info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

KCK district OKs $180 million bond for school improvements to appear on November ballot

info2024-08-16T09:11:46-05:00August 16th, 2024|

With buildings in disrepair and estimated construction costs mounting, Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools officials are putting forward a $180 million bond issue to finance school rebuilds that voters may consider Nov. 5. The seven-member elected school board voted 6-0 Tuesday to advance a proposed investment in aging buildings that district leaders say is long overdue. In dollars and cents, the new proposal is less than half of the more ambitious plan that voters widely rejected during a single-issue special election three months ago. And district leaders say its passage would not increase the tax rate, a major sticking point during [...]

Debate over Wichita paid parking is intensifying

info2024-08-16T09:08:54-05:00August 16th, 2024|

The debate over paid parking coming to downtown Wichita is intensifying. Some business owners and members of the public are left with questions. The exact cost is still unknown, but Wichita City Council member Brandon Johnson said he believes it will start at 75 cents an hour. Others said their frustration wasn’t about feeding the meter but how the city announced it on Saturday in a social media post with very few details. Russell Arben Fox, a professor at Friends University, said his frustration came from the lack of critical details. “The fact they rolled this out with a lot of [...]

Kansas will pay $50,000 to settle a suit over a transgender Highway Patrol employee’s firing

info2024-08-16T09:06:21-05:00August 16th, 2024|

Kansas will pay $50,000 to settle a federal anti-discrimination lawsuit filed by a former state Highway Patrol employee who claimed to have been fired for coming out as transgender. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and eight leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature unanimously approved the settlement during a brief online video conference Thursday. The state attorney general’s office pursued the settlement in defending the Highway Patrol, but any agreement it reaches also must be approved by the governor and top lawmakers. Kelly and the legislators didn’t publicly discuss the settlement, and the amount wasn’t disclosed until the state released their formal resolution approving [...]

Sedgwick County commissioner wants county-wide sales tax to tackle property tax relief

info2024-08-16T09:01:35-05:00August 16th, 2024|

Leaders from 15 Sedgwick County communities met in Wichita to tackle property tax relief. Wednesday’s meeting was only an informational meeting for leaders. No decision or action was taken. The idea is to create an eighth, quarter, or half-cent county sales tax to decrease property taxes. Community leaders want relief for property owners without cutting funding for public programs like the zoo and the arts. Sedgwick County Commissioner Ryan Baty believes a county-wide sales tax is the answer. “We could see an $8, $10, $12 million property tax reduction if we use a quarter-cent or half-cent sales tax,” said Baty. Baty [...]

Community health worker project helping rural Kansas

info2024-08-16T08:59:23-05:00August 16th, 2024|

A common goal of improving health in rural areas is bringing together leaders from higher education and medical providers. The Community Health Worker Project at Kansas State University focuses on sustaining the health and safety of rural Kansans and people working in agriculture. The project is meant to serve as a gateway to help rural residents manage chronic conditions, prevent injuries and reduce risks of getting sick. “A community health worker who understands the hard work that has to be done if you’re on a ranch or farm, having to look at the equipment maintenance, having to look at some of [...]

Severe storm rips roof off home in Soldier

info2024-08-16T08:58:09-05:00August 16th, 2024|

Another severe overnight storm left a couple in Soldier without a roof. Ron Youngs said he and his partner Pamela Powell were waiting out the weather at a friend’s house. They said it’s a good thing they weren’t at home. “I went around town to see if there was tree limbs down in the intersections,” Youngs said, “or if there was anybody who might need some help. And after I made my rounds and came home, I realized the entire roof of my house was laying in my driveway.” The couple took shelter with Thomas Cott and his wife. Cott said [...]

Gage Park named ‘top green space’ in HGTV article

info2024-08-16T08:56:23-05:00August 16th, 2024|

A Topeka park is the only Kansas park to be listed in a recent HGTV article. HGTV recently came out with a story naming the best public parks, gardens and nature centers in the United States. The HGTV story “50 States of Public Parks, Gardens, Arboretums and Nature Centers” highlights parks with the top green spaces that are free and open to the public and also have activities for families. Gage Park in Topeka is the only park in the Sunflower State to be recognized on this list. The article highlights the variety of sights and activities that Gage Park has [...]

City of Randolph victim of $40k fraud

info2024-08-16T08:54:51-05:00August 16th, 2024|

The Riley County Police Department (RCPD) said the City of Randolph was the victim of a scam after being defrauded out of $40,000. On Tuesday, Aug. 13 RCPD was called to report fraud in the 300 block of Stockdale Drive in Randolph. The city was listed as the victim after a suspect posed as a consulting group and defrauded the city, according to a daily report from the RCPD. If you have information on the thefts you can contact Crime Stoppers. Using Crime Stoppers you can remain anonymous and qualify for a $1,000 cash reward. 27 News reached out to the [...]

Pittsburg pool plays host to paddling pooches

info2024-08-16T08:53:27-05:00August 16th, 2024|

Residents take one last dip in the city pool with their pooches at the Pittsburg Aquatic Center Wednesday evening. With daytime heat index in excess of 100 degrees, the water was a welcome relief to human and canine. Parents brought their fur babies — and the regular ones too — for a final dip in the ole cement pond. Divided into two one-hour segments based on size, doggies got to play from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Typically the last public event of the summer, the pool will close until next Memorial weekend. Source: Morning Sun

Rock River Rapids and Derby Shores — how will the Derby waterparks be different?

info2024-08-16T08:50:26-05:00August 16th, 2024|

If you’re feeling the heat in Derby this summer, the city could cool you down in more ways than one. Plans were announced in April for a summer groundbreaking for Derby Shores, a $160 million private development that would add another aquatic experience to the rapidly growing Wichita suburb. The development would add an approximately 4-acre man-made lagoon with a beach and water slides, a 300-unit apartment complex, an RV/glamping park, a 50-unit senior living facility and other developments at 63rd Street South and Rock Road. The development would be a mile from the city’s long-standing municipal waterpark, Rock River Rapids. [...]

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