News – Page 1159 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Kansans claim $125M in rental assistance, funds still available

info2022-03-21T22:28:27-05:00March 21st, 2022|

Funds are still available for Kansans who are facing eviction through the Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program. According to the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), funds are available to help households that have experienced financial hardship during the pandemic with rent, utility and internet assistance. "More than a third of Kansans rent their homes, and many have struggled to cover rent and utility bills since the pandemic began," Ryan Vincent, Executive Director of the KHRC, said. "The financial repercussions are far from over for our most vulnerable families. This crucial assistance is still available to keep Kansans safely housed throughout [...]

Part of McPherson street closed due to sinkhole

info2022-03-21T22:26:33-05:00March 21st, 2022|

The City of McPherson closed part of South Maxwell Street Monday due to a sinkhole. According to the City of McPherson Public Works Department, the sinkhole developed over the weekend near the Turkey Creek Development. The hole is approximately eight feet deep and 6 feet wide. The road will remain closed until repairs can be completed. Barricades will stay in place around the hole. Residents are asked not to move the barricades and to avoid the area. Source: KSN-TV

Now playing in Savonburg

info2022-03-21T22:23:44-05:00March 21st, 2022|

Savonburg Mayor Aaron Wilson watched children slide, swing and climb around the equipment at the city park’s new playground on Sunday. He smiled. “That’s what it’s supposed to be. That’s the goal,” he said. It’s taken years for the playground to take shape, but the equipment is now in place with a rubber-mulch base. Volunteer crews have marked the path of a new walking trail and are spreading crushed limestone along the quarter-mile path. Still to come are benches and picnic tables. Next month, the community will have a ribbon cutting along with a recycling event. Source: The Iola Register

JoCo cities are boosting lifeguard pay but still struggling with shortages

info2022-03-22T08:27:49-05:00March 21st, 2022|

Pool operations across Johnson County could once again look different this summer due to some cities’ ongoing shortage of lifeguards. At the same time, some other cities that experience lifeguard shortfalls last summer have been boosting pay in an effort to avoid that situation again. Following limited operations in both 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some local municipalities — including Roeland Park, Prairie Village and Shawnee — adjusted summer pool hours in 2021 because of lifeguard shortages and other pandemic-related limitations. This summer, some cities say they are still struggling to fully staff pools, while others are on track to [...]

Grocery stores in St. Paul, Iola and Mildred featured on CBS News [VIDEO]

info2022-03-21T21:37:13-05:00March 21st, 2022|

Millions of Americans are facing a growing problem of so-called food deserts. With America's rural population shrinking, grocery stores in many of those areas are closing. At least 40 million Americans live in food deserts nationwide. In rural areas, that means residents live at least 10 miles from a grocery store and 20% are low-income. Unlike many grocery stores in rural America, St. Paul, Kansas has one that will never shut its doors. James and Kelly Voorhies run the only local market, but the city owns it — a unique arrangement to keep food available. Source: CBS News

Downtown Hutchinson continues to grow

info2022-03-21T07:43:21-05:00March 21st, 2022|

About a decade ago, downtown Hutchinson had more empty buildings than full, with at least every other storefront without a restaurant, office space or retailer. Today, only a few buildings remain vacant or underdeveloped, with more than 50 new businesses moving in since 2017. The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce and multiple small businesses worked to continue the success of downtown, bringing out of town traffic and locals into their shops. “It’s been a great experiment in leveraging local support from the city. Our Chamber resources and partnerships who want to be part of making a vibrant place that people want [...]

Kansas school professionals in short supply

info2022-03-21T07:42:48-05:00March 21st, 2022|

As a school psychologist in Olathe, Lina Kitson is part of the team of teachers, administrators and support staff that diagnose and intervene when a student might start showing mental or behavioral health issues. “People often miss mental health as being a part of our role,” she said. “But it’s a big part, and we provide mental health supports either directly or indirectly.” It’s a busy job, especially since she splits her time between two elementary schools, or about 800 students total. Even then, she knows she has it relatively easy, at least compared to some of her colleagues across the [...]

Concerts, conventions bring visitors to Topeka

info2022-03-21T07:41:01-05:00March 21st, 2022|

Concerts, conventions, drag races and demolition derbies regularly draw large numbers of visitors to Topeka, said Mike Bell. A list of some of the most popular of those gatherings was shared with The Capital-Journal by Bell, who is vice president of sports sales and marketing for Visit Topeka Inc., the city’s official destination marketing organization. Bell added that Topeka will break new ground in terms of encouraging tourism next month by doing something it’s never done before — hosting a travel conference. Source: CJonline

Wrongfully convicted man sues Kansas county for $93 million

info2022-03-21T07:38:48-05:00March 21st, 2022|

A Kansas man who served 23 years in prison for a double murder he did not commit is seeking $93 million in damages from the county where he was convicted and a former detective he says framed him. Lamonte McIntyre, 45, and his mother allege in a lawsuit filed in 2018 that the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, is responsible for the actions of former Kansas City, Kansas, police detective Roger Golubski and other officers involved in his prosecution. A federal judge on Thursday set a Nov. 7 trial for the civil case. The Unified Government wants to have [...]

Kansas lawmakers ask for help to keep SkyWest longer

info2022-03-21T07:38:20-05:00March 21st, 2022|

Kansas lawmakers in Washington have asked Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to step in to help Kansas towns that are losing SkyWest service... SkyWest Airlines is terminating United Express service at Salina, Hays, Dodge City and Liberal. It notified the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) that it intends to terminate service at 29 locations in nine states.... U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas 1st District) are urging Buttigieg to require SkyWest to continue its contracted level of service until a new carrier is secured. Source: KSN-TV