info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Experience El Dorado to host virtual town hall for mural project

info2023-02-01T00:22:27-06:00February 1st, 2023|

El Dorado residents and visitors have enjoyed the beauty and community spirit two recent murals have brought to the downtown area, and now, the City of El Dorado has the opportunity to add a third mural through a $10,000 grant Experience El Dorado and the City of El Dorado received from the Kansas Creative Arts Commission for a mural and art project that has been named ElDo Plaza. “This is a great opportunity for El Dorado,” said Javan Gonzalez, Destination Services Coordinator for Experience El Dorado. “We have received tremendous feedback from people who love the addition of the murals in [...]

Community support specialists help to offer different approach to WPD calls

info2023-02-01T00:17:00-06:00February 1st, 2023|

Their work could include helping parents find a therapist for their kids, lining them up with after-school programs, or other programs to help the school to provide a family with basic hygiene products. Robinson says “We just try to really work with the families to help them understand, you know, and then show them because a lot of people don't know what community resources are available. Source: KAKE - News

Reed reflects on time at USD 465

info2023-02-01T00:10:42-06:00February 1st, 2023|

USD 465 Superintendent Dr. Nathan Reed spoke to the CourierTraveler about some of the successes during his time as district leader, while others who work with Reed said they appreciate his efforts in leading the district through COVID-19 and other challenges. Reed announced last week that he is resigning as superintendent to take a job in the Wichita area. He has been superintendent of USD 465 since July 2018. He will remain as the superintendent until his contract is up in June. Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Kansas Senate bill funnels $1 billion into rainy-day fund to bridge economic downturns

info2023-01-31T23:57:42-06:00January 31st, 2023|

State Treasurer Steven Johnson endorsed legislation Tuesday adding $1 billion to Kansas’ budget stabilization fund and recommended the bill include provisions prohibiting withdrawals from the rainy-day account for one-time state government expenditures. The state’s reserve fund contained $980 million on Jan. 1. It was build by state law mandating total transfers to the fund of $969 million in 2022. A straight $750 million was deposited in the account. In addition, $219 million was forwarded to the fund because actual state revenue exceeded the revenue forecast. Source: The Miami County Republic

Kansas governor announces educational funding for low-income students to combat learning loss

info2023-01-31T23:56:17-06:00January 31st, 2023|

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced the creation of a program she hopes will combat learning loss on Tuesday. Kelly announced the creation of the Kansas Education Enrichment Program (KEEP). The program will offer low-income families a one-time $1,000 award per child to help pay for certain “educational goods and services”, including tutoring and school supplies, but not private school tuition, according to a press release from the governor's office. The program is open to families with incomes below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level Guidelines. Source: The Miami County Republic

Kansas cut sales tax on food, but here’s why rates can sometimes change block to block

info2023-01-31T08:05:26-06:00January 31st, 2023|

At the bustling intersection of 135th Street and Metcalf in Overland Park, shoppers who want to save on food only need to cross the street. Go to Sprouts Farmers Market on the southern side of 135th, and you’ll pay 8.1% sales tax on food. But the Hen House on the north side of the street, the tax is just 6.6%. Since Kansas’ sales tax rate on food dropped from 6.5% to 4% on Jan. 1, some shoppers have been surprised to see the rates they are paying don’t match the savings they expected. While some stores did struggle in the first [...]

Towanda FD Receives Extractor

info2023-01-31T08:03:45-06:00January 31st, 2023|

Last week, the Towanda Fire Department was 1 of 20 volunteer fire departments that was delivered a special piece of equipment designed to help remove cancerous causing chemicals from the bunker gear used to protect the volunteers when working. Thanks to the Kansas Firefighter Recruitment & Safety Grant, the department was able to receive the machine without any cost to them. The Continental Girbau Inc. EH020 Commercial Washer Extractor will significantly clean the department’s gear better than the regular washer they previously had. Extractors are more energy and resource efficient, using less water and energy resources to wash the gear, saving [...]

Parsons PD asks residents to fill out survey

info2023-01-31T08:03:12-06:00January 31st, 2023|

The Parsons Police Department is asking residents to fill out the Parsons police community survey, which will be mailed. This community survey will be sent to each residence and can be filled out and returned using the enclosed prepaid postage. “We just asked for honest answers from the community to push our agency and city officials to the next level of public service,” said Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks. Source: Parsons Sun

Topeka city leaders weigh in on homeless problem

info2023-01-31T08:02:42-06:00January 31st, 2023|

With more trash and embankments popping up in Topeka, it's no secret the homeless population is growing. "It's hurting our neighborhoods," District 2 Councilwoman Christina Valdiva-Alcala said. "With the fires, with the public health and safety issues, with the squatting, with the going into vacant housing and then fires getting set, that's what is making this a crisis." "There are lots of smart people in the community that are trying to tackle challenges with the unsheltered," Topeka City Manager Stephen Wade said. "Certainly, the governing body is concerned about it. And so this is what we're asking for here, is an [...]

Fed’s words in focus as markets bet rate hikes will soon end

info2023-01-31T08:01:57-06:00January 31st, 2023|

U.S. central bankers have unambiguously telegraphed this week's policy decision: a quarter-of-a-percentage-point increase in their benchmark interest rate, the smallest since they kicked off their tightening cycle 10 months ago with one the same size. Less clear is whether they will continue to signal "ongoing increases" ahead for the policy rate as evidence mounts that inflation and the economy are both losing momentum. The Federal Reserve has included that phrase in every policy statement since March 2022, when officials had just started raising borrowing costs from near zero and wanted to signal there was a lot more tightening ahead. The rate [...]

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