info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Shawnee County pools, aquatic centers opening at half-capacity Monday

info2020-06-23T07:33:56-05:00June 22nd, 2020|

Shawnee County Parks and Recreation will open community pools and aquatic centers Monday with some restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. Topeka’s three aquatic centers and three community pools will be open at half-capacity. Aquatic Supervisor David Allacher said restrooms will be cleaned every half hour. Each facility will also take a “safety break” every hour. This is when staff will disinfect highly touched and trafficked areas, like lounge chairs. “If they want to move them so there’s more distance apart they are more than welcome to,” Allacher said. “If they want them disinfected just let staff know. We’ll give you [...]

County to consider revising health officer’s pay arrangement

info2020-06-23T07:34:56-05:00June 22nd, 2020|

The Shawnee County Health Department is asking county commissioners to temporarily switch county health officer Gianfranco Pezzino from a salaried employee to an hourly one – which could potentially increase his pay – while making arrangements to have state and federal grant funding cover his compensation. Shawnee County Commissioners Bill Riphahn, Kevin Cook and Aaron Mays are to consider making an amendment to Pezzino’s contract when they meet Thursday, according to a news release put out Monday by the health department’s deputy public information officer, Amanda Monhollon. "This amendment proposes altering the pay of the health officer to $125.00 per hour [...]

Kansas jumps 406 cases, five deaths from COVID-19 over weekend

info2020-06-23T07:35:08-05:00June 22nd, 2020|

State public health officials reported 406 new coronavirus cases and five more deaths from COVID-19 over the weekend. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s coronavirus pandemic report for Monday showed increases of 406 new cases, 21 more hospitalizations, an additional five deaths and 6,958 more negative tests for COVID-19. The increases are from the last KDHE report, which came out on Friday. The state health department reported 12,465 cases have been identified in 92 of the state’s 105 counties. One new county was added to the list on Monday. (Read more: Local News | Wichita Eagle)

One in three Kansas households hasn’t filled out Census

info2020-06-23T07:35:20-05:00June 22nd, 2020|

Amid a pandemic that has slowed efforts to count Americans, more than a third of Kansas households haven’t yet responded to the U.S. Census. In some counties, especially in rural areas, less than half of the population has filled out the forms that help steer billions in federal dollars and resources to the state each year. One recent, high-profile example: Medical supplies that Kansas received from the Strategic National Stockpile to combat COVID-19 went out to counties based on their 2010 Census counts. (Read more: Newton Kansan)

Roadside sales not permitted on Kansas highway right of way

info2020-06-23T07:35:44-05:00June 22nd, 2020|

The Kansas Department of Transportation is reminding the public that according to state law, all rights of way on state highways are to be used exclusively for highway purposes. KDOT has jurisdiction over all interstate, Kansas and U.S. routes on the state’s 9,500-mile system. The violation that occurs frequently is the placement of various signs that are removed and taken to local KDOT offices. However, it is also unlawful for any persons to display on highway right of way outside the city limits any goods, wares or merchandise for sale. (Read more: Osage County Online)

Johnson County guidelines would allow visitors at long-term care facilities, with several caveats

info2020-06-23T07:35:51-05:00June 22nd, 2020|

After three long months of lockdown with visits from family members all but prohibited, there’s a flicker of hope for residents of long-term care facilities. Johnson County and state officials have created a pathway to reopening their quarters once again to a few more members of the outside world. The county plan, based on state guidelines, sets out a list of testing and screening requirements. It still limits gatherings and communal dining. But for the first time, visitors other than those going for “compassionate care” of a resident in rapidly failing health would be allowed inside the buildings. (Read more: Prairie [...]

Questions abound at Frankfort meeting on wind farm

info2020-06-23T07:36:46-05:00June 22nd, 2020|

The first meeting to discuss extraterritorial zoning around Frankfort drew a big crowd and featured a variety of speakers and questions from area residents. About 100 people attended the meeting Thursday evening in Frankfort City Park. ... Frankfort Mayor Brian Smith... said the Frankfort City Council plans to work to try to make everybody happy. Earlier this week, the council opted to request bids from consultants to help the city consider extraterritorial zoning. The action was spurred by a Florida-based company's plan to build a wind farm in the Frankfort area. (Read more: The Marysville Advocate)

Paola Dog Park is officially open

info2020-06-23T07:36:56-05:00June 22nd, 2020|

Karla Vialle’s two yellow labs, Josephine and Savannah, leapt with joy at her feet as she bent down to pick up a tennis ball inside the new Paola Dog Park at Lake Miola on Friday, June 19. “It’s an exciting day for them,” she exclaimed as she tossed the ball into an open area of the park. The dogs scurried after the ball and returned it to their owner after taking a quick detour to climb a makeshift hill and sniff a fire hydrant, both of which were recently installed at the dog park by members of Paola Public Works. The [...]

How the coronavirus could change the way Kansas students are taught for decades

info2020-06-22T08:14:05-05:00June 22nd, 2020|

When Kansas K-12 students head back to school in the fall, they may face an altered academic landscape as educators prepare districts for the possibility that the coronavirus will make in-person class time impossible for weeks on end. But a draft of statewide reopening guidance to schools, obtained by The Star, shows that educators preparing districts to navigate the pandemic see their work as an opportunity to advance changes that will affect how students are taught for decades. The document — under development by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) — gives districts the framework to adopt a competency-based approach, [...]

Lawrence leaders take voluntary pay reductions to help offset revenue shortfalls from coronavirus pandemic

info2020-06-22T08:10:54-05:00June 22nd, 2020|

As the City of Lawrence anticipates revenue losses related to the coronavirus pandemic, some local leaders are voluntarily giving up a portion of their salaries to help the city’s bottom line. But they don’t expect those contributions to be antidotes, and they’re still preparing for the need to make significant budget cuts. At their most recent meeting, Lawrence city commissioners voted unanimously to forgo their salaries for two weeks, and the city’s top four officials will also be taking voluntary two-week furloughs. Read more: LJWorld.com.

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