News – Page 1683 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Emporia Main Street cancels the Taste 2020

info2020-07-23T07:55:08-05:00July 22nd, 2020|

After postponing the event to September, the Emporia Main Street Board of Directors have officially canceled The Taste. The announcement was made Tuesday. The event, originally scheduled for April 4, was postponed to Sept. 26 as the community grappled with the early stages of the novel coronavirus pandemic. "There was no way we felt like we could put the quality of people required to make that event work in an in-door location and make that safe for everyone involved," said Casey Woods, Executive Director of Emporia Main Street. "We went through in fine detail [of research] and just didn't think we [...]

Madison passes real estate covenant ordinance

info2020-07-23T07:56:27-05:00July 22nd, 2020|

The Madison City Council met in an online meeting Monday evening to discuss a new proposed ordinance that will affect property owners, as well as several bids for COVID-19 safety measures. "What [the real estate covenant ordinance] does is stop a current property owner trying to tie up a piece of real estate in downtown Madison and not allow it to be used for commercial purposes in the future," said Paul Dean, Mayor of Madison. "It doesn't make anything illegal, it just voids those provisions. It allows people to use the property they bought the way they desire to use it." [...]

Topeka City Council bans use of police no-knock warrants

info2020-07-23T07:56:40-05:00July 22nd, 2020|

The Topeka City Council has banned the use of no-knock warrants by law enforcement in the city. The Capital-Journal reports that the council voted 8-to-1 Tuesday night to adopt the ordinance banning the controversial practice. Police Chief Bill Cochran has said this department already had a policy of not allowing no-knock warrants before the ban was made local law. Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala was the only member to vote against the measure. She said while she opposes the use of no-knock warrants, she doesn’t trust the city’s police auditor to offer an independent review of possible violations because he answers to the [...]

Local businesses react to KDHE risk levels for activities

info2020-07-23T07:57:32-05:00July 22nd, 2020|

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment recently released a chart that explains the risk level of ordinary activities. It ranges from low to high risk for contracting coronavirus. On the low end it includes staying at home, but also shows that visiting a park or going camping are safer than most activities. In Topeka, Einstein’s Outdoor Outfitters is seeing more people wanting to get outside. “I would say there’s more interest this summer, people looking for tents, primarily because of again, lack of long term travel, lack of flying, lack of long-distance travel, myself included, said Alan Wisman, co-owner of [...]

Via Christi to take over operation of closed Wellington Hospital emergency room

info2020-07-23T08:02:56-05:00July 22nd, 2020|

Ascension Via Christi will take over operation of Sumner Community Hospital's emergency-room operations next year under an agreement between the hospital group and the Wellington City Council. Sumner Community Hospital closed suddenly March 11, leaving Wellington and surrounding communities without an emergency room. Wellington's City Council contacted Via Christi about taking over the ER in a similar way the hospital group did in Fort Scott in 2019. "We are committed to providing Kansans access to care by collaborating with others to develop sustainable models of care," said Don King, Via Christi CEO and market executive for Ascension Kansas ministry. (Read more: Wichita [...]

Wichita hospitals have more ICU capacity, but COVID patients trend younger and sicker

info2020-07-23T07:58:24-05:00July 22nd, 2020|

New hospitalization numbers from Sedgwick County show more COVID-19 patients are in hospital beds and intensive care units than ever before, though more ICU beds are available than previously reported. The new statistics from the Sedgwick County Health Department’s COVID-19 dashboard provide a fuller picture of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on local medical facilities. The new report added numbers for total intensive care unit beds and total ICU beds in use at public hospitals in Sedgwick County. The report shows more ICU beds are available than the county had reported a week ago, though more patients with COVID-19 are in Wichita hospitals. [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for July 21, 2020

info2020-07-22T08:01:39-05:00July 22nd, 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 proposes an increase in police funding, privatizing Century II

info2020-07-22T07:50:25-05:00July 21st, 2020|

Wichita plans to increase police funding by millions of dollars next year and privatize Century II, bucking suggestions from protesters and community activists on both issues, as the city grapples with an expected $50 million budget hole over the next three years due to the coronavirus pandemic. The city’s proposed 2021 budget cuts some services, pushes back deadlines on capital improvements and doesn’t raise the property tax rate. Arts and cultural funding will take a 5% cut. Fewer trees will get planted. Stray cats will be left to roam. And the Wichita Animal Shelter will no longer accept animals from people [...]

Hoisington Labor Day Parade canceled

info2020-07-22T07:50:36-05:00July 21st, 2020|

Monday afternoon, the Hoisington Chamber of Commerce Labor Day committee announced big changes to the 2020 weekend long celebration. In addition to canceling the 124th Annual Labor Day Parade, several other activities were canceled in an effort to curb the rise of positive cases of COVID-19. Among them, the following events have been canceled: Community BBQ & Beer Garden, Carnival, KIDSTOP activities at the Activity Center, Downtown Street Market, Demolition Derby and Street Dance. (Read more: Great Bend Tribune)

JoCo will hold off on cutting back bus routes for now due to coronavirus uncertainty

info2020-07-22T07:52:59-05:00July 21st, 2020|

A plan to cut some Johnson County bus routes and change operating times of others has been put on hold for now because of the coronavirus outbreak. Talks about expanding the microtransit service, however, will continue. The county commission had been considering the elimination of two routes .... Ridership had dropped on the routes to be eliminated, but after the coronavirus reached the United States, it dropped on all public transit. County documents showed ridership down 70 percent on fixed routes and 29 percent on microtransit. (Read more: Prairie Village Post)