News – Page 1644 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Kansas schools under most stress he’s ever seen, education commissioner says

info2020-09-09T07:32:52-05:00September 8th, 2020|

It’s a school’s football coaching staff in quarantine in one Kansas school district. In another, the entire kindergarten staff is in quarantine. In other schools, it’s just one or two students or staff members who test positive for COVID-19, but suddenly, the entire school has to quarantine. Those are just some of the situations Randy Watson, state commissioner of education, saw when he toured western Kansas schools last week, and they’re the challenges that each district, big and small, will eventually face, he told the Kansas State Board of Education Wednesday. Most rural Kansas schools opened before Labor Day, Watson said, [...]

Mask mandate extended for Wichita after 7-hour public hearing, protest at Century II

info2020-09-09T07:33:03-05:00September 8th, 2020|

After a marathon of comments from residents opposed to Wichita’s mask mandate, the City Council voted to extend it by as much as another six weeks. The council voted 5-2 to extend the mask mandate until Oct. 21 or until the COVID threat drops below the green threshold and the countywide positive test rate drops below 5 percent, whichever comes first. Council members James Clendenin and Jeff Blubaugh dissented. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

City of Lawrence to resume parking enforcement downtown, continue ambassador program in limited capacity

info2020-09-08T07:21:19-05:00September 8th, 2020|

The City of Lawrence will soon resume parking enforcement downtown after its temporary suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted unanimously to resume all downtown parking enforcement beginning on Sept. 14, including parking meters, parking garages and overstays in the two-hour parking lots. Enforcement was suspended in March because of reduced activity downtown amid the pandemic, but Parking Supervisor Brad Harrell told the commission that demand had been steadily increasing and enforcement was needed again. “The most recent occupancy data suggest that there’s a need for metering and enforcement services to [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for September 4, 2020

info2020-09-08T07:15:58-05:00September 8th, 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.

Wichita’s Temporary Downtown Pop-Up Park Closes After Five Years

info2020-09-08T07:15:11-05:00September 8th, 2020|

After five years, the pop-up park in downtown Wichita has closed for good. The park near Douglas and Market, funded in part by a Knight Foundation grant, was always meant to be temporary. Still, when news filtered out last month that it was closing, "it did catch us off guard," said Adam Bussey, vice president of the Wichita Food Truck Coalition and the owner of Hot 2 Trot Gourmet Hot Dogs. The park’s closure means Bussey and other food truck operators will have to find new places to set up shop. Source: KMUW

Drug dog makes a big difference in St. John

info2020-09-08T07:13:33-05:00September 8th, 2020|

Just seven months on the job and the statistics for criminal activity stopped by St. John’s K-9 officer Glenn, a Belgian Malinois dog certified in narcotics, suspect apprehension, tracking, evidence recovery and patrol work, are worth noting. In the small, rural town of St. John, Glenn, assisted by his handler Police Chief Allen Adams and fellow St. John officers, conducted another car stop in August, bringing the SJPD’s total number of 2020 narcotics cases to 11, which includes three distribution cases. “Glenn’s made a real difference in the seven months since he joined the force,” Adams said. “He’s good little partner [...]

Topeka school board allows football practices to continue — for now

info2020-09-08T07:09:47-05:00September 8th, 2020|

Football teams at Topeka, Topeka West and Highland Park may continue to practice for the next two weeks, but questions about the season at-large remain after the Topeka Board of Education punted on a decision for allowing the district’s teams to play games against other districts’ schools. The board voted 5-2 Thursday evening to allow football teams to practice through the board’s next meeting on Sept. 17, when the board will make a decision on future competition against other teams. Source: News - The Topeka Capital-Journal

Dodge City looks for artists for Eisenhower Park

info2020-09-08T07:08:36-05:00September 8th, 2020|

Get the paint brushes ready. After being awarded a grant from the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, Strategic Investment Program for New & Expanded Works, the city of Dodge City is looking to commission a mural at Eisenhower Park.Once completed, the mural would be the final renovation project at the park. "The Request for Proposals was recently published to begin the process of finding the artist that will bring the mural to life,"... Source: News - Dodge City Daily Globe - Dodge City, KS

Facing protests and lawsuits, Blue Valley, Olathe districts will allow fall sports

info2020-09-08T07:04:07-05:00September 8th, 2020|

Facing lawsuits and ongoing protests, both the Blue Valley and Olathe school districts will now allow fall sports. Despite rising cases of coronavirus in Johnson County, the Olathe school board voted Thursday to allow high school sports and activities to resume, and the Blue Valley superintendent announced the same Friday morning. During a four-hour meeting, the Olathe school board voted 5-2 to follow the county health department’s criteria for opening schools — which puts the county in the “red” zone — except for sports. Source: Joco 913 News

Shawnee Mission golfers denied in first round of suit demanding district let them play

info2020-09-08T07:03:40-05:00September 8th, 2020|

A Johnson County judge has denied five high school golfers’ request to allow them to immediately begin their season despite COVID-19 restrictions. The golfers, all girls, and their parents are suing both the Shawnee Mission and Blue Valley school districts because officials temporarily banned all fall sports and activities. Blue Valley officials on Friday, though, announced the district would resume high school sports this weekend. Attorney John Duggan, who is representing the families, was not immediately available to comment on how Blue Valley’s decision will affect the lawsuit. Source: Joco 913 News