Kansas communities begin cleanup, damage surveys after storms rip off roofs, down trees

21 Tuesday, May 21

Kansas communities begin cleanup, damage surveys after storms rip off roofs, down trees

2024-05-21T09:46:53-05:00May 21st, 2024|

The National Weather Service had survey teams out Monday assessing storm damage in Halstead, Newton and Russell after severe storms hit central Kansas on Sunday night. Those storms brought rain, large hail, strong wind gusts and a few reported tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

21 Tuesday, May 21

Overland Park considers setting up property tax rebate pilot for 2025

2024-05-21T09:32:05-05:00May 21st, 2024|

Overland Park could soon join the ranks of other Johnson County cities that offer some kind of property tax rebate for lower income residents. The Overland Park City Council’s Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee on Wednesday voted 4-2 to recommend the creation of a rebate pilot program for next year. ... The vote suggests to the rest of the city council that the city of Overland Park budget $200,000 to start up a first-come-first-served property tax rebate pilot program likely intended for some of the city’s lowest income homeowners. Merriam, Mission, Olathe, Prairie Village, Roeland Park and Shawnee all administer [...]

21 Tuesday, May 21

Crawford County passes moratorium on wind / solar farms

2024-05-21T09:31:06-05:00May 21st, 2024|

Friday morning, Crawford County Commissioners passed a moratorium on further wind and solar development in the county in front of a full house. While supporters of the moratorium wanted at least a full year, commissioners decided on a December 31, 2024, deadline with the option to extend if needed. The commission will begin updating its comprehensive plan in the next few weeks once a consultant has been confirmed. Two agencies offered their proposals, one of which gave a completion date of December 31. The commission’s decision on the moratorium was based on this estimate. Source: Morning Sun

21 Tuesday, May 21

KDOT seeks input on EV charging in Kansas

2024-05-21T09:30:32-05:00May 21st, 2024|

The Kansas Department of Transportation is looking for input from the public to determine what’s next for the Charge Up Kansas National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Plan. ... KDOT is requesting public feedback on EV charging to help create next year’s plan. Go to KDOT to complete a short survey. Source: KDOT

21 Tuesday, May 21

Governor vetoes government competition bill

2024-05-21T09:28:43-05:00May 21st, 2024|

Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday vetoed a bill requiring cities and counties to rebate property taxes if they compete against certain businesses such as fitness centers, day care facilities and restaurants. Kelly vetoed a bill that was packaged with a child and dependent care tax credit that the governor supports along with an expanded property tax refund for seniors and property tax rebates for veterans with disabilities. Source: Sunflower State Journal

21 Tuesday, May 21

Wichitans want solutions for homelessness. Can they accept them in their backyard?

2024-05-21T09:28:18-05:00May 21st, 2024|

As Wichita struggles to address a growing homeless population with uncertain funding, crucial details surrounding a future city-operated homeless shelter or resource center remain unresolved. Among several homelessness-related initiatives promoted by the city is a multiagency campus and center, often referred to as the MAC – a one-stop resource center that would house supportive low-income housing and two 24/7, low-barrier homeless shelters; one communal, one not.

21 Tuesday, May 21

Court confirms how Prairiefire’s available funds should be applied to defaulted STAR bonds

2024-05-21T09:27:39-05:00May 21st, 2024|

The bank overseeing Prairiefire's nearly $65 million in defaulted sales tax revenue (STAR) bonds now has a clearer path forward as to how it should apply available funds from the Overland Park development to its first portion of outstanding debt. A judge in Minnesota's Hennepin County District Court on Thursday issued an order confirming that UMB Bank, the trustee for Prairiefire's STAR bonds, should proportionately split about $4.2 million across $14.9 million in principal and $1.75 million in interest that came due in mid-December. The order also clarifies that future interest will accrue on delinquent interest at the retail and entertainment [...]

21 Tuesday, May 21

Fed Gov. Waller wants ‘several months’ of good inflation data before lowering rates

2024-05-21T09:26:55-05:00May 21st, 2024|

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, citing a string of data showing that inflation appears to be easing, said Tuesday that he does not think further interest rate increases will be necessary. However, the policymaker added he will need some convincing before he backs cuts anytime soon. "Central bankers should never say never, but the data suggests that inflation isn't accelerating, and I believe that further increases in the policy rate are probably unnecessary," said Waller, who has been generally hawkish in his recent views, meaning he supports tighter monetary policy. Source: CNBC - Bonds

20 Monday, May 20

Abilene reinstates water fluoridation

2024-05-20T16:31:28-05:00May 20th, 2024|

The persistence of oral health experts succeeded as they swayed one Abilene City Commissioner to change her vote during Monday’s commission meeting, ending in a 3-2 result to reintroduce fluoride into the city’s water. Before the commission voted, several local and Topeka experts made comments to the commission. Source: Abilene RC

20 Monday, May 20

Schools closed, power still out for thousands in JoCo following severe storms

2024-05-20T14:05:12-05:00May 20th, 2024|

A line of thunderstorms packing gusty winds caused damage to numerous Johnson County neighborhoods late Sunday night, and at least three schools in the area were closed Monday due to the storms’ lingering impacts. The National Weather Service office in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Johnson County at about 10 p.m. The warning said there was the risk of wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour and hail up to the size of quarters. Wind gusts ended up damaging trees throughout the area. Large tree branches crashed down onto several homes’ roofs, and even more fallen tree branches [...]

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