info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Residents forbidden to work on roads

info2022-03-24T07:51:32-05:00March 24th, 2022|

County commissioners drew a hard line Monday on an issue that has been discussed on again and off again for years: county residents working on roads adjoining their property. In recent weeks, commissioners talked about roads near Lincolnville having newly laid rocks bladed off. Rural Lincolnville resident Mike Beneke, who graded the pointy rocks into a wind row after they caused flat tires on a truck and a trailer, was warned that the county could take action against him. Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Kansas is on path to make it easier to get your seized property back from police

info2022-03-24T07:52:23-05:00March 24th, 2022|

Police can keep seized property “as long as necessary,” state statute says, if they believe it could be evidence in a trial. A proposed change to state law would require police to give items back. Police hold the power to seize property believed to be used in a crime. Some cases stall or charges don’t move forward and critics of existing state law said getting back property even when it doesn’t link to criminal activity is too hard. “Many (people) opt not to fight the forfeiture and reluctantly give up their property, rather than rack up legal bills exceeding the property’s [...]

Overland Park Police say ‘teams’ of thieves may be responsible for over 100 car break-ins

info2022-03-24T00:40:05-05:00March 24th, 2022|

More than 60 vehicles in south Overland Park were broken into early Wednesday morning in what police say appears to be an organized effort. “We think it had to have been a team,” says Overland Park Police spokesperson John Lacey. “At least six, even probably 10 people going from car to car, breaking windows, looking inside, things of that sort.” The break-ins were mostly located in four different apartment complex parking lots along 135th Street, between Nall and Metcalf. The thieves appeared to target items visible through the windows, but also looted through the cars’ compartments and center console. Lacey said [...]

Is your internet too slow? Study shows over 1 million Kansans might not have fast enough internet

info2022-03-24T00:38:37-05:00March 24th, 2022|

As the COVID-19 pandemic forced a large populace of people to begin working from home, many people found that their internet speed was not quite adequate for their needs. Two surveys conducted by researchers at the University of Kansas Institute for Policy & Social Research from Jan. 2021 to Jan. 2022 found that over 1 million Kansans live in a ZIP code where recorded average download speeds are below adequate for things like online education, streaming content, and households with multiple users. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines "broadband" internet at a minimum of 25 Mbps of download and 3 Mbps [...]

Western Kansas Groundwater levels fall a foot in 2021

info2022-03-24T00:36:37-05:00March 24th, 2022|

Average groundwater levels across western and central Kansas fell by more than a foot in 2021, with the greatest declines in the southwest portion of the state, according to preliminary data compiled by the Kansas Geological Survey. The KGS, based at the University of Kansas, and the Division of Water Resources (DWR) of the Kansas Department of Agriculture measure about 1,400 wells every year to monitor the health of the High Plains aquifer and other aquifers in western and central Kansas. Those measurements showed an overall average decline of 1.01 feet last year. Most parts of the region saw below-average precipitation [...]

McPherson Police Department buys new non-lethal ordnance

info2022-03-24T07:55:10-05:00March 24th, 2022|

The McPherson City Commission heard a request for the purchase of four new BolaWraps and 40 cartridges for the McPherson Police Department. Police Chief Mikel Golden requested approval to upgrade from the old equipment. Golden explained the old-style BolaWraps use .380 cartridges to deploy Kevlar rope with treble hooks that wrap around a person’s clothing. He went on to say the new models are more like tasers and use a battery to shoot the rope electronically. The old-style is monitored by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms due to the use of the .380 cartridges, and the new style is [...]

Alicia Hidalgo Named 2022 City Clerk/Finance Officer of the Year

info2022-03-24T07:58:28-05:00March 23rd, 2022|

Alicia Hidalgo, City Clerk, City of Liberal, Kansas, has been selected as the recipient of the 2022 Mildred Vance City Clerk/Finance Officer of the Year for the State of Kansas. The award was announced at the 72nd annual City Clerks and Municipal Finance Officers Association of Kansas (CCMFOA) Conference in Manhattan, Kansas on Thursday, March 17th. Alicia has worked for the City of Liberal for over 15 years, beginning her service as City Clerk in 2015. Prior to being hired as City Clerk, Alicia held various positions for the City of Liberal. Alicia was instrumental in navigating the City of Liberal [...]

Young Kansas native documents decades worth of abandoned buildings around the state

info2022-03-23T09:01:01-05:00March 23rd, 2022|

At 21-years-old, Emily Cowan - a Kansas native - is living through decades of memories thanks to her camera and love for writing. "It turned into, 'well, let me think about this on a deeper level of what is the history of this building?' People had memories here," Cowan said. You may have already heard of the website Abandoned Kansas. It's a non-profit organization that's brought us pictures of old, abandoned buildings like Menninger's Clock Tower in Topeka, and most recently, the beloved White Lakes Mall. Abandoned KS is ran in part by Cowan. Source: KSNT News

KMIT Launches ‘Municipal’ Health Plan: KAHP

info2022-03-24T10:02:33-05:00March 23rd, 2022|

The Kansas Municipal Insurance Trust (KMIT), which has been operating as a self-insured work comp group for Kansas cities and other municipalities/public agencies since 1994, has announced the formation of a new employee health plan for its members. The KMIT Association Health Plan (KAHP) was launched with ten members (all Kansas cities) on January 1, 2022. As with its KMIT ‘parent’, KAHP membership is open to virtually all Kansas ‘municipalities’ (statutorily defined)—which includes cities, counties, townships, water and other special districts, community colleges, school districts, and many other public agencies. Health insurance coverage for Association members is through Kansas Blue Cross/Shield. [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for March 22, 2022

info2022-03-23T08:56:04-05:00March 23rd, 2022|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.

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