News – Page 1619 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Spirit Aerosystems to close Oklahoma plant, some work will move to Wichita

info2020-10-02T07:17:30-05:00October 1st, 2020|

Spirit Aerosystems has announced it will be closing its plant in McAlester, Oklahoma. The closing is due to the downturn in the commercial aviation market caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the grounding of Boeing’s 737 MAX jetliner. The company said it now has an excess of production capacity. Spirit plans to consolidate some operations over the next few months and the work in McAlester will be moved to facilities in Wichita and Tulsa, Oklahoma. The McAlester plant has had around 175 workers. Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Emporia moves forward with expanded COVID-19 testing initiative, discusses library reopening

info2020-10-02T07:18:00-05:00October 1st, 2020|

The City of Emporia may soon be getting increased access to close-contact COVID-19 testing. During Wednesday’s meeting of city commissioners, City Consultant Jim Witt updated the board on his efforts to increase availability, saying the initiative would be a partnership between Newman Regional Health and Lyon County Public Health. As with other necessary health resources during the pandemic, Witt said the added tests will also be funded through SPARK funds and are expected to total around $105,000. “We’re at the point where [the organizations] would like to be able to start the close contact testing by Monday ...” Witt said. “There [...]

Johnson County health department updates school gating criteria

info2020-10-02T07:18:09-05:00October 1st, 2020|

The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment has updated their school gating criteria after some districts opted out of following previous guidance, saying it was too strict. The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment will now include the incidence rate category, or the number of new COVID-19 cases added per 100,000 people over the prior two-week period, as well as the positive percentage rate in the county. The new guidance comes after several districts opted out of previous guidance to move students to in-person learning and allow extracurricular activities, like sporting events. Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 - WDAF

Kansas has $73 million tax surplus; official still sees uncertainty

info2020-10-02T07:18:38-05:00October 1st, 2020|

Kansas reported Thursday that it collected nearly $73 million more than expected in taxes in September but its top revenue official said the economic outlook in coming months remains uncertain because of the coronavirus pandemic. The state Department of Revenue said Kansas collected nearly $729 million in taxes last month, when it expected to take in $656 million. The surplus of 11% for the month was tied largely to better-than-expected income tax collections. The September collections allowed the state to finish the first three months of the 2021 budget year that started July 1 with $108 million more in tax collections [...]

NEJC communities receive grants to improve walkability, major corridors

info2020-10-01T07:24:05-05:00September 30th, 2020|

Projects in Overland Park, Merriam and Westwood that address walkability and improvements to major corridors have earned grant funding from the Mid-America Regional Council. “It is exciting to see local governments focus on planning for and creating vibrant assets for their residents,” said Beth Dawson, a senior land use planner at MARC. MARC’s Board of Directors and Total Transportation Policy Committee approved $877,825 in grant funding for 14 projects in the Greater Kansas City area, including eight in Kansas and six in Missouri. The grant funding is directed at efforts to create sustainable development. Source: Prairie Village Post

Near-zero interest rates may be needed for up to 3 years, says Dallas Fed’s Robert Kaplan

info2020-10-01T07:24:38-05:00September 30th, 2020|

Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan told CNBC on Wednesday that it is likely appropriate to keep interest rates anchored near zero for up to three years to aid the U.S. economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. "I think we're going to need to keep the Fed funds rate at zero for the next probably 2½ to three years years," Kaplan said on "The Exchange." " It could be that long that until we get on track, to have weathered the crisis and are on track to meet our full employment and price stability goals." Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve's policymaking [...]

Cowan appointed Assistant City Manager in Independence

info2020-10-01T07:25:22-05:00September 30th, 2020|

During a special Independence City Commission meeting Wednesday evening, City Manager Kelly Passauer announced the appointment of long-time City leader David Cowan as Assistant City Manager. Prior to this promotion, Cowan served as the City’s Director of Safety and Code Enforcement. In his new role, Passauer explained, Cowan, who is now in his 34th year of service, will oversee the operations of Fire/EMS, Park & Zoo, Public Works, Utilities, the Building Department, Code Enforcement and Memorial Hall - some of which have already been under his supervision for several years. “David is a hard worker, is passionate about the City and has [...]

Governor Kelly orders flags at half-staff in honor of Rep. Leonard Mastroni

info2020-10-01T07:25:30-05:00September 30th, 2020|

In accordance with Executive Order 20-30, Governor Laura Kelly has ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff at all state buildings, grounds, and facilities beginning today, Wednesday, Sept. 30, until the day of interment, in honor of Kansas Rep. Leonard Mastroni. Mastroni, La Crosse, has represented Kansas House District 117 since 2017. “I was saddened to hear of the passing of Representative Mastroni, who was a dedicated public servant during his tenure in the Kansas House of Representatives,” Governor Kelly said. “I respected and admired his commitment to working with his colleagues in the Legislature to improve the lives of [...]

Wichita police launch new program to catch drivers running red lights

info2020-10-01T07:25:41-05:00September 30th, 2020|

Wichita police have launched a new program in hopes of reducing the number of drivers running red lights at a high-accident intersection. Capt. Brent Allred said Wednesday that the Blue Light Crash Reduction Project was funded by a grant through the Kansas Department of Transportation. Here's how it works. WPD installed six blue lights on traffic signals at Kellogg and Rock Road. When a traffic light turns red, its corresponding blue light illuminates. That lets nearby officers in the area know that the traffic light is red and they can see who, if anyone, is running it. Capt. Allred said it's [...]

Peabody seeking new logo design

info2020-10-01T07:26:01-05:00September 30th, 2020|

Peabody will be taking contest entries for an updated city logo, and councilman Lindsay Hutchison is wasting no time getting the ball rolling. Entries are due by Dec. 15 to be approved by the council Dec. 28, and the new logo will be rolled out in January, according to Hutchison’s proposed plan. “It would have been great to do that in March when everybody was stuck at home and they could just color pictures for the whole day,” she said. “We don’t necessarily have to retire the logo we have currently but we need something that has fewer colors and less [...]