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Municipal News & Jobs

Municipal News & Jobs2018-08-05T16:28:50-05:00

Kansas Municipal News

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)

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