Overland Park unveils city’s first all-inclusive playground at renovated Strang Park

20 Thursday, October 20

Overland Park unveils city’s first all-inclusive playground at renovated Strang Park

info2022-10-20T07:18:38-05:00October 20th, 2022|

After undergoing $4 million worth of renovations, the new and improved Strang Park in Overland Park is officially open, with the city’s first-ever all-inclusive playground as its centerpiece. ... The playground has several handicap accessible features, such as deck platforms for wheelchairs. A communication board with common words and symbols is also on site to appeal to nonverbal kids. Source: Prairie Village Post

20 Thursday, October 20

Wichita looks looking at procedural change to broaden daycare availability

info2022-10-20T01:01:17-05:00October 20th, 2022|

In response to a desperate need for child care availability in the Wichita area, city and Sedgwick County officials will soon consider a change to its joint zoning code that could increase the capacity of home daycares from 10 to 12 children and more closely align with state regulations. If approved, the change would impact about 300 home daycares in Wichita." By having them be able to have more kiddos, that's more kids that can have access to child care," said Wichita vice mayor Becky Tuttle, who was involved in the initiation of amending the Wichita-Sedgwick County unified zoning code. Source: Wichita [...]

19 Wednesday, October 19

When is low too low? Topeka police chief and union are at odds regarding staffing question

info2022-10-19T07:34:49-05:00October 19th, 2022|

Topeka’s police chief and an officeholder with the local Fraternal Order of Police voice starkly contrasting views about whether Topeka has as many sworn police officers as it needs. “We are operating fine, and we will continue to do so,” Police Chief Brian Wheeles said at a news conference last week. But Matt Blassingame, a Topeka Police Department officer who serves as the FOP’s chief steward here, disagreed. “TPD is currently experiencing a staffing crisis,” he said. The FOP represents Topeka police officers with the rank of sergeant and below in collective bargaining. Source: CJonline

19 Wednesday, October 19

Lawrence City Commission approves raising age to buy tobacco, vaping products to 21

info2022-10-19T07:32:56-05:00October 19th, 2022|

Lawrence city leaders have voted to raise the legal age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 and to establish a local tobacco sales license and enforcement process. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted 5-0 to adopt two ordinances that raise the age to buy tobacco, establish the local license procedures, and various new provisions regarding tobacco use. The changes would cover traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes as well as synthetic products such as e-cigarettes or vapes. Source: LJWorld

19 Wednesday, October 19

Emporia Main Street looking to increase resources for local “maker businesses” following two day seminar in Emporia

info2022-10-19T07:11:13-05:00October 19th, 2022|

Already an organization known for its support of entrepreneurial success, Emporia Main Street is looking to grow the city’s reputation for housing several successful “maker businesses.” This past week, Emporia welcomed representatives of National Main Street for a two-day training where the focus was on “maker businesses,” businesses in which the majority of products are made in-house. While speaking with KVOE News, Emporia Main Street Director Casey Woods listed just a few of the community’s most successful makers. Woods says having these types of businesses in the local community helps to cut out supply chains, and thus reduce the level of [...]

19 Wednesday, October 19

Municipal Bond Trends for October 18, 2022

info2022-10-19T07:09:28-05:00October 19th, 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 and Beth Warren.

19 Wednesday, October 19

Governor Laura Kelly Announces 12 “Rural Champions” Leading Local Community Efforts

info2022-10-19T02:28:02-05:00October 19th, 2022|

Governor Laura Kelly today announced the 12 grant recipients of the Rural by Choice Champions Program (Rural Champions) that launched earlier this year in collaboration with the Patterson Family Foundation. The selected Rural Champions will be a part of a statewide network of grassroots individuals tackling critical projects in their respective communities. “I created the Office of Rural Prosperity in 2019 to bring attention to the needs of rural communities across Kansas,” Governor Kelly said. “By finding local solutions to local challenges, the Rural Champions program exemplifies the mission of the Office and all that rural Kansas can achieve.” Source: Kansas [...]

19 Wednesday, October 19

Wichita names its next police chief, a former leader in Philadelphia department

info2022-10-19T06:54:27-05:00October 19th, 2022|

Wichita’s next police chief will be Joseph P. Sullivan, a former leader in the Philadelphia Police Department. City Manager Robert Layton announced the decision Tuesday afternoon in a written statement. Sullivan’s start date is early December. “Joe Sullivan has a proven ability to successfully lead and manage a world-class police department,” Layton said in the news release. “I have every confidence that he is the right person at the right time to take on the challenging task of ensuring Wichita residents have trust in the integrity and transparency of our police department.” Source: Wichita Eagle

19 Wednesday, October 19

Plan calls for Wichita to spend $31 million paving dirt roads over the next 10 years

info2022-10-19T06:54:48-05:00October 19th, 2022|

The city of Wichita will spend $1 million paving dirt roads around schools in 2023. The City Council on Tuesday approved year one of a 10-year capital improvement plan to fund $31 million of paving projects near schools and in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Public Works and Utilities Director Alan King said 160 of the 5,100 lane miles managed by his department are dirt roads. “We have these islands within the city, within neighborhoods, of unpaved roads,” King told council members. “The historical approach to this has been to have petitions circulated and then the cost of those streets are borne by the [...]

19 Wednesday, October 19

New hi-tech body cameras in use by Arkansas City Police Department

info2022-10-19T06:56:08-05:00October 19th, 2022|

The $25,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice helps to pay for the first year of a five-year lease of the cameras at a total cost of $150,000, according to information provided by the city. Made by a company called Utility, Inc., the cameras offer several benefits the older ones didn’t. They are embedded into uniforms and can’t fall off, and the video can be uploaded remotely. They also can turn on automatically under certain circumstances, such as anytime an officer draws their handgun from its holster, begins to run, jostles or shakes, such as during a fight; activates lights [...]