info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Lawrence to conduct survey about systemic racism using public kiosks throughout December

info2020-12-10T08:27:17-06:00December 10th, 2020|

The City of Lawrence will be using public kiosks to survey residents about systemic racism throughout the month of December. As the Journal-World previously reported, the city is seeking residents’ input about systemic racism to help inform potentially fundamental changes in policing and other city functions. The city’s Human Relations Commission has partnered with the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research to gather input from residents about systemic racism and its effects on safety, health, education, economic development and housing, according to a news release from the city. The commission has worked with KU to write 10 statements, [...]

Manhattan debates need for diversity task force

info2020-12-10T08:09:16-06:00December 9th, 2020|

The Manhattan City Commission debated Tuesday about whether to vote on establishing a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force next week. Mayor Usha Reddi, who first proposed the idea in August, says the idea is to bring together diversity experts from local organizations to make resources more available to underrepresented and marginalized communities. “There are organizations already in some of these structures, such as the university, such as Fort Riley as well as USD 383, that we can kind of consolidate for our own city and make sure we are more welcoming and inclusive,” Reddi said. Source: 1350 KMAN

With attendance down at some schools, Derby school district hires new support staff

info2020-12-10T08:09:51-06:00December 9th, 2020|

Derby Public Schools hired a team of attendance clerks in an effort to help students stay engaged during the pandemic and the district’s shift online. Holly Putnam-Jackson, assistant superintendent of curriculum, said the district hired three attendance clerks and a coordinator. The staff positions are new due to the pandemic and are meant to support students during remote and quarantined instruction. At the Nov. 25 gating committee meeting, Putnam-Jackson gave a rundown of attendance rates across the district from Sept. 8 to Nov. 20. The numbers indicate that most Derby schools are seeing drops in attendance rates compared to 2019. Source: [...]

Sedgwick County Commissioners amend local health order

info2020-12-10T08:11:26-06:00December 9th, 2020|

The Sedgwick County Board of Commissioners have amended the latest local health order to include provisions for event centers, youth organized sports and adult recreational sports. The county commissioners added the following amendments to youth organized sports: For indoor single-court or single-playing area rooms and outdoor facilities, there can be a maximum of two attendees per participant. All persons must exit the area once the event is over. For indoor multi-court or multi-playing area rooms, there can be a maximum of two attendees per participant. All persons must exit the area once the event is over. Source: KAKE - News

Two parents can be allowed for Kansas high school winter sports starting Thursday

info2020-12-09T08:18:43-06:00December 9th, 2020|

Up to two parents or guardians per participant family can be allowed to attend Kansas high school winter sports events starting on Thursday, following a vote by the Kansas State High School Activities Association Board of Directors on Tuesday. The vote does not mean every school has to allow spectators into their events, but it does leave it up to each school district. That’s a reversal from what the KSHSAA Board of Directors decided in a Nov. 24 meeting when it voted to not allow any fans during the coronavirus pandemic through at least Jan. 28. “We had great success in [...]

COVID-19 vaccinations could start next week in Sedgwick County; you might need to wait

info2020-12-09T08:18:36-06:00December 9th, 2020|

Vaccinations for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 could begin as early as next week in Sedgwick County, but it’s likely you’ll have to wait a while for your shots if you don’t fall into the highest-risk group, a county official reported Tuesday. Some early doses will go straight to Wichita’s two main hospital systems — Wesley and Ascension Via Christi — to vaccinate the nurses, doctors and other medical personnel who are providing direct treatment to COVID-19 patients, Deputy County Manager Tim Kaufman told the County Commission at a staff meeting Tuesday. Other doses will be sent directly to commercial pharmacies [...]

Kansas broadband efforts receive $85 million boost to bridge digital divide

info2020-12-09T08:16:41-06:00December 9th, 2020|

Kansas’ broadband czar says a new grant initiative will infuse tens of millions of dollars over the next decade into projects working to close the digital divide in underserved areas across Kansas. Stanley Adams, director of the office of broadband development at the Kansas Department of Commerce, said the Broadband Acceleration Grant Program will provide $85 million over the next decade to qualifying areas with low connectivity. “What we know for sure is increasingly, not decreasingly, we all need to have access to these services,” Adams said. “We knew that before the pandemic. Now, a lot more people know, and there [...]

Kansas education board adds academic planning time, rejects linkage of spring break calendars

info2020-12-09T08:16:01-06:00December 9th, 2020|

The Kansas Board of Education approved a plan Tuesday to offer up to 20 hours of additional professional development time for public school educators working through the COVID-19 pandemic and voted to reject a proposal allowing local school boards to align K-12 spring break with university and colleges calendars. Randy Watson, state commissioner of education, said superintendents, teachers, paraprofessionals and instructional aides would welcome more time for instructional collaboration from Dec. 1 to April 30. He said the state Board of Education pressed districts to burn through allotted professional development hours last summer to prepare for the 2020-21 academic year. Most [...]

Topeka City Council approves plan to invest in affordable housing citywide

info2020-12-09T08:06:16-06:00December 9th, 2020|

Topeka City Council unanimously approved a housing study implementation plan that aims to combat housing inequity and the residual effects of redlining policies in Topeka. Establishing an Affordable Housing Trust Fund to help fund housing projects, creating a landbank, and expanding weatherization and weather proofing of homes were listed as "tier A" priorities to address in 2021. A "Take 2 Tenancy" program to provide people better opportunities to rent housing even with past blemishes — like evictions — on their housing record, focusing on seniors and their housing needs, rehab assistance and downtown area housing were listed as "tier B" priorities [...]

Downtown Ramada to receive sales tax assistance to fund renovations

info2020-12-09T08:20:22-06:00December 9th, 2020|

The Ramada in downtown Topeka will receive sales tax assistance after city council unanimously approved a Community Improvement District. A CID is a 2% sales tax on retail purchase, but the tax increase is not citywide. The sales tax increase in this CID is "generally described as the Downtown Ramada Hotel & Convention Center," according to the CID ordinance. Jim Parrish, the president and CEO of Topeka-based Parrish Management Corp., applied for the CID district to help fund improvements to the Ramada, 420 S.E. 6th. Parrish, a managing member of Jefferson Street Partners, told the Topeka City Council last week he [...]

About info