info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Grant Opportunity: “WaterSMART Funding”

info2021-01-27T16:52:01-06:00January 27th, 2021|

Through the WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects Reclamation provides 50/50 cost share funding to irrigation and water districts, tribes, states and other entities with water or power delivery authority for small water efficiency improvements that have been identified through previous planning efforts. Projects eligible for funding include installation of flow measurement or automation in a specific part of a water delivery system, lining of a section of a canal to address seepage, or other similar projects that are limited in scope. More information is available here. The Bureau of Reclamation has published a notice of funding opportunity for the WaterSMART Small-Scale Water [...]

City officials will soon begin discussing proposal to allow accessory dwelling units in more Lawrence neighborhoods

info2021-01-27T08:17:05-06:00January 27th, 2021|

City planners are moving forward with drafting a code change that would allow homeowners to build garage apartments and other smaller living quarters in all neighborhoods. The city will soon begin taking public input regarding the details of the code amendment, and it is expected to go to the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Commission for consideration this summer. The local comprehensive plan as well as an affordable housing plan have called for expanding the areas where such living quarters, known as accessory dwelling units or ADUs, can be built, and city planner Sandy Day said the units can be used for [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for January 26, 2021

info2021-01-27T08:15:25-06:00January 27th, 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.

Johnson County voters approve $264M bond, tax increase for Shawnee Mission schools

info2021-01-27T08:14:35-06:00January 27th, 2021|

Johnson County voters overwhelmingly approved a $264 million bond issue and property tax increase in the Shawnee Mission school district to rebuild and renovate schools, plus hire additional teachers as a way to address workload concerns. More than 49,600 voters cast ballots, which were due at noon Tuesday. According to the unofficial results, 69.4%, or 34,441 voters, approved the bond referendum, while 30.6%, or 15,178, voted against it. Source: Joco 913 News

Douglas County approves plan to distribute Phase 2 vaccinations

info2021-01-27T08:12:22-06:00January 26th, 2021|

Douglas County says it has approved an initial plan to begin distributing COVID-19 vaccines to groups identified in Phase 2 -- residents 65 years and older, those who live and work in congregate settings and essential workers. "Doses right now are extremely limited based on the supply. Given that everyone in Phase 2 is considered critical and a priority, each group will receive an allocation of doses every week," said Dan Partridge, director of Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health. Source: KMBC.com

No more Shawnee Mission North Indians: District to drop all Native American mascots

info2021-01-27T08:12:30-06:00January 26th, 2021|

Shawnee Mission North High School and three district elementary schools must retire their “Indians” and “Braves” mascots under a new policy after thousands petitioned for the change. The Shawnee Mission school board voted unanimously Monday to approve removing the mascots. The new policy states that school mascots must be culturally and racially appropriate, and that they may not be derogatory or offensive toward a person or class of people protected under the district’s nondiscrimination policy. North, which has had “Indians” as its mascot for almost a century, as well as Belinder, Shawanoe and Rushton elementary schools, will begin the process of [...]

Labette County to buy air trailer for firefighters

info2021-01-27T08:12:59-06:00January 26th, 2021|

Labette County commissioners on Monday agreed to buy a new air trailer for volunteer fire departments in the county to share. The trailer to be purchased from 1st Due Emergency Response Solutions in Bartlett will cost $93,320. The trailer will contain equipment to refill air tanks used by firefighters when they enter smoke-filled homes or respond to other emergencies that require them to use a self-contained breathing apparatus. The current truck uses older technology and does not fully refill the air tanks, commissioners heard. Oswego Fire Chief Jon Eck, Bartlett Fire Chief Perry Sorrell and Chetopa Fire Chief Bryan Midgett attended [...]

Local pharmacies preparing to help give out COVID-19 vaccinations

info2021-01-27T08:13:23-06:00January 26th, 2021|

Jenae Welch runs the Dandurand Drugstore at Central and Rock. Since December, she's been working to get ready to help provide COVID-19 vaccines in Wichita, but there was a concern. "One of my biggest questions about this rollout was how Pfizer or Moderna, both saying that we can produce this many vaccines, how are we going to get those into people's arms," said Welch. Before, the only workers at pharmacies allowed to give the shots were the pharmacists themselves. Now, a new federal rule allows technicians to be trained to provide the shot. "That's going to help us be able to [...]

CDC Makes The Case For Schools Reopening

info2021-01-27T08:13:33-06:00January 26th, 2021|

A review of data from K-12 schools that reopened for in-person instruction in the fall has found little evidence that schools contributed meaningfully to the spread of COVID-19, according to a new article published Tuesday in JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association. The review from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, authored by three of its scientists, represents the clearest view yet of the facts behind what has become a heated debate over when and how schools should reopen. Last spring and into fall, schools across the country closed — and many remain closed — out of fear that allowing students and [...]

Lawrence launches traffic education campaign to go along with reduced speed limit and upcoming traffic enforcement

info2021-01-27T08:17:57-06:00January 26th, 2021|

A new traffic campaign wants to encourage Lawrence drivers to think about more than just getting to their destination. Lawrence residents have long voiced concerns about speeding in neighborhoods and some motorists’ disregard for pedestrians and cyclists, and a new City of Lawrence campaign hopes to help address the problem. On Monday, the city launched the Safer Neighborhood Speeds education campaign, which has a slogan of “It starts with us” and encourages drivers to slow down, look out for others and stop for people wanting to cross the street. Engineering Program Manager Amanda Sahin said in an email to the Journal-World [...]

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