News – Page 1621 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Lawrence to consider reducing speed limit on residential streets; more enforcement also planned

info2020-09-30T07:21:57-05:00September 30th, 2020|

In response to concerns about speeding in neighborhoods, city leaders will soon consider reducing the speed limit on residential streets in Lawrence. As part of its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 6, the Lawrence City Commission will consider adopting an ordinance to reduce the speed limit on residential streets from 30 mph to 25 mph, according to a news release from the city. The city’s Multi-Modal Transportation Commission is recommending the speed reduction following the results of a resident survey and a city staff recommendation. The city conducted the survey earlier this year and asked residents whether they prefer the current 30 mph [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for September 29, 2020

info2020-09-30T07:20:30-05:00September 30th, 2020|

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.

Roeland Parkers will see special infrastructure sales tax question on Nov. 3 ballot

info2020-09-30T07:34:38-05:00September 30th, 2020|

Roeland Parkers can expect to see an additional question on their ballots this general election. The city approved asking residents to vote on whether to remove a current one quarter of one percent sales tax and impose a new half percent sales tax to help expedite infrastructure projects. Mayor Mike Kelly said the two top items citizens ask the city to focus on, according to citizen survey data, are sidewalks and streets — both of which are budgeted for out of the city’s special infrastructure fund. Source: Shawnee Mission Post

Douglas County Commission to consider comprehensive plan amendment to allow rural property owner to subdivide land

info2020-09-30T07:23:01-05:00September 30th, 2020|

Douglas County may soon make changes to its comprehensive plan to allow for a rural property owner to subdivide his land for residential purposes. The County Commission on Wednesday will consider an amendment to Plan 2040, its joint comprehensive plan with the City of Lawrence, to change the allowed land uses under the plan’s subsection for the K-10 and Farmer’s Turnpike area. The amendment would allow for residential development on the northwest corner of the intersection of North 1800 and East 1200 roads, which is currently only allowed for office and research development under the K-10 and Farmer’s Turnpike Plan. Source: [...]

More than 1,700 Kansas families to receive support to access digital education

info2020-09-30T07:03:23-05:00September 29th, 2020|

Governor Laura Kelly today announced that, as part of the Technology for Families Grant Program, the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund distributed $636,066 to support connectivity for families in need representing 86 Kansas counties. Governor Kelly’s SPARK taskforce recommended that CARES Act funding be available to increase digital access for families, which was part of the Round 2 proposals approved by the State Finance Council in July. “We know that digital infrastructure is a critical need for families not only during a pandemic to access online education and telehealth services, but also for the long-term economic opportunities that technology provides,” [...]

Governor Kelly supports new visitor guidelines for nursing homes

info2020-09-30T07:04:41-05:00September 29th, 2020|

Kansas governor Laura Kelly says she supports new federal guidelines detailing how nursing homes can begin allowing visits to patients. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services last week said nursing homes should continue to follow COVID-19 related protocols, such as social distancing and temperature screening. But it said indoor visitations can be allowed at facilities that take Medicare and Medicaid if they have not had any new COVID-19 cases for 14 days and are not conducting active outbreak testing. State officials said Tuesday that it will take some time to implement the new guidance because each facility will have to [...]

Saline County awarded grant for COVID-19 testing

info2020-09-30T07:10:54-05:00September 29th, 2020|

Saline County will receive more than $100,000 to expand COVID-19 testing in the county. On Tuesday, the Saline County Board of Commissioners voted to accept the award of $133,500 from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). County health officer Jason Tiller said the grant will be used to further testing as the pandemic wears on. “The nice thing about this grant is we have until November 2022 to expend the funds from (it),” Tiller said. Source: News - Salina Journal

Salina to purchase cot loading equipment for ambulances

info2020-09-30T07:15:03-05:00September 29th, 2020|

All ambulances for the Salina Fire Department will be equipped with cot loading systems after the city received a grant for nearly $131,000. The Salina City Commission authorized the department to purchase the Stryker Powerload Cot loading systems for SFD’s five remaining ambulances, meaning all seven ambulances in its fleet will be equipped with the system. The two other ambulances had the system installed during their remounts. Fire Chief Kevin Royse said the cot loading system is a tracked system built into the floor of the rear of the ambulance and lifts and lowers the cot into and out of the [...]

St. John’s Economic Development’s “Workspace 311” connects citizens with remote work opportunities

info2020-09-30T07:17:31-05:00September 29th, 2020|

A new employment opportunity has opened in St. John at the Stafford County Economic Development Workspace 311, dependent on if 6 to 10 workers are found to fill positions as customer service representatives by mid-October. Stafford County Eco-Devo Executive Director Carolyn Dunn said Zarif Haque, president of DRAIVER, headquartered in Overland Park, visited Eco-Devo’s Workspace 311 location at 311 North Broadway on the east side of St. John Square in late August. “I think he was pleased with the set-up and he really is looking to provide job opportunities for rural Kansas residents,” Dunn said of Haque. Source: News - Butler [...]

‘We have to get to crime before it really happens’: Wichita mayor praises new Juvenile Intervention Unit initiative

info2020-09-30T07:17:37-05:00September 29th, 2020|

Wichita police seeing an increase in crime committed by kids and now they are trying to get a handle on it by unveiling a new unit. "The goal is to get to some of these young people before god-forbid they make a life-changing decision that could ruin their lives or someone else's," says Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple. That's a trend Mayor Brandon Whipple can get behind after 2020 has seen some not so good ones. Like Wichita police releasing four youth-related homicides among an increase of other violent crimes. "I am glad that we have a forward-thinking police chief who has [...]