Powell Says Fed Is Prepared to Speed Up Interest-Rate Rises

8 Wednesday, March 8

Powell Says Fed Is Prepared to Speed Up Interest-Rate Rises

info2023-03-08T00:37:30-06:00March 8th, 2023|

Chair Jerome Powell said the Federal Reserve would consider raising interest rates by a larger half percentage point this month and was likely to lift rates higher than previously expected this year to cool an economy that has shown surprising strength. Mr. Powell’s comments to lawmakers Tuesday laid the groundwork for a notable shift in tactics to reduce price pressures. He said hotter inflation and hiring could lead central bank officials to alter their recently adopted strategy of raising rates in smaller quarter-point increments. Source: WSJ.com: US Business

8 Wednesday, March 8

Upgrades to Wichita’s sewer system expected to eliminate 98% of the smell, city says

info2023-03-08T00:36:03-06:00March 8th, 2023|

Federal loans will fund 49% of Wichita’s major sewer system upgrades, which are expected to get under way this year and will result in cleaner wastewater emissions into the Arkansas River by 2027. The Wichita City Council on Tuesday approved a funding agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency for $191,481,121 in WIFIA loans, the same program used to fund $280.9 million for Wichita’s new drinking water plant. “I just want us to pause for a second and actually celebrate this. This is a legacy project for the community, and specifically for this council,” City Manager Robert Layton said during the meeting. [...]

8 Wednesday, March 8

Winfield proposes sidewalk repair reimbursement plan

info2023-03-08T00:34:41-06:00March 8th, 2023|

The City of Winfield is proposing a plan to reimburse landowners for sidewalk repairs, a task that property owners currently bear the entire cost for. Based on results of a 2010 Transportation Assessment Study, repairs and upgrades to the city’s sidewalk infrastructure would cost a total of $7.5 million in today’s dollars, according to a memo from Winfield Community Development Director Patrick Steward. According to a questionnaire community members filled out several years ago as part of the city’s comprehensive plan update, 50% of respondents said the city and landowners should split the cost of sidewalk repairs, 47% said the city [...]

8 Wednesday, March 8

Brad Matkin is new Fort Scott city manager

info2023-03-08T07:23:04-06:00March 8th, 2023|

Brad Matkin was officially chosen as the new Fort Scott City Manager Tuesday evening. The vote to approve his contract, which was not available prior to press time, passed 4-1 ... Source: Fort Scott Tribune

8 Wednesday, March 8

One of 3 sites in Sedgwick County could have electronic gambling machines

info2023-03-08T00:32:36-06:00March 8th, 2023|

Sedgwick County will soon have a new gaming facility with historical horse racing machines at one of three potential sites: Towne West Square in west Wichita, Wichita Greyhound Park in Park City, or at a planned $160-million entertainment complex in Park City. Sports betting legislation signed into law in Kansas last year cleared the way for the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission to license an operator of up to 1,000 historical horse-racing machines in Sedgwick County. Source: Wichita Business Journal

8 Wednesday, March 8

Wichita delays action on tobacco ordinance

info2023-03-08T07:22:34-06:00March 8th, 2023|

Wichita City Council members have delayed action for a week to consider language in an ordinance that will establish new penalties for people who sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21. The ordinance eliminates the criminal penalty for people under 21 to possess tobacco, but law enforcement officers can still confiscate tobacco items. The ordinance will create a minimum fine of $200 and a maximum of $1,000 with six months in jail for retail employees who sell tobacco to minors. There’s also a $250 penalty for a business that sells tobacco to underage people, and that fine can be [...]

8 Wednesday, March 8

Harvey County will consider changing rules at county parks

info2023-03-08T07:23:43-06:00March 8th, 2023|

The Board of Harvey County Commissioners got their first look at revised regulations for the county’s three parks Thursday morning. Commissioners didn’t take action, but the revised regulations will be brought back before them next week. The regulations will more clearly define when park staff and law enforcement can have someone removed from park grounds for behavior that is illegal, dangerous or unreasonably disruptive. County Administrator Anthony Swartzendruber said the park regulations were last updated in 2019. He said the new regulations would go into effect April 1, which is when the annual park passes go on sale, if commissioners approved [...]

8 Wednesday, March 8

Kelly admin wants extra funding for STAR Bonds. Critics say that’s proof it doesn’t work

info2023-03-08T07:24:14-06:00March 8th, 2023|

For years, a controversial sales tax incentive in Kansas has been billed as a way to build transformational tourist destinations that draw visitors from across the region. Kansas STAR Bonds have helped to build well-known attractions like the Kansas Speedway and Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. But state leaders have often over-promised and under-delivered on STAR Bonds projects, allowing the bonds to fund more mundane uses like adding new turf to soccer fields or creating shopping centers. The program is now at risk because of its reliance on local taxpayers to pay off project debts. Source: Kansas City Star

8 Wednesday, March 8

Consultants recommend City of Lawrence allocate $1.4M in grant funds to affordable housing

info2023-03-08T00:27:32-06:00March 8th, 2023|

Statistics and survey responses made clear that affordable housing is Lawrence’s most pressing need in order to alleviate and prevent homelessness, consultants told the city commission on Tuesday. The city has been allocated about $1.64 million in federal HOME-ARP funds, but it must provide a plan for how it’s going to spend those dollars by March 31. Consultants received survey responses from 918 Lawrence and Douglas County residents. Of those responses, 38.5% identified construction of new affordable rental housing units as their highest priority for the HOME-ARP funds. Source: The Lawrence Times

8 Wednesday, March 8

Overland Park to hold special sales tax election for street upgrades

info2023-03-08T00:26:53-06:00March 8th, 2023|

Overland Park is now set to hold a special mail-in election this June asking voters to approve a dedicated sales tax that would go towards improving aspects of the city’s aging infrastructure. Notably, city officials say funds raised by the tax would also allow the city to reduce its reliance on chip seal, the controversial road resurfacing method. The Overland Park City Council Monday night unanimously approved putting the proposed 3/8-cent special sales tax up for a vote. If approved, the new tax would be an increase from the city’s current 1/8-cent sales tax, which is set to expire in March [...]