info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Wichita firework tents hope for big year after city legalizes aerial fireworks sales

info2024-06-28T11:53:44-05:00June 28th, 2024|

There are big changes coming to Wichita this year, and firework tent owners are hoping it will mean more sales than ever. It’s one of the busiest days of the year for firework tent owners like Teresa Lybarger. After doing it for over a decade, she says she knows there won’t be much sleep ahead of the first day of sales Thursday. “You spend all day long, and sometimes into the night to get all your fireworks in the right place, to get all your lights, to get everything in order to be able to open up the next morning,” said [...]

Kansas’ effort to lure Chiefs, Royals puts STAR bonds in the spotlight

info2024-06-28T11:51:25-05:00June 28th, 2024|

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed a supercharged tax incentive deal aimed at enticing the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals to move across the state line. During a special session, Kansas lawmakers expedited plans to allow temporary changes to the sales tax revenue (STAR) bond program. This comes despite data from existing STAR bond developments giving mixed signals about the program’s performance. The economic tool that lets municipalities issue bonds to finance developing big commercial entertainment and tourism projects throughout the state. City or county governments identify potential STAR bond district boundaries and submit the proposed map to the Kansas [...]

REQ Q&A: Kansas Commerce official talks STAR bonds’ effectiveness, how they work

info2024-06-28T11:47:38-05:00June 28th, 2024|

In the next two years, Kansas lawmakers will decide whether to renew the sales tax revenue (STAR) bond program or allow it to sunset in July 2026. Legislators’ approval of tweaks designed specifically to lure the Kansas City Chiefs and/or Kansas City Royals from Missouri has driven much recent attention to the program. But since 1999, STAR bonds have played a big, and sometimes polarizing, part in numerous area projects — from Village West, which paid off bonds years early and now yields more than $40 million in annual state sales taxes, to Prairiefire, where inaccurate revenue estimates led to the [...]

Frontenac Fire Captain Jim McClain retires after nearly 50 years

info2024-06-28T11:42:37-05:00June 28th, 2024|

The Frontenac Fire Department bids farewell to Captain Jim McClain, who retires after almost 50 years of service to the community. Hired in 1974 and promoted to Captain a decade later, McClain's positive attitude and leadership were hallmarks of his tenure. Source: KOAM News

Rossville residents receive extra help with storm damage

info2024-06-28T11:35:32-05:00June 28th, 2024|

Residents in Rossville are seeing an abundance of help from community members to tackle storm damage. Early Wednesday morning, strong winds and heavy rain swept through all of northeast Kansas. Rossville was amongst many areas hit hard with fallen tree limbs and uprooted trees seen throughout the town. Though the town was shaken up, community members rallied together. One resident posted to Facebook showcasing how the high school football team stepped up to help clean storm debris throughout neighborhoods. KSNT 27 News spoke with head football coach of the Rossville Dawgs, Derick Hammes, about his players helping out their community, and [...]

Haysville sees vandalism to parks, antique lights

info2024-06-28T11:33:37-05:00June 28th, 2024|

The City of Haysville is seeking information on recent vandalism at numerous park restrooms. The vandalism also left a busy street in the dark. The City says restrooms have had sinks and plumbing fixtures damaged or stolen. Some of the damage has caused the facilities to be closed until repairs are made. Also, the city says 600 feet of wire was stolen from an underground conduit that powered the antique lights along Meridian. “We always encounter vandalism every summer this year, it seems to be times 10 and happening quite frequently,” said Tony Martinez, the director of public works in Haysville. [...]

New terminal opens at Garden City Airport

info2024-06-28T11:06:57-05:00June 28th, 2024|

The second phase of Garden City’s new Airport terminal is complete. Kansas Senator Jerry Moran was in attendance as the ribbon was cut to open the terminal of the new facility. Garden City’s original terminal was constructed in 1959 and no longer met demand. Rachelle Powell, Director of Aviation at the Garden City Regional Airport, said planning to replace the terminal began back in 2017. “With this new terminal project, we’ve doubled our gate capacity from one gate to two, which is huge for southwest Kansas, and also gave amenities to our traveling public such as the passenger boarding bridge and [...]

Kansas firefighters receive nearly $19M from relief act

info2024-06-28T11:01:27-05:00June 28th, 2024|

The Kansas Insurance Department announced nearly $19 million will be going to local Firefighter Relief Associations (FRA). Of those, Shawnee County will receive nearly $1 million. On Thursday, June 27 Kansas Insurance Department (KID) Public Affairs Manager Kyle Strathman announced the money would be distributed to 553 different FRAs across the state. The funds come from a 2% tax that is paid by insurance companies on fire and lightning premiums. “Firefighters work to keep us safe, and the Kansas Firefighters Relief Act acknowledges those efforts by providing additional protections for firefighters and their loved ones,” said Commissioner Vicki Schmidt. “The Act [...]

Topeka receives $25 million sidewalk grant

info2024-06-28T10:58:16-05:00June 28th, 2024|

The City of Topeka will be receiving $25 million dollars from the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) for sidewalk projects. Topeka is receiving funds under the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program. The project will see 50 miles of sidewalk repair and construction along River Road, Southeast California Avenue and in the Central Highland Park neighborhood. Topeka was one of 148 projects selected by the Biden administration. “This grant in the amount of $25 Million will allow us to do some transformative projects for the City of Topeka.” said Public Works Director Braxton Copley. Source: KSNT 27 News

Park City recycling plant fire now under control. Crews continue to monitor hot spots

info2024-06-28T10:50:12-05:00June 28th, 2024|

Sedgwick County Fire Marshal Brad Crisp announced Wednesday afternoon that the fire at Park City’s Evergreen Recycle plant is officially under control, although crews will remain on scene for at least another day. Some piles of materials were still smoldering, but there were no more flames as of 3 p.m., county spokesperson Stephanie Birmingham said. Last time the recycling plant caught fire in October 2022, video evidence showed the blaze was a result of mulch and grass spontaneously igniting under wood piles. This time, investigators likely won’t be able to identify a definite cause, Fire Chief Doug Williams told county commissioners [...]

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