A national penny shortage has forced Barton County officials to examine how they will handle cash transactions, with County Treasurer Jim Jordan outlining two potential rounding methods during a County Commission study session Tuesday afternoon. “This isn’t a really big deal, but you will get calls,” Jordan said. Jordan presented the commission with information on “conventional rounding” and “bankers rounding” as the county anticipates a complete halt to penny circulation following a U.S. Mint directive in August to stop production. Conventional rounding, the more common method, would always round a number ending in $.05 up to the nearest dollar amount. And this is the direction Jordan said he plans to go since the Kansas Department of Revenue hasn’t offered any guidance.
Read more: Great Bend Tribune

The Jackson County Commissioners want to let TerraPower, LLC and Evergy leaders know that, as they seek a location for a new nuclear power plant in the state, Jackson County is open for business. At Monday’s Jackson County Commission meeting, the commissioners signed a resolution supporting the development of a Natrium reactor in the county and outlined the advantages of building a facility here. “We need to get it out there as soon as possible that Jackson County is open for business and we want to be considered for it,” Commissioner Mark Pruett said. In September, officials from TerraPower, a nuclear innovation company started by Bill Gates and others, Evergy and the Kansas Department of Commerce, announced they were working together to explore building a Natrium reactor and energy storage system in Kansas.
Read more: Holton Recorder

It was ripping hot out, and there wasn’t much shade offering respite from the sun that was blazing down. But still, volunteers were out braving the summery conditions, tools in hand, helping to build one of the 14 single-family homes Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City is building in southern Olathe as part of its Pathway at Heritage Park affordable neighborhood in partnership with Pathway Community Christian Church. This project, located around 159th Street and Black Bob Road, is one of Habitat KC’s biggest efforts to date in Johnson County. Aside from some infill projects “here and there,” said Lindsay Hicks, CEO for Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City, it was the first major construction project Habitat had embarked on in Johnson County. Now, construction is well underway. All of that comes as the nonprofit has started to put more focus on supporting homeownership and housing access in Johnson County, but there’s still more to be done.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Reno County Commissioners tabled discussion of increasing commissioner pay for a month Wednesday to gather more information and constituent input. Among Kansas counties with county administrators or managers, Reno County has the lowest commissioner pay at $11,340 per year, Human Resources Director Helen Foster said. She added that commissioner pay is low enough that it prompts questions from employees of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System about whether Reno County is reporting its full salary. Tabling it until December allows commissioners to track how many hours per week they spend on county business. Commissioner Ron Hirst said he has tracked the time he spends on county business since late September, and it has ranged from two to 20 hours in a week.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

Over the past 15 years, the City of Hutchinson issued only about a dozen building permits per year for new single-family homes—and twice as many demolition permits. To meet current housing demand, however, and spur new economic and population growth, there needs to be 10 times that number—annually—for the next decade, according to findings of the Reno County Housing Needs Assessment completed in 2024. It’s no secret that the availability of affordable housing is a serious issue in Hutchinson and Reno County, which contributes to many other challenges, including a growing homeless population and difficulty in attracting new employers.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

Iola’s newest sports program is already getting attention from dozens of students, who may soon begin practicing to become the first members of the Iola High School fishing team. With at least 15 students expressing interest in the sport, Iola High School is starting up a fishing club this month.
Read more: The Iola Register

Proponents argue a registry is needed to hold landlords accountable for unsafe living conditions, citing issues like infestations and mold. Opponents, primarily landlords, feel the measure unfairly punishes good property owners for the actions of a few.
Read more: CJonline