12 Sunday, February 12

Energy companies want to block outside bids on projects

2023-02-12T08:09:59-06:00February 12th, 2023|

Kansas electric utility monopoly Evergy and other energy companies in the state want lawmakers to grant them more monopoly power over construction of new energy transmission infrastructure, a lucrative sector of the business that is expected to grow in need. Experts predict billions of dollars worth of transmission infrastructure will need to be built in the coming years. Existing energy companies want state lawmakers to help shield their share of the work from competition, while outside developers want a chance at a piece of the pie — feeding a legislative process flush with lobbyists. Source: CJonline

12 Sunday, February 12

Newton’s Sand Creek Station to host NJCAA Division I men’s golf tourney

2023-02-12T08:09:02-06:00February 12th, 2023|

The Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragon men’s golf team won the 2022 national championship at the Odessa Country Club in Odessa, Texas, and the 2021 national title at the Rawls Course in Lubbock, Texas. If the HCC men’s golf team, led by 2022 Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee Chris Young in his 23rd season, gets the chance to “three-peat” as NJCAA Division I national champions, they can do it close to home. The 2023 NJCAA tournament will be played May 16-19 at the Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton. ... “The city of Newton is thrilled to host [...]

12 Sunday, February 12

A look at how declining home construction in Lawrence is creating concern on multiple fronts, including at the school district

2023-02-12T08:02:51-06:00February 12th, 2023|

The fact that Lawrence isn’t building very many single-family houses causes concern not only for [school board president Shannon] Kimball, but also with the school board-hired consultants who were tasked with making enrollment projections for the district over the next several years. Kimball said those consultants have given the district “information that leads me to believe that we may be a declining enrollment district for the next five years.” Given that the state bases a lot of its funding for K-12 education on a formula that pays the district based on the number of students it has, declining enrollments are likely [...]

10 Friday, February 10

Office of Broadband to Launch ‘Kansas Broadband Roadshow’

2023-02-10T13:27:03-06:00February 10th, 2023|

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the Kansas Office of Broadband Development will take its “Kansas Broadband Roadshow” across the state beginning this week. Starting in Emporia on Wednesday, February 15, Broadband staff will travel the state to learn directly from Kansans about internet access and its availability in their communities. The meetings will give the Broadband Office a grassroots understanding of the current connectivity landscape throughout Kansas to develop an effective five-year strategic action plan and support statewide digital equity. ... The Office of Broadband officially kicked off its engagement process on January 19 at the [...]

10 Friday, February 10

American Warrior, Inc. v. Board of Finney County Comm’rs (Procedure for issuing conditional-use permits)

2023-02-10T13:08:57-06:00February 10th, 2023|

This case involves an appeal from a decision of the district court of Finney County affirming the validity of a conditional-use permit issued by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) of Finney County to Huber Sand, Inc. to operate a sand and gravel quarry. The Appellants argue the procedures for reviewing and issuing a conditional-use permit adopted by Finney County—in which the BZA, rather than the planning commission and board of county commissioners, can issue conditional-use permits—impermissibly varies from the procedures mandated by the Legislature. As a result, they claim the permit issued here is void and unenforceable. Because our Supreme [...]

10 Friday, February 10

Unified Government nets $12M following failure to build Hollywood Casino hotel

2023-02-10T11:42:21-06:00February 10th, 2023|

The owners of Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway have paid more than $12 million in penalties for failing to build a hotel in conjunction with the casino. Kansas Entertainment LLC, a joint venture between PENN Entertainment and International Speedway Corp., now part of NASCAR, since 2015 has made $12.1 million in annual payments to the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas. The yearly sums range between $988,215 and $2,333,850 over that timeframe, according to data obtained through a recent records request. The penalties stem from Kansas Entertainment's failure to build a hotel as stipulated in its September 2009 casino development [...]

10 Friday, February 10

12 Kansas towns, cities to receive $5M in federal funds in road safety grants

2023-02-10T11:40:53-06:00February 10th, 2023|

A dozen communities in Kansas are slated to receive federal funds to help improve road safety. Gov. Laura Kelly's office announced that a total of $5 million in federal dollars will be distributed among 12 Kansas communities through the new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program. This program aims to create local transportation safety plans to identify and address transportation safety concerns. State funding through the new Kansas SS4A match pilot program will contribute to the local match as required of grant recipients. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) sent 22 letters of support for the first round [...]

10 Friday, February 10

Municipal Bond Trends for February 9, 2023

2023-02-10T10:08:58-06:00February 10th, 2023|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman, Beth Warren and Henry Schmidt.

9 Thursday, February 9

Municipal Bond Trends for February 8, 2023

2023-02-09T09:50:51-06:00February 9th, 2023|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman, Beth Warren and Henry Schmidt.

9 Thursday, February 9

Lights, cameras … Kansas? State may revive tax credit, despite effectiveness concern

2023-02-09T07:53:33-06:00February 9th, 2023|

On paper, Kevin Willmott and Hallmark movies are about as different as can be. Willmott, a Kansas native and professor of film at the University of Kansas, won an Academy Award for his writing of the movie "BlacKkKlansman." Hallmark Media, based within shouting distance of Kansas in Kansas City, has become infamous for its escapist, romantic comedy romps, often set in cozy, snowy small towns. But both are united in support for Kansas reinstating a tax credit for TV and film productions, a move that supporters say is necessary to reignite the industry in the state. Source: CJonline

Go to Top