Connect with us

Kansas

Kansas attorney general concludes Junction City Commission broke open meeting law • Kansas Reflector

Published

on

Kansas attorney general concludes Junction City Commission broke open meeting law • Kansas Reflector


TOPEKA — An investigation by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach revealed the Junction City Commission violated the Kansas Open Meetings Act by convening a closed-door meeting to discuss an economic development project that included a livestock slaughter facility on the outskirts of the city.

Public opposition to the once-confidential project, which could have forced sale of farmland for construction of roads and a traffic exit from Interstate 70, appears to have derailed the meatpacking project that was to have been built by Foote Cattle Co.

During debate on the proposal, landowner Michelle Munson filed a two-part complaint in July 2023 with the attorney general containing allegations against the city commission.

Munson, part of the Munson Angus Farms family, said the commission didn’t take steps during a public meeting nearly three years ago to approve expenditure of $5,000 used to secure a right of first refusal for the option to buy 150 acres of real estate for the project. That land on the west side of Junction City was bought by Foote Cattle, but the city had their eyes on adjacent land owned by the Munsons.

Advertisement

In addition, Munson asserted the commission broke the open meetings law two years ago by failing to precisely describe the subject to be discussed in an executive session. That closed session was also about the meatpacking facility project.

Amber Smith, first assistant attorney general in Kobach’s office, issued a letter to Munson’s attorney that said the “preponderance of the evidence” indicated the commission didn’t violate KOMA while considering the $5,000 option.

However, the attorney general’s office found the commission failed to follow the law in the later meeting by trying to limit public knowledge about the project.

“We have determined the commission failed to comply with the statutory requirements for recessing into executive session because its motion did not adequately describe the subject to be discussed,” Smith aid.

She said the city attorney would be informed of the investigation’s result and the commission would be urged to take remedial action to comply with KOMA.

Advertisement

Munson, part of a six-generation farm family in Geary County, said the process of contesting the city’s plan to convert farmland into a manufacturing hub that included an animal slaughter facility had been time consuming and difficult.

“We’re very pleased to see that the attorney general has upheld the Kansas law in terms of transparency and sunshine on the issue,” Munson said.

Allen Dinkel, city manager for Junction City, didn’t return a call Tuesday for comment about the attorney general’s response to Munson’s complaints. In previous interviews, Dinkel said the commission’s objective was to broaden the city’s tax base by creating manufacturing and trade jobs through development of land west of the city.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Kansas

Chiefs Name Burns & McDonnell as Owner’s Representative for New Practice Facility and Headquarters in Olathe

Published

on

Chiefs Name Burns & McDonnell as Owner’s Representative for New Practice Facility and Headquarters in Olathe


KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On Thursday, the Kansas City Chiefs made their first major announcement for the club’s future day-to-day home, naming Kansas City-based Burns & McDonnell as owner’s representative for the team’s practice facility and headquarters project in Olathe, Kansas.

“We are extremely excited to have Burns & McDonnell join our project team as owner’s representative for our new practice facility and headquarters that we will be building in Olathe,” Chiefs Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Matt Kenny said. “As a local, employee-owned firm with a track record of project success around the world, we know they have the right mix of local knowledge as well as global experience to help us navigate the upcoming design and construction phases of a truly unique year-round home for our football team and staff.”

Burns & McDonnell will team with CAA ICON to serve as the franchise’s trusted advisor throughout the development of the new team facilities that support both business and football operations. Working alongside Chiefs project leaders, they will provide independent oversight and experienced leadership to guide the process from early planning through construction and occupancy. They will coordinate with architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and other key stakeholders to support project execution, maintain alignment with budget and schedule objectives, manage risk, and help ensure the facility is delivered to the high standards expected by the Chiefs organization.

“We are honored to partner with the Kansas City Chiefs on this transformational project,” said Jon Wright, senior vice president and general manager of the Buildings Market at Burns & McDonnell. “The Chiefs have had an extraordinary impact on our region for generations, and this investment represents an exciting new chapter for the organization and the Kansas City community. As a Kansas City-based company, it is a privilege to help bring that vision to life by providing experienced project leadership from planning through construction. We look forward to working alongside the Chiefs and the entire project team to deliver a world-class facility for the organization, its staff and Chiefs Kingdom.”

Advertisement

Set to open ahead of the 2031 football season, the Chiefs new $300 million practice facility and headquarters – as well as an associated mixed-use development – will be located on approximately 155 acres near the intersection of College Boulevard and Ridgeview Road in Olathe.

Additional announcements related to the design and construction of the club’s new practice facility and headquarters in Olathe are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.



Source link

Continue Reading

Kansas

Kansas Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for July 15, 2026

Published

on


The Kansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at July 15, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from July 15 drawing

02-07-18-29-38, Powerball: 16, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Advertisement

Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 15 drawing

Midday: 3-3-6

Evening: 0-9-9

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from July 15 drawing

Red Balls: 02-03, White Balls: 08-22

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Advertisement

Winning Lotto America numbers from July 15 drawing

26-29-41-46-47, Star Ball: 09, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Super Kansas Cash numbers from July 15 drawing

06-08-14-24-26, Cash Ball: 01

Check Super Kansas Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 15 drawing

01-05-18-23-33, Bonus: 05

Advertisement

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Kansas Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at select Kansas Lottery offices.

By mail, send a winner claim form and your signed lottery ticket to:

Kansas Lottery Headquarters

Advertisement

128 N Kansas Avenue

Topeka, KS 66603-3638

(785) 296-5700

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a claim form, and deliver the form along with your signed lottery ticket to Kansas Lottery headquarters. 128 N Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603-3638, (785) 296-5700. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Kansas Lottery.

Advertisement

When are the Kansas Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3 Midday/Evening: 1:10 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. CT daily.
  • 2 By 2: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
  • Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
  • Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Super Kansas Cash: 9:10 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Kansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.



Source link

Continue Reading

Kansas

Kansas cases climb in ‘explosive diarrhea’ outbreak

Published

on

Kansas cases climb in ‘explosive diarrhea’ outbreak


WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – As health officials gain insight into the nationwide outbreak of the intestinal illness, cyclosporiasis, data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment show a sharp increase in cases within the Sunflower State.

As of Wednesday, KDHE is reporting 55 cases of the “explosive diarrhea” outbreak for the year, including 25 this month. A breakdown of the Kansas cases shows a balance of cases among males and females. The state data doesn’t break down county-by-county numbers, but on Tuesday, Sedgwick County confirmed five cases for the year, a total that is likely to jump with the additional statewide confirmations.

Also on Tuesday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said it identified lettuce and other salad greens as a potential source of the outbreak.

Adding to the concern about produce, Taco Bell issued a statement saying it had “voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure.

Advertisement

“We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow the guidance of public health authorities,” the restaurant chain said.

Sedgwick County offered guidance on ways to protect yourself from cyclosporiasis and bacterial illnesses connected with produce:

  • Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or preparing them.
    • Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
    • Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.
    • Avoid bagged lettuce or salad mixes. When eating a whole head of lettuce, remove the first two or three layers of leaves and thoroughly wash the inner leaves under running water. Separate the leaves as you wash them.
  • Heating food to 158 degrees or higher kills the parasite.
  • Practice good hand hygiene by washing hands with soap and water before preparing or eating food and after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
  • Travelers to cyclosporiasis-endemic areas should follow food and water precautions, including avoiding foods and beverages that may be contaminated.
  • Be aware that Cyclospora is unlikely to be killed by routine chemical disinfection or sanitizing methods.
  • If you develop symptoms of cyclosporiasis, especially persistent watery diarrhea, contact a healthcare provider for evaluation and treatment recommendations.

Copyright 2026 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending