Dear Dr. Foust, First, congratulations on your selection as the next superintendent of the Kansas City, Kansas, School District. It is an extremely important job. I have lived in the district for nearly 50 years. One of the most important things the district does is educate students who will be ready to join the workforce. [...]
By Murrel Bland It was 50 years ago on June 20, 1968, when The Wyandotte West was born. It was produced in a basement of a town house condominium in the Redwood Gardens subdivision at 816 N. 70th St. I was barely 27 years old. My staff was my business partner, Jack Root, a friend [...]
By Murrel Bland Gov. Jeff Colyer said that as he travels the State of Kansas, the number one concern he encounters from business owners and managers is the severe lack of qualified employees. The governor, who spoke at a luncheon meeting of the Congressional Forum Friday, June 15 at Children’s Mercy Park, said he has [...]
By Murrel Bland U.S. Senator Jerry Moran drew loud applause when he said he was encouraging the U.S. Department of Transportation to award a $13 million grant for an interchange at the Turner Diagonal at I-70. That comment came at a luncheon meeting of the Congressional Forum Friday, May 18 at Children’s Mercy Park. The [...]
By Murrel Bland Wyandotte County will become the “Summer of Oz” the first week in August. That was the announcement that Bridgette Jobe made during the annual tourism celebration of the Convention and Tourism Bureau Wednesday, May 2 at Memorial Hall, Kansas City, Kansas. Jobe, who is Executive Director of the Kansas City, Kansas, Convention [...]
By Murrel Bland Mayor Dave Alvey and County Administrator Doug Bach are seeking support for the extension of the three-eighth-cent sales tax that will expire in 2020. They took their campaign to a meeting of the Legislative Committee of the Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce Friday, May 11. The tax, which was first [...]
By Murrel Bland Regardless of what anyone may feel about President Donald Trump, his economic policies are working. That was the message from U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Third Dist.) who spoke Friday, April 22 at Children’s Mercy Park at the monthly meeting of the Congressional Forum. The Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors [...]
By Murrel Bland More than 50 persons crowded into a conference room at the downtown Chamber of Commerce office Friday morning, April 13. It was the monthly meeting of the Legislative Committee. One of the chief concerns among those attending was the very significant increase in commercial property values. One “horror story” was that of [...]
By Murrel Bland The University of Kansas has an annual budget of about $1.2 billion and an enrollment of 28, 447 on five campuses. It has a substantial impact on the Kansas City region’s economy. That was the message that Dr. Douglas Girod, the KU Chancellor, delivered Wednesday, April 4 at the Annual Meeting of [...]
Mike Smallwood has a simple solution for the loss of local sales tax caused by the internet—charge all sales tax at the point of origin. Smallwood is quite knowledgeable about the issue. He is the owner of Smallwood Lock and Supply and serves as the Legislative Committee chairman of the Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber [...]