News – Page 1131 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Riley, Pottawatomie County fire officials remain vigilant as fire danger continues

info2022-04-13T01:03:59-05:00April 13th, 2022|

A new fire affecting mostly public property near Tuttle Creek Lake gave Riley County firefighters some challenges Monday. This one was in the area of Baldwin Park Road, north of University Park. Riley County issued a new disaster declaration to request assistance. No structures were threatened and no evacuations were said to be necessary as of late Monday evening. Crews were conducting back burning to help reduce available fuels. At Monday’s Pottawatomie County Commission meeting, Emergency Management Director Jennifer Merrow noted the lake fire and Shannon Creek fires were both well contained. No structural damage was seen. “There was some smoldering, [...]

Eureka, Newton, Topeka and Valley Center join Kansas downtown revitalization program

info2022-04-13T01:01:16-05:00April 13th, 2022|

Eureka, Newton, Topeka and Valley Center are joining a state-run program focused on the revitalization and preservation of downtown districts across Kansas. Initially launched in 1985, the Kansas Mainstreet Program has assisted dozens of communities to maintain predominantly rural downtown areas. Since 2019, the program has added 10 communities, bringing the total to 32. Nearly $650,000 in grant dollars have gone toward building rehabilitation, entrepreneurial development, upper-floor housing and more. “When our main street businesses succeed, our economy succeeds,” said Gov. Laura Kelly. “The program’s expansion is further proof of its success, and I’m pleased to welcome these four additional communities.” [...]

Kelly pulls plug on electric delivery devices Amazon sought to operate on Kansas sidewalks

info2022-04-13T00:58:32-05:00April 13th, 2022|

Gov. Laura Kelly threw up a roadblock to Amazon’s request for legal authority to operate fully electric, autonomous delivery devices in Kansas. The authorization bill vetoed by the governor was approved 22-17 in the Senate and 75-47 in the House, but neither margin would suggest there was support to override the governor’s veto. The Legislature could return to Senate Bill 161 when it reconvenes April 25 to close out the 2022 legislative session. She also rejected Senate Bill 493, which Republican legislators sought to thwart action by cities or counties to ban stores from using plastic packaging that often wound up [...]

Gov. Kelly vetoes local bans on plastic bags, straws

info2022-04-13T07:20:10-05:00April 13th, 2022|

Gov. Laura Kelly vetoes a bill that would have prevented cities and counties from banning, limiting or even taxing plastic bags, straws and food containers. Kelly rejected the measure Monday after previously telling reports that she was a “major local-control advocate.” The Senate approved the measure first in February, but its initial version did not explicitly cover plastic straws. The House made sure it did before passing the measure. The measure was backed by groups representing small business owners, restaurant operators and plastic bag manufacturers. Business owners argued that complying with a patchwork of local rules would increase their costs. Source: [...]

Neosho Ridge wind turbines no longer working, raising concerns with a county official

info2022-04-13T07:20:46-05:00April 13th, 2022|

Liberty Utilities’ ‘Neosho Ridge’ Wind Farm in Neosho County, Kansas, is no longer working. One county commissioner says he wants to know why. Despite all the wind we’ve had recently, the turbines in Neosho County, haven’t been turning. District One Commissioner Paul Westhoff says it’s been more than two weeks since they were last operating. “What I was told is that their main transformer blew up, shorted out, whatever, and then their backup one did, and that’s why they’re down, so now they’re waiting on another transformer.” Westhoff says he has concerns about those who signed contracts to allow the turbines [...]

Hiawatha Police Department receives Gold AAA Traffic Safety Award

info2022-04-12T23:41:01-05:00April 12th, 2022|

The Hiawatha Police Department was among 35 law enforcement agencies who received AAA Kansas Community Traffic Safety Awards for 2021. The 35 agencies included 26 police departments and nine sheriff offices and the award was based on their work in 2021 to keep roadways in their cities and counties safe through a variety of initiatives and programs. The Hiawatha Police Department received the Gold Award for their work. The awards have been presented annually since 2011 by AAA Kansas to community law enforcement agencies for their efforts to successfully and cost-effectively foster and improve local traffic safety. Source: Local News | [...]

Johnson County wants homeowners to destroy their Bradford pear trees — Here’s why

info2022-04-13T07:22:08-05:00April 12th, 2022|

Let’s talk about very hungry caterpillars. In Kansas and Missouri, they face an increasingly difficult time finding things to eat. That’s making it ever harder for butterflies and moths to survive. Their populations are shrinking, especially in the Midwest, and the birds that eat them are disappearing, too. The invasive Callery pear trees (also known as Bradford pears, Cleveland pears, etc.) spreading like weeds across Kansas and Missouri don’t get all the blame — not by a long shot. And yet these ornamental trees with the white springtime blossoms and a pungent smell pose a significant problem. Stopping them from continuing to choke out [...]

Auburn-Washburn Voters: School Yes, Pool No

info2022-04-12T23:35:54-05:00April 12th, 2022|

Andrew Howell, Shawnee County Election Commissioner, has announced the unofficial results for the USD 437 Mail Ballot election, which closed Tuesday at noon. Question 1, pertaining to the issuance of general obligation bonds for the construction of a middle school, not to exceed $145,000,000, passed 60.78%(5,657) to 39.22%(3,651). Question 2, pertaining to the issuance of general obligation bonds for the construction of a swimming pool, in an amount not to exceed $15,000,0000, failed 45.13%(4,199) to 54.87%(5,105). The voter turnout for the mail ballot election was 35.43%. Source: WIBW News Now

Emerging Leaders panel says downtown Wichita progress can’t afford to slow down

info2022-04-13T07:23:15-05:00April 12th, 2022|

Downtown Wichita has made major strides, but now is not the time to slow down. That theme jumped out during a panel discussion Tuesday at the Kansas Leadership Center, as local figures in economic development and real estate spoke to the Wichita Business Journal's Emerging Leaders about downtown development. ... The panel hit on a range of topics specific to downtown — including the residential and office markets, the walkability of the city's core, development along the river, and Century II. Source: Wichita Business Journal

Mayor launches Seven Days of Kindness for UG employees

info2022-04-13T07:25:02-05:00April 12th, 2022|

Unified Government CEO and Mayor Tyrone A. Garner issued a proclamation on Thursday, April 7, for the Seven Days of Kindness for Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. A regional campaign with activities running April 13 through April 24, the initiative will be joined for the first time this year by the UG. “The Unified Government is proud to announce that we will be joining this year’s Seven Days of Kindness,” said CEO-Mayor Tyrone A. Garner. “Our goal is to remind ourselves of the importance of kindness in all that we do in service to one another, and in service to [...]