News – Page 1167 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

SE Kansas officials reflect on pandemic 2nd anniversary

info2022-03-14T00:50:52-05:00March 14th, 2022|

The world changed two years ago when the pandemic first began. Health departments plan for events like this -- but the newness of COVID-19 forced many to adjust on the spot. Now with cases going down, many departments are hoping to use the lessons learned during this time in the event something like this happens again. "A lot of what's been going on with this pandemic will prepare us for, God forbid if we have another one," said Teddi Van Kam, Crawford County Health Officer. The coronavirus first hit Cherokee County on March 19th, 2020. Constant updates to the science and [...]

Federal Reserve expected to raise interest rates in week ahead, as Ukraine crisis adds volatility

info2022-03-14T09:33:51-05:00March 14th, 2022|

Investors may take the Federal Reserve's first post-pandemic interest rate hike in stride, while uncertainty over the Ukraine crisis continues to hang over markets. The Fed has clearly broadcast that it intends to raise its target fed funds rate by a quarter percentage point from zero, and it is expected to announce that move at the end of its two-day meeting Wednesday. The central bank should also reveal new forecasts for interest rates, inflation and the economy. There are a few economic reports of note in the week ahead, including the producer price index Tuesday, retail sales Wednesday and existing home [...]

Gardner to offer signing bonuses for police new hires; approves 2 % COLA

info2022-03-14T09:34:16-05:00March 14th, 2022|

Gardner sworn officers and city staff will be receiving a two percent increase cost of living compensation bonus and benefit package. Todd Winters, mayor, approved the updated salary structure and compensation plan at the March 7 city council meeting. The COLA would be in addition to Gardner’s annual merit pay increase which was budgeted at $286,500. The starting salary for a police officer is currently $21.646 per hour; Gardner has 32 sworn officers currently on staff (includes all ranks) and six vacant sworn officer positions. Matt Wolff, finance director, said the plan is to help ease the burden of the current [...]

Study: Irrigation boosts western Kansas land values by $3.8B

info2022-03-14T09:34:44-05:00March 14th, 2022|

A recent report of the value of water in western Kansas by two Kansas State University agricultural economists has concluded that land values in that part of the state are $3.8 billion greater today than they otherwise would be without access to the Ogallala Aquifer. “It’s a large, substantial number and it provides evidence of just how valuable irrigation is in western Kansas,” said Gabe Sampson, an associate professor in K-State’s Department of Agricultural Economics. The study takes a look at ways water is captured in order to make a judgment on its value. In this case, farmers draw water from [...]

Goddard looks at new fees for developers

info2022-03-14T09:35:34-05:00March 14th, 2022|

Goddard city council members continued their discussion at Monday’s meeting of new sewer and water fees for residential and commercial developments in the city. The city is considering adding a sewer plant equity fee and a water infrastructure equity fee, which in effect would add fees to what is required before a building permit is issued. Currently the city charges $1,500 per new residential home to tap into city water and $1,500 to tap into city sewer. Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers

Fed to Start Rate Hikes With License to Turn Aggressive Later

info2022-03-14T00:30:01-05:00March 14th, 2022|

The Federal Reserve will this week begin a multi-month campaign to conquer inflation that could see Chair Jerome Powell moving even more aggressively after Russia’s war on Ukraine fanned prices further. Already pivoting to tightening monetary policy amid the fastest consumer price gains in four decades, Powell and colleagues now have to deal with the economic fallout of the war, which threatens to deliver the twin blows of weaker growth and even-quicker inflation. With a 25 basis-point hike near-certain on Wednesday after Powell took the rare step of publicly backing such a shift, futures markets show around 165 basis points of tightening this [...]

Visit Emporia receives $11,600 in tourism grants for local projects

info2022-03-14T00:28:35-05:00March 14th, 2022|

Visit Emporia is pleased to announce we have awarded $11,600 in tourism grants to 10 entities to assist with events/projects taking place in Emporia. The recipients are: $1,000 Awarded to Emporia Freedom Fest for 2022 Emporia Freedom Fest. $500 Awarded to Natural Resources Advisory Board for Emporia Earth Day Extravaganza. $500 Awarded to Flint Hills Beef Fest for Flint Hills Beef Fest. $1,500 Awarded to Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow for HOTT Cinco de Mayo Festival & 5K. $1,500 Awarded to No Coast Film Fest for No Coast Film Fest. $2,000 Awarded to National Teachers Hall of Fame for NTHF Induction [...]

Derby not offering public storm shelters this year, tells community to plan ahead before tornado season

info2022-03-14T00:26:20-05:00March 14th, 2022|

The City of Derby is discontinuing its public storm shelter program. City Manager Kiel Mangus said it’s because the city could not find enough volunteers to staff the shelters. It was also struggling to tell residents when the shelters were open. “It’s either, you know, we may be open some of the time or part-time, or we are not operating,” Mangus said. “I think that’s where you kind of had to be very direct to tell people, create your plan, that’s set on sheltering in place.” Derby resident Beau Hastings said he had never heard of the program. “I don’t know [...]

Community members restarting Parsons Community Garden

info2022-03-14T00:24:24-05:00March 14th, 2022|

The Parsons Community Garden will be coming to life again after a few years of laying dormant and becoming overgrown with weeds and trees. Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways, the Wildcat Extension District and the city of Parsons are partnering to bring this asset back to the community. BCBS Pathways coordinator Lauren Coover is behind reviving the garden at 15th and Clark in hopes of it providing additional access to fresh produce for residents. She had initially intended to prepare the garden for planting in 2023, but she said James Coover, an agronomist with K-State, contacted her and told her about [...]

Lawsuit challenges proposed sober living home in Overland Park’s Shannon Valley neighborhood

info2022-03-14T00:21:58-05:00March 14th, 2022|

An Overland Park couple has filed suit in Johnson County District Court asking a judge to review the city’s decision allowing a respite house for sober living in Shannon Valley Estates. The suit, filed Feb. 22 by David and Cynthia King, claims the city denied them due process by not properly reviewing plans for the Concord House, which is separated by one house from their property on West 113th Street in the Shannon Valley subdivision. The Kings ask that a judge find the city’s actions “unlawful and invalid.” The Concord House is a project envisioned by the nonprofit Artists Helping the Homeless for [...]