info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Atchison Public Schools preparing anew for future vision.

info2023-12-15T11:43:03-06:00December 15th, 2023|

The USD 409 Phoenix mascot from this point on has a new look to call its own. Board members unanimously approved the re-branding of the image as part of the business at their meeting Monday. The action came after District Activities Director Tyler Lueckenhoff delivered some clarification. The proposed Phoenix image designed by Christa Reiger, of Storyweaver Studio, was introduced at the previous meeting as mainly composed in a scheme of four primary colors: red, gold, white, and black. Lueckenhoff said the Mascot colors remain the same as throughout school history red and gold. The white and black colors are utilized [...]

Joe Waters, longtime county leader, to retire next week

info2023-12-15T11:40:52-06:00December 15th, 2023|

Joe Waters, long-time Johnson County administrator, will retire next Friday after decades of service to the community. He is currently the assistant county manager, serving in that position for the past 10 years. “It has been my honor and privilege to spend most of my career in this outstanding organization that epitomizes excellence in public service and commitment to community,” Waters said in an emailed statement. His final day on the job is Dec. 22. Waters, an architect, started his career in consulting and facilities management. A University of Kansas grad, he would go on to work as an architect and assistant [...]

New Beloit City Manager Announced

info2023-12-15T11:38:39-06:00December 15th, 2023|

Mayor Tom Naasz and the Beloit City Council report that Halley Roberson is their approved candidate to be Beloit’s next City Manager. At its regular meeting on December 6, the City Council unanimously voted to move forward with finalizing Roberson’s employment agreement. “Ms. Roberson will arrive in Beloit with a proven municipal track record in overseeing construction of vital infrastructure projects,” said Mayor Naasz. “Her leadership skills and public service align seamlessly with our community goals. Our city is poised for sustainable growth under her guidance. ”Roberson’s diverse experience spans more than 20 years in local, state, and federal government management [...]

Wichita police, sheriff’s office now will investigate each other’s officer-involved shootings

info2023-12-13T15:31:40-06:00December 13th, 2023|

The Wichita Police Department and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office will start investigating each other’s officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths and other critical incidents, officials said Wednesday. Sheriff Jeff Easter said Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett had pushed for this to happen since he was elected in 2012, when Easter was first elected as well. “The Wichita Police Department took a look at this concept and for whatever reason it just didn’t work out during those times,” Easter said. “Chief (Joe) Sullivan came here, we had a discussion about it and were both in agreement that it would be best for [...]

Fed holds rates steady, indicates three cuts coming in 2024

info2023-12-13T15:23:06-06:00December 13th, 2023|

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday held its key interest rate steady for the third straight time and set the table for multiple cuts to come in 2024 and beyond. With the inflation rate easing and the economy holding in, policymakers on the Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously to keep the benchmark overnight borrowing rate in a targeted range between 5.25%-5.5%. Along with the decision to stay on hold, committee members penciled in at least three rate cuts in 2024, assuming quarter percentage point increments. That’s less than market pricing of four, but more aggressive than what officials had previously indicated. [...]

Lawsuit against City of Lawrence asks for court order to disband camps for people experiencing homelessness

info2023-12-13T10:29:50-06:00December 13th, 2023|

Several business owners have filed a lawsuit against the City of Lawrence, asking the court to order the city to close and disband two camp areas where people experiencing homelessness are living. The lawsuit asks the court to address public health and safety concerns that plaintiffs attribute to the city’s handling of the local homelessness crisis. Specifically, the lawsuit mentions the city-sanctioned camp behind Johnny’s Tavern in North Lawrence — which the city has dubbed Camp New Beginnings — and other camp areas on the river levee, as well as the camp in the area of Seventh and New York streets near the [...]

Assistant County Manager Joe Waters to celebrate retirement after nearly 30 years of service to Johnson County

info2023-12-13T10:27:41-06:00December 13th, 2023|

Joe Waters, assistant county manager for Johnson County Government, will retire after nearly 30 years of service. He will be honored at a retirement reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, in the Jury Room of the Johnson County Courthouse, 150 W. Santa Fe, Olathe. Waters’ last day with Johnson County will be Dec. 22, 2023. Members of the public are invited to join in the celebration of decades of service to Johnson County residents. Since 1990, Waters has leveraged his degree in architecture to help to lead facilities projects. As director of facilities for the county, bureau chief and [...]

Heartland Flyer extension clears major hurdle

info2023-12-13T10:26:41-06:00December 13th, 2023|

The train keeps rolling forward. Laura Kelly announced that the Heartland Flyer project, which would connect Amtrak service from Oklahoma City to Newton, has been awarded a $500,000 federal grant aimed at developing passenger rail lines. The grant pays for the development of a service plan for the connection of the Southwest Chief and Heartland Flyer lines. More importantly, however, it represents an important selection hurdle cleared in a larger competitive grant process for federal infrastructure funds to develop passenger rail service lines. “It is a very big deal,” State Senator Carolyn McGinn said. McGinn has long advocated for passenger rail [...]

Courts: Kansas Star Casino owed over $19 million

info2023-12-13T10:25:29-06:00December 13th, 2023|

Sumner County and the City of Mulvane are paying back millions to the company that runs the Kansas Star Casino. The county and casino have been in court for years over how the casino is taxed. Boyd Gaming, which runs the casino, protested how much property tax it has to pay. The courts now say Boyd Gaming is owed more than $19 million in payments over tax disputes going back years. The City of Mulvane, the school district, and Sumner County have to pay that money back. "It's a positive in that we know what to expect. Instead of waiting for a judgment to come [...]

How do you attract people and businesses to rural Kansas? Communities are trying AI

info2023-12-13T10:24:26-06:00December 13th, 2023|

AI is doing everything from making art to writing computer software, and now community leaders in western Kansas are hoping it can help them crack the code for bringing people and businesses to their areas. The rural communities are turning to AI to identify the businesses, services and housing residents need. That helps them target the types of businesses they should work to attract and where housing is needed to buck long-term trends of rural population loss. It’s an intriguing idea to Shandon Classen. He sips coffee in the corner booth of his coffee shop in downtown Liberal, Kansas. He opened it last [...]

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