Kansas Municipal News
No more Shawnee Mission North Indians: District to drop all Native American mascots
Shawnee Mission North High School and three district elementary schools must retire their “Indians” and “Braves” mascots under a new policy after thousands petitioned for the change. The Shawnee Mission school board voted unanimously Monday to approve removing the mascots. The new policy states that school mascots must be culturally and racially appropriate, and that they may not be derogatory or offensive toward a person or class of people protected under the district’s nondiscrimination policy. North, which has had “Indians” as its mascot for almost a century, as well as Belinder, Shawanoe and Rushton elementary schools, will begin the process of finding new mascots.
Source: KC Star Local News
Labette County to buy air trailer for firefighters
Labette County commissioners on Monday agreed to buy a new air trailer for volunteer fire departments in the county to share. The trailer to be purchased from 1st Due Emergency Response Solutions in Bartlett will cost $93,320. The trailer will contain equipment to refill air tanks used by firefighters when they enter smoke-filled homes or respond to other emergencies that require them to use a self-contained breathing apparatus. The current truck uses older technology and does not fully refill the air tanks, commissioners heard. Oswego Fire Chief Jon Eck, Bartlett Fire Chief Perry Sorrell and Chetopa Fire Chief Bryan Midgett attended Monday’s meeting to discuss the need for the air trailer.
Source: Parsons Sun
Local pharmacies preparing to help give out COVID-19 vaccinations
Jenae Welch runs the Dandurand Drugstore at Central and Rock. Since December, she’s been working to get ready to help provide COVID-19 vaccines in Wichita, but there was a concern. “One of my biggest questions about this rollout was how Pfizer or Moderna, both saying that we can produce this many vaccines, how are we going to get those into people’s arms,” said Welch. Before, the only workers at pharmacies allowed to give the shots were the pharmacists themselves. Now, a new federal rule allows technicians to be trained to provide the shot. “That’s going to help us be able to administer more on a daily basis,” said Welch.
Source: KAKE – News
CDC Makes The Case For Schools Reopening
A review of data from K-12 schools that reopened for in-person instruction in the fall has found little evidence that schools contributed meaningfully to the spread of COVID-19, according to a new article published Tuesday in JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association. The review from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, authored by three of its scientists, represents the clearest view yet of the facts behind what has become a heated debate over when and how schools should reopen. Last spring and into fall, schools across the country closed — and many remain closed — out of fear that allowing students and staff to return to school buildings would drive communitywide spread of the virus, much as nursing homes and crowded bars have done.
Source: KMUW
Lawrence launches traffic education campaign to go along with reduced speed limit and upcoming traffic enforcement
A new traffic campaign wants to encourage Lawrence drivers to think about more than just getting to their destination. Lawrence residents have long voiced concerns about speeding in neighborhoods and some motorists’ disregard for pedestrians and cyclists, and a new City of Lawrence campaign hopes to help address the problem. On Monday, the city launched the Safer Neighborhood Speeds education campaign, which has a slogan of “It starts with us” and encourages drivers to slow down, look out for others and stop for people wanting to cross the street. Engineering Program Manager Amanda Sahin said in an email to the Journal-World that more than 1,000 Lawrence residents helped determine the look and messaging of the campaign, which focuses on community-minded driving.
Source: LJWorld.com.
This city could become the first in Johnson County to decriminalize marijuana
Following the lead of Kansas City (MO), Prairie Village is looking into decriminalizing marijuana. It would be the first Johnson County city to reduce penalties for marijuana possession. City Council members Ian Graves and Inga Selders proposed the idea earlier this month, and the City Council unanimously agreed to have staff look into the legality of it. Prairie Village officials could consider stripping the crime from the city code, as Kansas City did last summer. Another option could be issuing citations for violations in lieu of municipal court. Graves pushed for the change because Prairie Village borders Missouri, where medical marijuana is legal, unlike in Kansas. He added that there already is a dispensary in the Waldo neighborhood on Wornall Road, not far from Prairie Village.
Source: KC Star Local News
Municipal Bond Trends for January 25, 2021
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.
A Kansas town recorded 9 inches of snow as Wichita broke rain record with freeze coming
A winter storm on Monday largely spared Wichita of snow, but another round of wintry weather could hit the city on Tuesday. Meteorologists predict the second round will hit harder in north-central Kansas, just like the stronger storm on Monday. Forecasters with National Weather Service had always predicted the worst of Monday’s “powerful winter storm” would mostly miss Wichita. The highest snowfall amounts were predicted farther north, with some counties near the Nebraska border bracing for up to a foot of snow.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Wichita hospitals remain ‘critical’ with full ICUs as Kansas COVID case counts improve
Wichita hospitals continue to have no available beds in their intensive care units, despite improving COVID-19 numbers locally and statewide. The Sedgwick County Health Department on Monday reported all approximately 208 ICU beds remain full at Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center hospitals. It marks the 13th straight week of full ICUs. Both hospitals have been managing through contingency operations, the health department has said. The hospital status remains “critical,” though the term has not been defined by county officials.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Bracing for yesterday’s storm in Russell
As parts of Kansas wait for the snow dump to come, drivers are doing their best to get out of the storm’s way before it has a chance to close any Kansas roads. “That’s a lot of snow,” Nathan Rowe said. The threat of as much as 14 inches of snow in Russell has long haul truck drivers like Rowe, and other travelers, scooting out of town faster than they drove in, trying to get out of the storm’s cross hairs before the snow starts coming down. Others, like Rick Eiser, aren’t as concerned, saying storms like the one bearing down on Kansas are just part of winter driving. Eiser says he just came to Kansas from Buffalo, NY, where they had 10 inches of snow in a single storm.
Source: KAKE – News
Some students return to classroom as USD 259 begins blended model
“There is without doubt, energy in the air. Energy from the teachers, energy from the students and excitement in the air.” That was the sentiment felt by Northwest High School Principal Eric Hofer-Holdeman as students return to the halls of his school for the first time in months. Monday was the first day of the district’s new blended on site learning model for middle and high school students. Of the nearly 60% of students who opted into coming back inside, half will be at school today and tomorrow and remote the rest of the week. The other half is flipped, meaning they are in school on Thursday and Friday.
Source: KAKE – News
Fort Scott names Jeremy Frazier as new City Manager
A Southeast Kansas community announces a new city manager. Jeremy Frazier has been named City Manager for the city of Fort Scott. City commissioners say Frazier brings over a decade of public sector experience, most recently as Assistant City Manager of El Reno, Oklahoma. Frazier has a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Oklahoma, and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Central Oklahoma. He will begin his new post February 1st.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Officials discuss general fund, budget at 2021 City of Manhattan retreat
Jason Hilgers, City of Manhattan deputy city manager, suggested to the Manhattan City Commission at a retreat last Friday that they consider a five-year plan for the general fund. The general fund, which is around $31 million this year, has stayed about the same the past five years. Hilgers says increasing it by a few percent each year could help the city keep up with operating expenses. “Those two, three, four percent increases allow us to keep doing our jobs – what’s expected of us,” Hilgers said. “When we go zeros or we’re expected to just use what we had last year, it’s a negative. We have to cut to do that. Costs go up.”
Source: 1350 KMAN
Gov. Kelly signs bill extending disaster declaration
Governor Laura Kelly today signed Senate Bill 14 into law, extending the State of Disaster Emergency Declaration to March 31, 2021, and allowing for the continuation of certain resources, support, and regulations critical to Kansas’ COVID-19 response efforts. “Extending the current disaster declaration is essential for our state’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, allowing us to keep Kansans safe and healthy, keep our economy open, and get our kids back in school as quickly as possible,” Governor Laura Kelly said. Among other resources and support, the disaster declaration allows Kansas to provide community-based COVID-19 testing, provide support to food banks and pantries, and provide hospitals and first responders with Personal Protective Equipment.
Source: Atchison Globe Now
Wichita City Council to discuss ethics policy
Wichita city council members will talk about a proposed ethics policy during a workshop meeting Tuesday. Mayor Brandon Whipple said a policy has been one of his top goals since taking office. Mayor Whipple said the policy would set up an independent board to investigate allegations of unethical behavior against an elected official, and it would set up due process to allow an official to provide a defense. He said a chairman would be appointed by the mayor and vetted by the city council, and this person would be someone from the fields of law or academics. A six-person board would be made up of members from city advisory boards. Whipple said there would be penalties if someone is found guilty, and they would range from censure to a fine up to $1,000. There would also be limits on gifts that elected officials could accept.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Municipal Bond Trends for January 22, 2021
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.
Barton County: 300 vaccines administered in 2 hours
In Barton County, it took health care staff only two hours to administer their 300 doses of the vaccine. Previously, the county has held two drive-thru vaccine clinics, but this time, it was first come, first serve. It was also the first time with no appointments needed. The staff had to turn residents away two hours before the drive-thru opened. Don Harrison was the first person to line up, at 7 am. He said he waited 8 and a half hours to get the vaccine. “It is so I can get back to work,” said Don Harrison. “I feel better now that I got it.”
Source: KSN-TV
Thousands preregistered, doses on the way as Ellis County sets up mass vaccination clinic
As phase two vaccinations roll out, Ellis County announced it will be taking steps toward vaccinating the masses both efficiently and effectively. The first phase of vaccines brought struggles of staffing, space, flow, and parking to many in the Ellis County medical community. “It was having a negative impact on staffing our clinic and as well as trying to administer doses, and so we knew that wasn’t sustainable,” said Bryan Brady, CEO of First Care Clinic. To overcome those obstacles in phase two, the local medical community — Ellis County Health Department, First Care Clinic, HaysMed, part of the University of Kansas Health Systems — along with Big Creek Crossing Mall have partnered to open a large-scale vaccination site where the entire county can get vaccinated as doses become available.
Source: KSN-TV
Survey reveals rural economic gains
The rural economy in parts of 10 Plains and Western states continues to grow, but rural bank CEOs say their biggest fears for the 2021 economy are excessive inflation and higher long-term interest rates, according to a new survey of bankers. The overall index of the Rural Mainstreet Survey improved to 52.0 in January from December’s 51.6 — the highest reading since before the onset last year of the coronavirus pandemic. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy, while a score below 50 suggests a shrinking economy.
Source: The Iola Register
KS teachers: hybrid classes are no better than all-virtual
Hybrid learning has become the go-to compromise for Kansas’ largest school districts to get students back in classrooms. Districts in Lawrence, Topeka, Olathe and elsewhere rotate students between in-person and online lessons. Kids get physical time in front of a teacher without risking crowded classrooms during the pandemic. But some Kansas teachers say the hybrid model isn’t much better than keeping students online full-time. The constant shift from the classroom to the screen disrupts learning. Teachers say they have twice the workload while splitting their focus between online and in-person students, giving neither the attention they deserve.
Source: The Iola Register