News – Page 1251 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Governor Laura Kelly Announces Broadband Acceleration Grant Program Submission Window

info2021-12-16T08:11:40-06:00December 16th, 2021|

Governor Laura Kelly announced the application window for Broadband Acceleration Grant Program submissions. “Access to high-speed internet is critical for Kansans to access health care, education, and compete in an increasingly digital economy,” Governor Kelly said. “My administration is committed to getting every Kansas home and business connected. I encourage anyone who qualifies to apply for this round of Broadband Acceleration Grants.” The Broadband Acceleration Grant Program is critical in Kansas’ plan to address broadband gaps statewide. Funds will be targeted to areas that are unlikely to receive broadband service without state or federal funding support. Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Main Street Kansas pays Atchison a visit

info2021-12-16T00:59:14-06:00December 16th, 2021|

Main Street Kansas personnel paid a visit to Atchison for a working session and a look at the progress on the downtown area. The improvements are substantial with the canopy coming down and store fronts beginning to take on a life of their own. Main Street Kansas is a self-help, technical assistance program that targets revitalization and preservation of downtown districts through the development of a comprehensive strategy. The local staff, board of directors for Main Street Atchison and local business leaders are all participating. Meeting with the staff and board of directors took up most of the morning and then [...]

High winds, debris forced Interstate 70 to close from Hays, Kansas, to Colorado border

info2021-12-16T00:48:49-06:00December 16th, 2021|

Interstate 70 was closed Wednesday from the Colorado border all the way through Hays, Kansas, due to low visibility and multiple vehicle collisions, according to Kansas Department of Transportation. The department announced the closure of the I-70 on Twitter around 1 p.m. KDoT officials encouraged commuters to delay any plans of travel until about midnight on Wednesday. The interstate was closed in both directions, from Russel County, Kansas, to the Colorado state line. People are being warned to look out for blowing dust. Source: Kansas City Breaking News & Sports | The Kansas City Star

‘Wall of dust’ blows into western Kansas as schools and roads close amid strong winds

info2021-12-16T08:12:54-06:00December 16th, 2021|

A “wall of dust” is moving east into western Kansas as hazardous wind warnings continue across the region. In some areas, high winds have reduced visibility to less than a mile, weather officials report, while gusts are expected to reach up to 80 mph. Schools in the area closed as a precaution, and roads continue to close as winds from Colorado reach Kansas. Gov. Laura Kelly addressed the dangers at a news conference. The winds are “a concern,” she said, “and I’m glad that our folks are on it.” Source: The Kansas City Star

Kansas to spend $361M on crowded highways in Johnson, Wyandotte counties

info2021-12-16T08:13:05-06:00December 16th, 2021|

Kansas is preparing to spend $361 million on highways in Johnson and Wyandotte counties in areas that pose congestion and safety issues, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Wednesday. Four new projects in the Kansas City metro will receive nearly half of a broader statewide plan for $750 million in highway improvements paid for with local and federal dollars: Kansas 10 highway: The biggest project spends $223 million to study and expand K-10 between Kansas 7 and Interstate 435 in Johnson County. The state will determine if eight lanes are necessary and where six lanes are sufficient. Interstate 35: $74 million will go [...]

No decision made on new county admin

info2021-12-16T00:39:38-06:00December 16th, 2021|

The Barton County Commission emerged after a day-long special meeting Wednesday dominated by hours of closed-door meetings without selecting a new county administrator. It is anticipated a decision will come when commissioners meet for their regular weekly meeting this coming Tuesday morning. The Wednesday meeting was called to conduct interviews with administrator candidates. These were conducted in executive session over the course of Wednesday morning and afternoon. Commissioners reconvened in open session at 3:15 p.m. following the final interview only to go back into closed session to discuss the results of the discussions. They ruled out making a selection Wednesday because [...]

Johnson County advances some of the country’s most restrictive solar farm rules, leaving few happy

info2021-12-16T00:31:12-06:00December 16th, 2021|

The Johnson County Planning Commission on Tuesday approved regulations that have been dubbed some of the most restrictive in the country for solar-generated electricity farms, pleasing just about none of the spectators at the two-hour meeting. Supporters of the proposed solar farm said the rules were a disappointment and “not our desired result,” while opponents expressed anger that any arrays of the photovoltaic panels would be allowed at all in the unincorporated western part of the county. “Have a good night as you destroy our rural part of our county,” said Sharmen McCollum of Gardner after being told the commission would [...]

Osawatomie establishes Healthy Rental Homes program

info2021-12-16T08:15:01-06:00December 16th, 2021|

The Osawatomie community now has a licensing and regulation program to cover residential rental dwellings within the city. The City Council on Thursday, Dec. 9, approved an ordinance establishing the Healthy Rental Homes program. A Committee of Landlords and city staff collaborated on the initiative that has been more than a year in the making. City officials and landlord committee members agreed a licensing and external inspection program was a way the city can safeguard its interests in protecting the “life, safety, general welfare and health,” as well as help landlords protect residential properties and their appraised values. Source: Local News [...]

More Kellogg construction on the horizon? Here’s where state plans to spend $166M on it

info2021-12-16T08:15:09-06:00December 16th, 2021|

Gov. Laura Kelly’s new $750 million highway improvement plan calls for $166 million in upgrades to Kellogg freeway in east Wichita. Kelly announced the highway modernization and expansion Wednesday, less than a month after Kellogg construction ceased for the first time in 30 years. The next phase of Kellogg construction will address a bottleneck from the K-96 interchange to 159th Street east. At a press conference in Topeka, Kelly singled out the Kellogg improvements in her comments. “This is a pressing issue because by addressing the congestion at the north junction interchange, a significant bottleneck has been shifted to the new [...]

Parsons planning commission talks tiny homes

info2021-12-16T08:15:28-06:00December 16th, 2021|

Parsons is looking at integrating regulations relating to tiny homes in the city. Members of the Parsons Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals discussed tiny homes during their Tuesday meeting. The city does not have formal regulations on tiny homes. “Right now, I don’t have like a district for tiny homes,” said Laura Moore, community development director. “Right now, you can put one tiny home on a normal, traditional city lot.” “That’s an awful big lot for a tiny home,” she added. Verdunity Inc., based in Dallas, recently answered a question from Moore about the smaller structures. Moore asked Verdunity, [...]