Kansas News Service, August 2, 2019

State line blues It’s fair for much of Kansas to watch the news out of Johnson County with a little resentment. All those people, all that wealth, all that resulting power tucked into the suburban eastern edge of the state. But ignore what’s happening in that vast sprawl of beige homes, clogged highways and character-free strip malls, and you risk missing out on developments that can ripple out across Kansas. Consider first, the ongoing bidding war tugging businesses to one side or the other of the Kansas-Missouri line. There’s fresh talk of a truce, a promise not to toss out tax breaks to firms just for moving a few miles east or west. Missouri lawmakers have passed a measure that aims to cut off tax incentives for cross-border moves in the Kansas City area. On Friday, Gov. Laura Kelly joined Kansas in the peace talks with an executive order. But it’ll be easy and oh-so-tempting to bust any compact the next time a sizable employer comes asking for a tax break. Meanwhile, Johnson County’s also Ground Zero for big box stores challenginghow to value their property for tax purposes — arguing their assessmentsshould consider the worth of an empty building, not a bustling business. That could have ramifications across the state, effectively shrinking tax bases across the state for cities, schools, libraries and a host of other local jurisdictions. Chip away enough at a local tax base and pressure will mount for the state to help out. Toss around enough state tax abatements in a border war, and Topeka will be less able to come up with the money. So abhor or adore Johnson County. Just watch what’s going on there. — Scott Canon, Kansas News Service managing editor

"The hemp industry is like the Wild West and Wall Street had a baby." — Chris Brunin of Quiet Trees, a Lawrence-based CBD company

A green line Kansas legalized CBD, the cannabis extract without the marijuana high, last summer. That’s brought a fast-growing industry to strip malls and grocery shelves across the state. It’s also introduced Kansas to products that can offer less CBD than advertised, ones that contain heavy metals and butane, or ones that make you fail drug tests. And marketing claims regularly go well beyond CBD’s proven medicinal powers. It’s confusing. Buyers should approach mindfully, and carefully. Catch up here.

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In line for help Much of what domestic violence shelters in Kansas offer is a haven during crises, a safe place for women and their children. Now a pilot program tests the power for something more — adult mentors striving to bring a respite of fun to older kids and teenagers at some of the worst moments in their lives. The program, called Empowered Families Kansas Project, serves older kids and teens suffering violence at the hands of their parents or people they’re dating. It’s in its early stages and scattered just a few places across the state. But the people behind it hope it might get bigger and bring some joy into lives tossed into chaos. Read about it.

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Coming down the line Where would we be if we couldn’t stream movies or music? Far-eastern Kansas counties and a broad swath of western Kansas. The newly released statewide broadband map shows in greater detail than ever before where 3.5% of Kansas residents don’t have adequate access to the internet. You can even search by your address … if you have internet, that is. Telecom experts know it’s expensive to get service out to those areas, but advocates say it’s crucial to make up for the gap that’s been left in the wake of rural hospitals closing. Are you connected?

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