News – Page 1128 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Multiple KS fire crews continue to battle Haven gas plant fire, cause remains unknown

info2022-04-14T21:22:01-05:00April 14th, 2022|

Reno County officials say that the fire that erupted Thursday afternoon at the Haven gas plant is still burning, but fire crews were able to get the gas turned off. At this time, there is no threat to the public, Reno County Emergency Manager Adam Weishaar said. Two people with minor injuries were taken to a Wichita hospital for treatment, he added. Fire crews from Wichita, Colwich, Burrton, McPherson and Mount Hope were called in to assist with the fire and a specialized firefighting foam was being brought in to “deal with the liquid natural gas,” Weishaar said. Source: Local News [...]

Kelly signs sprawling bill with tax credits, property tax cuts

info2022-04-14T21:20:24-05:00April 14th, 2022|

Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday signed a bill offering a package of tax credits and property tax cuts that's estimated to cost $310 million over three years. The tax package included 25 provisions, including tax credits for teachers buying school supplies, a credit for donations to community colleges for capital improvements and a sales tax exemption for replacing fencing destroyed in wildfires. Source: Sunflower State Journal

‘Axe the Food Tax’ aligns with Thrive Allen County’s mission

info2022-04-14T21:19:04-05:00April 14th, 2022|

Now more than ever, Kansas families need relief from the state’s food sales tax. Kansans pay 6.5% in state sales tax on groceries — the second highest in the country. In addition to the tax, we have all felt the effects of the pandemic-induced inflation, which is making it harder to put food on the table. At Thrive Allen County, we focus on improving health and wellness, economic conditions, and community resources in our county and throughout the state. The “Axe the Food Tax” plan is in lockstep with the mission of Thrive. It helps all Kansans by putting money back [...]

Multi-age classrooms, coming to Lawrence schools next year, raise concerns for teachers

info2022-04-14T21:17:38-05:00April 14th, 2022|

Some teachers in Lawrence elementary schools are concerned about what multi-age classrooms will look like in the district and the domino effect that may follow.nThe Lawrence school board has approved about $6.41 million in budget cuts. About $2.07 million, or 32% of that total, will come from changing elementary class thresholds to eliminate about 34 teaching positions, largely through attrition. The district will be implementing multi-age classrooms, though it is unclear exactly where and how many, primarily because class sizes depend on each year’s enrollment numbers, according to information provided by district spokesperson Julie Boyle. Source: The Lawrence Times

Property, sales and income tax mega-bundle approved by Kansas governor

info2022-04-14T21:16:04-05:00April 14th, 2022|

A Kansas bill signed into law Thursday spans the gamut of tax policy, packaging more than two dozen measures amending property, sales and income tax laws. The massive House Bill 2239, backed by the Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly, included provisions from 29 different bills cutting taxes and will hack nearly $91 million from state tax revenue in the first year. The largest cost is the taxpayer-assessed 20 mill levy toward supporting K-12 public education. In approving the changes to state tax laws, Kelly said she felt the opportunity to provide relief for Kansans was now, while the state experiences its [...]

USDA Awards Over $2.5 Million in Health Care Grants to 10 Rural Communities in Kansas

info2022-04-14T21:14:46-05:00April 14th, 2022|

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $2.55 million in Emergency Rural Health Care Grants has been awarded to 10 communities in rural Kansas. The grants will help rural hospitals and health care providers implement telehealth and nutrition assistance programs, increase staffing to administer COVID-19 vaccines and testing, build or renovate facilities, and purchase medical supplies. Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

USD 465 budgeting $4 million in relief funds

info2022-04-14T21:12:37-05:00April 14th, 2022|

The Winfield school district now has the third round of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds from the federal government and is deciding how to spend it. The $3,968,599 is meant to provide relief from effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Some will be added to funding received from the first and second ESSER distributions, Superintendent Nathan Reed said. All the money must be distributed and accounted for. Some funding can be used into 2025. The district sought public input on how to spend the aid through an online survey. Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Mortgage rates have hit 5% for the first time in more than a decade

info2022-04-14T21:09:27-05:00April 14th, 2022|

Mortgage rates rose again this week, reaching 5% for the first time in over a decade. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5% in the week ending April 14, up from 4.72% the week before, according to Freddie Mac. That's the highest since 2010. Rapidly rising rates, along with sky-high home prices and rapid inflation continue to push homeownership out of reach for many Americans, according to Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's chief economist. "This week, mortgage rates averaged 5% for the first time in over a decade," said Khater. "As Americans contend with historically high inflation, the combination of rising mortgage rates, [...]

Federal grants may help Lawrence make quicker progress on $32M list of storm water projects in flood-prone area

info2022-04-14T07:27:34-05:00April 14th, 2022|

With as much as $32 million needed to increase the city’s storm water system capacity in the Jayhawk Watershed and reduce neighborhood flooding, city engineers are hoping federal funding could help get projects done more quickly. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission received an update on the findings and recommendations of a study of the Jayhawk Watershed completed by JEO Consulting Group. The study included a recommendation of four projects, estimated to cost from $23 million to $32 million total, to increase the amount of rainwater the system can handle. Source: LJWorld.com

After disruptions last week, Douglas County leaders say outbursts from audience members will no longer be tolerated at meetings

info2022-04-14T07:26:06-05:00April 14th, 2022|

After members of the audience disrupted the Douglas County Commission’s meeting last week and forced a brief recess, commissioners have made it clear that future outbursts won’t be tolerated. At the beginning of their meeting Wednesday, commissioners took time to clarify when members of the public may be removed from meetings for their behavior. County leaders agreed that members of the public who direct profanity or name-calling toward public servants — such as law enforcement officers or the commissioners — or people who cause excessive outbursts at any point in the meeting will be asked to leave. Source: LJWorld.com