Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Thunderstorms, cooler weather moving in

Screenshot 2026-03-31 at 12.25.38 AM.png

Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 14 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 7pm and 1am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Low around 55. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east northeast in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Scoure: National Weather Service

Link to the National Weather Service radar.

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La Cygne council in favor of city hall upgrade; discusses creating space for new businesses

An architect's concept of the entries to the La Cygne City Hall that were presented to the city council last month. (Journal file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com LA CYGNE – At the La Cygne City Council meeting on Feb. 18, members of the La Cygne City Council were presented with different options on the renovation of city hall. First, repairs to the two buildings on Broadway, one that has been used as city hall for a number of years and the oth

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

La Cygne council wrestles with language on sales tax ballot ahead of town hall meeting

On April 1 at 5 p.m., the La Cygne City Council begins a series of town hall meetings on the proposed changes to one of the city's 1% sales taxes. (Wix file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com LA CYGNE – In the run-up to a town hall meeting on the proposed change in one of La Cygne’s two 1% sales taxes, the consensus of the La Cygne City Council was to not determine how the sales tax would be split if the issue passed. A town hall meeting about th

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

Commission signs over roads to Tanglewood Lake Owners group

Vehicles going into and out of Tanglewood Lakes were allowed access only by electronic cards before a court decision last year forced officials there to remove the gates. (Journal file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Linn County Commissioners Jason Hightower and Jim Johnson on Monday, March 23, approved and signed a lawsuit settlement agreement with the board of the Tanglewood Lake Owners Association (TLOA). The agreement stated that b

Roger Sims

Noxious Weed Department head prepares for new season

Landowners who plan on spraying noxious weeds under the cost-share plan should contact the Linn County Noxious Weed Department. (Wix file photo) By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditor@icloud.com MOUND CITY – On Monday, March 23, the Linn County Commissioners heard a report from Linn County Noxious Weed Director Johnny Taylor and also approved a resolution that the county would spend $30,000 on the noxious weed cost-share program. Taylor reported that he had the 2026 price

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

2024 SEPTEMBER 400 x 400 Linn County Journal.jpg

• KellieTevina Marie Eicher

• Julia 'Ginger' Gardner

• Carlene Kastl

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

Mapleton woman a fatality in a single-vehicle accident

Journal staff report MAPLETON – A 57-year-old Mapleton woman died as a result of injuries suffered in a one-vehicle accident in Bourbon County on Thursday, March 26. Kellie Jo Harvey was driving a 1996 Ford Explorer north on 125th Street 5.2 miles north of U.S. Highway 54 when the vehicle left the road on the right, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol report. The vehicle came back onto the road, then left the road a second time. The vehicle overcorrected coming back onto t

Roger Sims

Butcher shop, rezoning issues slated for county planners meeting on Tuesday, March 31

Journal staff report MOUND CITY – Instead of meeting on the second Tuesday of the month, the Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission used that day, March 10, as a workshop meeting where no official votes were taken. Cases scheduled for the March meeting will meet on Tuesday, March 31, 7 p.m., at the Courthouse Annex instead. The workshop on March 10 was not available on YouTube live stream. A state attorney general’s decision on meetings advertised as being on livestream m

Journal Staff Report

Spike in computer chip prices felt by county's IT director; bids received on HVAC, dust control

By Charlene Sims, Journal staff LCJeditory@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Linn County Commissioners Jason Hightower and Jim Johnson heard reports from several departments on Monday, March 3. Information Technology (IT) Director Chris Martin told the commissioners that because of chip shortages he had decided to purchase a new server for a backup domain controller and some other virtualization on that. Martin said that he had put $15,000 in the IT budget for this but had not planned

Charlene Sims, Journal staff

Mine Creek Gravel Battle to lure cyclists to area on Saturday

Dozens of cyclists took part in the Mine Creek Gravel Battle last year. This year about 100 riders are expected to take to the backcountry roads in Linn County for Saturday's event. (Mine Creek Gravel Battle Facebook) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com MOUND CITY – Mound City will become the center of the regional gravel bicycling world on Saturday, April 28, as an estimated 100 cyclists are expected to take part in the 2026 Mine Creek Gravel Battle. Cy

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

Easter Egg Hunts
This Saturday in
Linn County

Screenshot 2026-03-19 at 9.15_edited.jpg

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

Thanking and appreciating God

Lina Trochez / Upsplash Matters of Faith By Dr. Bascom Ratliff, pastor Parker, Beagle, and Fontana United Methodist Churches Luke 17: 11-19 (Jesus heals 10 lepers; only one (a Samaritan) returned to praise Jesus and give thanks. I have always been puzzled and a little surprised when reading the story in Luke of the 10 lepers. It is difficult for me to imagine not being thankful and not being appreciative when one is healed from a debilitating disease. We just naturally assume

Dr. Bascom Ratliff

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

Tulips in the wild

Country Notebook By Rogene "Jeannie" McPherson Journal columnist It was time. My son’s long-time best friend was nearing the end of his life, and the difficult decision was made to put Gus down. If you’ve read my book Posts from the Country , you’ve met Gus in the story called “Come Home, Come Home.” Gus was a rescue dog although a full-bred German Shorthair. For the first four years of life he was caged. My son gave him a beautiful life full of adventure especially when he c

Rogene "Jeannie" McPherson, Country Notebook

Opinion: Taking away water supplies will only turn good intentions into war crimes

By Rudy Taylor Taylor Newspapers What kind of American leaders would order desalination and energy plants to be obliterated? Such language is being thrown about by the White House as the war in Iran continues to escalate beyond what anyone thought possible when American and Israeli attacks started four weeks ago. It is totally understandable that key military sites including nuclear and missile plants, will be targets of bombing and strafing. But President Trump is worrisome

Opinion

More Local News

Pre-season sports physicals available at CHC/SEK

The Commuity Health Centers of Southeast Kansas location in Pleasanton is performing sports physicals for spring sports. (Wix file photo) New release CHC/SEK Kansas students in grades 7-12 can receive their sports physicals for the upcoming school year at the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK), starting April 1, 2026. “We encourage student-athletes to complete their physicals early,” said Linda Bean, DO, CHC/SEK Chief Clinical Officer. “By getting it done

Roger Sims

La Cygne council approves food truck ordinance

Months in the process, the La Cygne City Council approved a food truck ordinance on March 18. (Wix file photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com LA CYGNE – The La Cygne City Council on Wednesday, March 18, approved an ordinance regulating the operation of food trucks inside city limits. A copy of the unsigned final draft of the ordinance is included below. Some of the key requirements for food trucks include: Operating time limits are from 6 a.m. to 10

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

State veterans services to sponsor benefit and claims event

Press release Kansas Office of Veterans Services The Kansas Office of Veterans is sponsoring a veteran benefit and claims event on April 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Wichita. The location is 2808 N. New York St. This event will afford veterans and surviving spouses to get the Veterans Administration and state benefits they earned with their military service. VA will have exams on site with their mobile exams staff, and the Kansas Office of Veterans Services will have ben

Press release

Asphalt overlay to begin March 30 on K-31/K-65 in Bourbon County

KDOT news release About 23 miles on two Kansas highways in northern Bourbon County will undergo resurfacing starting March 30, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). Milling and patching will start on K-31 at the U.S. 69 junction and continue west toward Mapleton, where the activity will follow K-65 to the junction of K-3. In the next phase, the contractor will add an asphalt overlay starting at K-3 and will work east toward U.S. 69. A pilot car will gui

Press release

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

Prairie View National Honor Society inducts five students

New inductees to the Prairie View High School chapter of the National Honor Society include, from left, Bethany Nodwell, Aleena Miller, Chylar Jones, Kadence Blevins, and Aaden Beven. (Mark Hough / PVHS) Journal staff report Five new members were inducted into the National Honor Society at Prairie View during a candlelight ceremony on March 3. The new members bring the PVHS chapter up to 19 members for the school year. The committee that selects students for NHS membership co

Roger Sims

Parker council seeks solution to 4-wheeler damage at city lake

Parker police officer Kartman Highley takes the oath of office in Parker City Hall on March 11. Highley was hired to work part-time to help Police Chief Chris Lee. In February Lee asked the city council to hire another officer to share his hours. (Submitted photo) By Roger Sims, Journal staff linncountyjournal@icloud.com PARKER – People driving four-wheel-drive trucks and all-terrain-vehicles have once again caused damage at Parker Lake. This time, though, instead of digging

Roger Sims, Journal Staff

Quilting guild votes selects a new name – 'Material Girls'

The Material Girls quilting guild now has 21 members. (Facebook) By Meribeth Kehl Guild secretary/treasurer The Linn County Quilt Guild met on March 19 at the F&M Community Building with 14 members and 10 visitors present. Two of the visitors joined: Donna Largent and Mary Lou Brownback. Total membership is now 21. Since there were several visitors, we all introduced ourselves and talked about our quilting journey. First item of business was to vote on a new name for the g

Press release

CHC/SEK Launches Specialized Support for Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence

In rural areas, the incidence of sexual violence against women – and men – occurs at a rate equal to or higher than those who life in urban areas. Community Health Centers of Southeast Kansas has developed a program to assist those who have suffered from abuse. (Wix file photo) Press release PITTSBURG, Kan.—No one should have to face the aftermath of domestic or sexual violence alone—and thanks to expanded services from the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK

Press release

State, Regional & National News

No Kings demonstration spans six miles as thousands of Kansans line streets

Protestors line up March 28, 2026, along a six-mile stretch of Metcalf Avenue as part of a No Kings rally in Johnson County. (Photo by Maya Smith for Kansas Reflector) By Maya Smith Kansas Reflector SHAWNEE MISSION — Advocacy organizations and thousands of community members gathered along Metcalf Avenue for six miles for the No Kings protest of President Donald Trump. Protestors lined up at intersections from 75th Street to 119th Street, some in groups of hundreds. “We have t

Kansas Reflector

‘Tyranny of the minority’: Bill gives 10% of voters power to knock down property tax increases

Rep. Adam Smith, shown here on March 26, 2026, worked on the tax conference committee to find a compromise property tax bill the House and Senate would pass. The House shied away from moving forward on the last day of the session with a constitutional amendment. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) By Morgan Chilson Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — The Senate and House narrowly passed a bill giving 10% of registered voters in a taxing area the ability to stop some property tax

Morgan Chilson, Kansas Reflector

Kansas Legislature passes package of elections bills that alter voting processes

Reps. Kirk Haskins, a Topeka Democrat, and Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican, sit together on the House Elections Committee on Jan. 27, 2026, in Topeka, Kansas. The two are on opposing sides of a package of elections bills. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) By Anna Kaminski Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — Kansas Republicans passed a package of legislation that purports to bolster election integrity but evoked warnings from Democrats of potential voter suppression. Despi

Anna Kaminski, Kansas Reflector

Kansas welcomes for-profit veteran ‘claim sharks,’ bundling contentious policy with popular bills

Rep. Rick James, a Republican veteran from La Cygne, championed legislation to benefit for-profit businesses that help veterans process benefit claims in exchange for a cut of the benefits. The practice, which is at odds with federal law, is banned in other states because the same service is available for free. James, who received a donation from one of the for-profit businesses, is seen here during a Feb. 10, 2025, committee hearing. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector) By Grace H

Grace Hill, Kansas Reflector

Kansas legislators take final shot at property tax relief as hopes fade

Sen. Caryn Tyson, shown here in a Feb. 2, 2026, hearing, is working to put together a property tax relief bill that will pass both chambers. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) By Morgan Chilson Kansas Reflector TOPEKA — House and Senate lawmakers are pursuing a last-ditch attempt to deliver on their promise to bring property tax relief to constituents before the session ends. A conference committee on taxes met Friday morning, the last day of the session, to hammer out

Roger Sims

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Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Thunderstorms, cooler weather moving in

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 in favor of city hall upgrade; discusses creating space for new businesses

La Cygne council wrestles with language on sales tax ballot ahead of town hall meeting

Commission signs over roads to Tanglewood Lake Owners group

Noxious Weed Department head prepares for new season

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

Mapleton woman a fatality in a single-vehicle accident

Butcher shop, rezoning issues slated for county planners meeting on Tuesday, March 31

Spike in computer chip prices felt by county's IT director; bids received on HVAC, dust control

Mine Creek Gravel Battle to lure cyclists to area on Saturday

Easter Egg Hunts This Saturday in Linn County

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

Thanking and appreciating God

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

Tulips in the wild

Opinion: Taking away water supplies will only turn good intentions into war crimes

More Local News

Pre-season sports physicals available at CHC/SEK

La Cygne council approves food truck ordinance

State veterans services to sponsor benefit and claims event

Asphalt overlay to begin March 30 on K-31/K-65 in Bourbon County

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

Prairie View National Honor Society inducts five students

Parker council seeks solution to 4-wheeler damage at city lake

Quilting guild votes selects a new name – 'Material Girls'

CHC/SEK Launches Specialized Support for Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence

State, Regional & National News

No Kings demonstration spans six miles as thousands of Kansans line streets

‘Tyranny of the minority’: Bill gives 10% of voters power to knock down property tax increases

Kansas Legislature passes package of elections bills that alter voting processes

Kansas welcomes for-profit veteran ‘claim sharks,’ bundling contentious policy with popular bills

Kansas legislators take final shot at property tax relief as hopes fade

Back to Top

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

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

Easter Egg Hunts
This Saturday in
Linn County

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.