Ranson Financial, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Kansas community votes not to disorganize their school district

A rural Kansas community has voted not to disorganize their school district after a 7-12 grade school closed. Due to a lack of funding earlier this year, the Central Plains School District closed the school which caused some voters to think disorganizing the district would be the best option. Enough petition signatures were gathered to put the disorganization of USD 112 up for a vote during the August 1st primary election. If it had passed the Board of Education may have divided the land among surrounding districts. “We have about 10 school districts that border us,” Superintendent Bill Lowry said. “So, there would be about 10 school districts eligible to be assigned by the board of education.”
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2023-08-01T23:57:38-05:00August 1, 2023|News|

Wichita approves location for shared WSU-KU biomedical campus

The joint campus will include shared spaces for advanced laboratories, clinical research and technology for students in medical and other health programs from Wichita State, Wichita Tech and the University of Kansas. Wichita State University said in a release Tuesday that “about 3,000 students and 200 faculty and staff will be housed at the center, with opportunities for growth in existing and new programs.”
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2023-08-03T11:56:19-05:00August 1, 2023|News|

KDOT secretary looking for path out of Kansas’ transportation industry labor shortage

Kansas Department of Transportation secretary Calvin Reed pointed to workforce shortages as a significant challenge to the state’s multibillion-dollar, 10-year Eisenhower transportation program. Reed, nominated by Gov. Laura Kelly and endorsed by the Republican-led Senate Confirmation Oversight Committee, said an aging workforce in core areas of the industry were fundamental problems that government and private-sector employers had to address. Reed highlighted one of those worrisome gaps, especially prominent in western Kansas, between demand and supply of professional land surveyors. Among the state’s nearly 3 million residents, only 258 are licensed land surveyors. The average age of this cadre of people responsible for defining boundaries of real property was 59.8 years, he said.
Source: Kansas Reflector

Ranson Financial2023-08-01T23:54:03-05:00August 1, 2023|News|

2 huge projects could transform swaths of Johnson County with apartments, event center

Two huge developments would transform swaths of south Overland Park under plans headed to the City Council next week. On Aug. 7, the council will consider the two projects with hundreds of apartments and commercial space. The first is Metcalf Village, on 40 acres of vacant land on the southeast corner of 159th Street and Metcalf Avenue, where the developer is proposing 900 residential units, including apartments and townhomes, restaurants and retail space, plus parks and pickleball courts. The other project, Schlagel Farms, is at the southeast corner of 175th Street and Pflumm Road, where developers hope to build 300 apartments, 150 townhomes, retail, restaurants and an event center on 74 acres of undeveloped land.
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2023-08-01T00:33:45-05:00August 1, 2023|News|

Wichita municipal court begins new policy on cell phones

Wichita Municipal Court has started a new policy to deal with cell phones in the courtroom. The court will require the use of what are known as Yondr bags. People who attend court proceedings will be required to put their cell phone in the Yondr bag, which is a soft, lockable pouch. People can keep their cell phones but they will not be able to have access to the phone. When they leave the courtroom, a clerk will unlock the bag. Court administrator Nathan Emmorey said there have been issues in the past with victims being texted or harassed through their cell phones by defendants. He said the new policy will provide privacy and security, and it will eliminate the temptation for people to check or use their phones in the courtroom.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2023-08-01T00:32:33-05:00August 1, 2023|News|

Small-town life suits John and Tammy Sturn

John and Tammy Sturn live in Ellinwood but can often be found in The Slammer in Lyons. The Slammer (thericecountyslammer.com), located in the Historic Rice County Jail, offers an escape room, historic tour, cellblock venue, a murder mystery dinner and overnight accommodations. “It’s cool. It has been a retirement business that helps preserve an historic building,” John Sturn said. John noted that when the building was the county jail, the sheriff and his wife lived downstairs. Chris McCord bought the building in 2020 with the idea of turning it into an Airbnb-type venue. The escape room opened after Thanksgiving in 2021. The Sturns have a partnership with McCord to manage the business.
Source: Great Bend Tribune

Ranson Financial2023-08-01T00:29:40-05:00August 1, 2023|News|

New Newton public library building scheduled to open in July of 2024

At this time next year, Newton will have a brand new library up and functioning, according to an estimate by Director of Public Works and City Engineer Suzanne Loomis. “The entire project is anticipated to be complete by approximately July of 2024,” Loomis said. “Construction is coming along nicely.” She added that possible delays could occur due to supply chain shortages for equipment and building materials, but she and her team remain hopeful that the project will remain on schedule.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2023-07-31T08:34:38-05:00July 31, 2023|News|

Police address concerns amid Wichita’s deadliest month in at least five years

Amid the city’s deadliest month in at least five years, Wichita police and elected officials are trying to ease concerns about the rise in violent crime. Police have also provided some more details about recent homicides and provided a breakdown about what some of them involved. There have been 11 homicides in July, making it the deadliest month since at least 2018. In 2020, which set a record for the year with 59 homicides, the number each month did not exceed six. There have been 28 homicides so far this year, with 16 of those, or 57%, coming since June 10. There were 25 homicides at this time last year.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2023-07-31T08:33:14-05:00July 31, 2023|News|

Jail meetings with cities continue

Marshall County commissioners are meeting with city councils in the county, asking them to approve interlocal agreements that would turn proceeds of up to a half cent sales tax designated for a new jail back to the county. By law, any countywide sales tax is shared with all cities in the county unless an interlocal agreement is signed that allows the county to retain the sales tax revenue. Commissioners are looking at a sales tax to fund a portion of a new jail. A proposal to enter a lease-purchase agreement not to exceed $6.5 million in principal to finance a portion of a new jail was defeated in an April special election.
Source: The Marysville Advocate

Ranson Financial2023-07-31T08:31:41-05:00July 31, 2023|News|

Johnson County city debates McMansions vs. more affordable options

Officials have debated adjusting laws to pave the way for duplexes, small apartment buildings and other cheaper options for families struggling to buy a home in the city known for Cape Cod houses torn down to make way for McMansions. But the idea has ignited fierce opposition from residents who argue the city of 23,000 people is already built out and too dense to welcome the multi-unit housing they fear would crowd the tree-lined suburb and take away its neighborhood feel. Red “Stop Rezoning” signs have been cropping up in front yards across the city, where average home prices topped $536,000 last year.
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2023-07-31T08:30:32-05:00July 31, 2023|News|

About Ranson Financial

Kansas community votes not to disorganize their school district

Wichita approves location for shared WSU-KU biomedical campus

KDOT secretary looking for path out of Kansas’ transportation industry labor shortage

2 huge projects could transform swaths of Johnson County with apartments, event center

Wichita municipal court begins new policy on cell phones

Small-town life suits John and Tammy Sturn

New Newton public library building scheduled to open in July of 2024

Police address concerns amid Wichita’s deadliest month in at least five years

Jail meetings with cities continue

Johnson County city debates McMansions vs. more affordable options

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