info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

The need to expand hometown meatpacking facilities

info2020-07-13T07:54:50-05:00July 12th, 2020|

As the United States’ meat supply chain wavered during COVID-19, cattle prices came down and feed lots swelled to capacity. Ranchers looked to small- and medium-sized processors to harvest their animals, but across the country, these businesses were in short supply. Many who had a two- to three-month wait before the pandemic, now have more than an eight-month wait. In some locations nationwide, including in western Kansas and Alabama, the wait to process an animal is more than one year. Some state agencies and legislators in Washington are trying to figure out how to help the supply chain. "No state has [...]

Study identifies Kansas as promising state for wind energy development with little impact on wildlife

info2020-07-13T07:55:04-05:00July 12th, 2020|

An analysis released this month by a nonprofit environmental group with global reach identified Kansas as a promising place in the United States to develop wind energy without destroying natural habitats unique to the Great Plains. According to the new "Site Wind Right" interactive map published by The Nature Conservancy, Kansas is one of 17 states in the central U.S. — all part of an area known as the "wind belt" — where renewable wind energy sites could be developed to generate a combined total of more than 1,000 gigawatts of wind power. And all that power could come from wind [...]

Topeka to consider banning use of ’no knock’ search warrants

info2020-07-13T07:56:29-05:00July 12th, 2020|

Local elected officials plan this coming week to consider banning the use of "no knock" search warrants in Topeka and extending a Shawnee County state of disaster emergency. ... The city’s mayor and council plan to consider Councilman Spencer Duncan’s proposal to ban the use of no knock warrants while also putting in place requirements regarding the use of body cameras during the execution of search warrants and the retention of data recorded by those cameras. The Topeka Police Department has not used no knock warrants "for a long, long time," Police Chief Bill Cochran said in a recent Topeka Capital-Journal [...]

Shawnee County: Some restaurants may still offer dine-in service between 2 and 3 p.m.

info2020-07-13T07:58:05-05:00July 12th, 2020|

The Shawnee County COVID-19 Response Team announced a revision late Friday afternoon to a restriction that took effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday requiring bars and restaurants that serve food to stop offering dine-in service between 2 and 3 p.m. to enable them to carry out deep cleaning. Such establishments may still offer dine-in service if "deep cleaning and sanitation can be performed safely without interrupting" that, COVID-19 Response Team incident commander Dusty Nichols said in a news release. (Read more: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal)

Wichita’s nearly $1 billion water and sewer overhaul could be finished by 2027

info2020-07-13T07:58:40-05:00July 12th, 2020|

Wichita is moving dirt for a new water treatment facility and planning to upgrade its sewage treatment plant by 2027 in a nearly $1 billion infrastructure overhaul. The Northwest Water Treatment Facility — near the Sedgwick County Zoo at 21st and Hoover — is still being designed by Wichita Water Partners, a group of contractors awarded the project in a controversial selection process. The new plant is needed to replace the city’s existing plant, which is 80 years old and has a high risk of failure, city officials have said. (Read more: Local News | Wichita Eagle)

Decision expected Monday on whether Kansas will have a state fair this year

info2020-07-13T07:59:20-05:00July 12th, 2020|

The Kansas State Fair Board will meet on Monday to reconsider its decision to hold this year’s event after a large number of vendors indicated they will not participate in September. “What happened is after the board made the decision, some of the vendors who previously told us they were a go for this year indicated they are seriously reconsidering it,” Kansas State Fair general manager Robin Jennison said. “We had a number of vendors call and say they weren’t going to come,” Jennison said. “It was getting to the point we were not going to be a fair that people [...]

Fire district board to remain in control for now

info2020-07-13T07:59:44-05:00July 12th, 2020|

The question of who is the governing body of the Leavenworth County Fire District No. 1 has been answered for the moment in Lansing, at least while a lawsuit is pending in District Court. District Judge David King announced Tuesday that he was issuing an order to preserve what he called the status quo until he can have a hearing on a petition for a declaratory judgment. This order requires the governing of Fire District No. 1, which provides fire department services to the city of Lansing and Delaware and High Prairie townships, to remain under the control of its existing [...]

Roeland Park adopts ad hoc committee, professional services for police policy review

info2020-07-13T08:00:05-05:00July 12th, 2020|

The Roeland Park City Council on Monday evening took further steps to conduct a review of police policies. The council approved an Ad Hoc committee and an agreement with Lexipol, which provides public safety policy and training solutions for law enforcement and first responders. The public safety policy service will guide the committee through its review process and update the department’s current policies, according to city documents. (Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Merriam Town Center becomes destination for Wyandotte County RideKC microtransit line

info2020-07-13T08:00:24-05:00July 12th, 2020|

The Merriam Town Center is now an eligible destination for the RideKC 199 microtransit service area, previously servicing only Wyandotte County. The expansion offers riders a connection between Johnson and Wyandotte Counties, in addition to “access to jobs, healthcare, education, grocery and retail,” according to RideKC’s website. It went into effect beginning July 6, and is a bi-county collaboration. “This is a cooperative effort between Wyandotte and Johnson Counties to provide access to affordable, convenient public transportation,” the website reads. (Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Plans moving forward with Whimmydiddle in Scott City

info2020-07-13T08:00:52-05:00July 12th, 2020|

Worried that local officials might not allow the annual Whimmydiddle arts and crafts show to proceed this year, members of the Alpha Omega sorority were assured by Scott County commissioners they could proceed with the event as normal. But, the commission added a caveat. “It’s hard to predict what will happen between now and September, but for now you can go forward,” said Commission Chairman Jim Minnix. Sorority member Nora Burnett noted that the arts and crafts event makes it possible for them to award about $25,000 in scholarships annually. The organization was concerned about their ability to do that next [...]

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