info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Sedgwick County installs new tornado sirens

info2022-12-12T07:13:15-06:00December 11th, 2022|

Drivers along Main Street in Cheney may have noticed two new tornado sirens in town. The sirens are part of a new, multi-year effort by Sedgwick County Emergency Management to replace all of the sirens within Sedgwick County. Other communities that have new sirens so far include Andale, Mt. Hope, St. Marks and Bentley. Beta tests were done last year with a couple of sirens in Wichita. The county is moving away from electric sirens and back to mechanical sirens, according to Jonathan Marr, deputy director for Sedgwick County Emergency Management. Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers

Goddard amends Sunday alcohol sales times

info2022-12-12T07:18:14-06:00December 11th, 2022|

The Goddard City Council approved an ordinance at its Nov. 21 meeting to amend the times the public can purchase prepackaged liquor and cereal malt beverages on Sundays in the city. The Kansas Legislature first enacted a law giving local cities the option to allow Sunday sales in 2005. The 2021 legislature passed a bill expanding the start time for retail sales on Sundays from noon to 9 a.m. Sunday sale hours are allowed until 8 p.m. Mayor Larry Zimmerman said he was aware that not having the earlier start time for Sunday sales had lost some sales for local businesses. [...]

Housing survey results in for Clearwater

info2022-12-12T07:18:35-06:00December 11th, 2022|

Bill Lampe, director of housing for South Central Kansas Economic Development District, presented the results of the Clearwater housing survey to the city’s council on Tuesday, Nov. 8. The survey is conducted to grade the condition of homes in order to help the city qualify for grants to improve local housing. The survey determined that 43 percent of Clearwater’s housing is in top “A” condition. A majority of homes received a “B” rating with 49 percent of homes falling into this category. Houses rated in “C” condition made up seven percent of the survey and one percent of homes received the [...]

Wichita to start landlord incentive program to provide more affordable housing

info2022-12-12T07:19:03-06:00December 11th, 2022|

The City of Wichita will be starting a landlord incentive program to help provide more affordable housing for people who are on Section 8 and Housing First programs. The city’s Director of Housing and Community Services, Sally Stang, said the program will provide one-time bonuses to landlords who join the program. First-time landlords will receive a bonus of $1,000, and landlords who were previously involved with housing programs for at least six months will get a $500 bonus. The program also covers damages and vacancy costs, up to $2,000 in damages or deductibles for a zero to one-bedroom home or apartment. The program [...]

Shawnee County heading into new year planning renovations, Gage Park sales tax

info2022-12-11T22:43:17-06:00December 11th, 2022|

Shawnee County is gearing up for numerous renovations and improvements around the county as we near the end of 2022. Shawnee County Commissioner Kevin Cook stopped by 27 News Friday morning to give us the details. People in Shawnee County voted in November to pass a ballot measure to pay for improvements to Gage Park. This will add a sales tax at an increment of .02% of a penny to improve the park, the Topeka Zoo and the Kansas Children's Discovery Center. In August, commissioners voted to approve more than $10 million for the Shawnee County Jail. Source: KSNT 27 News

When trains block roads, states can’t do anything. Supreme Court could change that

info2022-12-11T22:33:51-06:00December 11th, 2022|

No one’s above the law, although the nation’s railroads come close at the state and local level. Over the past quarter century, multiple courts have ruled that only the federal government can impose rules affecting railroad operations. Most notably, states can’t limit how long a train can block motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic at a public crossing, the courts have said. Yet because Congress has passed no laws addressing the subject, there are no limitations. So trains now block some crossings for hours, or even days. The state of Ohio recently asked the U.S. Supreme Court to settle this vexing problem [...]

Sedgwick County Emergency Management K9 and handler find missing child

info2022-12-11T22:32:20-06:00December 11th, 2022|

A K9 and her handler with Sedgwick County Emergency Management found a missing child Friday night. Around 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9, the Mulvane Fire Rescue says they were asked to assist the Sumner County Sheriff in locating a missing child in the rural portion of their fire district. "Four units from the fire dept and multiple Mulvane Police officers circulated the area," Mulvane Fire Rescue said. While Mulvane first responders circulated the area on the ground, Sumner County deputies searched the area from the air by using a drone. Source: KSN-TV

Salina hosting forum on homelessness next week

info2022-12-10T08:03:46-06:00December 10th, 2022|

Homelessness is a topic of concern for many people in Salina, and the city is providing a time for people in the community to learn more about what it and other agencies in the area are doing to address the situation. An open forum on homelessness has been announced by the City of Salina, scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at the Salina Grace Community Resource Center, 142 S. Seventh St. The Salina City Commission has been invited to attend the forum to learn along with the public, and the city said there will be time [...]

Lawrence has no plans to close unsanctioned homeless camp near depot

info2022-12-10T07:59:40-06:00December 10th, 2022|

Lawrence officials don’t have plans to close or clean an unsanctioned East Lawrence homeless camp despite concerns that it is growing and is producing large amounts of trash near the Kansas River. A spokesman said City Hall leaders don’t yet believe they can feasibly shut down the camp because they don’t believe there are enough alternative shelter locations available in the city. Source: LJWorld

Lawrence school board to review teacher salary comparisons, possible increases to pay schedule

info2022-12-11T14:08:14-06:00December 9th, 2022|

The Lawrence school board will soon receive a report that compares the district’s teacher salaries to other nearby school districts and proposes various ways to change the district’s pay schedule to increase salaries. As part of its meeting Monday, the Lawrence school board will receive the report of salary comparisons for teachers and other certified staff. The report is a follow-up on a previous discussion about salaries in the district, in which board members were told the Lawrence salaries were lagging behind some nearby districts. Source: LJWorld

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