info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Panasonic’s battery plant is already transforming De Soto, Kansas. It’s only halfway built

info2024-06-24T08:11:33-05:00June 24th, 2024|

Once completed, the $4 billion, 4.7-million-square-foot facility will be the largest battery manufacturing plant in the world, said Jeff van Heel, who runs construction on the site. Van Heel, Panasonic Energy of North America president Allan Swan and other executives hosted a media tour Thursday of the construction site. When production equipment installation is included, the facility is a little less than 50% built out, van Heel said. But officials plan to start production gradually in the parts that are fully ready, so that the company can start making the batteries in the first quarter of 2025. Source: KCUR News

Governor Kelly Announces $57M to Secure Water Supply for Dodge City, Support the Ogallala Aquifer

info2024-06-23T15:49:11-05:00June 23rd, 2024|

Governor Laura Kelly today announced that $57 million is being invested in Dodge City to upgrade its existing water treatment process and infrastructure. The project advances the Kelly administration’s work to address the state’s water quality and quantity needs. “By exploring every avenue for investment into our water infrastructure, we are making progress to address Kansas’ water crisis,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “When we work together – pooling resources across federal, state, and local government – we can significantly impact the future of water for the region.” The project will strengthen the city’s process of discharging treated wastewater into the Arkansas River streambed. [...]

Saucers and aliens revive Geneseo

info2024-06-23T15:48:03-05:00June 23rd, 2024|

There is something strange going on in a small town smack dab in the middle of Kansas. The unusual activity hinges on a little-known collection that the town had kept secret for over forty years. On July 6, the third annual Kansas UFO Day celebrates flying saucers, aliens, and all things outer space at the Geneseo City Museum in Rice County. The legendary images of Gort and Klaatu from the 1951 movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still” are coming to the museum. Gort will be installed on the grounds at a full height of 8 feet, accompanied by “photo op” statue [...]

This area of Olathe has seen 200% spike in fire calls. A new firehouse is planned there.

info2024-06-23T15:46:17-05:00June 23rd, 2024|

Olathe plans to spend about $14.5 million on its future Firehouse No. 9 planned northwest of College Boulevard and Woodland Road. On Tuesday, city staff and contracted architects from Finkle + Williams gave a presentation to the Olathe City Council focused primarily on the design of the future firehouse. This particular property was donated to Olathe from the historic Hoff Family Farm along with land for a future city park, dubbed Pioneer Park. In an email to the Post, Olathe Fire Public Information Officer Capt. Mike Hall reiterated the location’s importance for the fire department, pointing out that northern-central Olathe has seen steady growth [...]

Objections to wind farm expansion growing

info2024-06-23T15:41:25-05:00June 23rd, 2024|

Several residents of the southwest portion of the county are objecting to a proposed expansion of Sunflower Wind farm. Quentin Guhr, who lives east of Goessel, spoke to county commissioners Monday about his concerns. “Our current decommissioning regulations say enough of the turbine’s base is to be removed so 18 inches of soil can be placed over it and reseeded with native grass,” Guhr said. “As some of you may know, and any farmer will tell you, 18 inches is not enough soil over concrete to grow a crop.” Regulations say that any more than 18 inches is to be negotiated [...]

Prairie Village has fined Republic Services $28K for recent rash of missed trash pickups

info2024-06-23T15:38:00-05:00June 23rd, 2024|

After fining Republic Services $28,000 over the past six months for missed trash pickups, Prairie Village city leaders are asking its solid waste provider for better communication. Mayor Eric Mikkelson and the Prairie Village City Council on Monday asked Phoenix-based Republic Services to proactively communicate with the city about missed pickups. City leaders also asked Republic representatives to prioritize picking up trash at missed routes for the following day. This comes after several issues with Republic missing trash pickups in the past two years in Prairie Village and neighboring Johnson County cities. In Prairie Village, Republic is the primary solid waste hauler citywide. The city is more [...]

City of Wichita to hold further discussion on possible reparation panel

info2024-06-23T15:36:28-05:00June 23rd, 2024|

A local activist is pleading with the Wichita City Council to look into the issue of reparations for the African-American community in the city. Kansas Justice Advocate President Mary Dean is pointing at other cities across the country that have put together panels of experts to address how the African-American community can be compensated for historic racial discrimination and displacement. "East Coast, West Coast, everybody was doing it, and I'm like, 'Wow, I think Wichita should join in and, you know, try to figure out how to repair the harm that had been done to Black people, over decades and centuries, [...]

Rural Fire Department Receives $10,000 donation.

info2024-06-23T15:32:47-05:00June 23rd, 2024|

Rangeland Cooperatives Inc., along with its Board of Directors are proud to announce, once again, that Rangeland has made a $10,000.00 donation to Phillips County Rural Fire District #1. This donation was matched with a grant of $10,000.00 from CoBank. The $20,000.00 will help District #1 buy a new 2024 brush truck, this is a joint effort with the City of Phillipsburg. This is the 4th consecutive year that Rangeland Coop and CoBank have joined together in a grant program that has benefited the Phillips County Rural Fire Departments a total of $60,000.00. We wish to thank our volunteer fire fighters for [...]

Wichita ranks No. 1 for home price increases, study says. See what the data shows

info2024-06-23T15:31:03-05:00June 23rd, 2024|

Wichita home sale prices increased the most out of the largest U.S. metro areas, according to a SmartAsset ranking. The company ranked the largest 100 metro areas by one-year price increases from Zillow’s home sale price data. Wichita ranked first, right above Toledo, Ohio. Wichita saw a 21.2% price change in the last year, according to the banking company. Wichita’s current average sale price in April was $259,264, while in April of last year it was $213,955. SmartAsset reports that home sale prices in Wichita have increased more than 69% since 2019, when the average price was $153,347, according to Zillow [...]

Arkansas City hosts ribbon cutting for park renovations

info2024-06-23T15:29:06-05:00June 23rd, 2024|

Arkansas City hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday at Lovie Watson Park. The ribbon cutting was hosted by the Arkansas City Chamber of Commerce and marked the culmination of extensive efforts by Arkansas City's Parks Department to renovate the park. The renovations were made possible through a grant that was secured in Nov. 2023 from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Health Pathways program. The grant funding helped install new equipment and establish a tobacco-free policy within the facility. The Pathways initiative, known as Pathways to a Healthy Kansas, is the largest community grant initiative funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield [...]

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