November 21, 2024

Keeping Media and Government Accountable.

Author: Ellen Hathaway

Walk tours sell Wichita riverfront development without Century II

Urban Exploration, the next phase of the sales pitch for what to do with Wichita’s Century II convention hall took…

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KC Star ignores reality in its push for higher corporate taxes

The Kansas City Star says “there is now growing evidence that corporate taxes are too low in Kansas,” because corporate…

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Goddard school lawsuit raises ethics concern

Following the announcement of a lawsuit against vaping manufacturers Juul at a press conference, a journalist asked Goddard Superintendent Justin…

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71% of property tax appeals reduced excessive valuations

Many Kansans believe their property is overvalued by the county assessor, and the results of property tax appeals before the…

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Move underway to ban plastic bags in Wichita

Former city council member Lavonta Williams, Jessica Mounts, the director of the Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams, and two…

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Goddard superintendent uses brother’s law firm to sue vaping manufacturer

The USD 265 Goddard Public Schools Board of Education approved a resolution on Monday night to file a lawsuit against…

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Sedgwick County Commissioners kick slot machines to legislature

The Sedgwick County Commission voted unanimously to pull a resolution to allow electronic slot machines at dog tracks from the…

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Wichita gives approval for opioid lawsuit

The Wichita City council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution to join a nationwide multi-district lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and…

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Lyon County zoning proposal raises concerns

The new draft of a joint Emporia and Lyon County zoning proposal is drawing concerns of government overreach.  The zoning…

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The parent tax: school enrollment fees in Kansas

Public school enrollment fees in Kansas are allowed by state law but are in reality a double tax on parents.…

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Maize stonewalls releasing bond financials ahead of vote

Maize residents are set to vote Tuesday on two bond questions for the Maize school district, but district officials will…

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Business leaders won’t rule out a tax increase for Wichita Riverfront project

The private organizations pushing the Riverfront Legacy Masterplan won’t rule out tax increases for changes to Century II and the…

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Maize City Administrator not enforcing election sign laws ahead of bond vote

The Maize City Administrator approves of elections signs on public property encouraging a ‘yes’ vote on an upcoming school bond…

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Johnson County projects property tax increase far above inflation

Johnson County released 5-year budget projections for the county, and the county is projecting annual property tax increases that are…

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USD 259: enrollment down, payroll jumps 6%, over 100 non-classroom positions added

Fearful that school districts wouldn’t allocate enough money to classrooms, legislators tried to add accountability measures to the school funding…

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Tonganoxie residents ponder school bond project costing $94 million

Tonganoxie residents vote in early September on a bond project that’s being advertised as costing $51 million, but the total…

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Sedgwick county budget predicts large increase in property tax, personnel costs

With inflation holding steady below 2% annually, Sedgwick County’s proposed 2020 budget predicts an 18% property tax increase over the next…

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Newton school bond: understated costs, unanswered questions

A recent public meeting about the proposed Newton school bond issue left residents with several unanswered questions, including how student…

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City council members refuse to answer questions on $75 million Wichita baseball stadium

Following news of a professional baseball team failing in Kansas City, Kansas and owing at least $550,000 to local government,…

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Wichita is budgeting a $5.5 million property tax increase

The City of Wichita presented the 2020 city budget to City Council on Tuesday but didn’t mention that the budget…

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Kansas new business decreases as nation grows

Kansas is the only state in the country with negative new business growth since President Trump took office, according to…

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T-Bones baseball team for sale, owes at least $550,000 to local government

One week ago the owner of the Kansas City T-Bones baseball team, Adam Elhert, announced he would sell the team…

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Cost of Emporia school bond proposal is understated

The Emporia school bond proposal being pushed by USD 253 is said to cost just $78 million and district officials…

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Wichita approves $100,000 for Century II study

The Wichita City Council in a 7-0 vote today approved spending $100,000 on a study called the Riverfront Legacy Master…

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