info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Emporia takes proactive measures as EPA announces landmark ‘forever chemicals’ regulations

info2024-04-22T12:59:54-05:00April 22nd, 2024|

For the first time ever, the Environmental Protection Agency announced a national regulation targeting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Often termed “forever chemicals,” PFAS have permeated air, water, and soil, posing enduring environmental and health risks. “Drinking water contaminated with PFAS has plagued communities across this country for too long,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan, according to a CBS News report. The regulations will have sweeping effects across the country, including municipalities like Emporia. City of Emporia Communications Manager Christine Torrens told The Gazette this week that the city is working proactively to address concerns regarding PFAS [...]

Pittsburg proposes neighborhood names and boundary definitions

info2024-04-19T12:57:15-05:00April 19th, 2024|

The city of Pittsburg is considering a significant overhaul to its neighborhood designations, aiming to name each area and establish clear boundary lines. The initiative, spearheaded by the Neighborhood Advisory Council, seeks to enhance community pride and foster a sense of shared ownership among residents. The council recently launched an online survey to gather feedback on the proposed changes. According to community development specialist Sarah Runyon, the primary objective is to create a stronger sense of identity within each neighborhood. "Maybe there is a way that you identify your neighborhood that we don't know about," she stated. "This gives us an [...]

Commerce Updates ROZ Student Loan Repayment Program

info2024-04-19T11:35:33-05:00April 19th, 2024|

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced significant changes to the Rural Opportunity Zones (ROZ) program that could increase participation in student loan repayments for people moving to rural Kansas counties. Individuals who earn an associate degree or higher and move to a designated ROZ county they haven’t lived in for the preceding two years are eligible to have up to $15,000 in student loan debt repaid. Previously, individuals had to live elsewhere for the preceding five years to be eligible. Commerce also clarified the language describing a student’s permanent residence. Rural residents who occupied a dorm room [...]

Tiny home village in Kansas City, Kansas, will house those experiencing homelessness

info2024-04-19T11:34:14-05:00April 19th, 2024|

Phil Jorgenson does not like to call it a homeless community. “Because as soon as they move here, they’re not homeless anymore,” said Jorgenson, one of the founders of Eden Village in Kansas City, Kansas. “They’re a community member, and they’re going to be good neighbors.” Built on the site of an old trailer park, near 10th Street and Metropolitan Avenue, Eden Village is slated to provide shelter as well as access to social services for Kansas City area residents in the most dire living situations. It is governed by a 13-member board of directors for a nonprofit organization called Three [...]

Supreme Court to decide if ban on homeless encampments is ‘cruel and unusual’

info2024-04-19T11:33:25-05:00April 19th, 2024|

Helen Cruz, an unhoused Grants Pass native, knows the indignity first hand. Over five years living in city parks before a nearby church took her in, she says she received more than $5,000 in camping related fines. “I was holding down two jobs when I was out here, and it's still not enough to be able to rent a place,” she said. “The terms of low income housing here is $1,000 a month, and that's not workable either.” Still, from Phoenix, to Los Angeles, to Seattle, city leaders and law enforcement groups -- members of both political parties -- have joined Grants [...]

Treasury yields fall as investors weigh economic data and Israel strike against Iran

info2024-04-19T11:32:28-05:00April 19th, 2024|

U.S. Treasury yields declined on Friday as investors considered the latest economic data and remarks from Federal Reserve officials, and considered what this could mean for monetary policy. At 4:20 a.m. ET, the yield on the 10-year Treasury was down by over five basis points to 4.5878%. The 2-year Treasury yield was last at 4.9622% after falling by more than two basis points. Yields and prices move in opposite directions. One basis point is equivalent to 0.01%. Investors digested the latest economic data and remarks from policymakers as they considered the outlook for interest rates. Fed officials have in recent days [...]

Quaker Park to remain as is; Emporia City Commission planning to rescind previous resolution deeming park as surplus real property and cease plans for sale or transfer of property

info2024-04-19T11:31:27-05:00April 19th, 2024|

The next step in the Quaker Park saga was supposed to be the validation of signatures on a petition in opposition to the park’s sale or transfer, however, that will no longer be necessary. The reason is that Emporia Commissioners chose Tuesday to have city staff draft a resolution rescinding the commission’s previous action designating the park as surplus real property and initiating the sale and transfer process. Part of the reason for this decision, recommended by Emporia City Manager Trey Cocking, was the number of signatures the petition gathered, more than 800. 462 signatures from registered Emporia voters were needed to make [...]

Thrive Allen County unveils Naloxone vending box at ribbon cutting ceremony

info2024-04-19T11:30:32-05:00April 19th, 2024|

Thrive Allen County conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, April 17th, at 9 a.m. to unveil the new Naloxone (Narcan) vending box installed outside their Iola, Kansas office. The Naloxone vending box, also known as Narcan, houses a medication designed to swiftly reverse opioid overdoses. "By placing items in a FREE and easy to access newspaper-style machine (box), SEK Recovery Resources and Thrive Allen County hopes to break down barriers for immediate first response to an opioid overdose and save lives in Allen County." - Thrive Allen County. SEK Recovery Resources and Thrive Allen County collaborated to provide this life-saving medication. [...]

More than $90K in damage at Windom Cemetery vandalism

info2024-04-19T11:28:55-05:00April 19th, 2024|

Starla Andreas is heartbroken knowing that vandals defaced her mother-in-law's grave, along with 46 others. "I think the community is just crying. Why? Why would this senseless act take place? Why would you do this to people that you don't even know the families," Andreas asked. Andreas has lived in the rural town of Windom for several years and said that members of the community plan to help clean up the mess left at the cemetery. "I will be out there because not only was my mother's headstone, but we have friends here in this community and their family members," Andreas [...]

Bill Warren, Century II activists celebrate completion of new $5 million roof

info2024-04-19T11:27:54-05:00April 19th, 2024|

Century II has long been the most recognizable landmark in the Wichita skyline. City leaders have spent years debating whether to tear it down, but Thursday was a big win for people who are fighting to keep it standing. "We're celebrating the new roof on Century II. It's gorgeous. It's bright, it's blue, and we're thrilled," said Celeste Racette with Save Century II. Watching this timelapse from our drone, it's obvious the $5 million project was no easy task. You can see six months of work and more than 23,000 working hours from start to finish in just a matter of [...]

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