info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Newton’s Caleb Smith named top high school principal in Kansas

info2022-04-12T07:06:06-05:00April 12th, 2022|

Newton High School Principal Caleb Smith is top of the class in Kansas. On Monday morning, USD-373 announced Smith had been named the 2022 Kansas principal of the year by the Kansas Principals Association. As previously written, Smith was a finalist for the state’s top designation among all secondary principals. “Mr. Smith has done an outstanding job of trying to create an amazing culture at Newton High School and within the Newton communities, and it shows,” Superintendent Fred Van Ranken said in a district press release. “I am so happy for Caleb to be recognized at the state level for what he [...]

When Kansans needs help, they call 911 — but first responders don’t always get the help they need

info2022-04-12T07:06:48-05:00April 12th, 2022|

In Kansas, first responders have been trying for years to pass legislation that would allow their psychological injuries to be covered by workers' compensation. Proposals that would have covered such injuries once again failed to gain momentum during this year's session. Responders say their line of work involves experiences that could cause post-traumatic stress disorder. But in Kansas, workers' compensation coverage must be associated with a physical injury — firefighters, police and other first responders are not covered by injuries such as stress, anxiety and depression from a physical injury or a physical change caused by factors at work. Source: KCUR

City reports success in odor control efforts at south Wichita treatment plant

info2022-04-12T01:06:41-05:00April 12th, 2022|

The City of Wichita said crews worked throughout the weekend to bring an odor problem under control at the city’s Wastewater Plant 2, and those efforts appear to have been successful. The city reported a processing issue at the plant at 57th Street South and Hydraulic, and that was causing an odor problem. Crews used chemical suppressants and lime to help reduce odors, and staff reported no complaints over the weekend from the area surrounding the plant. Wastewater crews monitored the area and did not notice increased odors. The city is still investigating the cause of the processing issue, and there [...]

Dry land, high cost: How Kansas could lose billions in land values as its underground water runs dry

info2022-04-12T01:05:14-05:00April 12th, 2022|

In increasingly dry western Kansas, underground water makes everything possible. Irrigation for crops. Stock water for cattle. Drinking water for towns. In all, the Ogallala Aquifer provides 70-80% of water used by Kansans each day. So how much is all that water worth? A recent study from Kansas State University says the aquifer under western Kansas increases land values by nearly $4 billion. But those billions are drying up at an accelerating rate. Aquifer water levels across western and central Kansas dropped by more than a foot on average this past year. That’s the biggest single-year decrease since 2015, according to [...]

Wichita City Council to vote on fuel surcharge for contracted groundskeepers

info2022-04-12T00:59:29-05:00April 12th, 2022|

Rising gas prices are bringing challenges to many people and businesses. For some under contract, it's putting them in a tight spot. The City of Wichita has several contracts with local businesses to maintain their grounds. Those crews pay for gas to travel to sites and to fuel their equipment. One contractor says the price at the pump is significantly higher now than when they entered their contract. "You are going from two something a gallon up to three something a gallon," said Tracy Smith with Kansas Turfworx. "It definitely impacts because when you put gasoline in mowers every day and [...]

Newton Police Department welcomes new K-9 unit

info2022-04-12T00:54:27-05:00April 12th, 2022|

The Newton Police Department (NPD) announced on Facebook Monday that they have welcomed a new K-9 unit. Two-year-old Kilo, a Belgian Malinois imported from the Netherlands, has been partnered with Officer Austin Sontag. According to the NPD, the two have just completed five weeks of training together. Kilo and Officer Sontag received their initial training and certification from Hill Country Dog Center in Pipe Creek, Texas. The post states Kilo has been trained in narcotics detection, tracking, evidence recovery and patrol functions, which include building searches, area searches and suspect apprehension. Source: KSN-TV

Governor vetoes bill banning bag restrictions

info2022-04-12T00:49:45-05:00April 12th, 2022|

Gov. Laura Kelly on Monday vetoed a bill barring local governments from regulating plastic grocery bags and other material, saying it was an issue that should be left in the hands of local government. “This issue is a local decision, and it should be left to local governments based on what’s best for their constituents, stakeholders, and businesses in their community,” Kelly said in a statement. “As this bill advanced through the process, no evidence was provided demonstrating why the Legislature had a compelling public interest to repeal city and county local control and home rule over these matters. The Legislature [...]

Gov. Kelly signs bill to ban local ‘sanctuary city’ ordinances

info2022-04-12T07:17:53-05:00April 12th, 2022|

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Monday signed a bill pushed by state Republicans to overturn three communities’ policies that could help immigrants stay in the state illegally. The bill was filed after Wyandotte County passed a “sanctuary” ordinance in February that would provide local identification cards for immigrants and other residents and would prevent local law enforcement from helping the federal government enforce immigration laws unless public safety is threatened. Lawrence and Roeland Park have similar ordinances. Kelly said in a statement announcing that she would sign the bill that immigration policy is a federal responsibility which can’t be resolved at [...]

Topeka named as ‘Zoom Town’ in online report

info2022-04-12T00:33:08-05:00April 12th, 2022|

The City of Topeka made a top 25 list for "Zoom Towns" in the U.S. which have a lot to offer to remote workers. The report, released Monday by the online real-estate website Ownerly.com, examined 1,488 cities across the U.S. to come up with a list of 25 which offer the most amenities to remote workers. Amenities include affordable housing, high-speed Internet, outdoor green space, childcare options and more. Topeka made the list, coming in at number four thanks to a variety of factors. These included things such as affordable housing, good access to public Wi-Fi, a high broadband score and [...]

Salina government facing issues of hiring more employees

info2022-04-11T07:29:30-05:00April 11th, 2022|

Employers across the nation are having a difficult time hiring right now, and one area where that is apparent is the shortage of workers in government. The City of Salina is facing issues hiring new employees. As of April 5, the city's jobs website showed a total of 51 available openings in fulltime and part-time positions. There have been a number of factors leading up to this workforce issue, but the pandemic has made things much worse and more pronounced, even as studies have been showing this might be an issue in the public and municipal sector. "In city management circles [...]

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