info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Johnson County homeless shelter can’t meet the demand. Can these proposed laws help?

info2021-01-11T06:54:13-06:00January 11th, 2021|

It’s the only place in Kansas’ most affluent county for homeless single adults without children to stay. And it’s temporary, only for the winter. There are no beds for such people the rest of the year in a time when advocates say the county’s homeless population is growing — and when evictions and job loss during the pandemic are expected to displace many more. But for the first time, some major cities in Johnson County are considering whether their laws should clearly allow shelters. Most of the cities lack any written rules stating when or where a shelter is permissible, which [...]

Save Century II group floats a proposed law to save building

info2021-01-11T06:52:11-06:00January 11th, 2021|

Save Century II efforts now include asking lawmakers to force a binding vote on any moves to take down Century II. "Has some teeth to it," says Celeste Racette with Save Century II. "Actually makes it binding and makes it where there has to be an election. Has to be put on the ballot." Wichita city council member Brandon Johnson says council members have moved to have a public vote on the future of Century II. "So the future of Century II will be up to a public vote," said Johnson this week. Still, Racette says her group is going after [...]

After going fully remote, Wichita school board may consider bringing its students back

info2021-01-11T06:52:43-06:00January 11th, 2021|

A rise in community COVID-19 cases and staff shortages because of quarantine prompted the Wichita Board of Education to send its students home last month. Now the board may be asked at its Monday meeting to bring them back, according to an email sent to employees by Superintendent Alicia Thompson. The email says that the “administration is considering a recommendation” that would bring elementary school students back on Jan. 13, pre-K students back on Jan. 14 and then a blended model for middle and high school would start Jan. 25. The blended model would have different groups of students learning in [...]

Workers’ compensation law that can have lower rewards upheld by Kansas Supreme Court

info2021-01-11T06:55:15-06:00January 11th, 2021|

Workers injured on the job in Kansas can continue to be evaluated for impairment following medical guidelines that might reduce the amount of their workers’ compensation award, the state Supreme Court ruled. In a decision released Friday, justices reversed a ruling from the Kansas Court of Appeals that favored Howard Johnson, but also avoided the constitutional question Johnson posed. Johnson suffered a serious spinal cord injury while working as a delivery driver for U.S. Food Service. His workers’ compensation award was nearly $47,000 less than what he would have received if the injury had occurred a year earlier. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

New Allen County 911 director dives in

info2021-01-11T06:55:32-06:00January 11th, 2021|

Chelsie Angleton is the new 911 director for Allen County after working at the critical response center for the past seven years. Before that, she served in practically every other role there, including: frontline dispatcher, certified training officer, quality assurance specialist and deputy director. As to what these different positions are responsible for, they involve everything from answering to analyzing calls, coaching dispatchers and mastering technologies. “It’s more than answering the phone and sending help,” Angleton remarked. “But as soon as I started and made it through training, I knew that this is where I wanted my career to go.” “I [...]

Save Century II organizer proposes two new pieces of state legislation to support her cause

info2021-01-11T00:31:42-06:00January 11th, 2021|

Celeste Racette, the Wichita woman behind the grassroots Save Century II group, is lobbying local and state lawmakers for support on two pieces of legislation she's proposing that back her cause. Racette said Friday she was confident her proposals, which have been sent to Wichita's City Council and the South Central Kansas Legislative Delegation, would receive bipartisan support. "The bill that's being presented is going to be sponsored by both parties," she said. "It's not one party or the other, it's both parties. It's everybody. It's everybody who cares about a beloved building like Century II." Source: Wichita Business Journal

Edgerton city council approves tarp ordinance

info2021-01-11T06:56:30-06:00January 11th, 2021|

The Edgerton City Council recently approved new regulations on large trucks. Now any load that has the potential to spill or fly out must be tarped. The goal of the tarp ordinance is to improve safety for motorists, especially motorcyclists, and preserve the quality of streets and the adjacent stormwater system. The regulations only apply to roads within Edgerton city limits. “We expect the sheriff’s office will take an educational stance initially with drivers, but we want everyone to make sure their loads are secure,” says Donald Roberts, mayor. “This is all about making sure our streets are safe for all [...]

Prairie Village council to consider tree regulations that would apply to new construction

info2021-01-11T06:56:45-06:00January 11th, 2021|

The Prairie Village City Council will consider adding tree protection regulations to its city code in the near future. Why it matters: The intent behind the proposed regulations is to preserve the city’s existing tree canopy and streetscape for “aesthetic, economic and environmental benefits,” according to city documents. City staff has been working on the ordinance draft since August 2020. A look at the details: The protection ordinance will apply to all right-of-way trees — that is, trees that are in public right-of-ways, typically between a sidewalk and a street — as well as when trees are involved in any residential structure [...]

Johnson County’s new $193 million courthouse opened this week — here’s a look inside

info2021-01-11T06:57:11-06:00January 11th, 2021|

The Kansas 10th Judicial District has just opened the newly built Johnson County Courthouse. Court justices and staff moved in over the past few months and are still unpacking boxes in some offices and courtrooms. The new $193 million courthouse opened Monday, Jan. 4, and is the fourth to serve the Johnson County judicial system. Meanwhile, the previous courthouse next door permanently closed its doors on New Year’s Eve (here are some pictures of the historical building). Hearings are still being largely conducted virtually, as no courtrooms or court offices will be open to the public while health and safety concerns of the [...]

U.S. bond yields could keep rising after piercing 1%

info2021-01-08T07:52:07-06:00January 8th, 2021|

U.S. bond yields could be headed still higher after piercing 1% this week, according to analysts and investors who point to a wide gap between the benchmark Treasury yield and the next key support level. Driven by the Democratic victory in Georgia, the 10-year Treasury yield on Thursday hit its highest level since March at 1.088%, breaking out of recent trading ranges. Yields rose on expectations a Democrat controlled Congress would have the clout to pass more fiscal stimulus and spending, bolstering economic activity and debt issuance. Source: Reuters.

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