info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Douglas County leaders end COVID-19 disaster declaration, praise county’s emergency management team

info2022-06-10T08:13:40-05:00June 10th, 2022|

Douglas County leaders approved a recommendation to end the county’s COVID-19 disaster declaration, which had been in effect since March 17, 2020, at their meeting Wednesday night. That approval comes about a week after the county’s Unified Command team, which was formed to respond to the pandemic, elected to demobilize. County Emergency Management Director Robert Bieniecki and Deputy Director Jillian Rodrigue were on hand to thank the commission for their support. Commissioners, for their part, praised Bieniecki, Rodrigue and the rest of the Unified Command team who helped guide the county’s response to the pandemic. Source: LJWorld

Opinions mixed as Lawrence’s Sustainability Advisory Board considers 15-cent fee for plastic and paper bags

info2022-06-10T08:12:42-05:00June 10th, 2022|

Members of Lawrence’s Sustainability Advisory Board met Wednesday to begin discussing an ordinance to impose a 15-cent fee for single-use plastic and paper bags, revealing some mixed opinions about how the board wants to proceed. The Lawrence City Commission asked the board last month to restart the discussion on disposable plastic bags. The city has previously discussed banning plastic bags altogether or creating a bag fee, and a draft ordinance was even proposed, but the process was delayed amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential for state legislation prohibiting such bans. After discussing other agenda items at Wednesday’s meeting, the board [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for June 9, 2022

info2022-06-10T08:11:05-05:00June 10th, 2022|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.

‘Recovery Connect’ aims to help Sedgwick county residents find aid to bounce back from pandemic

info2022-06-10T00:46:20-05:00June 10th, 2022|

The last two years have been tough for Robert Chavez and his non-profit, Veterans Unidos. The Coronavirus pandemic forced a lot of people to cut back on their spending, meaning donations to his organization dropped. "We had to start asking the hard questions on what did we need to do to get ourselves back to where we were pre pandemic?" Chavez turned to Sedgwick County Commissioner Lacey Cruse, who told him about a county program, Recover Connect. It helps connect people to resources out there, from housing assistance and daycare, to job training and grant writing. Cruse says "We can't have [...]

Western Kansas wheat crops are failing just when the world needs them most

info2022-06-10T00:41:29-05:00June 10th, 2022|

This time of year, the wheat growing in this part of western Kansas should be thigh-high and lush green. But as a months-long drought continues to parch the region, many fields tell a different story. “There’s nothing out there. It’s dead,” farmer Vance Ehmke said, surveying a wheat field near his land in Lane County. “It’s just ankle-high straw.” Across western Kansas, many fields planted with wheat months ago now look like barren wastelands. The gaping spaces between rows of brown, shriveled plants reveal hardened dirt that’s scarred with deep cracks from baking in the sun. Source: KCUR News

Kansas lawmaker wants to spend $150B to harden schools

info2022-06-10T00:38:57-05:00June 10th, 2022|

A Kansas lawmaker wants to redirect $150 billion dollars in COVID relief dollars to harden schools, increase security measures and pay for armed resource officers. On Thursday, June 9, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D., and U.S. Congressman Mike Garcia from California introduced the Safe Schools Act legislation that would allow COVID dollars to be used for video surveillance, locks, panic buttons security systems and armed guards inside schools. “While we made some progress in previous legislation to make our schools stronger, harder, and safer, certainly there is more that can and must be done immediately to protect kids,” said Senator Marshall. [...]

How the new Wichita Water Treatment Facility will help water treatment in the future

info2022-06-10T00:37:58-05:00June 10th, 2022|

This is the second boil advisory issue for Wichita in eight months. The two issues are not connected. One involved a problem with a pipe, the other a filter at the water treatment plant. That plant is more than 80 years old, but a new one is under construction. We are still several years out until the plant is up and running. The main thing that will really benefit Wichita in the future is having this new equipment and fewer repairs needed when this site opens up. "We are the largest water provider in the entire state of Kansas, and to [...]

Ellsworth warns residents of ransomware attack

info2022-06-10T00:35:57-05:00June 10th, 2022|

The City of Ellsworth is dealing with a ransomware attack. It found out about the attack after employees noticed unauthorized activity on the City's network on June 2. The City took the system offline to stop any potential malicious activity and notified federal law enforcement. Computer forensics experts are investigating, and a new server is being installed. So far, there is no information on who is behind the attack or how it happened. The City posted a news release on social media to warn residents. However, the City has not determined if any personal information is at risk. It will update [...]

Lyon County’s Click It or Ticket efforts leads to over 70 citations, including seven DUI arrests

info2022-06-10T00:33:09-05:00June 10th, 2022|

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office has announced the results of its recent Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign at the end of May into early June. Lyon County Deputy Jody Meyers says there were over 70 citations issued during the two-week effort, including 13 safety belt citations, 46 speeding citations, one citation for texting while driving. There were 13 other citations and arrests, including seven arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Meyers says there were 115 vehicle stops, of which 80 percent were conducted at night. Ten occupant restraint tickets were handed out during the night patrols. [...]

Leawood residents could request crosswalks at certain intersections under draft policy

info2022-06-10T08:03:13-05:00June 10th, 2022|

Leawood officials are reviewing the initial draft of what would be the city’s first-ever crosswalk policy, a conversation that was sparked by concerns raised by residents about the intersection at 93rd Street and Lee Boulevard. If ultimately approved by the Leawood City Council, the new policy, which was reviewed this week by the council’s Public Works Committee, would allow residents to provide a written request to the city engineer for a crosswalk on non-arterial roads within city limits Source: Shawnee Mission Post

About info