News – Page 1488 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Topeka councilman proposes repealing after midnight license for businesses

info2021-03-10T07:04:04-06:00March 10th, 2021|

Topeka councilman Spencer Duncan is asking city council to repeal the "After Midnight" license required for businesses to operate from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. In the last several weeks, businesses have been notified that they will need to renew the After Midnight license. Duncan said he was approached by a constituent who owns a bar in his district, District 8. According to Duncan, the fee may bring in a total of roughly $5,000. He believes the labor it takes to approve the licenses costs more than the revenue it brings to the city. Source: KSNT News

Shawnee County Health reports more than 21,000 vaccinated

info2021-03-10T07:03:23-06:00March 10th, 2021|

The Shawnee County Health Department reported that as of March 2 approximately 21,073 individuals, 65 and over, have been vaccinated in Shawnee County. As of March 5, 250 mass transportation and child care workers were vaccinated. Stormont Vail Health, The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus, GraceMed, VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System and the Shawnee County Health Department (SCHD) released a statement on March 9 that they have met their goals based on the number of vaccine doses they received. Source: KSNT News

Sedgwick County prepares to start up a second COVID mass-vaccination clinic

info2021-03-10T07:02:37-06:00March 10th, 2021|

As supplies of coronavirus vaccines and personnel to give the shots improve, Sedgwick County is planning to start a second mass-vaccination clinic, officials said Tuesday. The new clinic is projected to start on a three-day-a-week basis and would allow the county to give about an additional 4,500 shots a week, said Deputy County Manager Tim Kaufman. He said the second site will be possible because Kansas Department of Health and Environment will soon provide more vaccine and lend the county additional trained personnel to administer shots. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Humboldt district strategizes spending

info2021-03-10T07:00:49-06:00March 10th, 2021|

Humboldt school officials are creating a strategic plan on how to use $366,000 in federal relief funds. The district recently received $366,000 in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds as part of the federal CAREs Act. Now the challenge is to create a strategic plan for how to spend it. On Monday, Superintendent Kay Lewis shared with board members an intricate color-coded “map” of the plan thus far, which included feedback from staff. Some possible items include increasing community engagement post-COVID, hiring literacy specialists, developing curriculum, improving internet and boosting student social and emotional health. Source: The Iola Register

Positive Connections: Hutchinson man’s wheels keep turning, celebrates 57 years in almost century-old bicycle business

info2021-03-10T07:20:51-06:00March 10th, 2021|

Nearly 100 years later and the wheels at Harley's Bicycles in Hutchinson are still spinning. "Our business actually started in 1922, so this is about our 99th year in business," said owner Bob Updegraff. Updegraff hadn't even graced the earth when the original shop opened, but some might say he was born to take it over. He was introduced to the business at a young age. Source: KSN-TV

No yolking… chickens are back in Sabetha

info2021-03-10T07:34:28-06:00March 10th, 2021|

Housing chickens within the city limits of Sabetha has been approved. This decision comes after a brief discussion held at the Sabetha City Commission Monday, March 8. ... [Mayor] Clark said he had one email that was opposed to chickens and then had several people who were in favor. Clark asked [city administrator] Allen what the normal procedure was for getting a permit. “It would be like a building permit,” Allen said. “You would have to apply for a chicken permit and have a design on it and the required setbacks.” As for checking on people meeting the requirements of the [...]

Western Kansas school district stops requiring masks

info2021-03-09T18:40:48-06:00March 9th, 2021|

Face masks are no longer required in one school district in Ford County. The Spearville Schools board of education voted Monday night, 5-1, to amend the COVID policies adopted at the beginning of the school year. Along with no longer requiring masks, the board amended the use of plexiglass shields in the classroom. “Effective immediately, masks will no longer be required in the buildings. However, if any staff or student still wishes to wear a mask, they are more than welcome to continue to do so,” said the district in a post on Facebook. Source: KWCH.

Municipal Bond Trends for March 8, 2021

info2021-03-09T07:09:12-06:00March 9th, 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.

Much of Kansas to see higher electric bills

info2021-03-09T07:04:53-06:00March 8th, 2021|

Much of Kansas will likely see higher electric bills as a result of February’s deep freeze while utility customers in the Kansas City area could get refunds. The difference has to do with how two different divisions of utility giant Evergy fared during the brutal cold. The company’s Kansas Central division had to spend an additional $100 million to buy power. Meanwhile, Evergy’s Metro Division that serves the Kansas City area was able to generate $60 million in extra revenue because it was able to generate surplus power and sell it to other utilities. Source: KSNT News

Halstead applying for state loan to avoid paying gas bill all at once

info2021-03-09T07:05:27-06:00March 8th, 2021|

The city of Halstead plans to take advantage of state loan to help pay its exorbitant gas bill from February. This would mean that residents can expect to have a monthly surcharge added to their bill for the coming years but not worry about paying a bill for $1,000 come April. At a work session Thursday evening, City Manager Ethan Reimer told the governing body that the state legislature had just made $100 million in state idle funds available to loan to cities like Halstead that are facing extraordinary bills relating to the energy crisis two weeks ago. The city expects [...]