info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Destination Kansas: The OZ Museum in Wamego

info2020-08-07T08:19:12-05:00August 7th, 2020|

Kansas is known for many things – being the Sunflower State, its role in the Civil War, the large agriculture industry. But for those outside the state, its perhaps best known as the home to Dorothy Gale in “The Wizard of Oz.” A trip to the OZ Museum, 511 Lincoln, Wamego, will put you right into the world L. Frank Baum created when he wrote “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” “We cover over 120 plus years,” said Chris Glasgow, curator, OZ Museum. “Everything from the birth of the author in 1856 to today.” A visit to the museum includes interesting tidbits [...]

City pursues outside study to inform ‘transformation’ of Lawrence police department

info2020-08-07T08:22:03-05:00August 7th, 2020|

City leaders are pursuing an outside study to help inform potentially fundamental changes to the role of the Lawrence Police Department, including proposals to move some funding and duties from police to social services. All of the specific issues the study will tackle aren’t determined right now, but city leaders are expecting it to be broad in scope. In a recent request for proposals for a consultant to conduct the study, the city states that it wants a comprehensive report that will aid in the “transformation” of the police department in response to changing operational needs, community expectations and the national [...]

Muni Yields Hit Lowest Since 1952 as Fiscal Crisis Tests a Haven

info2020-08-06T19:34:37-05:00August 6th, 2020|

America’s municipal bondholders have never been paid so little for taking on so much risk. The yields on state and local government bonds have steadily dwindled over the past month, even as the resurgent coronavirus pandemic is threatening to prolong the deep recession that’s dealing a financial setback to borrowers in virtually every corner of the $3.9 trillion market. The oldest gauge of municipal yields, the Bond Buyer index of those on 20-year general-obligation bonds, now stands at 2.09%, the lowest since 1952. The Bloomberg 10-year benchmark slipped below 0.6% on Wednesday, the least since at least 2011. And MMD’s measure [...]

Wichita city council to discuss proposal regarding decisions on Century II

info2020-08-07T08:10:53-05:00August 6th, 2020|

Wichita mayor Brandon Whipple says a proposal is being developed for the city council that would call for a vote of the people on the future of the Century II Convention Center. Speaking Thursday at his weekly city hall news conference, the mayor said language is being drafted for a proposal that would meet the intent of the 17,000 people who signed petitions that were recently circulated by a citizens group. The petitions submitted by the group Save Century II call for an ordinance that would require a public vote before the city council could demolish any building of historic importance. The [...]

Wichita hospital in need of plasma donations from recovered COVID-19 patients

info2020-08-07T08:11:05-05:00August 6th, 2020|

A Wichita hospital is in need of donations that could help patients battling COVID-19. Ascension Via Christi said demand for convalescent plasma is outpacing supply and the needed plasma isn’t available. Angie Mooneyham has been in ICU at Via Christi since Monday. “It’s been a very unique battle,” said Mooneyham. Her battle started out as Pneumonia two weeks ago that landed her in the ER and that’s when she tested positive for Coronavirus. “It got to where it was so hard to breathe and a lot of body aches,” said Mooneyham. The virus has halted her health and her life. This [...]

Sedgwick County turns to the state for help with contact tracing

info2020-08-07T08:12:10-05:00August 6th, 2020|

State and local health officials said they need more contact tracers. KDHE is now stepping up to help Sedgwick County to meet the demand. “It is the backbone to finding cases, isolating, and quarantine,” said KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman. With an increase in cases and very little staff, help is needed. “We’re so overwhelmed with the number of cases that we have and just having 18 active disease investigations that it’s a challenge enough,” said Sedgwick County Health Director Adrienne Byrne. Sedgwick County will be leaving it up to KDHE to contact trace each active case. “We’ve been looking a [...]

Kansas State Fair seeks alternate fund avenues

info2020-08-07T08:12:22-05:00August 6th, 2020|

The Kansas State Fair’s interim general manager, David Tobias, explained to the Kansas State Board on Wednesday how, due to canceling the fair, the fair is trying to secure money through a variety of city, state and federal avenues. The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s chief fiscal officer, Kellen Liebsch, explained to the board that expenses will be larger than income this year. “We’re about half a million dollars in the hole in what we have to pay,” Liebsch said. Because contracts were already issued and several, including utilities, must be honored, the fair is in a deficit. Liebsch noted the fair [...]

Top drone manufacturer moves from Neodesha to Wichita

info2020-08-07T08:13:46-05:00August 6th, 2020|

The American drone industry is exploding. Since COVID-19 came ashore, more and more consumers desire U.S. built products. One of the largest publicly-traded, U.S. drone manufactures began in a town of less than 2,500 residents in far-eastern Kansas. On Aug. 4, AgEagle Aerial Systems, who manufactures drones in Neodesha, Kansas, decided to move their manufacturing operations from Wilson County to Wichita. The 12,000 square foot facility is located near the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. This warehouse, which will be ready in September, will house AgEagle’s drone and sub-component manufacturing and assembly, custom design, engineering and testing operations. (Read more: [...]

Lawrence to keep program in place into fall that allows downtown businesses to use parking stalls for seating and sales

info2020-08-07T08:24:35-05:00August 6th, 2020|

City leaders have agreed to keep rule changes in place through October that allow downtown businesses to use city sidewalks and parking spaces to operate outdoors amid the coronavirus pandemic. As part of their meeting Tuesday, Lawrence city commissioners said they were supportive of the downtown right-of-way program in its current form and would like to stick with the city resolution that keeps the program in place until Oct. 31. The program was scaled back a few weeks ago to include more parking, and commissioners agreed those changes had addressed issues with the program. Read more: LJWorld.com.

Lawrence City Commission to consider creating review process for evaluation of historic markers

info2020-08-07T08:25:13-05:00August 6th, 2020|

City leaders will soon consider setting up a new process for reevaluating historic markers and creating new ones. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider designating the Historic Resources Commission as the recommending body for reevaluation and consideration of historic markers. The topic is before the commission as cities across the U.S. have removed statues of historic figures that enslaved people or otherwise supported racist ideas, and the city itself is in receipt of its third request in the past year regarding a historic marker. Read more: LJWorld.com.

About info