info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Topeka City Council may undo previously approved move to outsource

info2020-01-19T17:29:35-06:00January 19th, 2020|

Topeka’s governing body has three new members as it prepares Tuesday to consider rescinding the action it took last month aimed at outsourcing the city’s program that provides grant funding to social service agencies. The governing body, which consists of the nine city council members and Mayor Michelle De La Isla, plans to meet at 6 p.m. in its chambers at 214 S.E. 8th. The Shawnee County Commission won’t meet Monday because of the Martin Luther King holiday. New Topeka City Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala proposed last week that the city’s governing body rescind the action it took Dec. 17 in a [...]

4.4 magnitude earthquake shakes ground near Hutchinson. Did you feel it?

info2020-01-19T17:28:14-06:00January 19th, 2020|

A 4.6 magnitude earthquake shook the ground near South Hutchinson Sunday afternoon, geologists said. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the earthquake at around 1:08 p.m. about a mile west to southwest of the town in Reno County. The USGS initially recorded the quake as a 4.4 magnitude, but the Kansas Geological Survey later reported it was a 4.6 magnitude. Geologists ask those who felt the ground shake to report it online. A USGS map shows the quake was felt in Wichita, Dodge City, Hays, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Lincoln and elsewhere. (Read more: Local News |)

Roeland Park looks to move forward on historical markers, Roe House replica in 2020

info2020-01-19T17:22:54-06:00January 19th, 2020|

The Roeland Park city council this month set plans to work toward completion of two unfinished projects from its 2019 agenda: the Roe House replica at Nall Park and historical markers regarding the Roe family as well as the city’s general history. “There’s a few items that were budgeted for and that staff and the governing body has undertaken, but for a myriad of reasons, were not accomplished in 2019,” Mayor Mike Kelly said. The goal of the historical markers is to honor and recognize the Roe family, after whom the city is named. Councilmember Jennifer Hill, who was tasked with [...]

Recycling report tops Pratt County meeting

info2020-01-19T17:15:58-06:00January 19th, 2020|

The Pratt County Recycling Center continues to reduce the total amount of waste going into the Pratt County Landfill. Jason Winkel, county landfill manager, said the average ton per day of 14.9 tons at the landfill in 2019 was down one ton from 15.9 tons per day in 2018. The total intake for 2019 was 10,497 tons and that was down 521.58 tons from the previous year. Winkel presented recycle center and landfill stats to the Pratt County Commissioners at their regular Monday meeting. Commissioner Glenna Borho was absent from the meeting. At the recycling center for 2019, plastic totals were [...]

Property Taxes Sink Farmland Owners

info2020-01-19T17:11:35-06:00January 19th, 2020|

Policymakers in Nebraska, Iowa and other agriculture-intensive Midwestern states prioritize property tax cuts, Loughead said. “But real, lasting property tax reform is difficult to accomplish, so these debates can take years to play out.” The Nebraska Revenue Committee introduced a bill this week that would lessen the property tax burden for taxes levied by school districts. The multi-step plan would reduce the tax evaluation for agricultural property for school district taxing purposes from 75% of its taxable value to 55% over a two-year period. Residential and commercial properties would be taxed from 100% down to 85% over three years. Nebraska also [...]

Mysterious drone sightings reported in Marshall County

info2020-01-17T07:16:52-06:00January 17th, 2020|

At least two sets of drones flying in formation were reported in Marshall County in the past week. They’re among several reports of groups of drones flying in Nebraska, northern Kansas and northeast Colorado in December and January. Marshall County Sheriff Dan Hargrave said Monday that a caller reported a set of drones over a farm about a half mile south of Bremen about 1:30 a.m. Saturday. Hargrave said no action was taken. Marshall County Undersheriff Tim Ackerman said Tuesday that the agency didn’t report it to the Federal Aviation Administration because they were waiting to see whether more reports were [...]

Riley County losing out on $661,000 in revenue since mortgage tax phase out

info2020-01-17T07:09:21-06:00January 17th, 2020|

Riley County lost out on $661,000 in tax revenue in 2019 mortgage registration fees after the Kansas legislature voted in 2014 to begin a five-year phase out of fees, said Debbie Regester, the county’s register of deeds. “I guess I’m the only register of deeds in the state of Kansas that still continues to gripe about this or bring it to the board,” Regester said. “In counties that are much larger than ours, I can’t even imagine how much revenue they’ve lost.” In 2018, the last year of the tax’s phaseout, the county collected $200,792 in mortgage registration tax fees. No [...]

JoCo program focuses on jobs for people with disabilities

info2020-01-17T07:06:48-06:00January 17th, 2020|

A Johnson County agency has set two meetings for families interested in finding community employment for loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The discussion will focus on Project SEARCH, which is for individuals 18 and over. Operated by Johnson County Developmental Supports, the program places people in a host business, where they participate, in three internship rotations and learn marketable, transferable skills. “The goal of the program is employment for each intern — defined as a minimum of 16 hours per week in a competitive, integrated setting, earning a prevailing wage or higher,” the county said in a news release. [...]

City of Wichita launches interactive map for snow plow tracking

info2020-01-17T07:05:43-06:00January 17th, 2020|

Condition of roads in south central Kansas are changing with the wintry mix making its way into the metro area. With the rain, ice, and snow expected overnight Thursday, it could create possible slick spots and make travel tricky. The City of Wichita now has a new interactive web page that allows citizens to track the location of the City’s snow plows. (Read more: KSN-TV)

Sales tax on Netflix? State budget proposal could add to your bill

info2020-01-17T07:05:18-06:00January 17th, 2020|

The state budget presented to lawmakers by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly comes with a recommendation to add a sales tax on online services where you can watch your favorite movies, play your favorite video games and listen to your favorite music. The tax on "all sales of digital property and subscription services," includes music and video games you download and streaming services including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ Amazon Prime, etc... The added sales tax to "all sales of digital property" would take effect July 1, the proposed budget says. (Read more: KWCH News)

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