info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Prairie Village, one of last virtual holdouts in Johnson County, will explore hybrid meeting options

info2021-09-12T20:55:19-05:00September 12th, 2021|

The Prairie Village Council Committee of the Whole has directed city staff to move forward with planning to begin hybrid city meetings. Prairie Village’s governing body appears to be the only one in Johnson County that has yet to return to in-person meetings since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. The decision to move forward with hybrid meetings comes just two weeks after a citywide mask mandate took effect on Aug. 24. Tim Schwartzkopf, assistant city administrator, said the city’s investment in technology and equipment to allow for hybrid meetings has been tested and works. Source: Prairie Village Post

Overland Park on verge of doing away with pit bull ban — here’s what revised city code would say

info2021-09-13T06:36:10-05:00September 12th, 2021|

A long exile may finally be ending for pit bulls in Overland Park. The dogs, which animal welfare advocates say have been unfairly maligned, could be allowed back in Overland Park homes as soon as September 28, pending final approval of changes in the city’s animal control ordinance. The council’s Public Safety Committee took the first step Thursday by unanimously voting to end the ban that has been in effect since 2006. If the full council gives final approval, Leawood will be the last city in the Kansas City area to prohibit a type of dog that started to become stigmatized [...]

Wichita force marks National Police Woman Day with first all-female squad

info2021-09-12T20:50:21-05:00September 12th, 2021|

For the first time in history, the Wichita Police Department had an all-female squad working first shift at Patrol West on Sunday morning. The squad, comprised of officers and supervisors who are all women, was arranged in honor of National Police Woman Day, celebrated annually on Sept. 12 to acknowledge women’s contributions and work in a historically male-dominated field. Currently, the Wichita Police Department employs 107 commissioned officers who are women. More than 300 women work for the department overall in both commissioned and non-commissioned roles, the Wichita Police Department said. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Douglas County leaders approve study that aims to help community end chronic homelessness

info2021-09-12T16:32:44-05:00September 10th, 2021|

Douglas County leaders have approved a study that aims to identify what services, programs and support are needed for the community to achieve its goal of eliminating chronic homelessness. As part of its meeting Wednesday, the Douglas County Commission voted 2-0, with Commission Chair Shannon Portillo abstaining, to approve a $71,525 agreement with the University of Kansas Center for Research to perform a homeless needs assessment for the county. The county will pay for the study using pandemic relief funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. Assistant County Administrator Jill Jolicoeur told the commission that the study would comprehensively assess what [...]

Upon their retirement, two longtime horticulturists leave Lawrence with a legacy of beauty

info2021-09-12T16:30:50-05:00September 10th, 2021|

As two longtime city horticulture employees embark on their retirements, they leave a bounty of colorful blooms, green landscapes and trees in their wake. Horticulture and Forestry Manager Crystal Miles and Horticulture Field Supervisor John McDonald are both retiring this month, ending 40- and 36-year careers with the City of Lawrence. After decades of adding to the city’s landscapes, they hand over the care of more than 70 flowerbeds, 120 landscape areas and 34,000 street trees in the city right-of-way, plus additional trees on city and park property. Miles, who grew up on a farm near Lawrence and attended Lawrence schools, [...]

‘The Road to Santa Fe’ traces history of the Santa Fe Trail

info2021-09-10T07:25:27-05:00September 10th, 2021|

"The Road to Santa Fe" premieres on KCPT on Sept. 24 and then will be distributed to public television stations nationwide. The program explores the history of the Santa Fe Trail. … On Sept. 1, 1821, William Becknell set out from Franklin, Missouri, to Santa Fe, New Mexico, with five other men. That journey has gone down in most histories as the opening of the 870-mile-long Santa Fe Trail. ... what sets the Santa Fe Trail apart from, say the Oregon Trail or the California Road, was that, initially, its primary purpose for Americans was trade. “The Santa Fe Trail was [...]

Overland Park on verge of doing away with pit bull ban

info2021-09-10T07:18:55-05:00September 10th, 2021|

A long exile may finally be ending for pit bulls in Overland Park. The dogs, which animal welfare advocates say have been unfairly maligned, could be allowed back in Overland Park homes as soon as September 28, pending final approval of changes in the city’s animal control ordinance. The council’s Public Safety Committee took the first step Thursday by unanimously voting to end the ban that has been in effect since 2006. If the full council gives final approval, Leawood will be the last city in the Kansas City area to prohibit a type of dog that started to become stigmatized [...]

USDA Invests Nearly $79,000 in Renewable Energy Infrastructure to Help Rural Kansas Communities, Businesses and Ag Producers

info2021-09-10T06:46:49-05:00September 10th, 2021|

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Acting State Director for Kansas Dan Fischer today announced that the USDA is investing $78,757 to build or improve renewable energy infrastructure and to help rural communities, agricultural producers and businesses lower energy costs in five Kansas communities. ... USDA is financing these investments through the Rural Energy for America Program. This program provides funding to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. These climate-smart investments will conserve and generate more than 280,048 kilowatt-hours (kWh) in rural Kansas, which equates to enough electricity [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for September 9, 2021

info2021-09-10T06:44:02-05:00September 10th, 2021|

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.

New proposal would eliminate breeds from ‘dangerous dog’ definition

info2021-09-10T06:40:15-05:00September 10th, 2021|

A new proposal would change the definition of “dangerous dogs” in Riley County. County commissioners on Thursday considered a measure that would remove dog breeds in its definition of “dangerous dogs” and focus on each dog’s behavior. Deputy County Counselor Craig Cox proposed two changes to the current policy. Some of the policy updates would align with the Manhattan city government’s policy. Cox said the county and city governments have similar definitions for dangerous dogs that include 12 dog breeds on a “suspect breed” regulation list. The owners of these dogs are held to a high standard of care for those [...]

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