info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Coffee shop with a drive-thru set to open today in Haven

info2021-07-23T07:28:26-05:00July 23rd, 2021|

Whether someone is looking for a latte or a biscuit with gravy, Jennifer and Dan Brummer want to make their new dine-in coffee shop — Jenz Java — a place where community members can gather. Dan grew up in Bennington — a small Kansas town with few choices for dining. “As kids, we always wanted someplace to go,” he said. “Our parents and grandparents never had any place to go.” So, when Dan was speaking with his neighbor in Haven and found out that the building at 202 Industrial Drive was up for sale, he knew he wanted to buy it [...]

Finney County BZA approves Huber Sand conditional use permit

info2021-07-23T07:28:22-05:00July 23rd, 2021|

Huber Sand was granted a conditional use permit to operate a sand and gravel quarry, next to the town of Pierceville, at the Finney County Board of Zoning Appeals meeting Wednesday. ... The CUP for Huber Sand was previously discussed at the BZA’a June 16 meeting, but was tabled over concerns voiced by Pierceville residents about opening a sand mine next to the town and additional information given to the BZA by the residents. Some of the concerns raised at the last meeting were decreased property values, air quality, blowing sand due to mining operations, safety of children, light and sound [...]

First responders head to pipeline explosion in Ellsworth County

info2021-07-23T07:15:44-05:00July 23rd, 2021|

Fire and emergency crews were on the scene of a large pipeline explosion in Ellsworth County Thursday afternoon. No one was hurt in the natural gas pipeline explosion. A large plume of fire was seen by motorists on nearby Interstate 70 about 15 miles northeast of the city of Ellsworth. There were no people or livestock around the pipeline when it exploded at 1:45 p.m. Bob Kepka with the Ellsworth Fire Department said flames were visible in Lincoln about 30 miles away. Debris from the pipeline was also scattered in the area as the aftermath of the explosion. Source: KSN-TV

Manhattan commissioners discuss proposal for regulating short-term rentals

info2021-07-23T07:15:05-05:00July 23rd, 2021|

A majority of Manhattan city commissioners are interested in regulating and taxing short-term rentals. Short-term rentals (STRs), sometimes called vacation rentals, are places people stay for less than 30 days. They often use companies such as Airbnb or Vrbo to rent a space or an entire residence to people. Commissioner Linda Morse said at Tuesday’s meeting she would like to keep the process of regulating and taxing STRs “as simple as possible.” “I don’t want to add complications to it,” Morse said. “I hope some city has a good model we can follow, so we don’t have to recreate the wheel.” [...]

Citizens review board looks at Wichita police chase policy

info2021-07-23T07:14:28-05:00July 23rd, 2021|

Several people went before a citizens review board meeting Thursday and asked for Wichita police to change the way they chase suspect criminals, or suspend pursuits altogether. The meeting comes after several recent police chases ended in crashes and someone getting killed. "We were just horrified when that happened," said Faith Martin. Martin is talking about a police chase last summer that left her friend and local singer Jenny Wood in extremely critical condition. The crash killed two other people. Source: KAKE - News

Municipal Bond Trends for July 22, 2021

info2021-07-23T07:09:28-05:00July 23rd, 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.

Overland Park eyeing $3 million grant program for hospitality businesses with federal COVID money

info2021-07-22T18:17:11-05:00July 22nd, 2021|

Hotels, restaurants and other Overland Park businesses in the hard-hit hospitality industry will likely become the next priority to get federal help from the American Rescue Plan Act, a city council committee has decided. Council members in the six-member Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee have given the go-ahead to begin developing a plan to spend $3 million for hospitality-related businesses that continue to struggle from losses during the pandemic shutdowns last year. That would be part of the $18 million the city has in the pipeline in Rescue Plan money. The money comes out of the $9 million the city [...]

Vaccine maker, drug companies accused in opioid crisis giving Kansas cut of $26 billion settlement

info2021-07-23T06:58:09-05:00July 22nd, 2021|

Kansas will get a slice of a $26 billion lawsuit settlement with four companies accused of contributing to the nation's opioid epidemic, the state's Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Wednesday. Johnson & Johnson, who recently developed a one-shot COVID-19 vaccine, as well U.S. pharmaceutical distributors Cardinal Health Inc., McKesson Corporation and AmerisourceBergen Corporation, will pay $26 billion in total for their part in the nation's prescription-drug crisis, according to the attorney general. Source: KSN-TV

Coronavirus in Kansas: 20 more deaths, 81 new hospitalizations, biggest jump in 4 months

info2021-07-22T18:14:16-05:00July 22nd, 2021|

Kansas health officials say 20 more Kansas deaths have been linked to COVID-19 in the past two days. That is the biggest increase in deaths since early March. The state's death toll is 5,218. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) also reports 81 new hospitalizations since Monday. That is the biggest jump in hospitalizations in the state since February. The KDHE does not track recoveries. The KDHE says 1,541 Kansans have tested positive for the coronavirus since Monday, while 3,529 have tested negative. Since Monday, another 154 Kansans have been diagnosed with the COVID-19 delta variant, bringing the total number [...]

Governor Laura Kelly Announces $23 Million for Road Improvement Projects in 36 Kansas Cities

info2021-07-23T07:08:39-05:00July 22nd, 2021|

Governor Laura Kelly today announced 36 Kansas cities will receive a combined total of $23 million to improve highways and intersections as part of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s City Connecting Link Improvement Program (CCLIP). ... Highway Infrastructure Program funds coming to Kansas enabled this round of CCLIP funds to increase from $18 million to $23 million for use in fiscal years 2022-2024. A City Connecting Link is any routing of the State Highway System located within the corporate limits of a city. Demand for CCLIP funding was high with cities having dealt with the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. [...]

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