Warm, no rain

Screenshot 2026-05-23 at 11.49.22 PM.png

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming east southeast 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight.

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.

Screenshot 2026-05-24 at 12.00.11 AM.png

Inside the Journal
Page 1 – Top news stories, weather
Page 2 – Features, Obituaries, State news, Public
Notices
Page 3 – Community & Library Calendars
Page 4 – Recent Local News
Page 5 – Local News Archive

To join our free mailing list, enter your email address in the box above and click on subscribe!

Commission approves moratorium on high voltage lines from Missouri

With two of the three commissioners present, the Linn County Commission has approved a moratorium on high voltage power lines. The lines target the lines coming from a solar farm in Missouri into Kansas. (Stock photo by Andrey Metelev / Upsplash) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – With just two commissioners in attendance and no county counselor available, Linn County Commissioners Alison Hamilton and Jim Johnson voted to approve a temporary mor

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

Deadline for filing for federal, state, county office is June 1

Deadline to file for political office and township offices is Monday, June 1, at noon. (Wix file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com MOUND CITY – With the noon filing deadline on Monday, June 1, less than five business days away, the list of candidates for several state and federal offices is growing longer in some but not all cases. Several candidates who are running campaigns have not formally filed with the Kansas Secretary of State’s office in

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

'Bare-ground' spraying for noxious weeds a focus of commission discussion

Linn County resorted to "bare--ground" herbicide treatment of ditches around culverts last year. Johnny Taylor, county noxious weed director, said that his department resorted to that after the mowing crew was short-handed and experienced equipment problems that kept them from keeping Johnson grass and other weeds in check. This photo was taken of a ditch on 2100 Road east of Gireau Road. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – T

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

Commission declares moratorium on data centers, battery storage operations

Linn County Commissioner Alison Hamilton said that she approved implementing a 12-month moratorium on taking applications for data centers and battery storage operations. (Journal file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com MOUND CITY – The Linn County Commission has issued a temporary 12-month moratorium on filing any applications or issuing any permits for data processing centers, battery energy storage, and bitcoin or cryptocurrency mining facilit

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

2024 SEPTEMBER 400 x 400 Linn County Journal.jpg

• Ruth Ellen Stainbrook

• Henry “Hank” Boedicker

• William “Bill” Good

• Brian Allen Rosendahl

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

Screenshot 2026-05-22 at 11.57.29 PM.png

Pleasanton publisher files lawsuit after being denied access to criminal records

A news organization's lawsuit in Linn County, Kansas, argue a relatively new state law violates the First Amendment rights by denying access to court records. (iStock via Getty Images Plus) By Anna Kaminski Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — When reporters at a Kansas newspaper heard about the gruesome death of a local 13-year-old boy in December, one tried to get the court records that could establish an official account of how the boy died. A Linn County News reporter asked a court

Anna Kaminski, Kansas Reflector

Kansas contemplates special legislative session to rekindle debate on property taxes

Republican gubernatorial candidate Philip Sarnecki, who wants the Kansas Legislature to convene in special session to address rising property taxes, chats with former U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder during a Jan. 30, 2026, GOP candidate forum in Wichita. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) By Tim Carpenter Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — Kansas governor candidate Philip Sarnecki wants fellow Republicans to call a special session of the Legislature to address the state’s property tax cr

Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

City Events

La Cygne

• Memorial Day service, 10 a.m., Monday, May 25, Oaklawn Cemetery

• La Cygne Library Block Party on Broadway, begins at noon, Friday, May 29

• La Cygne swimming pool opens, Saturday, May 30

Linn Valley

• Memorial Day service, 10 a.m., Saturday, May 23, at veterans memorial

Mound City

• Memorial Day service, 11 a.m., Monday, May 25, Woodlawn Cemetery

Parker

• Citywide garage sale, May 30

Pleasanton

• Fishing Derby, Saturday, June 6, Stegge Lake

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

The religion of politics

Matters of Faith By Dr. Bascom Ratliff Pastor of the Beagle, Fontana, and Parker United Methodist Churches John 18:36. Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world”. Acts 5:29. But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority”. I admit upfront that today's message is a difficult one for me. My natural desire is to mingle my faith with my political beliefs. However, I sometimes find my religious or political bias interfering with my

Dr. Bascom Ratliff

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

Opinion: Kansas kids are ‘sliding into silence.’ Let’s talk about why they are chatting less.

Our columnist asks you to “consider it a cultural public service that you are listening to me and my nonsense” when he tries to talk to you (Illustration by Eric Thomas for Kansas Reflector) By Eric Thomas Kansas Reflector In the flotsam of things I read each week — academic research, online news, sports stories and fiction — one tidbit can get naggily lodged in my thoughts. This week, the splinter in my mind is titled “Sliding Into Silence? We Are Speaking 300 Daily Words Fe

Max McCoy, Kansas Reflector

Opinion: Does Claude dream of electric gavels? A federal case with Kansas connections sets an AI precedent.

An April 2022 photo of the newly opened office of Beneficient, a Kansas financial institution described as being a “pawn shop” for the rich. (Photo by Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector) By Max McCoy Kansas Reflector Brad Heppner is guilty. That’s what a New York City jury decided recently. But the legacy of Heppner’s federal case is likely not to be his conviction, but the judge’s landmark opinion that AI legal advice isn’t privileged like attorney-client communication. I had hoped

Max McCoy, Kansas Reflector

Opinion: Journal publisher asks better cooperation from county

The Linn County Journal sent out this tornado watch notice on its mass email network on April 13 before the storm began rotating over Blue Mound. As soon as the National Weather Service noted rotation and issued a tornado warning, the Journal issued an email warning. The following is the transcript of testimony by Linn County Journal publisher Roger Sims at the May 4 Linn County Commission meeting: "During (the April 27) commission meeting, there was considerable discussion a

Roger Sims, Publisher

More Local News

Pleasanton attorney resigns, council votes down appointment of police chief, administrator

Pleasanton City Council member Sandy Haynes, center, explains her position on a vote at the city council meeting on Monday, May 4. City Attorney Jacklyn Paletta, left, resigned her post effective immediately after the council failed to vote on her reappointment by Mayor Mathew Young. (Photo by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com PLEASANTON – It was a Monday night "massacre" Pleasanton-style earlier this week. The Pleasan

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

Commission split on hiring former county clerk to help with 2027 budget

Darcy Wilson and David Lamb, former Linn County Clerk's office officials at a county commission meeting in 2025. The county commission on April 27 approved a request by current Clerk Chasity Ware to hire Lamb to help her with the 2027 budget. Wilson now works in the Miami County Clerk's office. (Photo by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@iclould.com MOUND CITY – On a 2-to-1 vote taken on April 27, the Linn County Commission hired form

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

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

State, Regional & National News

Kansas abortion rights advocate hoping for encore defeat of constitutional amendment in August vote

Sandy Brown, president of the Kansas Abortion Fund, answers questions for the Kansas Reflector podcast during a May 8, 2026, interview at her Lawrence home. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) By Sherman Smith Kansas Reflector LAWRENCE — Kansas Abortion Fund president Sandy Brown wants Kansans to show up in August and repeat their 2022 decision to defeat a constitutional amendment that could upend abortion rights in the state. Four years ago, voters by a 59-41 margin de

Sherman Smith, Kansas Reflector

Moody’s upgrades Kansas credit rating to ‘positive,’ reigniting political debate at Capitol

Moody’s Investors Service, a credit evaluation company, raised Kansas’ rating from stable to positive. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins offer reasons to claim responsibility for the upgrade. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) By Tim Carpenter Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — The state of Kansas’ credit rating upgrade from stable to positive by a leading financial research firm set off a scramble among politicians claiming responsibility for

Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Kansas Democrat makes reelection campaign for U.S. House seat official

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, files for reelection on May 11, 2026, at the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office in Topeka. In her fourth term in Congress, Davids faces both a primary and general election opponent. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) Davids seeks 5th term, plans to focus on affordability, GOP chaos in Congress By Tim Carpenter Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas formally launched a reelection campaign Monday tied to reinforci

Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Three Kansans being monitored for hantavirus after contact with infected cruise ship passenger

Passengers are evacuated by small boat on May 10, 2026, from the MV Hondius in the Granadilla Port, after at least 11 passengers became ill with Andes hantavirus. Three Kansans came into close contact with one of the passengers and are being watched by health officials in case they develop hantavirus symptoms. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) Health expert says virus presents low public health risk By Morgan Chilson Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — Three Kansans who came into c

Morgan Chilson, Kansas Reflector

Access to Justice group works to increase resources, attract attorneys to rural Kansas

Kansas Supreme Court Justice K.J. Wall says state programs to address rural attorney shortages and offer support for people who are representing themselves are filling gaps in the justice system. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector) By Morgan Chilson Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — A “civil justice crisis” in state courts and across the country requires systemic change, and Kansas’ multifaceted approach is making a difference, a Kansas Supreme Court justice said Monday. The s

Morgan Chilson, Kansas Reflector

Commission appoints interim fire chief, emergency director

Linda Simons and Brian Shroyer were at the Linn County Commission meeting on Monday, April 27, to express interest in being appointed to interim heads of their departments. Simons will take over as head of the Emergency Management Department and Shroyer will be interim county fire chief. (Screen capture / Linn County Kansas Livestream) Editor's note: In the original version of this story, Linda Simons' new salary was reported in correctly. We regret the error. By Charlene Sim

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

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

NEXT PAGE >

Help keep the Journal free.

Follow this link to DONATE

Member of the Kansas Press Association

Phone: 913-259-2546 Email: linncountyjournal@icloud.com

Linn County Journal

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Warm, no rain

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

Commission approves moratorium on high voltage lines from Missouri

Deadline for filing for federal, state, county office is June 1

'Bare-ground' spraying for noxious weeds a focus of commission discussion

Commission declares moratorium on data centers, battery storage operations

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

Pleasanton publisher files lawsuit after being denied access to criminal records

Kansas contemplates special legislative session to rekindle debate on property taxes

City Events

La Cygne

Linn Valley

Mound City

​​• Memorial Day service, 11 a.m., Monday, May 25, Woodlawn Cemetery

​

Parker

Pleasanton

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

The religion of politics

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

Opinion: Kansas kids are ‘sliding into silence.’ Let’s talk about why they are chatting less.

Opinion: Does Claude dream of electric gavels? A federal case with Kansas connections sets an AI precedent.

Opinion: Journal publisher asks better cooperation from county

More Local News

Pleasanton attorney resigns, council votes down appointment of police chief, administrator

Commission split on hiring former county clerk to help with 2027 budget

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

State, Regional & National News

Kansas abortion rights advocate hoping for encore defeat of constitutional amendment in August vote

Moody’s upgrades Kansas credit rating to ‘positive,’ reigniting political debate at Capitol

Kansas Democrat makes reelection campaign for U.S. House seat official

Three Kansans being monitored for hantavirus after contact with infected cruise ship passenger

Access to Justice group works to increase resources, attract attorneys to rural Kansas

Commission appoints interim fire chief, emergency director

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

Back to Top

Phone: 913-259-2546
Email: linncountyjournal@icloud.com

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

• Memorial Day service, 11 a.m., Monday, May 25, Woodlawn Cemetery

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.

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