info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Lawrence school board recognizes labor union for district’s classified staff

info2021-06-15T07:51:10-05:00June 15th, 2021|

A labor union representing the Lawrence school district’s paraeducators grew to include all classified staff on Monday. The Lawrence school board unanimously approved recognizing PAL-CWA as the union representing the staff category that includes custodians, office and cafeteria staff and other employees who aren’t licensed teachers. As a recognized union, the members will bargain with the district administration over wages, benefits and various workplace issues. Source: LJWorld.com.

The benefits of paid internships stretch far beyond a classroom. For students and communities, they can be crucial.

info2021-06-15T07:49:20-05:00June 15th, 2021|

Completing internships before stepping into the workforce full time can be crucial for students, as such opportunities offer hands-on experience and help them determine whether a career is a good fit. That has been the case for Allison Montague, a rising senior at Topeka High School. This past school year, Montague completed a paid internship at Stormont Vail Hospital, where she served as a patient safety monitor and helped Stormont nurses with some of their daily tasks. Source: CJonline.com.

Overland Park City Council hears results of study on adding toll lane to U.S. 69

info2021-06-15T07:37:56-05:00June 14th, 2021|

Want faster, less-congested trips along U.S. Highway 69? What’s it worth to you? That’s the issue the Overland Park City Council will take up at its Monday meeting, when it will hear results of a study considering adding an express toll lane on the heavily traveled highway. The Kansas Department of Transportation has studied the issue and will lay out its findings and assumptions. The City Council will listen Monday and take up the issue of whether to push ahead for a toll plan at its June 21 meeting. The 69 Express study looked at adding a third lane in each [...]

As massive livestock operations move in, fighting them gets harder for rural neighbors

info2021-06-15T07:39:05-05:00June 14th, 2021|

... Kansas has about 435 CAFOs and more than 2,400 smaller livestock operations. Craig Volland, of the Kansas Chapter of the Sierra Club, said the number had grown steadily. One CAFO in Greeley County in far Western Kansas has 180 hog barns and was looking in 2014 to expand to become the second largest in the country. Volland said right-to-farm rules in Kansas have made the state more friendly to CAFOs. But until recent years, regulators stuck close to federal CAFO rules in issuing permits. Source: Kansas Reflector

A ‘return home’: Karl Oakman sworn in as new police chief for Kansas City, Kansas

info2021-06-15T07:40:46-05:00June 14th, 2021|

Karl Oakman was sworn in as the next police chief for Kansas City, Kansas, Monday morning. Oakman, 51, who most recently served as a deputy chief across the state line in the Kansas City Police Department, said he was ready to roll up his sleeves and start listening to the department and the community. “This is a very important honor for me not just as chief of police, but to return home to a city that raised me and kept me safe in this community,” Oakman told the small crowd gathered Monday, which included members of his family. Source: KC Star [...]

Pittsburg is looking to develop it’s cyber security over the coming year

info2021-06-15T07:42:50-05:00June 14th, 2021|

Pittsburg is looking to develop it's cyber security over the coming year. The city has begun work on a remote disaster recovery site for city operations. It would act as an identical operating system to the one the city already has. This way if one were to be attacked by ransomware, the city would be able to continue with limited interference. Jeff Bair, Pittsburg Information System Manager, says, "Networks have evolved over the past decade, we're more and more interconnected with other agencies, school districts, sheriff's department, all of our systems are becoming interconnected, so it becomes even more important now [...]

Kansas Ranked as Number One Business Climate in West North Central Region

info2021-06-15T07:43:07-05:00June 14th, 2021|

Governor Laura Kelly today announced that Kansas was recognized by Site Selection magazine as having the top business climate in the West North Central region of the United States in 2021. In 2020, Kansas ranked fourth in the West North Central region for business climate – jumping three spots to first place in 2021. Kansas is followed in ranking order by Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, and North Dakota. “Since Day One, my administration has strengthened the essential services that make Kansas the best state in the nation for families, young people, and businesses to succeed,” Governor Kelly said. “This [...]

Shawnee County Commission approves change to Sunday liquor store hours

info2021-06-15T07:46:06-05:00June 14th, 2021|

Liquor store hours are changing for some Northeast Kansans. Shawnee County Commissioners approved the resolution to expand liquor store sales on Sundays. Some stores can open at 9 a.m. instead of waiting until noon. This change was passed at the state level in March, but now it is up to city and county officials to decide if it will apply within those borders. Shawnee County only has control over certain areas. "This means outside of the city limits of the city of Topeka or Silver Lake or Rossville or other communities," Jim Crowl, Shawnee County Counselor, said. Cities within counties are [...]

Starbucks is set to open a Dodge City store in October

info2021-06-14T14:05:47-05:00June 14th, 2021|

After three years of negotiations, Starbucks will be bringing its coffee to Dodge City. The coffee store will be joined adjacently with T-Mobile on 14th Avenue near Soule Street in front of Sutherlands. The building will be a similar setup to that of recent retail development along 14th Avenue. "Similar size three-plex, (with) still a spot open for rent in the center," said Dodge City/Ford County Economic Development Corporation executive director Joann Knight. "Starbucks will have a drive-thru." Source: Dodge City Daily Globe.

‘Lexus lanes’? State recommends toll lanes to fund wider highway in Johnson County

info2021-06-14T07:13:36-05:00June 14th, 2021|

The Kansas Department of Transportation has determined that adding express toll lanes on U.S. 69 in Johnson County is the preferred option for widening the highway — concluding it would be cheaper and friendlier to the environment. But the decision is ultimately left up to the Overland Park City Council. KDOT officials will present the findings of a new study to the City Council on Monday night. The council is then expected to vote June 21 on whether to enter into an agreement with the state to advance the project. The highway would be widened to six lanes from 103rd to [...]

About info