News – Page 1116 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Does the ‘Future of Work’ Open a New Growth Horizon for Small Towns?

info2022-04-27T07:03:31-05:00April 26th, 2022|

With the changing shape of remote and hybrid workplaces, and the continuing spread of high-speed internet access in rural areas, new options are opening up for bringing small-scale jobs and companies to towns all over the map. More specifically, with $65 billion for improvements to rural high-speed internet access in President Biden’s infrastructure plan, the potential for a renaissance and reinvention of small towns looms large. Leveraging that potential in a way that creates sustainable growth, will take a multi-dimensional approach. Source: KLC Journal

Overland Park city workers rescue 11 ducklings caught in spillway at South Lake Park

info2022-04-27T07:05:39-05:00April 26th, 2022|

Friday afternoon rescuing a troop of ducklings that had gotten into some trouble during a swim lesson at South Lake Park. A total of 11 of the fluffy little creatures accidentally swam into an overflow spillway in the park’s lake, basically a 20-foot hole. “The spillway has a kind of gate cover so that obviously no one can fall in there, but the ducks were able to swim through there,” said Mike Burton, Overland Park parks project coordinator. Source: Prairie Village Post

Accessibility updates to Pittsburg City Hall

info2022-04-26T23:05:47-05:00April 26th, 2022|

Much needed change is coming to Pittsburg City Hall. Construction will be soon underway to improve the accessibility of City Hall. These changes include new steps and a new ramp in front of the building. The main entrance to City Hall is closed. Residents can use the east and west entrances to enter City Hall as needed. "All the departments, you can still get up to the front desk in City Hall to do any business you need to conduct as regular through either the west side or the east side of the building," said Matt Bacon, Director of Public Works [...]

Johnson County public transit may fall under county control once again

info2022-04-26T23:02:16-05:00April 26th, 2022|

Four months after committing to several major changes that will expand public transit, Johnson County commissioners are now considering dropping out of a management agreement with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority to run its services. Background: The interlocal agreement, in which KCATA manages contracts of the entities that run the county transit system, has been in place for seven years. The change was proposed so the county can keep a closer eye on several pilot projects that will begin to be phased in next month, according to a staff memo. But the county system will remain a part of KCATA’s RideKC brand [...]

Kansas school districts anticipate growing shortfalls in special education funding

info2022-04-26T22:58:21-05:00April 26th, 2022|

A creeping budget shortfall, that's the situation described for Kansas school districts trying to figure out how to make up state funding shortfalls for special education. The issue has been in conflict for more than a decade and has been brought up once again as lawmakers mull over the matter in Topeka, Kansas. The situation, however, is also being talked about locally as local school districts look at their budgets and try to figure out the ebb and flow of finances for the next few years. At a recent meeting of the Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education, district officials [...]

U.S. News ranks KCK high school best in Kansas, among top 50 in nation

info2022-04-26T22:56:25-05:00April 26th, 2022|

A Kansas City, Kansas high school has once again been ranked No. 1 by U.S. News as the best high school in the state of Kansas, Kansas City-area, as well as one of the top in the nation. Sumner Academy of Arts and Sciences was ranked by U.S. News as the number one high school in Kansas and ranked 32 in the nation. The U.S. News Best High Schools rankings include data on nearly 24,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Nearly 18,000 schools were ranked on six factors based on their performance on state assessments [...]

Inman USD 448 bond issue for new sports complex up for vote

info2022-04-26T07:15:53-05:00April 26th, 2022|

New sports facilities and improved drainage at Inman High School are up for vote next week for a bond project for Inman USD 448. The special election on Tuesday, May 3 will feature a bond project worth $5 million that will include the construction of new baseball, softball and football fields – all with natural grass – and a new track around the football field. The construction will also include drainage improvements in the vicinity of the athletic complex. ... This is not the first time Inman has pushed for new sports facilities. Three years ago, voters rejected a proposed $8.6 [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for April 25, 2022

info2022-04-26T07:10:17-05:00April 26th, 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.

Small town big community spirit after tornado

info2022-04-26T00:52:28-05:00April 26th, 2022|

After the latest tornado to roll over Sharon Springs, the community of 751 wasted no time getting together to clean it all up. "I would say it just wasn't even a second thought," said Aften Gardner, assistant EMS Director for Wallace County. "Our fire and EMS are already volunteer, completely. And we've got amazing responders to begin with. I wasn't surprised at all." In October of last year, like the tornado over this weekend, the town was hit by an EF1 twister. And just like six months ago the volunteers found broken windows all over town. They found roofing that collapsed [...]

City of Wichita employee gets surprise honor

info2022-04-26T07:04:46-05:00April 26th, 2022|

A City of Wichita employee got a big surprise Monday during what he thought was just a work-related meeting. The Wichita city manager, mayor and council members showed up and presented Reginald "Reggie" Davidson with an Excellence in Public Service Award. The awards go to three public service employees each year - a City of Wichita employee, a Sedgwick County employee, and a Wichita Public Schools employee. We will find out the County winner on Wednesday and the WPS winner on Thursday. During a meeting of some Wichita Parks and Recreation personnel, City Manager Robert Layton called Davidson, superintendent of recreation, [...]