Fed sees ‘more restrictive’ policy as likely if inflation fails to come down, minutes say

7 Thursday, July 7

Fed sees ‘more restrictive’ policy as likely if inflation fails to come down, minutes say

info2022-07-07T01:29:29-05:00July 7th, 2022|

Federal Reserve officials in June emphasized the need to fight inflation even if it meant slowing an economy that already appears on the brink of a recession, according to meeting minutes released Wednesday. In raising benchmark borrowing rates by three-quarters of a percentage point, central bankers said the move was necessary to control cost-of-living increases running at their highest levels since 1981. Members said the July meeting likely also would see another 50- or 75-basis point move. A basis point is one one-hundredth of 1 percentage point. "Participants concurred that the economic outlook warranted moving to a restrictive stance of policy, [...]

7 Thursday, July 7

Fireworks compromise seen as successful in Barton County

info2022-07-07T06:59:09-05:00July 7th, 2022|

The Barton County Commission at a special meeting last Thursday approved allowing rural county residents to shoot fireworks on Sunday, July 3, in addition to Monday, July 4, as was allowed under the county’s current resolution. “We made a lot of people happy with that,” said District 5 Commissioner Jennifer Schartz, speaking during the commission meeting Wednesday morning. It was a compromise between allowing fireworks for the week leading to the Fourth and no change at all reached after much discussion with a host of fire chiefs from around the county. “We need to use that as a starting point for [...]

7 Thursday, July 7

North Newton’s electric car charging station gets work out in era of high gas prices

info2022-07-07T06:50:09-05:00July 7th, 2022|

As gasoline has seen a dramatic rise in price, North Newton drivers are putting their city electric car charging station to good use. The city of North Newton installed two electric charging stations located at the city hall in 2019. The stations cost $4,000 with half the amount donated by a private donor, city administrator Kyle Fiedler said. “I would say the stations are used steadily for sure,” he said. “We see a group of regular vehicles here on a regular basis,” In 2021, the stations provided a total of 496 charges to residents with electric-powered vehicles with 1,936 kWh of [...]

7 Thursday, July 7

Brown County puts Wind Energy Moratorium in place

info2022-07-07T06:50:33-05:00July 7th, 2022|

The Brown County Commission met Thursday morning for the regular end-of-month meeting, and after much discussion, the group took a vote that brought the culmination of months of discussion regarding wind energy, agreeing to a Wind Energy Moratorium by a 2-1 vote.... With the moratorium now passed, the commission will move on to selecting a company to help create their Comprehensive Plan, and then begin working on zoning regulations. Source: hiawathaworldonline.com

7 Thursday, July 7

Peabody and Hillsboro work together to keep water flowing to customers

info2022-07-07T06:52:04-05:00July 7th, 2022|

...sometimes, the customer has no idea just how close to a crisis they were and how very hard their cities worked to keep them from ever having to experience the slightest inconvenience. This happened in Marion County recently when the water plant had an issue beginning on June 15 with a 24-inch valve, which restricted flow of water into the distribution system. The approximately 40-year-old valve likely had a gasket come loose and wrap around the internal valve mechanism. ... Thanks to the quick thinking of Water and Wastewater Superintendent Morgan Marler and all the teamwork of the Peabody and Hillsboro [...]

7 Thursday, July 7

Kansas governor orders flags flown at half-staff in honor police officer who died

info2022-07-07T01:15:44-05:00July 7th, 2022|

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has ordered flags in Kansas to be flown at half-staff next Tuesday to honor a police officer who died while on duty. St. Marys Police Department officer Mark Lamberson died unexpected while he was on duty on Saturday, July 2. Police Chief Derek Cid said the is leading the investigation. Foul play is not suspected. “I am directing flags statewide be flown at half-staff to honor Officer Mark Lamberson, a valued member of the Saint Marys Police Department,” Gov. Kelly said. “My thoughts are with Officer Lamberson's family and the entire Saint Marys community as they mourn [...]

7 Thursday, July 7

County nearly runs out of ambulances

info2022-07-07T06:53:35-05:00July 7th, 2022|

Marion County ambulances came perilously close Saturday night to a recently discussed doomsday scenario when a 2-year-old on S. Kennedy St. was having trouble breathing but one ambulance had no staffing and two others were on calls out of the county. At 8:47 p.m., dispatchers received a call about a 34-year-old man who fell from a bed and pulled a TV stand on top of him at Hilltop Manor in Marion. Marion ambulance was assigned the call three minutes later at 8:51 p.m. Half an hour after that, at 9:25 p.m., it began transporting the patient on a non-emergency basis. Source: [...]

7 Thursday, July 7

Progress moving quickly on Topgolf in Wichita

info2022-07-07T01:09:12-05:00July 7th, 2022|

The growth continues off K-96 and Greenwich, with Top Golf being built across the street from the Stryker Complex. "That whole district has been incredibly successful," said Wichita mayor Brandon Whipple. "And we spend the money to create the infrastructure to make it happen." Whipple calls Topgolf a big, brand name attraction. The build on Topgolf is moving along quickly. A Top Golf spokesperson says it is slated to open in the early spring of 2023. Whipple says city leaders, planners and council members love adding destination attractions. Source: KSN-TV

7 Thursday, July 7

Emporia City Commissioners resuming wage increase discussions

info2022-07-07T06:54:14-05:00July 7th, 2022|

Emporia City Commissioners are all in agreement a wage increase for city staff is needed, the only question is what the increase might look like. During their recent study session Wednesday afternoon, commissioners reviewed six potential options to that end. The option that saw the most conversation included a four percent immediate wage increase, and health insurance increase and would keep the city’s mill levy flat. No formal decision was made as commissioners plan to bring the item back for action on Jul. 20th. Regardless of the ultimate decision, City Manager Trey Cocking tells KVOE News it will just be a [...]

7 Thursday, July 7

McPherson residents to vote on sales tax

info2022-07-07T06:54:39-05:00July 7th, 2022|

On Tuesday, Aug. 2, citizens of McPherson will vote in the primary election. Among items on the ballot, voters will consider a renewal of the city’s second half-cent sales tax. The city has scheduled eight public meetings during the next few weeks for citizens to get more information about the proposed renewal as well as have the opportunity to speak with city officials about the purpose of the sales tax. The meetings will consist of a 20-minute presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session with various representatives from the different city departments. This is not an additional tax; it is a renewal [...]