Kansas Municipal News
Economist sees Kansas government spending as too much in light of potential recession
An economist with the Sandlian Center for Entrepreneurial Government at the Kansas Policy Institute is concerned about the level of government spending in light of economic indicators that could point to a recession in the near future.
“The economic siren has flashed red,” said Michael Austin. “The U.S. could see a recession in roughly about two years. Unfortunately, the worst part about it is that state government is overspending, like a drunken sailor and, trust me, I don’t think Kansans are prepared for when that hangover hits.”
The interest rates on short-term bonds are higher than interest rates paid by long-term bonds. This phenomenon has happened before a recession for every recession since 1969.
(Read more: WIBW News Now)
JoCo Courthouse ‘topped out’ at ceremony on Aug. 13
Johnson County has marked a milestone in the construction of its courthouse in downtown Olathe.
During a “topping out” ceremony on Aug. 13, crews raised the last steel beam 238 feet to the highest point in the courthouse’s structural framing, which is now completed.
“Nail by nail, beam by beam, and now we’re really starting to see the vision of what this landmark will look like,” Olathe Mayor Michael Copeland said at the ceremony. “It’s already changed the shape of Olathe’s downtown.”
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Edgerton gains 4,500 employees. But tiny JoCo town has almost nowhere to eat or live
At the start of each day, the city of Edgerton’s population nearly triples.
Around 4,500 employees travel to the community at the southwest corner of Johnson County each day — jumping off of Interstate 35 or driving along green farm fields and waiting for trains to pass — on their way to one of the fastest growing business parks in the country. Along with a new workforce, in the past six years Logistics Park Kansas City has attracted $1.1 billion in private investment, from industry giants such as Amazon, UPS and Hostess.
But community leaders say there’s not much keeping those thousands of employees around after they clock out.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
KMUW to host mayoral debate as part of Engage ICT: Democracy on Tap
KMUW 89.1-FM will host a mayoral candidate debate at the September Engage ICT: Democracy on Tap, in partnership with the Wichita Eagle and the Kansas Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
The debate will be held Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Roxy’s Downtown. The address is 412 1/2 East Douglas. Appetizers begin at 5:30 p.m. The debate will begin at 6 p.m.
To submit a question, email info@kmuw.org or use the Two-Way Radio feature on the new KMUW app to send a voice message.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
New wastewater plant gives Moundridge room to grow
Moundridge Street and Wastewater Supervisor Mike Strausz was eager to show off the city’s new wastewater treatment plant at an open house celebrating the facility’s completion on Aug. 22.
Planning for the new plant began five years ago, with Strausz and others touring various facilities to determine what design would work best for Moundridge.
The city’s previous wastewater plant was built in 1982.
(Read more: News – McPhersonSentinel – McPherson, KS)
Mulvane Police Department to get new body cam system
The Mulvane Police Department is set to receive a new body-camera system after receiving council approval.
The city council voted unanimously to approve the department’s request for 14 body cameras and seven car-camera systems, totaling $72,490 before installation costs. A storage server, training and on-site setup are included in that price.
“In today’s world of policing, cameras are a must-have piece of equipment,” Mulvane Public Safety Director Gordon Fell said. “Cameras greatly assist in prosecution of criminal cases, as well as increasing safety for both the citizens and the officers.”
(Read more: Area | derbyinformer.com)
Wichita elementary student holds hand of crying classmate with autism on first day of school
An 8-year-old boy is being commended after showing his compassion for a classmate on the first day of school.
According to a Facebook post from Courtney Moore, her son, Christian, saw another boy crying in the corner and befriended him. It happened at Minneha Core Knowledge Elementary School in Wichita, Kansas.
Photos from Moore showed Christian holding hands with his classmate, Connor, to help comfort him.
(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)
Plainville doctor named as Top 25 Innovator by Modern Healthcare
Dr. Jen Brull, Rooks County Health Center, Plainville, has been named a Top 25 Innovator by Modern Healthcare.
Brull leads Aledade’s accountable care organization (ACO) in Kansas.
A key innovation she’s implemented is the “Roadmap to Awesomeness.” It’s an improvement tool for practices to assess data and follow best practices. The ACO is able to tap into real-time data to address gaps in patient care.
(Read more: Hays Post)
Ford County Sheriff urges caution with letter
In a news release from Ford County Sheriff Bill Carr, a letter has been received in the mail calling for recipients to sign up for a program called Nextdoor.
Carr in the release raised concerns with the letter stating, it does not provide a name of the sender; does not provide a return address; does not provide a phone number/email to contact the sender; states it’s 100% free and private; not sure it is “private” to whoever is on the receiving end once you sign up; the letter was sent to an entire neighborhood without name, just addresses; it was mailed from Buffalo, Wyoming and there is not a company letterhead.
(Read more: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS)
New program helps paras become teachers
Scheduling, admittedly, was a big part of why Carla McConnell got into education in the first place.
While she volunteered with the booster club at Newton’s Sunset Elementary once her children started attending the school, she graduated to a bigger role when her youngest entered preschool — with the timing allowing her to take a position as an instructional aide at Sunset.
“When our youngest was going to preschool I wanted to go back to the workforce a little bit,” McConnell said. “I looked around and being a para or instructional aide fit perfectly with their school schedule. At that time, I did it because I could be in their school at the same time; I didn’t need any child care. That’s how it started, and then I just loved it so I’ve just stayed here.”
(Read more: News – Dodge City Daily Globe – Dodge City, KS)
Artist hopes mural inspires others
Inspired by a similar painting in Nashville, Anita Pierce put her own spin on her latest mural creation.
“I saw the one they did in Nashville with Taylor Swift,” Pierce said. “I said, ‘Ottawa (needs one).’ I had the opportunity to do (a painting) on this wall.”
A crisp, white wall was the canvas for the mural, which is now displayed on the backside of the building at 106 S. Main St. The mural ties in to a plan to place even more similar painting throughout the city. The latest creation, which was commissioned by the Ottawa Main Street Association, depicts a similar painting near Fourth and Main streets by Ottawa artist Bill Howe.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)
More than a hundred Corvettes roll into western Kansas
More than a hundred Corvettes spent the night in western Kansas on Sunday.
The Thomas County Sheriff’s Office posted a photo a deputy captured of the sports cars parked outside the local Holiday Inn.
The cars are a part of the 2019 National Corvette Convention and heading to the 25th Anniversary of the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Shawnee to decide on nondiscrimination ordinance
The Shawnee City Council is expected to vote Monday on a nondiscrimination ordinance that would protect sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnant women from discrimination.
So many residents packed the council’s chamber that seats had to be added. More than 40 people signed up to speak, allotted five minutes each.
Those in support of the law, said people should be protected regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation or familial status.
Opponents said Shawnee is already welcoming, the law is unnecessary, and opens up businesses for costly litigation.
(Read more: KMBC.com)
KDOT hosting local consult meetings
The Department of Transportation wants to know what you think about Kansas roads.
KDOT is holding a series of local consult meetings. Today they were in Topeka.
Transportation Deputy Secretary Maggie Doll said most people they’ve met with just want the current program maintained.
“One thing we keep hearing over and over again is that we need to take care of the system that we already have,” Doll said, “so maintaining, preserving the roads and the bridges that we already have is really important to folks.”
Officials make their way to Wichita tomorrow. They will be at the WSU Metroplex from 9 until noon. The meeting is open to the public.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Chanute deals with new costs for fiber optic
Chanute city commissioners contemplated the issue of fiber optic internet service to homes during Monday evening’s meeting after bids for the project came in higher than expected.
City Manager Jeff Cantrell previously brought the question to the commission about fiber service to two neighborhoods. An engineer estimated the project to total $551,000 for both neighborhoods, but new cost estimates come in at $777,000. Cantrell said by trimming some of the count, the project would cost $650,000.
Information Technology Manager Rick Willis said that part of the price increase is because the project originally planned on using one-gigabyte equipment, which suppliers are phasing out in favor of 10-gigabyte equipment.
(Read more: www.chanute.com – RSS Results in news,news/* of type article)
City updates ordinances on CBD oil, guns, driver’s licenses, scooters
A few new laws will be on the books in Hays and around Kansas, with the annual updating of the city’s criminal code and traffic ordinances by the League of Kansas Municipalities.
The League’s update normally doesn’t make sweeping changes, but rather tweaks a few, fine-tunes others or works out kinks that have become apparent.
Hays City Commissioners on Thursday evening at their regular weekly meeting at City Hall unanimously adopted ordinances that accept the League’s updates for this year.
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)
Strategic Doing meetings set for Ellis, Rooks and Trego counties
The Heartland Community Foundation, which serves Ellis, Rooks and Trego counties, has scheduled the next round of Strategic Doing meetings for each county.
Strategic Doing is an engaging process that actively helps residents implement their ideas for community improvement projects. Current working groups who attend will report on their progress and continue work to move their projects forward. New ideas and working groups are also encouraged to attend and start working through the Strategic Doing process.
(Read more: Hays Post)
Wichita Public Schools implementing new grading system
Wichita Public Schools will have a new grading system for kindergarten through 5th grade students this year, using numbers instead of letters.
The new grading system was tested out in elementary schools all across Wichita last year, but this school year is the first year it will become mandatory and it’ll begin in secondary education next year.
Washington Elementary students are joining kids all across the city, taking control of their own learning process. Leslie McEntire has been teaching at Washington elementary for seven years.
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Inmate missing from work release in Cowley County
The Cowley County Sheriff’s Office is looking for an inmate missing from work release.
Deputies say Britton White was last seen Friday at the restaurant he is employed for work release.
White was serving time after a conviction of failing to comply with the district court. In the past, he was imprisoned after a forgery and theft conviction.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Brighthouse receives nearly $104,000 in grants from AG
BrightHouse Inc. of Hutchinson has been awarded nearly $104,000 in grants to provide services for victims of crime, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced in a news release today.
Grants offered by the Attorney General’s office are open for applications every year, but the grants are not guaranteed.
“We feel so fortunate to be granted, and hold our breath when submitting the grant application until we hear the verdict,” said Donna Davis, executive director of Brighthouse. “Without this funding, we would not be able to afford rent, we would have to cut back on staff, and keeping our Child Visitation & Exchange Center in operation would be impossible.”
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)