Kansas Municipal News
JoCo will study its sewage in hopes of getting ahead of next COVID-19 surge
Health experts in Johnson County will soon be studying bowls of swirling water to help them predict a possible next coronavirus surge. But it won’t be tea leaves they’re reading. Instead, it will be sewer samples. The county has joined a statewide study of community sewage systems in Kansas that experts hope could give them up to a one-week jump on the next wave of the disease. Samples from six wastewater treatment plants in the county are being collected so scientists can look for RNA from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, which has caused more than 14,000 infections, 560 hospitalizations and 201 deaths to date in Johnson County. The county is joining a study that started in May on a smaller scale and has now grown to 97 of Kansas’ 105 counties.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
With suicide up 70% in Wichita so far this year, police want people to talk to each other
Wichita police want people to talk with each other as the suicide rate climbs amid the coronavirus pandemic. Total suicides are up more than 70% and suicide attempts by firearm are up 150% year-to-date as of Friday, Officer Paul Cruz said. “We just noticed that the numbers are higher,” Cruz said. “Regardless of what the circumstances are … it’s just an alarming rate. We’re trying to sound the alarm for our community to bring awareness. The best thing we can do as a department and the No. 1 thing we can do is talk about this and bring awareness.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Pittsburg names new Fire Chief
A new Fire Chief is appointed for a Southeast Kansas community. After serving as the Interim Fire Chief, Dennis Reilly has been announced as the new Pittsburg Fire Chief. Reilly has served in stations all over the U.S. and says this is one of the smoothest transitions he’s experienced thanks to the cohesiveness of the team. Dennis Reilly, Pittsburg Fire Chief, said, “I inherited a very well run, very well equipped, very well staffed fire department. I think that we have an excellent group of professionals in here in the fire department and I’ve been very impressed with the city overall. The leadership in the city, the commitment to excellence and community.” Reilly has served in New Jersey, California, North Carolina, and Missouri. He even served on a search and rescue team following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Source: KSNF/KODE
AGCO plant shut down following COVID-19 cluster
The Harvey County Health Department has confirmed an outbreak of COVID-19 cases at Plant 1 of the AGCO facility in Hesston. According to a news release, 23 employees tested positive. Those individuals remain in isolation. The Newton Medical Center is working with AGCO to test the remainder of Plant 1 employees using rapid-result antigen tests during a drive-through testing event Friday. If test results are negative, the employee can return to work as soon as Monday. When employees return to Plant 1, they will continue to wear masks and will follow strict guidelines to prevent another outbreak. Workers will be tested every seven days until the outbreak is no longer considered active.
Source: KAKE – News
Kansas deputy killed in accident involving school bus
An eastern Kansas deputy is dead following an accident involving a school bus. The Kansas Highway Patrol said the accident happened Friday afternoon in Leavenworth County near the town of Tonganoxie. Deputy Corporal Daniel R. Abramovitz was driving an unmarked sheriff’s vehicle when it collided with a school bus. The bus driver was hospitalized with injuries characterized as not life-threatening. A child on the bus had minor injuries that did not require hospitalization.
Source: Wichita Breaking News, Sports & Crime |
Treasury yields dip as coronavirus cases surge and election uncertainty continues
U.S. Treasury yields moved lower on Friday after coronavirus cases globally reached a single-day record, along with uncertainty ahead of next week’s U.S. presidential election. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell to 0.822% at 5:14 a.m. ET, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond dipped to 1.597%. … It comes after the number of confirmed coronavirus cases recorded daily hit a record 500,000 on Thursday. Traders were also mindful of the U.S. election next week.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Municipal Bond Trends for October 29, 2020
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.
Weight limits placed on more county bridges
There are 370 bridges in Barton County, some of which are a century old. A lot has changed in 100 years, and some of the older structures can’t handle today’s heavier vehicles. As a result, County Engineer Barry McManaman told the County Commission Monday morning that traffic has to be restricted on an increasing number of them. So, commissioners approved establishing weight limits on a new batch of bridges maintained by the county, action that rescinded a resolution adopted in March 2019.Source: Great Bend Tribune
‘Tsunami of mail ballots’: Nearly half of registered Johnson Countians already voted
With five days to go before the Nov. 3 election, nearly half of all registered voters in Johnson County already cast their ballots. As of Thursday morning, 215,362 Johnson Countians had voted, the election office reported. That’s nearly 48% of all registered voters. A record number of residents registered to vote this fall, totaling 451,963, said Election Commissioner Connie Schmidt. The majority of ballots cast so far — 122,027 — have been returned by mail or in eight drop-off boxes placed throughout the county. As of Wednesday night, 93,335 residents had voted in person at 10 advance voting locations. Nine of those early voting sites are open until 3 p.m. Saturday, while voters can still cast ballots early at the Johnson County Election Office until noon Monday.
Source: Joco 913 News
Wichita school board to reconsider COVID reopening; PreK-12 may move full remote
The Leavenworth County government will pay only half of the cost of installing a traffic signal at 20th Street and Eisenhower Road. County commissioners made that decision when they met Wednesday. The decision came as commissioners approved a construction bid for improvements to a section of the Eisenhower Road project. The traffic light had been requested as part of the project. The decision to pay for only half of the cost of the traffic signal places the burden of paying the remaining cost on either the city of Leavenworth and Lansing or both cities.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
County agrees to pay for half of traffic signal
The Leavenworth County government will pay only half of the cost of installing a traffic signal at 20th Street and Eisenhower Road. County commissioners made that decision when they met Wednesday. The decision came as commissioners approved a construction bid for improvements to a section of the Eisenhower Road project. The traffic light had been requested as part of the project. The decision to pay for only half of the cost of the traffic signal places the burden of paying the remaining cost on either the city of Leavenworth and Lansing or both cities.
Source: Leavenworth Times
4 pounds of mercury found on side of road
About four pounds of mercury was discovered in a container that was left near the side of a road in southern Leavenworth County, the Emergency Management director said. It does not appear any of the substance leaked onto the ground. The mercury, which is considered a hazardous substance, was discovered around noon Tuesday along the side of County Road 1 near the entrance for the Kansas Turnpike, said Leavenworth County Emergency Management Director Chuck Magaha.
Source: Leavenworth Times
Sedgwick County looking for source of hepatitis A outbreak, more than 100 cases
Local health officials are looking for the source of a hepatitis A outbreak in Sedgwick County. The Sedgwick County Health Department, Ascension Via Christi and other healthcare providers say more than 100 residents have been diagnosed with the illness since May. That is a major increase over last year when the were only four cases reported in Sedgwick County.
Source: KSN-TV
‘Our community needs this’ — Lenexa names winners in citywide Halloween decoration contest
Skeletons, ghosts, spooky animatronics and a haunted maze in the backyard all made the Leichter home the Best in Show for Lenexa’s Fall-O-Ween Yard Tour competition this month. Lenexa put on the event as a way to bring the community together in a safe, physically distanced way this fall, due to the health risks of gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. About 60 homes and businesses participated in the competition, using a variety of fall-themed and Halloween-themed decorations. A big fan of Halloween, Susan Leichter said she was “absolutely thrilled” that she and her husband, James Leichter, won the competition — even as she battles breast cancer.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
Lyons officer returns home to hundreds of supporters after being shot over two weeks ago
Lyons Police Sergeant Cory Ryan was shot Friday, October 16th. Less than two weeks later, he was out of the hospital. Some said his recovery is shocking. It wasn’t an ordinary homecoming, as the Lyons Police Sergeant was met with supporters, cheers, and much more. It could be seen for nearly a hundred miles. "It feels good to leave the hospital and it feels good to go home," said Sergeant Cory Ryan.
Source: KSN-TV
Municipal Bond Trends for October 28, 2020
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.
Which came first, the dinosaurs or the STAR bond district?
Much like the classic chicken and egg paradox, Derby’s STAR bond district and Field Station: Dinosaurs are inextricably linked, with each playing a role in the others origin – but which came first? According to Developer Rick Worner, with National Realty Advisors, the seeds for the dinosaur park were planted first. Worner, who worked on the first STAR bond project in Kansas (the speedway on the edge of Kansas City), was working on another project in Wichita near K-96 and Greenwich. He had a number of other ideas and was looking for a family-friendly city to cultivate some of them. During a meeting with Steve Barrett of JP Weigand, Worner mentioned that informal search and Barrett was quick to recommend a nearby location – Derby.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Wichita schools changing meal distribution plan
With Wichita’s middle and high school students having to option to return to class November 9, the district will change how school lunches are distributed. All students can get free meals for the rest of the school year, thanks to USDA’s expansion of the summer meals program. With a mix of online and in-person classes coming, meal pickups will switch over to a pre-order system. Yellow tickets for pickup will no longer be used, and families will need to complete an order form online to pickup meals. These orders will include an email confirmation that will be needed get curbside meals. Distribution will happen on Wednesdays. Students attending class in-person more than two days a week will not be eligible for curbside meal pickups. School officials will be keeping track of how this system works, and make any adjustments as needed.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Wichita hospitals looking at overflow options for COVID-19
One Wichita hospital is at capacity and another is at 90 percent this week, according to an update presented Wednesday to Sedgwick County commissioners. County Manager Tom Stolz said he received information from Ascension Via Christi that it was at capacity, while Wesley had reported 90 percent earlier in the week. Stolz said the information came from the county’s health officer, Dr. Garold Minns, who had talked with hospital officials earlier in the day. Stolz said hospitals will be talking to county officials about getting emergency funding to develop more capacity for patients. Commissioner Lacey Cruse said this news should not stop people from going to the hospital if they need treatment. Commissioner David Dennis says more data will be needed to determine the next steps.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office partnering with Ring security
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with home security company Ring “in an effort to make the community safer,” the Sheriff’s Office announced last week. Ring devices sometimes capture video footage of suspicious activity or a criminal in the act, whether that be a theft or another form of crime. Ring owners will now have the ability to share these videos with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office through the Neighbors app, which can be downloaded for free on Apple’s App Store or the Google Play app store. The Sheriff’s Office will function as a public safety user on the Neighbors app. That means it can post information about crime and safety alerts, view and comment on public posts within its jurisdiction, and use the video request feature to ask Ring to request recorded video footage from Ring device owners who are in the area of an active investigation.
Source: Derby Informer | Area