Municipal News & Jobs

Six months after Tyson Foods and Holiday Resort announced their closures in Emporia on back-to-back days, Mayor Erren Harter says the city fared a lot better than it could have when jobs and potential ex-migration is concerned. Numbers aren’t being released, but Harter says all the Holiday Resort staff have found jobs and most are staying in or close to Emporia. Harter also says nearly all the 200-plus Tyson employees offered jobs at the Holcomb plant decided against that option and are staying put. He credits the work of the city’s Rapid Response Team in several ways, including two jobs fairs but extending beyond that.
Source: d2430

Recent heavy rains in the area have filled Winfield City Lake to more than a foot above capacity, according to numbers provided by the city of Winfield. As of Monday morning, the level of the lake was 15.5 inches above full pool. As recently as May 27, the water level was 3 feet below full. In March, the lake had reached its low this year of 42 inches below full. It was last at full pool in July 2024.
Source: Local – Cowley Post

The border war is heating up as Missouri comes to the table with its own plan to keep the Chiefs and Royals on their side of the state line. Now, all eyes are on both pro-sports teams as they weigh their options. Some Kansas lawmakers are vying for the teams to cross over, calling out Missouri’s months of deliberation over a final proposal. However, some advocacy groups are skeptical of whether a move to Kansas will pay off in the end.
Source: KSNT 27 News

A road work project that would have created a nearly 70-mile detour in central Kansas is officially delayed. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) announced on social media that a road work project set for K-177 Highway is delayed until next year. The project was originally set to start on June 16 and lead to the closure of 21 miles of K-177 between Strong City and Council Grove, creating a large detour route.
Source: KSNT 27 News

The City of Lawrence has approved a change in city code to allow private ambulance companies to perform non-emergency medical transports to and from the hospital to alleviate some of the burden on Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical crews.
Source: 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.

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.

Outside of small towns these feedlots look like miles of fences with cattle standing end to end. But some people have started to be wary of these expansive developments.
Source: High Plains Public Radio

Western Johnson County is experiencing a significant housing boom. Developers are betting on a surge in interest in the area thanks to the $4 billion Panasonic electric-vehicle battery plant.
Source: KC Star

The tourism district Loretto Companies has planned in Olathe, featuring an ultra-accessible amusement park and a sports complex focused on youth sports, is still happening, the developer says, but the timeline is uncertain.
Source: Johnson County Post

The city of Wichita opened its first accessible playground on Wednesday, marking the first of a series of planned improvements to L.W. Clapp Memorial Park. At a ribbon-cutting late Wednesday morning, city leaders celebrated the opening of the playground and the installation of a piece of public art.
Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

Wichita school district leaders say some student records at Southeast High School were changed — possibly to meet graduation requirements — and the district is investigating allegations of grade fixing at the school. Southeast High’s principal, Claudia Cooper, was replaced unexpectedly last week. In an email to employees, Lauren Hatfield, assistant superintendent of secondary schools, said Connie Redic would serve as Southeast’s principal for the coming school year.
Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

Major energy provider Evergy has filed a rate increase that could lead to higher bills for customers in the Wichita area, and stakeholders will soon have the chance to comment on the request. Evergy is requesting a $196.4 million rate increase for Evergy Kansas Central, which includes customers in Wichita, Manhattan and Topeka. The new rates would begin in September and come out to a 8.62% rate hike for residential customers, about $13 more per month.
Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

A town about an hour and a half drive from Wichita has a main street you might not want to miss, according to USA Today readers. Emporia, Kansas, with a population of just exceeding 24,000 residents, was recognized by the publication as having the second best main street in the U.S., ranking just behind Pennsylvania city. “Whether you’re looking for unique shopping, mouthwatering dining, or a lively night out, Commercial Street in downtown Emporia is the place to be,” the April 16 10Best Readers’ Choice piece reads.
Source: Homepage

Reviving a department after a 12-year layoff can be a daunting task for any city operation, but once in a while, things just fall into place. Larned City Manager Brad Eilts noted that for some time, he and the city council had realized not having a department for regular repair and maintenance of city vehicles and equipment was a drawback.
Source: Homepage

With seven measles cases now on record in Pawnee County, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday added the current total to its outbreak status. Its latest dashboard posting noted that last week, seven more cases were added to the state’s list, bringing the total to 71 since the beginning of the year. Measles was first reported in a Pawnee County resident by the Pawnee County Health Department to KDHE the last week of May.
Source: Homepage

The so-called “dark store” controversy over big-box property values may have seemed settled with a Kansas Supreme Court ruling in Johnson County’s favor three years ago. But in Johnson County, haggling over big box property valuations has returned in a big way over the site of one of Olathe’s most highly visible stores — the Bass Pro shop at 12051 South Renner Blvd. Phoenix-based Arciterra BP LLP, the owner of three parcels of land where the outdoor retailer is located just off Interstate 35, is delinquent on property taxes for every tax year since 2018, according to county records.
Source: Johnson County Post

Supporters of Prairie Village’s new city hall project came out in force at Monday’s city council meeting, this time urging the city to pay for “green” sustainable features that critics say is driving the cost up. Those same critics also mobilized at the meeting to outright oppose the entire $30 million project altogether, arguing that it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars and that Prairie Village voters should get a say in whether the plan should move forward.
Source: Johnson County Post

Kansas health officials reported seven new measles cases in the past week, bringing the total to 71 statewide. Most of the cases, 69, are linked to an ongoing outbreak in southwest Kansas. Three people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have occurred. The outbreak now includes Pawnee County, making it the ninth affected county.
Source: KCLY Radio

Abilene is continuing to monitor low aquifer levels as water supplies remain stagnant despite recent rainfall. Although eastern Kansas isn’t facing the same aquifer depletion seen in the west, Abilene’s underground sources—the Sand Springs Aquifer and Smoky Hill River Alluvium—are not at healthy levels.
Source: KCLY Radio