsburg waste treatment facility set to bring the old building up to code. Experts say these kinds of facilities take sewage from homes and businesses and remove the harmful chemicals found in them like nitrogen and phosphorus and then pump the water back out into the environment, strengthening local ecosystems and making the water consumable for the citizens of the community.
Read more: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

Ashland and Bucklin nearly missed the kickoff for the 2025 football season, if not for a few last-minute changes. The schools realized, after declaring themselves as eight-man teams to the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) two years ago, that they didn’t have the athletes to fill their rosters. The Friday night lights for these towns will look different this year, since the solution to their problem incurred some penalties.
Read more: KSN-TV

A new study is shedding light on the challenges that rural counties face when managing clean energy projects like wind farms. The Kansas Health Institute is a non-profit organization that provides research for policy makers here in Kansas. They’ve concluded that when it comes to managing wind energy projects, rural county governments in Kansas could benefit from more information and resources from the state.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

As you have already heard, unemployment continues to rise for both Emporia and Lyon County as a whole and local leaders and experts have the answers as to what is causing the increase; however, when it comes to what will halt it, that’s a bit trickier to say. As KVOE News reported recently, Emporia’s unemployment rate remains the highest in the state for the second consecutive month, going from 5.8 to 6.5 percent between July and June. Meanwhile, the county’s unemployment rate is currently tied for third third-highest in the state at an even 6 percent — nearing levels last seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more: d2430

With a population of only 52, the town of Elsmore may be small, but its residents are determined to keep their community thriving. Thrive Allen County hosted a Community Conversation Tuesday evening, where locals reflected on what makes their town special and where improvements could be made. The discussion centered on three questions: What gives you pride in your community? What opportunities are missing? And where are the barriers or needs for growth?
Read more: The Iola Register

Blue Rapids is preparing the footings for a new home, and city officials are excited. On Wednesday, Aug. 13, Blue Rapids City Council and city staff gathered to announce the groundbreaking for a new three-bedroom home at 904 Main St. Next spring, they aim to have it completed. If a buyer steps up sooner, they’ll hand the construction project over for the homeowner to finish.
Read more: www.marysvilleonline.net – RSS Results in news,news/* of type article

The large solar farm planned for north of Clifton has been put on hold. Local rumors of the situation were confirmed by a spokesperson for NextEra Energy Resources on Tuesday. Laura Gies, who works in communications for NextEra, said “Further development of the Eagle Road energy project in Washington County has been paused.”
Read more: Backroads News | Washington County News

Between 80 and 90 trains run through Olathe daily, halting traffic for four minutes on average, sometimes more — an issue the city is hoping to resolve. Olathe’s at-grade crossings on the city’s west side have been under watch for some time, and the city has been planning for nearly two years to do a limited, high-level study on them. Now that the city has secured federal funds for the study, Olathe can do a more in-depth analysis of the sites.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Murals depict various themes, from Kansas’ night sky and state symbols to local icons and historical figures like Chester I. Lewis. A comprehensive list of murals can be found on the Visit Hutch website, though some unlisted murals are hidden throughout the city.
Read more: Hutch News

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 police chief Chris Vallejo said a big part of his new program PACT — Police and Community Together — is working on data-driven policing that accompanies community policing in crime hot spots. 911 calls is sorted into various categories to determine severity of the situation. The severity of a call will determine which calls get addressed first.
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.

McPherson County Commissioners have adopted a six-month moratorium on new data centers in the unincorporated areas of McPherson County. As initially presented by Planning and Zoning Administrator Jon Kinsey, the moratorium would have been through January 1, 2028, but following an extended discussion that was reduced to about six months. Kinsey said the purpose of the moratorium would be to allow the county’s Planning Commission to study how data centers would fit into the county’s comprehensive plan and what zoning regulations changes might be required.
Read more: Ad Astra Radio | Your Hometown Radio Stations & Local News Source

Over 18 years ago, Jason Thrasher made a change from the manufacturing world into the world of local government. Thrasher became the Hesston City Clerk in 2007 after leaving AGCO. Once again, Thrasher has made a change, only this time, his move was from Clerk to City Administrator, with his official start date being Aug. 12. “I had no municipal experience when I started, and local government operates differently than the private sector,” Thrasher said. “Fortunately, I worked with a knowledgeable administrator and staff who helped me learn the ropes.”
Read more: Harvey County Now

Five-year-old Layne’s pretty young to work as a crossing guard. But, then again, Layne is a large half Maine Coon cat. The City of Newton recently honored Layne in social media posts as a Crosswalk Purr-tector for his work walking kids to school on the sidewalk and crosswalk on both sides of the street. Layne roams the neighborhood around the 600 block of East Fifth and East Fourth and down to Slate Creek Elementary and Chisholm Middle schools. He has a human family consisting of Pepper Stephey, her husband Jason Leal, and children Mackenzie, Maddi, and MaciRae.
Read more: Harvey County Now

Larry Roland grew up in Kansas City, Kansas with a strong sense of wanting to help the people in his community. As he got older that sense of service only got stronger. Born in the heart of the city in 1953, he was raised with strong values, a commitment to community and a quiet leadership that would later shape nearly half a century in law enforcement. Roland, a retired law enforcement official who served with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol and as Undersheriff in the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department, died July 27 from Parkinson’s disease, he was 71.
Read more: Homepage

Every-other-day watering restrictions may soon be a reality for Wichita Water customers. The Wichita City Council will consider permanent watering restrictions at its meeting Tuesday. “Overall, we’re focused on outdoor irrigation. You’d be able to water three days a week,” Public Works Director Gary Janzen said last month. “Our estimated conservation is 10-15% below normal, which could amount to as much as a billion gallons a year. That’s a real number, and that’s a big deal going forward with long term conservation.”
Read more: Homepage

The 186 residents of Pawnee Rock want clean water to flow from kitchen faucets, but uranium contamination forced one city well to be taken offline and meant the western Kansas community was down to a single well. “No redundancy,” said Katie Miller, director of water resources with Kansas Municipal Utilities, an association working on behalf of more than 200 communities. “No backup.” She told members of the Kansas Water Program Task Force on August 11 the solution in Pawnee Rock was to earmark $4.1 million for a new source of water that hopefully would be adequate in supply and quality. Uranium may be a surprising impediment to operation of a healthy water system, but consequences of Kansas’ over-reliance on irrigation for crops, and pollution of surface and groundwater with nitrates prominent in agricultural runoff, made it difficult to guarantee a lasting supply for the 3 million residents of Kansas.
Read more: www.derbyinformer.com – RSS Results in news/area_news of type article

The Fort Scott City Commission is expected to vote Tuesday on one of several proposals for a sales tax ballot question to be presented to voters in November. During a town hall meeting Thursday evening at the Empress Event Center, commissioners and other city officials discussed the proposals and fielded questions from residents.
Read more: Fort Scott Tribune Headlines