Wednesday: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 7am, then a slight chance of rain between 7am and 1pm. High near 53. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 15 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 30. North wind 6 to 11 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.

Link to the National Weather Service radar.

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La Cygne council approves purchase of drug-testing device

La Cygne Police Chief Zachary Mathies gives a demonstration of a spectrometer to the La Cygne City Council on Wednesday, March 4. The device is used to detect illegal substances. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) Press release By Zachary Mathies, La Cygne Police Chief LA CYGNE – To increase officer and public safety, responsibly utilize grant funding, and stay current with modern investigative tactics, the La Cygne Police Department has purchased a “Narc Ranger” spectrometer

Roger Sims

Application for motocross track zoning, permit withdrawn

A motocross competitor goes airborne during a race event on a track east of Trading Post. An application for a conditional use permit to operate a training facility at the track was withdrawn. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – After the Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission conducted three hearings over the past couple months on whether to issue a zoning change and conditional use (CUP) permit for a motocross track eas

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

Emergency services update: Fire chief reports fire ban complaints

The Linn County fire chief has implemented burn bans on days where strong gusts and dry foliage could make open fires difficult to control. He said he has received complaints about the frequency of the bans. (Wix file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Linn County Fire Chief Randy Hegwald told the Linn County commissioners during his weekly report on Monday, Feb. 23, that during the recent open burning ban, he received complaints from la

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

2024 SEPTEMBER 400 x 400 Linn County Journal.jpg

• Dale Eugene Prothe

• Susan Elaine Dempsey

• Rick Nash

• Ramona Holland

• Keith Holland

For recent local news, go to
page 4
by clicking here.

Prairie View to present 'Radium Girls' Friday, Saturday evenings

Arthur Roeder (Cash Lintner) and his wife, Diane (Cheyenne Moss), argue on what actions to take after they learn that girls at the U.S. Radium Corp. factory are being affected by radiation poisoning. The Prairie View theater department presents the dramatic play "Radiation Girls" this Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7. Curtain time both evenings is 7 p.m. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) After a rollicking musical with last semester's "Give My Regards to Broadway," the Pra

Roger Sims

Commission, attorneys discuss Tanglewood case but make no public comment

The president of the Tanglewood Lakes Owners Association pressed the Linn County Commission for information on the TLOA's lawsuit on Monday. Instead, the commission went into a closed-door session with attorneys before emerging with no comment. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff Lcjeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – The Linn County Commission recessed behind closed doors on Monday, Feb. 23, to discuss with attorneys any subsequent steps that can be taken in the

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

La Cygne to change method of paying utility bills; cold surge bumps up natural gas pricing

La Cygne City Hall is transitioning to a new software system, and that will effect how some customers pay utility bills for the next couple of months. By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@iclould.com LA CYGNE – La Cygne residents who pay their utility bills by automatic payment will need to make some adjustments over the next two months or so. The city is in the midst of transitioning from one software system to another, so those who normally pay with the automatic

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

Regional Health Challenges Highlighted in New CHC/SEK Study

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas this week released a report on health challenges facing residents in its service area, which includes Linn County. (Journnal file photo) Press release PITTSBURG, Kan. — The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) has released the results of its 2026 Community Health Needs Assessment—a detailed look at the biggest health challenges facing people in Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma. The organization conducts this

Press release

Commission debates future of economic development program

The Linn County Commission discussed the possible dismantling of the county's economic development program during Monday's commission meeting on Feb. 23. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff lcjeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – The Linn County Commission heard the possible ramifications of dissolving the county’s economic development committee and not hiring an economic development director at its meeting on Monday, Feb. 23. County Counselor Jacklyn Paletta had b

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

For recent local news, go to
page 4 by clicking here.

Matters of Faith by Dr. Bascom Ratliff
For more Matters of Faith columns, follow this link.

Those we meet while walking with Jesus

Matters of Faith By Dr. Bascom Ratliff Pastor, Beagle, Fontana and Parker United Methodist Churches Scripture: Mark 1: 40-44. Jesus heals a leper. Mark 5: 25-34. A woman is healed after touching Jesus’s garment. Matthew 19: 14. Jesus welcomes children. Today's message is a call to us to welcome and embrace the modern-day lepers and marginalized people in our society. There are a number of Bible verses that tell of Jesus encountering diverse individuals who are ill, poor, or i

Dr. Bascom Ratliff

Country Notebook by Rogene 'Jeannie' McPherson
For Country Notebook articles follow this link.

Playing in the sandbox

Country Notebook By Rogene "Jeannie" McPherson The Super Bowl was played weeks ago, but I am still disgusted about aspects of the halftime performance. Please let me ramble just a little longer and trust me to offer a story that goes well beyond the Super Bowl. One of the internet sites ran an interview before the Super Bowl asking shoppers in San Francisco who they would watch during half-time, Bad Bunny or the alternative half-time show featuring Kid Rock. I couldn’t ident

Rogene "Jeannie" McPherson, Country Notebook

Opinion: If Kansas punishes schools for student walkouts, it will discourage free speech. Just as intended.

Young anti-war protestors march at in 1971 at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C. (Photo from the Library of Congress) By Max McCoy Kansas Reflector In February 1969, more than 400 students at two high schools in Kansas City, Kansas, walked out of their classes to protest the lack of Black history courses. The students were from all-Black Sumner High School — the only high school in Kansas to be legally segregated — and from Wyandotte High, a school with a significant

Max McCoy, Kansas Reflector

Opinion: Senate Bill 360 curbs pharmacy benefit managers, brings sanity to Rx pricing

Independent pharmacies are struggling to remain in business as pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and insurance companies create monopolies that but the squeeze on the locally owned businesses. (Wix photo file) By Mike Burns I am a pharmacist. I am a pharmacy owner. I am an employer. And for six months of my life, I was also a cancer patient. While I already knew of the problems with pharmacy benefit managers and healthcare, that unique vantage point confirmed something Kansans

Opinion

More Local News

Pleasanton council approves cost to plan water plant repair

The Pleasanton City Council has approved hiring BG Consultants Inc. for $30,000 to plan and oversee the replacement of the roof over the filter and clarifier systems building at the city's water plant. It will also provide funds for the engineering firm to study providing a secondary water source for the city. (Journal file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com PLEASANTON – Pleasanton’s engineering firm got the green light to begin planning the roof

Roger Sims

La Cygne police chief to add new full-time officer, adds new vehicle to fleet

The La Cygne Police Department added this SUV to its fleet earlier this month. (La Cygne Police Department Facebook) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com LA CYGNE – The La Cygne City Council was not exactly unanimous in supporting a plan earlier this month by Police Chief Zachary Mathies, who asked to add another full-time policeman to his force. Frustrated by the inability of the department to hire someone qualified to be the “Community Development Offi

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

La Cygne council approves land purchase, questions impact of data center on water supply

The La Cygne City Council approves purchasing land adjacent to its water plant to build a clearwell that will hold up to 500,000 gallons. (Journal file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com LA CYGNE – After several days of negotiations and special meetings, the city council voted unanimously to purchase a lot adjacent to the north of the city’s water plant, at 116 N. First St. for $47,000. The purchase of the lot, which is 100 feet wide, will enable

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

Procedure for placing help-wanted ads questioned by county clerk

Linn County Clerk Chasity Ware asked county commissioners to clarify policy on placing help wanted ads. (Wix file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staf f lcjeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Linn County Clerk Chasity Ware brought up a question on Tuesday, Feb. 17, about employment ads in the newspaper and which departments were responsible for the cost. Ware said that when they received an invoice and she was asked how it needed to be paid, her first thought was that it should

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

High school sports

Basketball substate scores

3A Girls substate @ West Franklin

Jayhawk-Linn 31, Girard 56

Jayhawks (23-3) are runner-up substate champs

1A Division 1 Boys substate @ Madison

Pleasanton 28, Norwich 54

Blu-Jays (22-2) are runner-up substate champs

State, Regional & National News

Kansas foster care law forced an adopted teen to move out of his new family home

Jonathan and Katie Stahl's family has grown through years of foster care. All of the boys pictured here are considered their children, most of whom were at one point in foster care. Their first adopted son is not pictured. (Jonathan Stahl) Child welfare advocates say Kansas foster care regulations unintentionally tear families apart. State law forced one family to decide between asking their adopted son to move out when he turned 18 or send four younger boys out of their fost

Kansas News Service

Kansas AG offers to delay enforcement of anti-trans law until March 26 while judge weighs challenge

Douglas County District Judge James McCabria talks with attorneys during a hearing on Kansas’ new law that restricts transgender individuals to using their biological sex at birth on documents and when they use restrooms in government office buildings. March 6, 2026 (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) By Morgan Chilson Kansas Reflector LAWRENCE — Kansans won’t know until at least Tuesday if a judge will delay implementation of the state’s new “bathroom law,” but a conce

Morgan Chilson, Kansas Reflector

Conservative groups escalate Title IX complaint against Kansas school district over trans policies

By Grace Hills Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — Conservative nonprofits added pressure to the federal investigation into the Shawnee Mission school district that began last year by sending a supplemental complaint outlining the “emotional distress” cisgender students face around transgender students and district policies. The supplemental Title IX complaint they sent to the U.S. Department of Education outlines a then-first-grader’s distress after seeing a transgender student in the

Kansas Reflector

Kansas Air National Guard’s 190th refueling wing deploys in support of war against Iran

Members of the Kansas Air National Guard's 190th air refueling wing based at Forbes Field in Topeka are deployed in support of President Donald Trump's war against Iran. Five of the state's six congressional delegation members oppose halting the U.S. military's engagement pending approval by Congress. (Heber Davis / Upsplash) By Tim Carpenter Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — Servicemembers in a Kansas Air National Guard air refueling wing deployed in support of the U.S.-Israeli war

Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Kansas Senate approves cap on property valuations, despite questions on real tax savings

Sen. Pat Pettey. shown here in a file photo, is concerned a 3% cap on property valuations won’t lower property taxes as most Kansans will expect. (Photo by Grace Hills for Kansas Reflector) By Morgan Chilson Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate passed a resolution Wednesday to cap property valuation increases at 3%, the first step toward achieving a constitutional change that would need to be approved by voters. An amendment to the constitution must be approved by a m

Roger Sims

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Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Link to the National Weather Service radar.

Want to get the Linn County Journal's free email newsletters? Enter your email below and then click on 'Subscribe.' Be sure to put 'info@linncountyjournal.com' in your contacts so you don't miss a message.

Top Stories

La Cygne council approves purchase of drug-testing device

Application for motocross track zoning, permit withdrawn

Emergency services update: Fire chief reports fire ban complaints

For recent local news, go to page 4 by clicking here.

Prairie View to present 'Radium Girls' Friday, Saturday evenings

Commission, attorneys discuss Tanglewood case but make no public comment

La Cygne to change method of paying utility bills; cold surge bumps up natural gas pricing

Regional Health Challenges Highlighted in New CHC/SEK Study

Commission debates future of economic development program

For recent local news, go to page 4 by clicking here.

Matters of Faith by Dr. Bascom Ratliff For more Matters of Faith columns, follow this link.

Those we meet while walking with Jesus

Country Notebook by Rogene 'Jeannie' McPherson For Country Notebook articles follow this link.

Playing in the sandbox

Opinion: If Kansas punishes schools for student walkouts, it will discourage free speech. Just as intended.

Opinion: Senate Bill 360 curbs pharmacy benefit managers, brings sanity to Rx pricing

More Local News

Pleasanton council approves cost to plan water plant repair

La Cygne police chief to add new full-time officer, adds new vehicle to fleet

La Cygne council approves land purchase, questions impact of data center on water supply

Procedure for placing help-wanted ads questioned by county clerk

High school sports

Basketball substate scores

​

3A Girls substate @ West Franklin

Jayhawk-Linn 31, Girard 56

Jayhawks (23-3) are runner-up substate champs

​

1A Division 1 Boys substate @ Madison

Pleasanton 28, Norwich 54

Blu-Jays (22-2) are runner-up substate champs

State, Regional & National News

Kansas foster care law forced an adopted teen to move out of his new family home

Kansas AG offers to delay enforcement of anti-trans law until March 26 while judge weighs challenge

Conservative groups escalate Title IX complaint against Kansas school district over trans policies

Kansas Air National Guard’s 190th refueling wing deploys in support of war against Iran

Kansas Senate approves cap on property valuations, despite questions on real tax savings

Back to Top

DONATE
Follow this link for more information

For recent local news, go to
page 4
by clicking here.

For recent local news, go to
page 4 by clicking here.

Matters of Faith by Dr. Bascom Ratliff
For more Matters of Faith columns, follow this link.

Country Notebook by Rogene 'Jeannie' McPherson
For Country Notebook articles follow this link.