State funds to help turn historic Kansas hotel into modern hub

A project in Neodesha gets a boost from the Kansas Department of Commerce. The city is getting a cut of nearly 3.5 million dollars that will be spread out across the state for 12 housing rehabilitation and commercial revitalization projects. The money will help what’s happening at the historic Brown Hotel — which, as we first told you in November — is being transformed into apartments, a restaurant, an entertainment venue, and office spaces.
Source: KSNF/KODE

info2025-02-28T08:32:18-06:00February 28, 2025|News|

Topeka leader works to get homeless camps cleaned up

One Topeka leader is making sure some homeless camps in North Topeka will soon be gone. After the homeless camp cleanups in NOTO and other areas last year, people settled near the Sardou Bridge, but camp cleanups in that area will soon take place. District 2 Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala told 27 News her constituents have shared concerns about fires in the area, and even trash and human waste possibly contaminating the nearby Kansas River.
Source: KSNT 27 News

info2025-02-28T08:30:33-06:00February 28, 2025|News|

City of Topeka enters year-long hiring freeze

Topeka City Manager Robert Perez said the city has entered a hiring freeze while it looks at ways to balance its budget. Perez said the City of Topeka is effectively in a hiring freeze until the end of the year while city leaders work to address a projected $17 million deficit for 2026 and $21 million deficit for 2027 during a monthly press conference on Feb. 25. He said the city will look at positions as they become vacant to see if their duties can be absorbed by existing staff.
Source: KSNT 27 News

info2025-02-28T08:29:44-06:00February 28, 2025|News|

‘Til the last vote has been counted’: Wichita school district isn’t conceding bond election

The Wichita school district would not yet concede Wednesday morning in a close race for the approval of a $450 million school bond issue. “Yesterday didn’t end the way we had hoped, because we hoped we’d have a very clear answer by now, which we don’t,” said USD 259 Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld. “There was a very solid turnout with close results, and we’re going to wait til the last vote has been counted.” Updated results from the election office Wednesday afternoon showed the no vote leading by 295 ballots, or 1 percent of the vote. That is up from a lead of 228 votes at the end of Tuesday night.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

info2025-02-28T08:28:53-06:00February 28, 2025|News|

Commerce CDBG Program Awards Almost $3.5M for Economic Development Projects

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the Kansas Department of Commerce has awarded $3.47 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to support 12 housing rehabilitation and commercial revitalization projects across the state. When matched with more than $4.33 million in local contributions, the rolling round of CDBG funds brings the total investment to approximately $7.8 million.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

info2025-02-28T08:28:02-06:00February 28, 2025|News|

House working on new plan to hold down local property taxes

A new plan for encouraging cities and counties to hold down spending is emerging in the House as a potential alternative to plans already on the table for lowering property taxes. Republican state Rep. Adam Smith, chair of the House tax committee, introduced a bill that would essentially recreate a fund that once was intended to help local governments hold down property taxes. The proposal calls for putting $60 million into a new fund called ASTRA, short for Acknowledging Stewardship of Tax Revenue and Appropriations.
Source: Sunflower State Journal

info2025-02-27T13:00:13-06:00February 27, 2025|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for February 26, 2025

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.

Henry Schmidt2025-02-27T09:08:19-06:00February 27, 2025|News|

OCCK’s 81 Connection bus route to be free for three months

OCCK Transportation’s 81 Connection, which runs from Salina to Belleville and back, will become free-fare as part of a pilot program beginning on March 3 until May 30. …. with an aim to increase accessibility to transportation for residents in the region and to improve community health and mobility.
Source: Salina Journal

info2025-02-27T07:22:27-06:00February 27, 2025|News|

Anyone can be an artist during Chalk the Välk in Lindsborg this April

Little Sweden is letting people make temporary art for all to see during the Chalk the Välk event on April 12. Lindsborg is opening up along four and a half miles of the Välkommen Trail with 10×10 foot squares available for people or groups of all ages to chalk up.
Source: Salina Journal

info2025-02-27T07:21:23-06:00February 27, 2025|News|

Why Topeka is rebuffing effort to limit regulation of home-based businesses

Topeka City Councilman Spencer Duncan, who is a lobbyist for Kansas League of Municipalities, said the bill has its heart in the right place, but that it could prohibit cities from licensing home-based daycares, require fire codes for automotive repairs or regulate AirBnBs and other short-term residential rentals.
Source: CJonline

info2025-02-27T07:14:28-06:00February 27, 2025|News|