News – Page 1173 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

More than 800 Kansas applicants for remaining $721 million in federal recovery assistance

info2022-03-08T00:13:27-06:00March 8th, 2022|

The state task force working to target $721 million in federal relief dollars into economic, health, connectivity and education investment projects received proposals for $12.8 billion in expenditures — about 17 times available funding. The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas, or SPARK, advisory panels have been combing through 840 proposals, including 400 tied to $7.9 billion in economic development initiatives. The legislators, business people and state officials on the SPARK executive board plan to narrow the list in April. That report would be forwarded to the State Finance Council, which is comprised of state legislators and Gov. Laura Kelly. Greg Orman, [...]

Former Johnson County court accountant accused of embezzling more than $1 million

info2022-03-08T00:08:44-06:00March 8th, 2022|

A former accountant for the Johnson County District Court Clerk’s Office is accused of embezzling more than $1 million in payments that were made to the clerk’s office over the course of 10 years, according to a federal complaint. Dawna Kellogg, of Paola, Kansas, is accused of running a fraud scheme in which she re-directed payments made to the clerk’s office into her personal account. A criminal complaint outlining the case was filed by federal prosecutors in the U.S. District of Kansas on Friday, alleging eight counts of wire fraud and three counts of filing a false tax return. According to [...]

Shawnee considers legalizing fireworks sales and bringing back city Fourth of July event

info2022-03-08T07:38:11-06:00March 8th, 2022|

Shawnee is exploring ways to legalize the sale and use of fireworks within city borders, while also possibly bringing back a community fireworks show for the first time in more than a decade. After some discussion at its meeting Feb. 28, the Shawnee City Council directed city staff to look into options for fireworks to be legally purchased and fired off, particularly around the Fourth of July. The sale and use of fireworks is fairly restrictive in Shawnee, as it is in most other cities in Johnson County, with the exception of De Soto. Source: Prairie Village Post

Senate expands incentive to lure urban dwellers into rural areas

info2022-03-08T07:38:39-06:00March 8th, 2022|

The Senate on Monday agreed to expand a development incentive enticing residents to move from urban parts of the Kansas to rural areas as part of program intended to keep the state from draining population. The chamber approved a bill extending the state’s rural opportunity zone program to Kansans who move from Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and Wyandotte counties to rural areas that have lost population. The program has already been under scrutiny with a 2020 study suggesting it has not boosted the state’s population like it had been hoped while lawmakers have expressed concern that it has gotten overly [...]

Senate approves $157 million tax bill

info2022-03-07T23:59:20-06:00March 7th, 2022|

The first major piece of tax legislation cleared the state Senate on Monday, offering a package of tax credits and property tax cuts that are believed to be worth $157 million in the first year. The Senate tax package included elements of several bills tied together, including tax credits for teachers buying school supplies and a general tax break on school taxes. Source: Sunflower State Journal

Senate bill mandates limit on local governments, school boards amid public health threats

info2022-03-08T07:39:58-06:00March 7th, 2022|

The Senate Judiciary Committee plowed into a bill Monday mandating state-imposed limits on actions of cities, counties, school boards and higher education institutions in a health emergency that was so complex it took more than 30 minutes for a legislative staff member to summarize. The Kansas Chamber, attorneys filing lawsuits against during the pandemic and individuals irritated by city or school board actions praised the bill. It was denounced by organizations representing city and county governments, public education and proponents of child vaccinations. A House member suggested references to religious freedom in the bill could be stricken, because worship was constitutionally [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for March 4, 2022

info2022-03-07T07:49:59-06:00March 7th, 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.

Days before school shooting, Olathe voters OK’d spending millions for safety

info2022-03-06T23:23:18-06:00March 6th, 2022|

Days before a shooting at Olathe East High School left three people injured on Friday, Johnson County voters approved a $298.3 million bond initiative to help improve safety across the district. Three people were shot and injured: a school resource officer, an assistant school principal and the suspect, who is a student and was shot in the abdomen, according to radio traffic from the officer, captured by Broadcastify.com. The incident came after voters passed a bond measure on Tuesday to to replace a middle school building and fund several facility, technology and safety improvements. Source: Joco 913 News

Newcomers to Dodge City break the ice with silly signs

info2022-03-06T23:20:17-06:00March 6th, 2022|

The silly signs started on Super Bowl Sunday, when four newcomers from Syracuse, Kan., agreed to do something weird and fun to break the ice and make friends in their new home. Lydia Cook and her daughters, 8-yearold Taegan and 6-year-old Violet, agreed her boyfriend JT Menasco spoke the truth that Sunday when he said, “We don’t know anybody here. And there aren’t enough smiles.” They moved to Dodge City this year to enjoy the pleasures a bigger city affords. Cook and Menasco both secured jobs, but said they had a week to wait for work-mandated physicals. That’s when they decided, [...]

School resource officer, injured in Olathe shooting, is praised for quick response

info2022-03-07T07:48:19-06:00March 6th, 2022|

Erik Clark has been identified as the school resource officer who was injured in the shooting at Olathe East High School on Friday, according to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Clark suffered injuries along with an assistant principal. The suspect, who is a student, was shot in the abdomen, according to radio traffic from the officer, captured by Broadcastify.com. The Olathe Police Department said the shooting occurred in an office area, and a suspect was in custody. Officials at Overland Park Regional Medical Center said in a written statement Friday afternoon that the two victims had been discharged from the hospital. [...]