Ending source of income discrimination in Lawrence will be a key step toward solving housing crisis, panelists say

9 Friday, December 9

Ending source of income discrimination in Lawrence will be a key step toward solving housing crisis, panelists say

info2022-12-09T12:33:59-06:00December 9th, 2022|

Only about 10% of Lawrence landlords participate in housing voucher programs, and right now, 51 households with vouchers in hand are actively searching and struggling to find housing. Gabby Boyle, prevention specialist at the Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center, and Mariel Ferreiro, landlord liaison for the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority, shared those statistics and context alongside other local housing experts Thursday evening during a panel at the Lawrence Public Library. Ferreiro explained that the housing authority administers transitional vouchers, which allow people to build rental history and acclimate from experiencing homelessness, and housing choice vouchers. Those subsidies provide landlords guaranteed [...]

9 Friday, December 9

Johnson County Commission approves nearly $4 million grant for homelessness services

info2022-12-09T09:56:35-06:00December 9th, 2022|

The Johnson County Commission voted Thursday to approve nearly $4 million in federal funding to go toward services to help people experiencing homelessness and prevention efforts. Commissioners voted 5-1 to accept a grant of about $3.97 million from the American Rescue Plan to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, which the county will have 10 years to spend. Commissioner Charlotte O’Hara voted against the measure, and Commissioner Janée Hanzlick was absent. For the last decade, Rita Carr, the director of community planning with United Community Services, or UCS, of Johnson County, said the number of people experiencing homelessness, staying [...]

9 Friday, December 9

Developer of prominent JoCo site asks for $19M in incentives

info2022-12-09T09:55:28-06:00December 9th, 2022|

Developers are asking for nearly $20 million in public tax incentives for a project that promises to remake a prominent site on Roe Boulevard in Roeland Park. The Roeland Park City Council this week unanimously approved rezoning and a preliminary development plan for the roughly $75 million proposed mixed-use project at The Rocks site at 4800 W. Roe Blvd., where the city pool was once located decades ago. Source: Shawnee Mission Post

9 Friday, December 9

Fears Grow Over Plan to Distribute Billions in Broadband Dollars

info2022-12-09T12:39:33-06:00December 9th, 2022|

In several states around the country, officials say they are finding major problems with a crucial, new federal map meant to show the adequacy of internet service at the household level. The Federal Communications Commission map, released last month, is critical in determining how the Biden administration will distribute billions of dollars in federal broadband funding from last year’s infrastructure law around the country. But state and local officials say they’re seeing discrepancies that have them concerned the money will not go to the places where it’s most needed to give Americans improved access to high-speed internet. With a deadline looming [...]

9 Friday, December 9

Pittsburg city employees showcase works at Root Coffeehouse

info2022-12-09T12:40:31-06:00December 9th, 2022|

The city of Pittsburg will celebrate the creativity of its employees this month with the "City Photogs" exhibit. Two dozen city staff members have submitted images that will be displayed through December at Root Coffeehouse, 402 N. Broadway. The photos are all original works that aim to capture the four seasons.... An artist reception is planned for 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, at Root Coffeehouse. Source: www.joplinglobe.com

9 Friday, December 9

Kansas grant program to invest $1.5 million into aging downtown areas

info2022-12-09T12:41:55-06:00December 9th, 2022|

According to an official from the Kansas Department of Commerce (KDC), the agency has allotted $1.5 million in 2023 to help communities around the state restore aging downtown areas. Linda Hunsicker, a specialist with the Department of Commerce’s Community Development Block Grants program, says that the funds will "take aim at blight in Kansas' communities." “The goal is to strategically invest grant funds to prevent the spread of blighted conditions to structures,” Hunsicker said. “We want communities to improve downtown buildings so that those buildings will continue to thrive in the communities and (residents) will have a nice, beautiful downtown.” These [...]

9 Friday, December 9

Around 200 sick in USD 504 Oswego; cleaning scheduled

info2022-12-09T12:42:47-06:00December 9th, 2022|

According to Superintendent Mitchell Shaw, USD 504 in Oswego, Kansas, has around 200 students and staff sick. Besides general sickness, some are ill with RSV and Influenza A. One school has 44 percent of students out. School officials met with the board and health officials to organize a deep clean in all buildings ahead of Monday. The district has canceled school and all school activities for Thursday and Friday (Dec. 8-9). At this time, classes and activities are planned to resume on Monday, December 12. Source: KOAMKOAM

9 Friday, December 9

Municipal Bond Trends for December 8, 2022

Henry Schmidt2022-12-09T09:46:06-06:00December 9th, 2022|

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 Friday, December 9

KU launches new program to evaluate police, sheriff’s departments across the state

info2022-12-09T08:18:45-06:00December 9th, 2022|

A branch of the University of Kansas has gotten into the business of evaluating the operations of law enforcement agencies across the state and offering accreditation to police and sheriff’s departments. The Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, which is based in Hutchinson but run by KU, has recently launched the Kansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. The program reviews police and sheriff’s departments that sign up for the program, and ultimately certifies whether the agencies are meeting a set of best practices for law enforcement. Source: LJWorld

9 Friday, December 9

As city stops taking new residents at North Lawrence homeless camp, concerns grow about life and safety issues at East Lawrence camp

info2022-12-09T08:17:53-06:00December 9th, 2022|

The city of Lawrence is no longer allowing new residents in its sanctioned camp for the homeless, but now there is concern that an unsanctioned camp along the railroad tracks in East Lawrence is growing. At the unofficial camp behind the Amtrak depot near Seventh and New Jersey streets, there are now tents for the homeless about 25 paces from the active Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad line. A business neighbor, Tony Krsnich of Kennedy Glass, said that’s closer than he’s seen at any point in the last two years, and he estimated the footprint of the overall campground has approximately [...]