Supreme Court debates whether cities can make sleeping outside a crime

23 Tuesday, April 23

Supreme Court debates whether cities can make sleeping outside a crime

info2024-04-23T07:39:09-05:00April 23rd, 2024|

Several Supreme Court justices on Monday questioned the wisdom of an Oregon city’s ordinance that penalizes homeless people for sleeping in public, but the court’s conservative majority seemed wary of having federal courts intervene.... “The city’s hands will be tied [if the lower decision stands]. It will be forced to surrender its public places as it has been,” Theane Eangelis, an attorney for Grants Pass, told Chief Justice John Roberts during a two-and-a-half hour argument. “The Ninth Circuit has effectively imposed a municipal code … to regulate what the city can do in its public spaces.” Source: Route Fifty - All [...]

23 Tuesday, April 23

Hesston Dog Park moving closer to center of city

info2024-04-23T07:37:04-05:00April 23rd, 2024|

After receiving requests from residents, Hesston is moving its dog park . The dog park is currently located at 505 W Lincoln Blvd. It is moving to the city center by Hickory Park located at 400 E Hickory St. which has a playground. “Families will now be able to exercise their dogs while their children use the adjacent playground, creating a whole family experience,” said city administrator, Gary Emry, in an email. Source: Harvey County Now

22 Monday, April 22

Bel Aire low-income housing complex aims to address senior housing shortage

info2024-04-22T13:14:10-05:00April 22nd, 2024|

An affordable senior living complex opened on Friday in Bel Aire, but before doors opened, it was already full with a large waitlist. Homestead Affordable Housing has launched 14 projects like this one across the state in an effort to meet the needs of low-income seniors looking for a place to live. The one in Bel Aire has 36 units, which are already full. The non-profit now has 170 people on the waitlist, searching for an alternative. "We're doing everything we can to make the units more affordable rent," said Homestead Affordable Housing President Tom Bishop. Bishop said their 14 properties in [...]

22 Monday, April 22

Small Kansas breweries call new law a ‘big win’ for sales

info2024-04-22T13:08:07-05:00April 22nd, 2024|

Green Frog Brewing has been open for about a month in the small town of Douglass. On Friday, they already had customers at four in the afternoon. "We do some traditional styles and we do brown ales and red ales. Peanut butter porter. Honey beer," said Jay Sanderson, head brewer at Green Frog. "Open for four weeks, it has gone really, really well. Business has gone way better than we thought it would have. We sold out of four beers already so I am brewing faster than, the sales are going up faster than I can stay up. Which is a great [...]

22 Monday, April 22

This Southeast Kansas museum showcases mining industry in new exhibit

info2024-04-22T13:06:57-05:00April 22nd, 2024|

A new exhibit at a Southeast Kansas museum is showcasing the history of the mining industry. The Miners Hall Museum is hosting the Southeast Kansas Coal Camp - West Mineral exhibit. A presentation of the history was hosted by David R. Wallace. The exhibit contains photos, maps, coins, and high school uniforms - giving people an in-depth look at the impact that miners had. "I'm genuinely interested in what has happened here and how this all developed, what happened with the mining, why people come here, where they came from, what they did, when they came here, and how they lived and how they related [...]

22 Monday, April 22

Emporia takes proactive measures as EPA announces landmark ‘forever chemicals’ regulations

info2024-04-22T12:59:54-05:00April 22nd, 2024|

For the first time ever, the Environmental Protection Agency announced a national regulation targeting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Often termed “forever chemicals,” PFAS have permeated air, water, and soil, posing enduring environmental and health risks. “Drinking water contaminated with PFAS has plagued communities across this country for too long,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan, according to a CBS News report. The regulations will have sweeping effects across the country, including municipalities like Emporia. City of Emporia Communications Manager Christine Torrens told The Gazette this week that the city is working proactively to address concerns regarding PFAS [...]

22 Monday, April 22

Municipal Bond Trends for April 19, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-04-22T09:19:20-05:00April 22nd, 2024|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. 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.

19 Friday, April 19

Pittsburg proposes neighborhood names and boundary definitions

info2024-04-19T12:57:15-05:00April 19th, 2024|

The city of Pittsburg is considering a significant overhaul to its neighborhood designations, aiming to name each area and establish clear boundary lines. The initiative, spearheaded by the Neighborhood Advisory Council, seeks to enhance community pride and foster a sense of shared ownership among residents. The council recently launched an online survey to gather feedback on the proposed changes. According to community development specialist Sarah Runyon, the primary objective is to create a stronger sense of identity within each neighborhood. "Maybe there is a way that you identify your neighborhood that we don't know about," she stated. "This gives us an [...]

19 Friday, April 19

Commerce Updates ROZ Student Loan Repayment Program

info2024-04-19T11:35:33-05:00April 19th, 2024|

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced significant changes to the Rural Opportunity Zones (ROZ) program that could increase participation in student loan repayments for people moving to rural Kansas counties. Individuals who earn an associate degree or higher and move to a designated ROZ county they haven’t lived in for the preceding two years are eligible to have up to $15,000 in student loan debt repaid. Previously, individuals had to live elsewhere for the preceding five years to be eligible. Commerce also clarified the language describing a student’s permanent residence. Rural residents who occupied a dorm room [...]

19 Friday, April 19

Tiny home village in Kansas City, Kansas, will house those experiencing homelessness

info2024-04-19T11:34:14-05:00April 19th, 2024|

Phil Jorgenson does not like to call it a homeless community. “Because as soon as they move here, they’re not homeless anymore,” said Jorgenson, one of the founders of Eden Village in Kansas City, Kansas. “They’re a community member, and they’re going to be good neighbors.” Built on the site of an old trailer park, near 10th Street and Metropolitan Avenue, Eden Village is slated to provide shelter as well as access to social services for Kansas City area residents in the most dire living situations. It is governed by a 13-member board of directors for a nonprofit organization called Three [...]