info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Newton offers support of rural school program

info2019-07-12T00:34:30-05:00July 11th, 2019|

Should voters approve a new school in an upcoming bond election, Walton Rural Life Center would be closed in favor of a new building at S.W. 24th and Old Main. And that means concern over whether such a school could house livestock for its agricultural emphasis. “There have been questions and concerns as to whether that (livestock) is allowed in the city limits,” said Bob Myer, city manager. “We had researched this in the past. We feel the existing animal control regulations already contain exemptions for an educational institution, especially one regulated by the USDA.” (Read more: Newton Kansan)

After talks break down, City of Lawrence and firefighters union cancel planned meetings until mediator takes over

info2019-07-12T00:37:41-05:00July 11th, 2019|

Negotiations between the City of Lawrence and the local firefighters union have come to a halt until a mediator takes over the proceedings next week. A local resolution governing contract negotiations states that the negotiations are automatically considered at an impasse if they aren’t concluded by July 1. By the time the groups reached the impasse date, they were still far apart on agreeing to a new employment contract covering wages, benefits and working conditions for firefighters, fire engineers and fire lieutenants with Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical. The current contract expires at the end of this year. Read more: LJWorld.com.

City of Lawrence leaders, school board begin heated discussion on future funding for school resource officers

info2019-07-12T00:38:35-05:00July 11th, 2019|

School district leaders have concerns about helping the city pay for a program that puts police officers in schools, and some are questioning whether the program is worthwhile at all. That was the takeaway from Wednesday’s meeting between City of Lawrence leaders and the Lawrence school board about whether the district should contribute some funding for the Lawrence Police Department’s school resource officer program. The program has been paid for solely by grants and city funds since 2001. At Wednesday’s meeting, however, Police Chief Gregory Burns Jr. proposed expanding the program and also suggested that the school district pay half of [...]

Developers propose $500M arts campus near Kansas Speedway

info2019-07-11T01:51:48-05:00July 11th, 2019|

Developers are proposing a $500 million arts-and-entertainment campus in the Kansas City area with housing for students and seniors. The Kansas City Star reports that the Bonner Springs City Council this week approved a zoning change that developers needed to move ahead with the 180-acre project. It would be near NASCAR’s Kansas Speedway and the Village West shopping district at Interstates 70 and 435. The campus would include a for-profit college to train people to work in film and television production and engineering, along with housing for its students. Plans also call for independent living, assistant living and a memory care [...]

USD 428 planning tours ahead of bond issue election

info2019-07-11T01:48:07-05:00July 11th, 2019|

A school bond issue ballot will be mailed to USD 428 voters on August 20, 2019. It comes down to two simple ‘yes or no’ questions for the Great Bend school district. The outcome from a mail-in ballot will determine if USD 428 is able to move forward with renovations, enhancements, and additions to their facilities. The first bond question worth $41,750,000 plans to make renovations to all seven of the school buildings, including a new sixth-grade classroom wing at Great Bend Middle School to make the shift of sixth graders to the middle school. USD 428 Superintendent Khris Thexton says [...]

Wichita State lands $33M contract for Army missile program

info2019-07-11T01:43:59-05:00July 11th, 2019|

Wichita State University’s aviation research program has landed a $33 million contract for the Army’s high-speed missile program. The Wichita Eagle reports that the three-year contract calls for the National Institute for Aviation Research to make the missiles lighter and cheaper while improving performance. Wichita State interim president Andy Tompkins said in a news release Tuesday that the contract will give students, both undergraduates and graduates, “an advantage no other university in the country can match.” (Read more: Hutch Post)

Aerial spraying planned to control mosquito population

info2019-07-11T01:42:15-05:00July 11th, 2019|

The mosquito population in Reno County is the worst anyone has ever seen, according to Sherry Tubach with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. She spoke at the Reno County Commission meeting yesterday and talked about what they found in the county traps. “Among the five traps that were found in Reno County, this is really an unprecedented number, we have never ever trapped this many Culex mosquitoes,” Tubach said. “We really feel like the West Nile virus, actually they can also carry Saint Louis encephalitis virus, is quite high.” She says they are going to do aerial spraying [...]

Wichita’s abandoned Joyland Amusement Park gets green light for makeover

info2019-07-11T01:40:42-05:00July 11th, 2019|

The new owners of Wichita's former Joyland Amusement Park got the green light to move forward with redevelopment plans. The City Council approved the redevelopment project Tuesday which would transform the eyesore property into an outdoor event center and paintball range. It also would add one or more restaurants, The Wichita Eagle reports. The amusement park opened in 1949 and has been vacant since 2006. Since its closing, the site has faced vandalism, theft and arson. (Read more: Kansas City Business Journal - The Business Journals)

Overland Park committee approves no-bid purchase of police body cameras

info2019-07-11T01:27:47-05:00July 11th, 2019|

The City of Overland Park is one step closer to equipping police officers with body worn cameras. The Overland Park Public Safety Committee voted Wednesday night to approve the police department’s plan to spend $430,000 on body cameras without a bidding process. The measure is expected to be heard and voted on by the full City Council next week. If approved, Overland Park Police Chief Frank Donchez said he expects the cameras to be ready for use by the end of the year. (Read more: KC Star Local News)

‘It has been an honor’: KCK Police Chief Terry Zeigler announces plan to retire

info2019-07-11T01:18:26-05:00July 11th, 2019|

Kansas City, Kansas, Police Chief Terry Zeigler said he plans to retire later this year in an announcement shared on social media Wednesday. Zeigler, who has been the police chief for four and a half years, serving 29 years total with the department in his law enforcement career, said his retirement will go into effect Sept. 11. “It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Kansas City, Kansas, and the men and women of the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department for the last four and a half years as Chief of Police,” Zeigler said in a statement. Read more [...]

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