info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

New program to benefit rural homeowners in Kansas

info2023-01-05T23:55:44-06:00January 5th, 2023|

Potential and current homeowners in rural Kansas can be financially assisted through the new Home Loan Guarantee (HGL) for Rural Kansas. The program, which was created by Kansas Housing Resources Cooperation (KHRC), helps to close the gap between lenders and their financial institutions. The program serves counties with less than 10,000 residents and can be used for costs related to land, buildings, renovations and new construction. The program will guarantee 80% to 125% of the appraised value of the home, which caps at $100,000 per loan. Source: KSNT 27 News

Eligible area businesses encouraged to apply for COVID-related property tax relief grants

info2023-01-05T23:47:14-06:00January 5th, 2023|

The deadline is still several months away, but area business owners are strongly encouraged to learn more about cash grants to offset COVID-related impacts and apply soon if those grants apply to them. The COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief Act is designed to help businesses affected during the 2020 and 2021 tax years by sending business owners a portion of property taxes accrued on retail storefront property. Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

City staff members assert alcohol & drug program funds’ distribution is legal; advisory board member says questions remain

info2023-01-05T23:42:19-06:00January 5th, 2023|

After more than a year spent questioning the process and legality of how the city allocates its special alcohol tax revenue, an advisory board will meet Friday to discuss a staff memo that says the city’s appropriation of the money adheres to the law. Members of the Special Alcohol Fund Advisory Board (SAFAB) have asked city leaders and staff since 2021 to make more transparent the process of how the city distributes revenue from the special alcohol tax. Source: The Lawrence Times

Remembering Otis Morrow

info2023-01-05T11:11:12-06:00January 5th, 2023|

Otis Morrow, a former city attorney and civic leader, died Monday and is being remembered as a kind, diplomatic figure who used his abilities to serve the institutions of Arkansas City. Karen Zeller said she is one of the many grieving at Morrow’s passing. She described Morrow as a community leader and a gentle man who had touched many through his law practice and civic involvement. “We’ve lost a supporter with a vast amount of city-wide knowledge,” she said. ... Morrow retired as city attorney in 2005 after 30 years in that job. He continued as counsel to the South Central [...]

Hutchinson’s new city manager starts work

info2023-01-05T11:09:02-06:00January 5th, 2023|

Hutchinson's new city manager's career in public service started with one of the most essential ingredients for any municipality − water. That passion remains vital today. Kendal Francis, who holds both a bachelor's and master's degree from Kansas State University, has served as city administrator or manager for Lakin, Coffeeville and most recently Great Bend. But before thinking about obtaining his master's degree in public administration and wanting to manage a city, Francis worked as a water treatment plant operator in his hometown of Beloit. Source: Hutch News

Flags Be Lowered to Half-Staff in Honor of Longtime Kansas Attorney General Robert Stephan

info2023-01-05T11:05:25-06:00January 5th, 2023|

In accordance with Executive Order #20-30, Governor Laura Kelly ordered flags throughout the State of Kansas to be flown at half-staff on all state buildings, grounds, and facilities immediately until the day of interment, in honor of former Kansas Attorney General Robert Stephan, who passed away Tuesday. Stephan entered the Kansas attorney general’s office in 1979 and held office for 16 years. “Today, I’ve ordered flags statewide be flown to honor Kansas’ longest-serving attorney general, Robert Stephan,” Governor Laura Kelly “I had the utmost respect for General Stephan’s advocacy and public service, and I appreciated his sage counsel. My condolences go [...]

Fed officials see higher rates for ‘some time’ ahead

info2023-01-04T23:41:17-06:00January 4th, 2023|

Federal Reserve officials are committed to fighting inflation and expect higher interest rates to remain in place until more progress is made, according to minutes released Wednesday from the central bank's December meeting. At a meeting where policymakers raised their key interest rate another half a percentage point, they expressed the importance of keeping restrictive policy in place while inflation holds unacceptably high. Source: CNBC - Bonds

Governor Kelly speaks in Wichita on food tax reduction plan

info2023-01-04T23:39:00-06:00January 4th, 2023|

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly made an appearance at a Wichita child care center on Wednesday to talk about her plan to bring the sales tax on groceries to an end. The governor said she is proud of a bill approved last year to phase out the state sales tax on groceries, but she said it doesn’t go far enough or fast enough. She talked about her “Axing Your Taxes” plan that will be submitted to the Kansas Legislature in the upcoming session. One phase of the plan will completely eliminate the sales tax on groceries. Another phase of the plan will [...]

Pandemic has caused pet overpopulation

info2023-01-04T23:31:19-06:00January 4th, 2023|

Animal shelters like Caring Hands Humane Shelter have been bursting at the seams with an oversupply of animals due to medical effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Director Cynthia Sutcliffe said the shelter had a population lower than normal during the early months of the pandemic in 2020. Many residents adopted a pet during the months when people were cooped up at home. She said another consequence of the pandemic was that all supplies related to spaying neutering were diverted to medical use for humans for about six months. She said veterinarians were unable to obtain surgical equipment. Caring Hands couldn’t [...]

Harvey County Commissioners send bitcoin-mining decision back to planning commission

info2023-01-05T10:59:14-06:00January 4th, 2023|

The Board of Harvey County Commissioners voted Tuesday to have the Harvey County Planning Commission rehear its Dec. 6 decision that denied a rezoning request for Print Crypto to operate a bitcoin mining operation at a Butler Rural Electric Cooperative substation at 8399 S.E. 84th St. Commissioner Randy Hague first suggested that the rezoning request go back before the planning commission after a long hearing, during which lawyers for Butler Rural Electric and Print Crypto argued that the bitcoin operation could operate noiselessly with a conditional-use permit. Source: Harvey County Now

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