info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

People in Kansas City, Lawrence and Topeka: You can get a good tree for killing a bad one

info2023-04-05T10:11:42-05:00April 5th, 2023|

It’s the perfect time of year to do birds and butterflies a solid — by killing an invasive, ornamental and all-too-common pear tree. This April and May, if you live in or near Kansas City and Topeka and can destroy an ornamental pear on your property, you can get professional help picking out a free replacement tree guaranteed not to wreak environmental havoc. The annual Deep Roots KC program will give out hundreds of free trees. This year, the program includes a giveaway site in Topeka for the first time. In coming years, the group plans to expand to other Kansas [...]

Wichita City Council rejects zoning change for College Hill parking lot, again

info2023-04-05T10:09:20-05:00April 5th, 2023|

The Wichita City Council struck down a zoning change for Happiness Plaza on Tuesday that would have allowed its owners to build a new parking lot in College Hill. The zoning change, which was challenged by a protest petition filed by 27% of surrounding property owners, received a 5-2 majority vote but fell one vote short of the 6-vote majority needed to pass a contested zoning change. Council members Mike Hoheisel and Maggie Ballard voted in opposition. “I think my concern is the housing piece, the precedence that it sets for changing the residential zoning in a popular neighborhood for a [...]

Bill would curtail wind turbine lights

info2023-04-05T10:42:05-05:00April 5th, 2023|

Flashing red lights atop wind turbines would be curtailed to improve nighttime views under a bill that has been sent to the governor. If signed by Democrat Gov. Laura Kelly, it would require installation of light-mitigating technology on new and existing wind farms, The Topeka Capital-Journal reports. The aircraft detection lighting system technology would turn off the lights except for when aircraft are near. Aircraft aren’t near a wind farm about 97% of the time the lights are blinking, said Rep. Lisa Moser, R-Wheaton. Source: The Iola Register

Bitcoin mining’s future in Harvey County still uncertain

info2023-04-05T10:42:27-05:00April 5th, 2023|

Sean Reese said the future the bitcoin mining operation run by his company, Print Crypto, Inc., in the southeast part of Harvey County remained in doubt. The Board of Harvey County Commissioners unanimously upheld the Harvey County Planning Commission’s decision to deny a rezoning request for Butler Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc., last week. The decision likely means Print Crypto will have to move trailers full of computer equipment used for bitcoin mining. Source: Harvey County Now

April’s burn ban isn’t a ban on all fires

info2023-04-05T10:03:42-05:00April 5th, 2023|

For over a decade, Kansas has implemented a burn ban for the 16 counties around the Flint Hills. Still, many Kansans have a misconception of what they can and cannot burn. The ban includes all open burning of any waste, including vegetation and wood waster, structures or other material on any premises, according to a recent news release by Sedgwick County. Exceptions include pasture, crop, range, and wildlife or watershed management. Among those 16 counties are Sedgwick and Marion. Brad Crisp, Fire Marshal for Sedgwick County Fire District #1, said they get calls from people asking if they can still smoke [...]

Does your recycling really get recycled? Inside Kansas City area processing plants

info2023-04-05T10:00:51-05:00April 5th, 2023|

Reduce, reuse, recycle. We’ve all heard it before. Many of us had it drilled into our brains in school growing up, or from family members or friends. Even though we’ve been told that recycling is the right thing to do, based on what The Star has heard from readers, there are still some pretty big questions lurking in the minds of Kansas Citians. Mainly: Is recycling even real, and is it worth it? The Star asked readers about what questions or concerns you have about trash and litter in the metro to help fuel a series of stories we’re starting to [...]

Pit bulls are still banned in towns around Kansas City. These dog lovers are fighting for a repeal

info2023-04-05T10:43:54-05:00April 5th, 2023|

Around Kansas City, some municipalities had pit bull bans on the books for decades. But Independence[, Missouri] only passed its law after a handful of highly-publicized pit bull attacks in 2006. In Kansas City, Missouri, a pit bull killed a 71-year-old woman after it jumped a neighbor’s fence, and an Independence man was nearly mauled to death by three pit bulls the same year. Over the last five years, many local governments have removed breed-specific bans from their city and county charters. Wyandotte County instituted a pit bull ban in 1990 that threatened violators with jail sentences of up to 90 [...]

High costs continue to hurt Winfield hospital

info2023-04-05T09:55:35-05:00April 5th, 2023|

William Newton Hospital saw an increase in patient revenue and decreased operating expenses during the first month of the year, although high contract labor costs contributed to a financial loss of January, WNH trustees learned during their meeting on Thursday. Total patient revenue for January was $8.7 million, an increase of about $169,000 from December. Total net patient revenue was $3.8 million, an increase of about $35,000. That was primarily because of increased outpatient revenue, hospital CFO Kara Goff said. Source: The Arkansas City Traveler

Cap on short-term rental units to remain for now, Lawrence City Commission decides

info2023-04-05T09:53:28-05:00April 5th, 2023|

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday decided to table a discussion on raising or eliminating the cap on the number of short-term rental units property owners may license in some parts of town. Following an increase in short-term rental units like Airbnbs in past years, commissioners discussed possibly changing the limitation of how many units can be licensed or owned for that purpose — currently three per person. Discussions surrounding the short-term rental industry in Lawrence have been ongoing for years. Tuesday night’s meeting agenda highlighted times when local policy was altered, including in 2020. Source: The Lawrence Times

KS March Taxes Surpass Estimate

info2023-04-04T09:43:22-05:00April 4th, 2023|

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that total tax collections for March 2023 were $758.3 million. That is $64.9 million, or 9.4%, more than the monthly estimate. That is also $78.7 million, or 11.6%, more than March 2022. “Time and again, we have exceeded our estimated tax collections, providing further proof that we can responsibly axe taxes on groceries, retirement, and property for Kansans,” said Governor Laura Kelly. Individual income tax collections were $314.6 million. That is $438,000 less than the estimate but $16.4 million, or 5.5%, more than March 2022. Corporate income tax collections were $102.6 million, which is $75.6 million, [...]

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