News – Page 1529 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Labette County to buy air trailer for firefighters

info2021-01-27T08:12:59-06:00January 26th, 2021|

Labette County commissioners on Monday agreed to buy a new air trailer for volunteer fire departments in the county to share. The trailer to be purchased from 1st Due Emergency Response Solutions in Bartlett will cost $93,320. The trailer will contain equipment to refill air tanks used by firefighters when they enter smoke-filled homes or respond to other emergencies that require them to use a self-contained breathing apparatus. The current truck uses older technology and does not fully refill the air tanks, commissioners heard. Oswego Fire Chief Jon Eck, Bartlett Fire Chief Perry Sorrell and Chetopa Fire Chief Bryan Midgett attended [...]

Local pharmacies preparing to help give out COVID-19 vaccinations

info2021-01-27T08:13:23-06:00January 26th, 2021|

Jenae Welch runs the Dandurand Drugstore at Central and Rock. Since December, she's been working to get ready to help provide COVID-19 vaccines in Wichita, but there was a concern. "One of my biggest questions about this rollout was how Pfizer or Moderna, both saying that we can produce this many vaccines, how are we going to get those into people's arms," said Welch. Before, the only workers at pharmacies allowed to give the shots were the pharmacists themselves. Now, a new federal rule allows technicians to be trained to provide the shot. "That's going to help us be able to [...]

CDC Makes The Case For Schools Reopening

info2021-01-27T08:13:33-06:00January 26th, 2021|

A review of data from K-12 schools that reopened for in-person instruction in the fall has found little evidence that schools contributed meaningfully to the spread of COVID-19, according to a new article published Tuesday in JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association. The review from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, authored by three of its scientists, represents the clearest view yet of the facts behind what has become a heated debate over when and how schools should reopen. Last spring and into fall, schools across the country closed — and many remain closed — out of fear that allowing students and [...]

Lawrence launches traffic education campaign to go along with reduced speed limit and upcoming traffic enforcement

info2021-01-27T08:17:57-06:00January 26th, 2021|

A new traffic campaign wants to encourage Lawrence drivers to think about more than just getting to their destination. Lawrence residents have long voiced concerns about speeding in neighborhoods and some motorists’ disregard for pedestrians and cyclists, and a new City of Lawrence campaign hopes to help address the problem. On Monday, the city launched the Safer Neighborhood Speeds education campaign, which has a slogan of “It starts with us” and encourages drivers to slow down, look out for others and stop for people wanting to cross the street. Engineering Program Manager Amanda Sahin said in an email to the Journal-World [...]

This city could become the first in Johnson County to decriminalize marijuana

info2021-01-26T08:09:33-06:00January 26th, 2021|

Following the lead of Kansas City (MO), Prairie Village is looking into decriminalizing marijuana. It would be the first Johnson County city to reduce penalties for marijuana possession. City Council members Ian Graves and Inga Selders proposed the idea earlier this month, and the City Council unanimously agreed to have staff look into the legality of it. Prairie Village officials could consider stripping the crime from the city code, as Kansas City did last summer. Another option could be issuing citations for violations in lieu of municipal court. Graves pushed for the change because Prairie Village borders Missouri, where medical marijuana [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for January 25, 2021

info2021-01-26T08:06:21-06:00January 26th, 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.

A Kansas town recorded 9 inches of snow as Wichita broke rain record with freeze coming

info2021-01-26T07:58:01-06:00January 25th, 2021|

A winter storm on Monday largely spared Wichita of snow, but another round of wintry weather could hit the city on Tuesday. Meteorologists predict the second round will hit harder in north-central Kansas, just like the stronger storm on Monday. Forecasters with National Weather Service had always predicted the worst of Monday’s “powerful winter storm” would mostly miss Wichita. The highest snowfall amounts were predicted farther north, with some counties near the Nebraska border bracing for up to a foot of snow. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Wichita hospitals remain ‘critical’ with full ICUs as Kansas COVID case counts improve

info2021-01-26T07:58:08-06:00January 25th, 2021|

Wichita hospitals continue to have no available beds in their intensive care units, despite improving COVID-19 numbers locally and statewide. The Sedgwick County Health Department on Monday reported all approximately 208 ICU beds remain full at Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center hospitals. It marks the 13th straight week of full ICUs. Both hospitals have been managing through contingency operations, the health department has said. The hospital status remains “critical,” though the term has not been defined by county officials. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Bracing for yesterday’s storm in Russell

info2021-01-26T07:59:43-06:00January 25th, 2021|

As parts of Kansas wait for the snow dump to come, drivers are doing their best to get out of the storm’s way before it has a chance to close any Kansas roads. “That’s a lot of snow,” Nathan Rowe said. The threat of as much as 14 inches of snow in Russell has long haul truck drivers like Rowe, and other travelers, scooting out of town faster than they drove in, trying to get out of the storm’s cross hairs before the snow starts coming down. Others, like Rick Eiser, aren’t as concerned, saying storms like the one bearing down [...]

Some students return to classroom as USD 259 begins blended model

info2021-01-26T07:59:54-06:00January 25th, 2021|

"There is without doubt, energy in the air. Energy from the teachers, energy from the students and excitement in the air." That was the sentiment felt by Northwest High School Principal Eric Hofer-Holdeman as students return to the halls of his school for the first time in months. Monday was the first day of the district’s new blended on site learning model for middle and high school students. Of the nearly 60% of students who opted into coming back inside, half will be at school today and tomorrow and remote the rest of the week. The other half is flipped, meaning [...]