Lawrence city leaders to consider putting proposal for directly elected mayor, other changes to form of government on Nov. ballot

9 Tuesday, August 9

Lawrence city leaders to consider putting proposal for directly elected mayor, other changes to form of government on Nov. ballot

info2022-08-09T11:18:12-05:00August 9th, 2022|

Lawrence city leaders will soon consider putting changes to the city’s form of government on the ballot. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider a resolution to put the question of whether the city should transition to a system with a directly elected mayor and a six-member commission elected by districts on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. All terms would also be changed to four years long. Source: LJWorld

9 Tuesday, August 9

Lawrence board could close schools due to budget issues

info2022-08-09T23:45:18-05:00August 9th, 2022|

The Lawrence school board is looking at another way to solve budget issues that could include cutting schools. The school board is considering hiring a consultant to look at future enrollment and the use of school buildings in the district. The consulting firm is RSP and Assoc. If approved, RPS would provide 5-year enrollment projections, a development and housing analysis and a demographic profile for the district. The team would also include a community engagement process to talk future educational needs, the district's wants and available financial resources. Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 - WDAF

8 Monday, August 8

Municipal Bond Trends for August 8, 2022

info2022-08-08T23:37:33-05:00August 8th, 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.

8 Monday, August 8

The child-care choice: Employers and talent alike realize daycare challenges are hindering part of the workforce

info2022-08-08T00:41:33-05:00August 8th, 2022|

Conner Hampton was a stay-at-home dad for about five months because, like many Wichita parents, he couldn't find an opening at a daycare center for his newborn son. He turned down a few jobs because of it, too. After months of trying, Hampton eventually found an available slot and re-entered the workforce. Now, he's development director of Center City Academy, a new early child development center planned in downtown Wichita — a role in which he hopes to be part of finding a solution to a growing problem. Source: Wichita Business Journal

8 Monday, August 8

Butler Community College administrator sees connections between school and El Dorado

info2022-08-08T23:24:53-05:00August 8th, 2022|

Butler Community College is making good on the "community" portion of its name as it works to connect students of color more directly with El Dorado. "True fulfillment comes through involvement," says Aletra Chaney-Profit, director of career services at the school. "So when our students can become more involved, they have a better educational experience." Chaney-Profit says community engagement is a priority for a variety of groups at Butler, including its Inclusion Council, Black Student Association (for which she is an advisor), Hispanic American Leadership Organization and CARES team. Source: Wichita Business Journal

8 Monday, August 8

Fed Governor Bowman sees ‘similarly sized’ rate hikes ahead after three-quarter point moves

info2022-08-08T00:36:36-05:00August 8th, 2022|

Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman said Saturday she supports the central bank's recent big interest rate increases and thinks they are likely to continue until inflation is subdued. The Fed, at its last two policy meetings, raised benchmark borrowing rates by 0.75 percentage point, the largest increase since 1994. Those moves were aimed at subduing inflation running at its highest level in more than 40 years. In addition to the hikes, the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee indicated that "ongoing increases ... will be appropriate," a view Bowman said she endorses. "My view is that similarly sized increases should be [...]

8 Monday, August 8

Olathe schools boost security: All staff will wear button that can lock down building

info2022-08-08T00:34:43-05:00August 8th, 2022|

A months-long internal investigation of the Olathe East High School shooting that left three injured — and a student charged with attempted capital murder — found that the district must improve communication during a school crisis. As a result, the district announced that for this coming school year, all staff will wear a badge equipped with a button that allows them to call for help during emergencies, and lock down a school if needed. The district also will add more safety personnel at high schools. Source: Joco 913 News

8 Monday, August 8

Small Kansas town became a top travel destination after years of decline. Here’s how

info2022-08-08T23:25:47-05:00August 8th, 2022|

Sometimes when Cole Herder has a free moment he likes to get up from behind his cluttered desk at Humboldt City Hall and go stand by the bank of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the town square. He remembers what the view once was: a city hanging by its nails, a downtown with half its teeth knocked out, a decaying hotel whose only guests were ghosts. How things change. These days, downtown Humboldt is tingling with so many projects and new businesses that Herder, the city administrator, struggles to keep track of it all. Source: Kansas City Star

8 Monday, August 8

Prairie Village is getting rid of Bird’s electric scooters in August

info2022-08-08T23:27:29-05:00August 8th, 2022|

The city council’s Committee of the Whole on Monday decided against renewing the city’s one-year pilot program with Bird Rides, Inc., which would have kept the dockless, pay-as-you-go vehicles on city streets for another year... Aside from lack of usage, several councilmembers expressed concerns about safety and negative resident feedback. Some, like Councilmember Inga Selders, said she’s heard from a resident in a wheelchair who was unable to get around scooters parked at the Shops of Prairie Village. Councilmember Chad Herring said he still worries about safety issues with scooters, including riders falling off or getting injured. Source: KCUR News [...]

8 Monday, August 8

New CDC study offers best look at how many people got sick at Kansas park last year

info2022-08-08T00:27:02-05:00August 8th, 2022|

The June 2021 bacterial and viral outbreak linked to Tanganyika Wildlife Park is now a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case study. The CDC’s study is based on survey responses submitted by 404 people who visited Tanganyika last year between May 28 and June 19. The study provides a closer look at what happened, including more concrete figures on the number of people who got sick. The park reopened in July 2021 after implementing the CDC’s Model Aquatic Health Code. Sedgwick County’s top health official said he is “satisfied that all requirements (of reopening) are met and that there [...]