News – Page 1242 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Johnson County Park and Rec District planning 3 new public art projects in 2022

info2021-12-29T06:55:06-06:00December 29th, 2021|

Johnson County Park and Recreation District is asking local and regional artists to submit ideas for three upcoming public art projects. JCPRD opened the call last week as part of the district’s new public art master plan. Artwork for the three projects will be executed and installed in 2022, the district says. The three projects include: An artist residency program with JCPRD’s Natural Resources team at Shawnee Mission Park. A mural on the south façade of Okun Fieldhouse at Mid-America West Sports Complex in Shawnee. A temporary art installation at The Theatre in the Park. Source: Prairie Village Post

$54.8 million highway expansion in Cherokee County

info2021-12-29T01:29:34-06:00December 29th, 2021|

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) plans to expand U.S 166 in Cherokee County. KDOT expects the work to begin around the week of January 3rd. The $54.8 million dollar project expands a six-mile section of U.S. 166 into a four-lane expressway. KDOT will construct the expansion between U.S. 166/U.S. 400 and U.S.166/K-26 junctions and it includes the construction of interchanges at U.S. 400 and K-26. U.S. 166 traffic will not be affected during the early project phases. The expanded U.S. 166 alignment and interchanges will be open to unrestricted traffic by late May 2024, weather permitting. Source: KOAMKOAM

State highway update on SW KS projects

info2021-12-28T07:58:15-06:00December 28th, 2021|

Some highway updates were given at the Dec. 20 Finney County Commission meeting. Lona DuVall, President/CEO of the Finney County Economic Development Corporation gave two area highways updates at the meeting, both being announced as part of the Kansas Secretary of Transportation's new highway proposals on Dec. 15. The first update is that the expressway on U.S. Highway 50, between Dodge City and Cimarron, will be finished and then U.S. Highway 83, between Garden City and Scott City, is slated to get passing lanes. ... FCEDC gave a presentation on the modeling data of the highway system, traffic counts and how [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for December 27, 2021

info2021-12-28T07:48:30-06:00December 28th, 2021|

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.

$100,000 donation helps Wichita expand microloan program for small businesses

info2021-12-28T01:25:16-06:00December 28th, 2021|

A $100,000 gift from Intrust Bank will allow the city of Wichita to expand its microloan program for underprivileged entrepreneurs into a citywide initiative in 2022. The program was rolled out in May with a narrow focus on women- and minority-owned small businesses in City Council District 1. But officials say it generated the most interest from otherwise qualified business owners who didn’t live in the district. “When we went out to the public for interest, we had many more applications that fell outside of District 1 boundaries, and so they were ineligible,” Assistant City Manager Scot Rigby said at a [...]

Battle between urban and rural power providers could hit electric bills across Kansas

info2021-12-28T07:45:55-06:00December 28th, 2021|

Two companies that have long been partners in providing Kansas electric power are locked in a battle over who should pay for what — and the outcome could affect your bills. The dispute, which will be resolved by federal energy regulators, pits rural Kansas customers who get their electricity from member-owned cooperatives against Evergy, a for-profit company and the dominant electric utility in the state. At stake is as much as $27 million that the Kansas Electric Power Cooperative, known as KEPCo, says it’s being overcharged by Evergy for operation and maintenance of power plants that Evergy runs but that supply [...]

Artful benches to enhance skate park landscape in Atchison

info2021-12-28T07:46:30-06:00December 28th, 2021|

The Beautiful Benches Public Art Program continues expanding aesthetics to rest one’s mind and weary bones from the center of downtown to one of the area parks. Just days before Christmas Atchison Art Association members placed three benches at the Skate Park at Reisner Park. Ellie Folsom and Ree Greenwood are credited for the artwork. A blue bench was done in tribute to the late Joshua Kinsman and will soon have a Skate High With Hope plaque attached onto it. The benches will not only offer skateboarders and non-motorized scooters and roller-skaters a place to rest, but a place for spectators [...]

An incentive for $2B Overland Park mixed-use will begin, then pause until 2024

info2021-12-28T01:17:05-06:00December 28th, 2021|

Overland Park has given Brookridge's developers a better chance to max out an incentive for the $2 billion mixed-use project at the former golf course and fitness club property. Under its redevelopment deal with the city, Curtin Property Co. was cleared to receive up to $36 million through a 1.5% sales tax imposed via a community improvement district (CID) that will span 101.8 acres southeast of 103rd Street and Antioch Road. Site plans have depicted a combination of retail, residential, office and hotel uses within that area — a portion of the expansive stretch of projects approved in December 2019 across the 212-acre [...]

New program offers grants to KCK businesses in need of pandemic aid

info2021-12-28T01:13:09-06:00December 28th, 2021|

Small businesses in Kansas City, Kansas, may be eligible for aid under a new metro area grant program. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, announced the KCK Small Business Resiliency Grant Program. Eligible businesses can be given up to $10,000 in grants, according to a release. Priority applicants are businesses with fewer than 25 employees, but those with up to 100 employees also are eligible. The funding will be given to companies that seek to upgrade their business models to accommodate technology changes, including upgrading e-commerce platforms, software upgrades, and building remediation to comply with safety guidelines, according to [...]

Kansas ranchers face a long road to recovery after devastating wildfires

info2021-12-28T01:11:10-06:00December 28th, 2021|

This time of year, rancher Rich Koester is normally busy caring for newborn calves or feeding his herd to get them ready for winter. Instead, he’s busy burying livestock. As he walked up to the edge of a freshly dug pit roughly the size of a backyard swimming pool, the charred stubble of prairie grass crunched beneath his feet. Days after the wildfire that torched his pasture went out, the smell of smoke still hung in the air. “It was burning so fast that it just went over the top of everything. … A lot of the cattle didn’t have a [...]