News – Page 1609 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Governor Kelly updates testing strategies in Kansas

info2020-10-14T06:30:38-05:00October 13th, 2020|

Kansas is planning to spend $53 million to expand coronavirus testing. The federal coronavirus funding was allocated by the Kansas SPARK Task Force to be used for testing in the state. Communities can submit proposals to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on why they need the extra money for testing. That money can be used for testing supplies, additional staff among other necessities that expand testing in the community. "We're now that much closer to getting these funds out the door and into the communities and facilities that need them the most," said Governor Laura Kelly. The recipients of [...]

Sedgwick County puts up $1.9 million to support local workforce hurt by Covid-19

info2020-10-14T06:31:07-05:00October 13th, 2020|

The Board of Sedgwick County Commissioners last week voted to distribute roughly $1.9 million that will go toward helping Wichita's workforce negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Most of the funds will go toward upskilling laid off workers and those most at risk of being laid off. Commissioners approved funding agreements with WSU Tech, the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kanas and Friends University. Source: Wichita Business Journal

City of Lawrence announces first director of equity and inclusion

info2020-10-14T06:37:23-05:00October 13th, 2020|

Lawrence City Manager Craig Owens announced Monday that Farris Muhammad has been hired to be the city’s first director of equity and inclusion. Muhammad was selected after a nationwide search from a field of over 120 applicants, according to a city news release. During the process, the city used several interview panels of community members and staff to provide input. Panelists included representatives of organizations that serve marginalized populations, advocacy groups, city staff and local leaders working in diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as other community institutions and organizations. Owens said in the release that he was eager for Muhammad [...]

Ark City finance director Kathy Cornwell retires with praise

info2020-10-13T07:37:26-05:00October 13th, 2020|

Kathy Cornwell has analyzed her last spreadsheet for the City of Arkansas City. The finance director retired Friday at a send-off with city officials and staff. Cornwell held that position for more than eight years. She described her job as interesting, exciting and frustrating. Two projects stand out as being particularly interesting and challenging among the complex issues she dealt with, she said. “Being part of the automated meter-reading project was very interesting, in how it intertwined with the utility billing system,” Cornwell said. “Of course, the hospital bond refinancing and dealing with bond rating agencies.” Former City Manager Nick Hernandez [...]

Project to fix Wichita area’s worst highway bottleneck in line for county funding

info2020-10-13T07:35:43-05:00October 13th, 2020|

Sedgwick County, Wichita and the Kansas Department of Transportation are about to start on a plan to relieve the area’s biggest traffic headache, the oft-congested interchange of I-135 and I-235 in north Wichita. On Wednesday, the Sedgwick County Commission is expected to vote on spending $3.7 million toward the rebuilding of the “North Junction,” a well-known bottleneck between the city and points north. The project started in November 2018, but the work to date has been mostly rebuilding parts of I-235 to the west of the interchange and the only impact on traffic flow has been to slow things down in [...]

Avoidance of COVID-19 testing a real concern

info2020-10-13T07:35:26-05:00October 13th, 2020|

Although the number of COVID-19 cases among Pittsburg State University students has decreased sharply since the outbreak at the start of the fall semester, Crawford County health officials are increasingly concerned about the spread of the coronavirus among older area residents. “COVID-19 case numbers in Crawford County have begun to increase from the previous weeks with a higher percent positive for those tested,” the county health department said in a press release Friday. Source: Leavenworth Times

Lawrence bar owner sues Douglas County health official over COVID-19 restrictions

info2020-10-13T07:34:40-05:00October 13th, 2020|

A Lawrence bar is suing a local health official over an emergency health order that limits bar hours in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. According to the Oct. 1 order issued by a Douglas County, Kansas health official, restaurants and bars with liquor licenses are required to stop serving alcohol by 11 p.m. and have to shut their doors to in-person clientele by midnight. Rita “Peach” Madl, the owner of The Sandbar, a popular bar in Lawrence, home to the University of Kansas, filed a lawsuit Friday against Douglas County’s Local Health Officer Thomas Marcellino, who issued [...]

Valley Center to vote on sales tax to expand aquatic facilities, build rec center

info2020-10-13T07:34:12-05:00October 13th, 2020|

Three weeks from today, voters will decide on local, state and federal political candidates. Taxpayers in Valley Center will have an additional measure on their ballot: a sales tax increase to pay for a new aquatics complex and recreation center. According to city administrator Brent Clark, the 1 percent sales tax would be in place for up to 15 years. If the bonds are paid off earlier, the increase would sunset. Source: KSN-TV

Should Kansas cities opt out of mask orders by counties? The two disagree

info2020-10-13T07:26:21-05:00October 13th, 2020|

Local control had been cited as the biggest reason for why counties should have the ability to opt out of statewide orders — but now, counties face that same argument being used for cities. “We have so many areas and counties where we have a single city within the county that actually has most of the population of that county,” Rep. Bradley Ralph, R-Dodge City, said during a committee meeting. ... Mayor Hunter McMillen, of Solomon, with a population of around 1,100, said his town isn’t like the more-populated areas of Dickinson County such as Abilene, the county seat. “They’re having [...]

City of Newton reveals winning flag design

info2020-10-13T07:22:02-05:00October 13th, 2020|

A new flag is flying on Main Street in Newton, the winner of a community contest that had been in the works for more than 5 months. Black with gold railroad tracks and wheat heads, the flag, created by businessman Robert Palmer, owner of Back Alley Pizza and former owner of Norms, and minister Brandon Eck, of The Gathering Church, won a contest created by the Newton Flag Committee. That committee was under the advisement and approval of Newton city commissioners. Source: Leavenworth Times