Governor Laura Kelly has signed Senate Substitute for House Bill 2172, officially creating a water program task force aimed at developing a long-term investment strategy for Kansas’ water needs. Modeled after the state’s 10-year transportation programs, the initiative will focus on securing a dedicated funding source for water infrastructure and planning.
Source: KCLY Radio

Governor Laura Kelly announced Thursday 11 rural roadway projects will receive a total of $8.1 million in federal funds through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s High Risk Rural Roads (HRRR) Program.
Source: KCLY Radio

Governor Kelly signed a bill into law this week that allows for the year-round sale of fireworks in Kansas. While the law expands the sale of fireworks, it does not alter the times when fireworks can be discharged or how those times are determined.
Source: KWCH

Wichita is heading into spring still in stage two drought conditions, meaning water restrictions from the city have not been lifted.
Source: KWCH

The Wichita Police Department (WPD) has been testing gunshot detectors in some areas of the city since 2022. Now, the department is preparing to make them a permanent part of detecting gun violence. The new detectors use artificial intelligence to alert dispatch and officers when gunshots are detected.
Source: KWCH

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

The state is finalizing potentially more than $150 million in Sales Tax and Revenue, or STAR, bonds to bolster the development, which it and developers predict will bring in more than two million visitors annually.
Source: Wichita Eagle

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

After months of construction, the community was able to see some of the more high visibility aspects of the Halstead Bond Project on April 3. Both Halstead High School baseball and softball officially opened their respective facilities in action when hosting Pratt in a game that was moved thanks to weather concerns. School board members from Halstead were on hand to throw the ceremonial first pitch at each field.
Source: Harvey County Now

A group of Lawrence landlords have taken their argument against the city’s ordinance meant to ensure voucher recipients can find housing to a higher court. The Lawrence City Commission in February 2023 approved an ordinance change that creates a protected class based on renters’ source of income, as well as their status as a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking or stalking. It also disallows discrimination based on prospective tenants’ immigration status. The ordinance went into effect June 1, 2023. The Landlords of Lawrence — an association of 30-plus local landlords — filed a lawsuit against the city, arguing the language of the ordinance is unconstitutionally vague and that it infringes on their discretion as businesspeople. But Douglas County District Judge Mark Simpson ruled in May 2024 that the ordinance could stand, ruling that the “prohibited conduct is simple and clear: a landlord shall not consider the source of a prospective tenant’s rent payments in determining whether to rent to that person.” 
Source: The Lawrence Times