News – Page 1519 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Salina moves Smoky Hill River Festival to September

info2021-02-09T08:15:33-06:00February 8th, 2021|

Mark your calendars for a new month for the popular Smoky Hill River Festival in Salina. It will now be Thursday to Sunday, September 2-5, Labor Day weekend. The Salina Arts and Humanities consulted with City of Salina staff and officials before making the change. It was originally scheduled for June 10-13. Uncertainty about the coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccinations played a part in deciding to move the festival to September. The concern was that public-health conditions might still be in flux in June. Source: KSN-TV

Wichita schools drop Redskins mascot from North High

info2021-02-09T08:15:38-06:00February 8th, 2021|

Wichita North High School will drop the use of its Redskins mascot. The Board of Education, in a unanimous vote, decided to end the mascot’s use over a two-year period. “We have a wonderful opportunity to correct a past wrong,” said board president Stan Reeser. A committee created by Wichita Public Schools to study the mascot determined: “the term is offensive to Native Americans and the Native American Culture. The term is racially and culturally insensitive.” Starting next school year, the district will start removing “Redskin” from athletic and fine arts uniforms, jerseys and facilities, as well as school-related activities and [...]

Cold snap could bring longest stretch of subfreezing days since 1983, NWS Wichita says

info2021-02-09T08:15:43-06:00February 8th, 2021|

If the frigid weather continues into next week, portions of Kansas including Wichita could see their longest stretch of subfreezing days in nearly 40 years. The National Weather Service in Wichita tweeted Monday that below-freezing temperatures are “looking probable” through at least Feb. 17. If that happens, “it’ll be the longest number of consecutive sub-freezing days for many locations across central and eastern Kansas since December 1983,” the tweet says. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Sedgwick County lowers age restrictions on COVID vaccine; appointments open all week

info2021-02-09T08:15:45-06:00February 8th, 2021|

The Sedgwick County Health Department has opened its COVID-19 vaccination program to anyone 75 or older and is scheduling appointments for walk-in or drive-through vaccines all week, county officials announced Monday afternoon. Sedgwick County is offering first doses of the Pfizer vaccine to anyone in that age group who lives or works in the county. All vaccines by the county health department are by appointment only. To book an appointment, visit sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/vaccine/schedule/ or call 316-660-1029. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Labette County commission sets wind farm meeting

info2021-02-09T08:16:25-06:00February 8th, 2021|

Labette County commissioners agreed to meet with the public in two weeks to hear concerns about or support for the proposed development of a wind farm in the western half of the county. ... RWE, a German utility company, is exploring the development of a wind farm that would have 50 to 75 turbines generating between 200 and 250 megawatts of power. The turbines could be 500 feet tall at the tip of the blade. RWE is collecting wind and weather information now and this data will help determine turbine location, height and the number of turbines needed. Source: Parsons Sun

As bitter cold approaches, City of Lawrence to open recreation centers as drop-in warming spots

info2021-02-08T07:17:15-06:00February 8th, 2021|

With bitterly cold weather forecast for this weekend and next week, the City of Lawrence will be opening its recreation centers and other facilities for use as drop-in warming spots. ... The city is funding an overnight cold-weather shelter at local hotels and helping operate a campsite with heated tents in Woody Park, and it stated in a news release Friday that the warming centers would continue the city’s work to provide safety and shelter for all residents. Source: LJWorld.com.

Municipal Bond Trends for February 5, 2021

info2021-02-08T07:15:09-06:00February 8th, 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.

Johnson County mayors reflect on COVID-19, racial unrest and business development in 2020

info2021-02-08T07:14:38-06:00February 8th, 2021|

Northeast Johnson County mayors reflected on 2020 — a year notably filled with coronavirus-related challenges — at the 2021 NEJC Chamber State of the Cities luncheon last month. The luncheon itself served as an example of a COVID-19 challenge, as the annual event went virtual with an afternoon Zoom call. While racial unrest, the 2020 election and big city projects were all hot topics, COVID-19 sat atop everyone’s list, including Overland Park Council President Kurt Skoog — who stood in for Mayor Carl Gerlach. Source: Prairie Village Post

City preps next step in privatization of Century II operations

info2021-02-08T07:13:51-06:00February 8th, 2021|

The city of Wichita is taking the next step in a plan to outsource the management of Century II. The Wichita City Council on Tuesday will vote to authorize the release of a request for proposal (RFP) that will be sent to prospective private building management companies later this month. The move to private management has been envisioned as a cost-saving measure, with Robert Layton, city manager, having previously said it would considerably reduce — if not eliminate — the roughly $2.5 million the city spends on the building’s operating costs each year. Source: Wichita Business Journal

First of Johnson County’s big districts to allow all students in classrooms full time

info2021-02-08T07:13:25-06:00February 8th, 2021|

For the first time this school year, the Olathe school district will allow all students to return to the classroom full time, starting next month. It’s the first of Johnson County’s largest districts to announce that students in middle school and high school will be allowed in classrooms five days a week, just like elementary school students have been doing. The smaller Spring Hill district and De Soto district allowed secondary students to return to full-time, in-person learning on Feb. 1. Source: Joco 913 News