info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Inflation rises 7% over the past year, highest since 1982

info2022-01-13T07:06:07-06:00January 12th, 2022|

Inflation plowed ahead at its fastest 12-month pace in nearly 40 years during December, according to a closely watched gauge the Labor Department released Wednesday. The consumer price index, a metric that measures costs across dozens of items, increased 7%, according to the department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a monthly basis, CPI rose 0.5%. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been expecting the gauge to increase 7% on an annual basis and 0.4% from November. Source: CNBC

Kansas receives $72 million to help families pay energy bills

info2022-01-12T23:43:59-06:00January 12th, 2022|

To qualify, applicants must be responsible for direct payment of their heating bills. Income eligibility requirements are set at 150% of the federal poverty level. The level of benefit varies according to household income, number of people living in the home, type of residence, type of heating fuel and utility rates. Applicants need to have made payments on their heating bill two out of the last three months. Those payments must be equal to or exceed $80 or the total balance due on their energy bills, whichever is less. Source: KAKE - News

Topeka history buff taking personal collection public to educate community

info2022-01-12T23:42:26-06:00January 12th, 2022|

A Topeka man is taking years of history and putting it into one room, to educate people about the history of Topeka and trains for free. Did you know there used to be an amusement park in Topeka? Or that many trains dropped off and loaded materials through the Capitol City? If you knew these things, you might be a history buff like Bruce Beach. If you didn't, well, you might want to meet Bruce Beach. Beach loves two things: trains and history. He got the chance to combine the two a little while back. "I wanted to build an amusement [...]

Humboldt makes big splash on worldwide tourism list

info2022-01-12T23:39:41-06:00January 12th, 2022|

Wow. There are a lot of Humboldts in this world, but yes, Humboldt, Kansas is on the list of the 2022 “52 Places” published by the New York Times. The newspaper describes it: “Our annual list of destinations to visit this year looks at spots where visitors can be part of the solution to problems like overtourism and climate change.” Humboldt is No. 36. Gabriela Herman of the Times wrote the description. “In 2016, a group of Kansas locals who had left decades ago began asking themselves, ‘What would it take to move back home?’ The answer lay in tiny Humboldt, [...]

Kansas reduces requirements for substitute teachers

info2022-01-12T23:36:43-06:00January 12th, 2022|

Substitute teachers in Kansas will not be required to have college credit hours under an emergency declaration approved Wednesday in response to a worsening staff shortage in the state’s schools because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new rule temporarily eliminates a requirement that substitutes have a minimum of 60 semester credit hours from a regionally accredited college or university. The Kansas State Board of Education said the changes will last only until June 1, when the more stringent requirements will return. Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson said during the state board meeting that he knew of four school districts ready to [...]

Bonner Springs, Edwardsville schools canceling classes due to spike in illnesses

info2022-01-12T23:34:35-06:00January 12th, 2022|

The Bonner Springs/Edwardsville School District announced Wednesday that it is canceling classes for the rest of the week due to an uptick in student and staff absent due to illness. The school district released a statement Wednesday afternoon stating "in an effort to give our school community time to get well and avoid causing further disruption in the learning process, school will not be in session on Thursday, January 13 and Friday, January 14. The school district will also be off Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 - WDAF

Newton Police become marshals

info2022-01-13T07:43:15-06:00January 12th, 2022|

There’s a new marshal in town or, marshals. With Newton’s 150th Anniversary coming up, (sesquicentennial, if you want to get fancy) the police department decided to pay homage to an earlier time. “The first law enforcement officers in Newton were called city marshals,” Newton Director of Communications Erin McDaniel Stated. “This was Chief (Craig) Dunlavy’s idea to tap into the anniversary year to show the department’s community pride and do something fresh and fun to set our department apart.” Newton police officers will have badges identifying them as marshals. The patrol cars will also have a logo that says marshal, as [...]

Main Street Newton saturated in color

info2022-01-13T07:43:43-06:00January 12th, 2022|

A years-long process has come to a completion with the installation of the Newton Murals & Arts Project’s latest project last week on Main Street. The artwork features Newton and Kansas symbols and images, including a meadowlark, Newton flag, water tower, railroad tracks, Old Mill, Harvey House girl, Santa Fe railroad emblem and saloon doors. The mural is called the Newton Historic Mural, which is located in Railroad Park. The mural is hard to miss driving north on Main Street, as it stands on the west side of the road just before the train tracks. The freestanding structure is done in [...]

County workers get ARPA pay bonus

info2022-01-12T23:30:12-06:00January 12th, 2022|

Both full and part-time county employees have received a “one-time, premium pay bonus” for their efforts as essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been reported. The Jackson County Commissioners recently approved a motion to utilize American Rescue Plan Act funds for the bonuses. A total of 117 full-time employees received $1,000 each and 14 part-time employees received $500 each. The bonuses totaled $124,000, it has been reported. The bonuses are for “maintaining the continuity of operations and essential services through the pandemic,” which qualifies under ARPA stipulations, it has been reported. Source: Holton Recorder

Kansas has billions of dollars in surplus. Here are 9 ways the governor wants to spend it

info2022-01-12T23:27:09-06:00January 12th, 2022|

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration laid out a plan Wednesday to cut taxes while spending more on education, law enforcement and mental health services as state lawmakers consider what to do with a surplus that could top $3 billion. The details came as her administration revealed the budget plan hinted at in her State of the State address Tuesday night. “There’s a host of investments,” Budget Director Adam Proffitt told lawmakers. “There’s debt paid down. There are savings accounts. There’s investing in core programs.” Source: KCUR News

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