info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Kansas Legislature approves K-12 education budget with private school benefits

info2023-05-01T09:24:33-05:00May 1st, 2023|

The Kansas Legislature passed a K-12 education package Friday that fully funds public schools but includes expansion of a tax credit for private school students and allows private school students to participate in public school sports and activities. House lawmakers approved Senate Bill 113, which provides funding for the next three years, by an 83-37 vote, despite criticism from House Democrats who felt the process hasn’t been transparent — especially with a new provision that allows the state first right of refusal over closed school buildings. The bill passed 23-16 in the Senate after lengthy debate. Source: The Lawrence Times

Legislature narrowly approves bill stripping authority from state, local public health officials

info2023-05-01T10:17:31-05:00May 1st, 2023|

The Kansas Legislature narrowly passed a bill forbidding state and county public health officials from issuing test, isolation and closure mandates to counter spread of infectious disease and blocking the state from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations of children in schools or daycare facilities. The measure was sent Friday to Gov. Laura Kelly on the final day of the 2023 legislative session despite bipartisan opposition. The bill also would require the secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to conduct a study of overdose deaths in Kansas with an emphasis on the role of fentanyl poisoning. Proponents seeking to restraint authority [...]

Kansas lawmakers adopt property tax break for restaurant, child care and fitness club businesses

info2023-05-01T10:11:35-05:00May 1st, 2023|

The Kansas Legislature sent Gov. Laura Kelly a bill bundling elements from more than a dozen bills, including a property tax exemption for fitness, restaurant and child care businesses able to demonstrate they were in direct competition with operations of state or local government. The Senate approved the package Thursday on a vote of 26-13 despite bipartisan complaints Senate Bill 8 was decorated like a holiday tree with special-interest tax policy. The deal previously passed by the House 76-43 contained 18 distinct policy changes. It now goes to Gov. Laura Kelly, and could be added to the Democratic governor’s list of [...]

Olathe voters approve two citywide sales tax extensions

info2023-05-01T09:14:47-05:00May 1st, 2023|

Olathe voters have approved the renewal of two citywide sales taxes. With 20,589 ballots cast in Tuesday’s mail-in election, Olathe voters approved an extension of the city’s current 3/8-cent sales tax for street maintenance. Roughly 21% of the 96,802 registered voters in Olathe participated in the election. Unofficial results from the Johnson County Election Office show 16,367 people (roughly 80%) voted in favor of the street maintenance sales tax renewal, while 4,199 (20%) voted against it. Voters also approved a renewal of the city’s ⅛-cent sales tax for parks and recreation maintenance. Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 - WDAF

Pittsburg pursuing more unified approach to community development

info2023-05-01T09:10:33-05:00May 1st, 2023|

The conversion of an abandoned elementary school into a new day care center is being hailed as an ideal first project for Pittsburg’s new community development corporation, Point Forward. The nonprofit organization seeks to pool the resources and efforts of the municipal government, Chamber of Commerce, public school district and Pittsburg State University to accomplish projects individual members of the corporation might not be able to pull off on their own. A $6 million refurbishment of the old Washington Elementary School building on Locust Street into a fully functioning day care center is exactly the type of project that member entities [...]

Solar farm proposal reaches Pawnee County

info2023-05-01T09:02:08-05:00May 1st, 2023|

A multinational energy company’s proposal to place a five-acre solar farm in southern Pawnee County has officials looking at spelling out the rules and regulations governing solar energy generation. At present, there are no policies on the county’s books regarding commercial alternative energy production. As the renewable energy source gains ground across the state, more Kansas counties are looking at whether solar farms would be a bankable asset or a risk to traditional agriculture producers. Source: Great Bend Tribune

Andover community shows resilience, rallying together on the first anniversary of the 2022 Andover tornado

info2023-05-01T08:58:26-05:00May 1st, 2023|

Andover Central Park hosted many events on the first anniversary of the Andover tornado. Over 200 people were in attendance for tree planting and a special community prayer breakfast. Many people said they are happy about the progress made to rebuild the city over the past year. "It's just nice to see the rebuilding. And even where they haven't rebuilt, it's cleaned up," said Lori Loney of the American Red Cross. "It's come a long way. I mean, homes are rebuilt, people are moving in, the school is amazing," said Andover resident Megan Henwood. Source: KSN-TV

What Butler County 911 dispatchers learned from the Andover tornado

info2023-05-01T10:17:18-05:00May 1st, 2023|

Saturday marks the first anniversary of the Andover tornado that destroyed homes and buildings. Behind that day's response, dispatchers in Andover, Butler County and Sedgwick County. Many say it was unlike anything they had experienced before. The phones were ringing nonstop from about 8 p.m. to midnight. "You just keep doing one thing and go on to the next, and then, it just kept going," Butler County Dispatch supervisor Marissa Sparks said. ... Butler County 911 says, for the most part, everything went smoothly on their end that day, but they still learned lessons on how to work better next time. [...]

Marshall County voters say no to jail proposal

info2023-05-01T10:18:37-05:00May 1st, 2023|

Marshall County voters said no to a proposed new jail in Tuesday’s special election, which saw very low voter turnout. The total was 718 no votes and 396 in favor, which was 64 percent against the proposal and 36 percent in favor. A total 1,114 ballots were cast — about 16 percent of the 7,060 Marshall County residents eligible to vote in the election. Source: The Marysville Advocate

Arkansas City EMS takes over after Newkirk ambulance hits deer

info2023-05-01T08:54:43-05:00May 1st, 2023|

The Arkansas City, KS Fire/EMS Department took over for the Newkirk Fire Department/EMS after one of their ambulances hit a deer early Saturday morning. "Continue to use caution when driving, especially at night because deer are still moving about and are on the roadways," the Newkirk Fire Department/EMS said. The Newkirk Fire Department/EMS says they, unfortunately, encountered one of those deers around 4:30 a.m. while en route to a hospital with a patient in Kansas. Source: KSN-TV

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