info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

A Kansas bill hopes to weed out bad cops by sharing job applications

info2023-03-09T00:20:56-06:00March 9th, 2023|

Kansas police departments could soon have another tool to keep unqualified candidates away from law enforcement. A proposed bill would require agencies to share information used on a job application and, more importantly, share information on why a candidate was rejected. A candidate could be rejected from one law enforcement agency and continue to apply to other agencies without those agencies knowing why they were rejected. Law enforcement agencies can share application materials with other departments that show why they rejected a candidate, but they currently don’t have to. Source: The Lawrence Times

Study concludes Johnson County workers need a raise

info2023-03-09T00:17:36-06:00March 9th, 2023|

Staffing and labor costs are emerging as top challenges for the county commission as this year’s budget-writing season gets underway. In the past two weeks, commissioners have discussed problems connected to a shrinking labor supply and the cost of filling vacancies in the sheriff’s office as well as other county departments. Those challenges were underlined by a recent study commissioned by the county that concluded, in part, that county worker pay needs to increase by 6% on average in order for the county to stay competitive in a tightening labor market. Source: Prairie Village Post

3 license plate readers will be put on Roe in Roeland Park

info2023-03-09T00:15:59-06:00March 9th, 2023|

Roeland Park will soon have three license plate readers operating at two of the city’s busiest intersections along Roe Boulevard. The license plate readers are intended to serve as an investigative tool for law enforcement to identify license plates associated with reported crimes but not to catch speeders or drivers who run red lights, Police Chief John Morris said. Source: Prairie Village Post

Brian Silcott selected as new Ottawa city manager

info2023-03-08T22:07:27-06:00March 8th, 2023|

When Brian Silcott and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, were introduced last week at a meet-and-greet reception at the Bottle House, he admits it would have normally been a nerve-racking experience. But it was actually just the opposite. Silcott was one of four finalists interviewing to succeed longtime Ottawa City Manager Richard Nienstedt, who retires at the end of the month. It was their opportunity to make a good first impression on local residents who turned out to meet and pose questions to the candidates. “Usually when you have community meet-and-greets, there’s some social anxiety there just because you’re seeing so much, [...]

BlackRock says the Federal Reserve could hike interest rates to a peak of 6%

info2023-03-08T14:28:58-06:00March 8th, 2023|

Rick Rieder, managing director and chief investment officer of fundamental fixed income for BlackRock Inc., speaks during the Institute of International Finance Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, Oct. 11, 2013. The world's largest asset manager sees the U.S. federal funds rate peaking at 6% after Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned interest rates are likely to head higher than the central bank previously expected. "We think there's a reasonable chance that the Fed will have to bring the Fed Funds rate to 6%, and then keep it there for an extended period to slow the economy and get [...]

EPA edict has cities questioning piping

info2023-03-08T14:26:15-06:00March 8th, 2023|

Get the lead out. That’s the edict from the Environmental Protection Agency that Newton and other cities find themselves working to comply with in relation to their water system. Newton recently sent out a survey to residents, asking for information on what the pipes in their homes are made out of, as the EPA requires. “If it was my home, I’d want it out,” City Engineer Suzanne Loomis said. “Lead can make you real sick.” ... Residents have until Friday, March 31, to fill out the survey. Following, city staff must go to residents who have filled it out and inquire [...]

Fed Chair Powell says interest rates are ‘likely to be higher’ than previously anticipated

info2023-03-08T00:38:31-06:00March 8th, 2023|

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Tuesday cautioned that interest rates are likely to head higher than central bank policymakers had expected. Citing earlier data this year showing that inflation has reversed the deceleration it showed in late 2022, the central bank leader warned of tighter monetary policy ahead. "The latest economic data have come in stronger than expected, which suggests that the ultimate level of interest rates is likely to be higher than previously anticipated," Powell said in remarks prepared for two appearances this week on Capitol Hill. "If the totality of the data were to indicate that faster tightening [...]

Powell Says Fed Is Prepared to Speed Up Interest-Rate Rises

info2023-03-08T00:37:30-06:00March 8th, 2023|

Chair Jerome Powell said the Federal Reserve would consider raising interest rates by a larger half percentage point this month and was likely to lift rates higher than previously expected this year to cool an economy that has shown surprising strength. Mr. Powell’s comments to lawmakers Tuesday laid the groundwork for a notable shift in tactics to reduce price pressures. He said hotter inflation and hiring could lead central bank officials to alter their recently adopted strategy of raising rates in smaller quarter-point increments. Source: WSJ.com: US Business

Upgrades to Wichita’s sewer system expected to eliminate 98% of the smell, city says

info2023-03-08T00:36:03-06:00March 8th, 2023|

Federal loans will fund 49% of Wichita’s major sewer system upgrades, which are expected to get under way this year and will result in cleaner wastewater emissions into the Arkansas River by 2027. The Wichita City Council on Tuesday approved a funding agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency for $191,481,121 in WIFIA loans, the same program used to fund $280.9 million for Wichita’s new drinking water plant. “I just want us to pause for a second and actually celebrate this. This is a legacy project for the community, and specifically for this council,” City Manager Robert Layton said during the meeting. [...]

Winfield proposes sidewalk repair reimbursement plan

info2023-03-08T00:34:41-06:00March 8th, 2023|

The City of Winfield is proposing a plan to reimburse landowners for sidewalk repairs, a task that property owners currently bear the entire cost for. Based on results of a 2010 Transportation Assessment Study, repairs and upgrades to the city’s sidewalk infrastructure would cost a total of $7.5 million in today’s dollars, according to a memo from Winfield Community Development Director Patrick Steward. According to a questionnaire community members filled out several years ago as part of the city’s comprehensive plan update, 50% of respondents said the city and landowners should split the cost of sidewalk repairs, 47% said the city [...]

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