info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Voters will decide this fall whether Lawrence should change its government structure, including a directly elected mayor

info2024-09-06T07:46:29-05:00September 6th, 2024|

Voters won’t be choosing Lawrence’s city leaders in this November’s elections, but they will be weighing in on how they should be chosen — including whether voters should decide on the mayor themselves. Back in February 2023, the Lawrence City Commission approved a resolution to put a question on the November 2024 ballot about whether Lawrence should change its form of government to one with a directly elected mayor and geographic districts for commissioners. Source: LJWorld

Clearwater Schools struggle with rising chronic absenteeism rates

info2024-09-06T07:44:33-05:00September 6th, 2024|

“We had a pretty large increase in our chronic absenteeism,” said Jason Johnson, superintendent of Clearwater Public Schools. “So, prior to COVID, we were about 13% chronically absent, and this past year, we were about 25%.” When a student misses at least 10% of a school year, Johnson said a student is chronically absent. Source: KWCH

Lawmakers dig into proposed Bonner Springs theme park

info2024-09-06T07:16:36-05:00September 6th, 2024|

Kansas lawmakers heard an update on a theme park being developed by Mattel, the toy company behind Barbie and Hot Wheels, in Bonner Springs. The park is working with the city and state to secure Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bonds to help pay for the project.... In April, Bonner Springs approved of a STAR Bond district boundary, which would allow the state to award funds to businesses that will be repaid over time with the sales taxes generated by in-district businesses. Source: Salina Journal

City clerk’s death spurs push for more checks

info2024-09-04T10:28:27-05:00September 4th, 2024|

Controversy surrounding the disappearance and death, confirmed Thursday, of Peabody’s interim city clerk has prompted the governor and lieutenant governor to promise to be “pursuing changes to the background check statutes this upcoming legislative session.” “Clearly, Jonathan Clayton was able to avoid the discovery of his criminal convictions,” Will Lawrence, chief of state to Governor Laura Kelly, said in a release Thursday. “His financial crimes coming to light, and questions about his involvement with local organizations that received ARPA grants, appear to have set off the chain of events that have occurred over the last several weeks.” Source: Marion County RECORD

Governor Kelly Announces MARSHALLTOWN to Invest $27M, Create 40 Jobs in Wyandotte County

info2024-09-04T10:18:03-05:00September 4th, 2024|

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that MARSHALLTOWN, a recognized supplier of high-quality tools and products to major brands such as Lowe’s and Home Depot, is investing $27 million to build a new distribution center in Wyandotte County. Once the project is completed, MARSHALLTOWN is expected to create 40 new jobs in the Kansas City area. “My administration continues to attract economic development projects that will create a significant number of new jobs,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “MARSHALLTOWN’s investment in the state reflects the work we are doing to make Kansas the best place to live, work, and raise a family.” MARSHALLTOWN [...]

Moran says OSHA rules threaten volunteer fire departments

info2024-09-04T10:16:22-05:00September 4th, 2024|

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran says financially strapped volunteer fire departments in Kansas and other states should be exempt from costly federal regulations included in a proposed update of health and safety standards for emergency response workers. Standards under consideration by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration would apply to firefighters as well as personnel engaged in emergency medical services and technical search and rescue operations. The agency recommended changes to rules regarding written emergency response plans, hazard vulnerability assessments, training, personal protective equipment, medical screening and behavioral health services. Moran, a Kansas Republican, joined a bipartisan group of eight U.S. [...]

Pete’s Puddle in disagreement with county

info2024-09-04T10:13:07-05:00September 4th, 2024|

Owners of longstanding resort Pete’s Puddle argue that the county is making unfair demands of the business. The county says it asks any business in the county to meet these regulations. At the Harvey County Commission meeting, the commissioners worked to sort through both sides’ complaints. Ronald Anderson and Shad Anderson bought Pete’s Puddle in March 2023 and have been working to revitalize the resort since. The resort is located at 4801 N Willow Lake Rd. in Burrton. The Andersons have added several structures, and they have also added sewer lines without notifying the county or obtaining permits. Issues arose in [...]

Physician returns to his hometown to practice medicine

info2024-09-04T10:08:38-05:00September 4th, 2024|

Dr. Eyan Roth’s career has come full circle. Roth recently started work as a general practitioner at NMC Health Family Medicine-Hesston, returning to his hometown and even a place where he used to work as a teen. The 2012 Hesston High School graduate used to work in housekeeping at Schowalter Villa in Hesston when he was in high school, and when he was in housekeeping, it was all women and three high school boys employed in that department. In college, Roth was a CNA there. When he worked there, Roth remembers seeing the doctors do their rounds. “Looked forward to the [...]

Here’s what the new president of De Soto Chamber says about changes coming to city

info2024-09-04T10:05:15-05:00September 4th, 2024|

The newly named president and CEO of the De Soto Chamber of Commerce comes to the job amid a big transformation for the city. Panasonic Energy’s electric vehicle battery facility is scheduled to open in 2025 — and it’s one of the largest economic development projects in the history of Kansas. Tim Holverson had been vice president of Economic Development and Entrepreneurship with the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce. He also has worked as the executive vice president of the Leavenworth-Lansing area Chamber of Commerce. Holverson started his career in government affairs, serving for the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and the [...]

This JoCo city may be the first in state to change trash collection under new law

info2024-09-04T10:04:11-05:00September 4th, 2024|

Merriam may be the first city in Kansas to change its trash collection services under the Organized Collection Service Act. Assistant City Administrator Caitlin Gard told the Merriam City Council last week that it is the first city that is using the process outlined in the Organized Collection Service Act to potentially contract with one waste hauler for residential services. The act outlines standards for service transitions in solid waste and recyclable collections in a city, according to a 2011 summary of the legislation. This includes transitions from multiple solid waste haulers to a single solid waste hauler, which Merriam is [...]

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