info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Cost, breadth of impact among factors in Overland Park’s decision not to offer curbside storm debris pick up

info2019-01-23T06:48:29-06:00January 23rd, 2019|

When Winter Storm Gia hit Celeste Aronoff’s neighborhood in northern Overland Park, it snapped two massive branches from one of the trees in her family’s yard. As clean up efforts from the storm got underway, Aronoff and her neighbors were struggling to decide how to proceed. “There are large limbs and trees down everywhere,” she said. “The idea that most of us are equipped to manage this on our own seems kind of ludicrous…We just keep joking about getting everything in my Prius.” Aronoff isn’t the only Overland Park resident irked by the city’s decision to set up drop off sites [...]

City of Wichita close to finalizing aquatics master plan

info2019-01-23T06:47:00-06:00January 23rd, 2019|

It may seem odd to be talking about the future of Wichita pools in the winter, but that's exactly what the city council did at a workshop Tuesday morning. It appears they may be on step closer to finalizing Wichita's Aquatics Master Plan. Mary Dean is one of several members who has fought to keep a swimming pool at McAdams Park in northeast Wichita. She is glad to see city council members moving in a direction that would keep a pool in the community. "You know, we wanted to make sure that the heritage that is McAdams made sure that it [...]

Shawnee County Commissioner Kevin Cook seeks more say in zoning for those just outside Topeka

info2019-01-23T06:44:47-06:00January 23rd, 2019|

Since 2003, owners of land in the 3-mile jurisdiction just outside Topeka city limits in unincorporated Shawnee County have had no representation when the city’s governing body considered planning and zoning moves affecting that area. But County Commissioner Kevin Cook said Tuesday he was working with county counselor Jim Crowl to craft a proposed home rule resolution that would arrange for the city and county to form a board to address those matters consisting of representatives from both the city and unincorporated Shawnee County. “This would create a manner in which there would be actual representation of residents in the 3-mile [...]

Wichita Eisenhower National Airport set ridership record in 2018

info2019-01-23T06:42:52-06:00January 23rd, 2019|

Last year was the busiest on record for Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, with 2018 ending with an annual record of 1,665,116 passengers flying in and out of the Air Capital. That topped the previous record set in 2017 by more than 44,800 passengers, according to new data from the airport. Boosted by new service that included Alaska Airlines' flights to Seattle that began in 2017 and Frontier Airlines’ flights to Denver that began last year, the airport set numerous monthly ridership records throughout 2018. That included one for the month of December, which saw 140,304 passengers for the final [...]

Point In Time count allocates homeless funding in Kansas

info2019-01-22T09:36:27-06:00January 22nd, 2019|

In the next few weeks, cities across the state of Kansas will do their Point In Time count of the homeless. “Once a year, this point in time count is done, just to kind of get a snapshot of what’s going on just on this particular day,” said Misty Bosch Hastings with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services. “Of course, that’s the individuals that we can find.” The purpose of the count is to be able to properly allocate public funds to help the homeless. “This lets us know how much money we can get, statewide, from the federal [...]

Lawrence police expected to have body cameras by summer

info2019-01-22T09:35:40-06:00January 22nd, 2019|

Lawrence police officials say all officers in the department should be wearing body cameras sometime this summer. The Lawrence Journal-World reports 10 officers, with support from four staff members, have been testing the cameras since November. Police Capt. Trent McKinley said the department will evaluate the test results early next month and then select a camera vendor. The cameras are budgeted to cost $462,000. Half of the cost will be funded by a federal grant, and the city of Lawrence will match those funds. The city has also hired a technician to help with the body camera program. McKinley said the [...]

Pratt Volunteer Fire chief would like a training facility

info2019-01-22T09:34:49-06:00January 22nd, 2019|

Pratt Volunteer Fire Department Chief David Kramer would like to establish a permanent training facility in Pratt for his squad of 22 active volunteer firefighters as a solution to the current training program situation which, he said, adds hours of set-up and tear-down time to training exercises. Kramer presented ideas for a facility based on shipping containers to Pratt City commissioners at their regular Monday meeting and received positive responses that fell short of commitment. “I think it’s a good idea,” said commissioner Jason Leslie. Kramer’s presentation included a slideshow of various configurations, suggesting one that would start with five 40-foot [...]

Flint Hills Regional Leaders’ retreat brings regional economic concerns to the forefront

info2019-01-22T09:32:26-06:00January 22nd, 2019|

Business and industry leaders gathered with area political leaders for a two-day conference held in Olathe Friday and Saturday to identify strengths and weaknesses impacting the Manhattan area workforce and economy. One of those key aspects discussed during the Flint Hills Regional Leaders Retreat is the Tri-county Region Reimagined economic strategic plan. The plan involves Riley, Pottawatomie and Geary counties. As it looks ahead to new technology, and a growing number of retiring baby boomers in the workforce, a lot of the conversation is now aimed at attracting talent and retaining those employees in the region. Region Reimagined Program Director Christy [...]

CJOnline Facebook Live event to focus on Shawnee County land use plan

info2019-01-22T09:30:51-06:00January 22nd, 2019|

After more than two years of discussion, Shawnee County commissioners last October approved a comprehensive land use plan to guide decision-making about the physical development of the county’s unincorporated areas and serve as a blueprint for future growth and the preservation of agricultural land. But some residents still don’t quite comprehend what the plan does and what effects it might have. The Topeka Capital-Journal consequently asked County Commissioner Kevin Cook to answer questions during a podcast/Facebook Live event, in which he will appear at noon Tuesday at CJOnline and The Topeka Capital-Journal Facebook page. The Capital-Journal on Monday provided Cook 15 [...]

Study: Kansas strictest in limiting control of food policy

info2019-01-22T09:29:36-06:00January 22nd, 2019|

Kansas goes farther than any other state in limiting state and local agencies from influencing policy about food nutrition labels and portion sizes, according to a recent study. A study published this month by New York University researcher Jennifer Pomeranz found that Kansas does more to limit the authority of local governments on food policy than any of the 13 other states with similar legislation, the Kansas News Service reported. Kansas' pre-emption law, which went into effect in 2016, prevents local authorities from restricting portion sizes, taxing soda and sugary drinks and banning "incentive items," such as toys in a McDonald's [...]

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