info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

To respond to COVID-19, proposed downtown Lawrence layout would have less space for cars, more for pedestrians and outdoor dining

info2020-06-01T08:32:26-05:00June 1st, 2020|

If downtown businesses are going to safely operate during the coronavirus pandemic, cars are going to have to give people more room. At least that’s the premise of a temporary layout proposed for downtown Lawrence, which downtown leaders and city officials hope to see put in place soon. Downtown Lawrence Inc., the architecture and design firm Gould Evans and other local partners helped create the proposal, which reconfigures the downtown street layout to provide more room for pedestrians and outdoor sales and dining. Read more: LJWorld.com.

‘Johnson County Museum tells the story of suburbia.’ Its new director embraces history

info2020-06-01T08:46:07-05:00June 1st, 2020|

Starting a new job during a pandemic didn’t daunt Mary McMurray. In fact, McMurray believes historic times like these are perfect for starting a new collection. McMurray became director of the Johnson County Museum in Overland Park on April 6.... “In many ways, the Johnson County Museum tells the story of suburbia,” McMurray says. “It is a story that resonates with suburban experiences across the United States. As impressive as that story is, what impresses me most about the museum is the way it collects and shares stories of individuals who contributed to our shared history and identity in their own [...]

$3.5M settlement for family of Barber County man killed in 2017 beanbag shooting

info2020-06-01T08:46:53-05:00June 1st, 2020|

Barber County officials have agreed to pay $3.5 million to the family of an unarmed Sun City man killed with a homemade beanbag round fired by the undersheriff at close range in 2017. The settlement, reached in a federal civil rights case filed by the widow of Steven P. Myers, is thought to be the largest to date in any officer-involved shooting death in Kansas, an attorney for the family said following the expiration of a gag order Sunday. (Read more: Local News |)

Guns, drugs and roughly $145K missing from Sedgwick County evidence area, sheriff says

info2020-06-01T08:25:37-05:00May 31st, 2020|

An audit showed that roughly $145,000, guns and drugs were missing from the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office property and evidence storage but more could still be missing, Sheriff Jeff Easter said Friday. Easter said a former property and evidence technician and supervisor started being investigated for the missing items after an employee noticed the storage area in disarray on Jan. 24. Both employees no longer worked with the sheriff’s office as of Feb. 27, Easter said. Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said the missing evidence, most of which was supposed to be destroyed, has led to some cases being dismissed. [...]

Hospital finances slowly improving

info2020-06-01T08:26:52-05:00May 31st, 2020|

After going through several hard months financially due to the impact of COVID-19, South Central Kansas Medical Center and its clinics are beginning to see at least some improvement. We’ve done more surgeries by May 14 than we did the entire month of April,” CEO Jeff Bowman said during a trustee board meeting Thursday. Bowman said the daily census at the hospital had remained consistent during March. Expenses remained consistent, he said, but the medical center saw a total income loss of $473,000. (Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

City of Paola continues reopening process

info2020-06-01T08:27:43-05:00May 31st, 2020|

City of Paola officials continue to push out weekly updates regarding the resumption of city services and public access to city facilities, many of which were initially closed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The city has updated a graphic on its Facebook page each week to push out the latest information, with the most recent graphic pertaining to the week beginning Monday, June 1. The latest addition is the announcement that Paola Municipal Court will resume Thursday, June 4. Although the Paola Family Pool remains closed for the season, all of the city facilities at Lake Miola are now open, [...]

McElroy looks forward to challenges as Newton city manager

info2020-06-01T08:28:09-05:00May 31st, 2020|

Incoming Newton City Manager Kelly McElroy couldn’t have picked a worse time for taking over her new position, taking over in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak that’s shut much of the city down, but having the advantage of a five-month head start in the job helps. McElroy was promoted from assistant city manager at a Newton City Commission meeting last week. She has served in the city manager capacity on an interim basis since the start of January, following the retirement of Bob Myers. “It’s definitely an exciting time to be in the world,” McElroy said of the timing of [...]

A task force has been created in Crawford County to come up with a safe reopening and recovery plan

info2020-06-01T08:28:34-05:00May 31st, 2020|

A task force has been created in Crawford County to come up with a safe reopening and recovery plan following the covid-19 pandemic. It’s made up of county leaders, health officials, school administrators, as well as local business and tourism leaders. The group will meet weekly. Members will work to share information to try and determine what’s the best approach going forward. (Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)

Emporia’s ‘Gym Bar’ receives citation after refusing to close

info2020-06-01T08:28:57-05:00May 31st, 2020|

The owner of Gym Bar in Emporia is breaking the rules by reopening before getting the go ahead from the county health department. As of when this article was published, bars are supposed to remain closed, except for curbside sales in Lyon County. Matt Flowers is the owner of the “Gym Bar” and said they serve food as well as drinks. He reopened on Tuesday and said on Wednesday, a worker for the Lyon County Health Department asked him to close. When he didn’t, he was given a citation to appear in court. “The way I understood it, was I don’t [...]

Wichita civil rights leaders discuss relationship between local African American community, police

info2020-06-01T08:29:38-05:00May 31st, 2020|

George Floyd's death and charges against a now former Minneapolis, Minn. police officer has civil rights leaders in Wichita wondering what they can do to keep something like this from happening again. In 2016, a crowd gathered for a Black Lives Matter rally in northeast Wichita. A community barbecue, bringing the African American community together with local law enforcement followed that, but area civil rights leaders say more needs done. "I think that was good. However, we didn't follow through. We didn't keep that movement going," says Kansas Senate Minority Leader Oletha Faust Goudeau, of Wichita. "We didn't keep that ongoing [...]

About info