Its nickname is “Little Sweden USA,” and when you pull into Lindsborg, it’s clear why. Pole banners and road signs greet visitors with a friendly “Välkommen.” Many businesses display replicas of Swedish dala horses, the town mascot. The word “SWEDES” is painted in yellow on the blue stands of the Bethany College football field. Wine and spirits are obtained at Swedes Liquor. The street benches downtown possess a distinctly Scandinavian design quality. Umlauts abound. ... Lindsborg, located in a central Kansas region called the Smoky Valley, has long punched above its weight. Settled by Swedes in 1869, it is a town [...]

Wyandotte County Mayor Tyrone Garner will no longer be able to unilaterally stop an issue from landing on the agenda of the Unified Government’s full commission meetings, after a Thursday night vote. The move stripped the mayor of autonomy over the meeting agenda, a power that had been a long-held tradition for the local government. The decision came toward the end of Thursday’s Board of Commissioners meeting, when members voted 9-1 to change the government’s rules and procedures so that the mayor cannot add or remove proposals from the agenda without seeking further approval. Source: KC Star Local News