News – Page 1310 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Overland Park considers extending e-bike pilot program and could also add rental scooters

info2021-10-08T09:11:24-05:00October 8th, 2021|

Overland Park experiment with electric bikes received mixed reviews from residents, as the city’s 18-month pilot program nears an end this November. The pilot project allowed certain types of motorized bikes on trails throughout Overland Park. With the project’s end date approaching, the city council’s Community Development committee on Wednesday heard a report about the pilot’s impact, including citizen feedback. The report concluded that there are some concerns with how the e-bike program currently runs, but overall, seem to appreciate having the bikes in the area. Source: Prairie Village Post

Wichita taking water samples but no results Thursday night, city manager says

info2021-10-08T09:13:09-05:00October 8th, 2021|

Wichita won’t have answers Thursday night on whether the water is safe to drink, a city official confirmed. More than 500,000 people in south-central Kansas — including all of Wichita and many of the surrounding towns and rural areas — fell under a boil water advisory after a main waterline broke near McAdams Park around 3 p.m. Boil water advisories are required within 24 hours under federal law when a water system loses pressure. Read more at: Local News | Wichita Eagle

New Olathe library brings ‘vitality to the downtown.’ It’s all part of a master plan

info2021-10-08T09:14:05-05:00October 8th, 2021|

With shovels in hand, library employees, city council members and others working on Olathe’s new downtown library broke ground for the project Sept. 18. The building will sit between Poplar and Santa Fe streets, two blocks east of the Johnson County District Courthouse. The Downtown Library is now located in a temporary space at 1078a W. Santa Fe St. It’s been there since April 2020, as the city has already sold its old location. Sara Eccles, branch manager, said that the new building is part of a master plan that started more than five years ago as a result of a [...]

Barton County Commission OKs more facade grants

info2021-10-08T09:14:47-05:00October 8th, 2021|

In the ongoing effort to spruce up downtowns countywide, the Barton County Commission Tuesday morning approved more projects as part of Facade Improvement Grant program. The goal of the program is to provide financial assistance to businesses and property owners for downtown building front improvements to increase economic prosperity, accessibility, and quality of life in Claflin, Ellinwood, Great Bend and Hoisington, Grant Coordinator Sue Cooper said. It is having the desired impact, said District 3 Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson. “We were hoping it would have a ripple effect,” he said. After one owner applies, neighboring owners may feel like they have to [...]

City of Wichita working to address underlying reasons of why hundreds are experiencing homelessness

info2021-10-08T09:15:08-05:00October 8th, 2021|

City leaders are working to get hundreds of homeless people off the streets to help address a problem with people camping downtown and leaving a mess. "We can do a better job than just having folks who are living unhoused right now. We should be doing a better job at getting people the resources they need so they can get back on their feet," Wichita's Mayor Brandon Whipple said. Wichita's Mayor Whipple says the city is looking at why so many people are still homeless. Source: KAKE - News

Water main break creating water problems across Wichita

info2021-10-08T09:17:41-05:00October 8th, 2021|

A boil water advisory is expected to remain in effect through at least Saturday for the city of Wichita and many surrounding communities after a major water main break. Late Thursday night, the city announced it was working with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to get water testing results back before a decision can be made on whether to lift or keep the boil water advisory in place. The tests are to make sure no bacteria is in the system. Source: KAKE - News

Audit finds Kansas schools unprepared for a cyberattack. What is the risk?

info2021-10-08T09:18:49-05:00October 8th, 2021|

Kansas schools are unprepared for a cyberattack and are not doing enough to protect student data, state auditors found. A Legislative audit of IT security in K-12 schools released earlier this week found that, of the 147 districts (roughly half the school systems in the state) that responded to a survey 69% did not have a response plan in the event of cyber attack and 28% had not even installed anti-virus software on all school computers. The result is a financial and privacy risk for Kansas, students and families, said Alex Bardas, an assistant professor in the computer science department at [...]

Mayor asks Wichitans not to hoard bottled water; urges patience during water crisis

info2021-10-08T09:19:11-05:00October 8th, 2021|

Mayor Brandon Whipple is asking residents of Wichita and the surrounding area to remain calm after one of the city’s main waterlines broke near McAdams Park, placing all of the city’s water customers under a boil water advisory. “I’m asking folks to make sure that they not only follow the recommendations to boil water but also reach out to people you’re close to and let them know that they should be doing the same,” he said. “We are utilizing all of our outreach efforts to get the word out because we want to keep people safe,” he said. “I’m asking Wichitans [...]

Wichita businesses, restaurants close as water crisis shuts down city

info2021-10-08T09:19:39-05:00October 8th, 2021|

Wichita hotels, gas stations and restaurants had a scattershot approach to the city’s boil water advisory Thursday evening after a main water line broke around 4 p.m. Restaurants, already suffering from staffing issues and supply shortages, were making tough decisions just before the dinner hour on Thursday about whether to remain open, and many decided to close. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Sedgwick County Sherriff’s Office implements professional therapy dog program

info2021-10-08T09:20:05-05:00October 8th, 2021|

The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday a new tool to support citizens in the Sedgwick County community who are affected by trauma, mental health and crime. The new tool? Cherokee the dog! She is just over a year old and is an Aussie mix with brown and red fur, with one brown eye and one blue eye, according to the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Wichita Animal Action League, is implementing a professional therapy dog program. Source: KSN-TV