News – Page 1716 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Congress approves $356M to expand federal penitentiary in Leavenworth

info2020-06-17T08:29:22-05:00June 16th, 2020|

The federal penitentiary in Leavenworth is set to receive $356 million to construct a new Federal Correctional Institute and a satellite Federal Prison Camp. According to a Monday release from U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran's office, Congress appropriated $175 million for the project in fiscal year 2019 and another $181 million in fiscal year 2020, which is set to end on Sept. 30. (Read more: Kansas City Business Journal - The Business Journals)

Kansas police chief who stopped Excel mass shooter helps save another life

info2020-06-16T08:34:19-05:00June 16th, 2020|

A man who nearly drowned at Harvey County East Lake on May 31 is recovering after the swift action of Hesston Police Chief Doug Schroeder, his wife, Vanessa Schroeder, and a bystander. After spending time in the intensive care unit, Larry Etheridge was listed as being in fair condition this week, according to staff at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis. Schroeder said he helped rescue Etheridge from under a dock at the lake after Etheridge hit his head and fell in the water while he was on a boat headed back to shore. Doug Schroeder has a history of saving lives. [...]

Southwest Kansas counties record low census response rates

info2020-06-16T08:33:55-05:00June 16th, 2020|

Census organizers in Kansas plan to ramp up efforts to get people counted, particularly in southwestern counties where response rates are low. Morton, Stanton, Haskell and Lane counties are showing that 15% to 30% of residents have responded to census forms delivered to their homes. Kansas has a 64.8% self-response rate, on par with most other states. Many in the counties don't get mail at home, using a P.O. Box, for example, and a planned effort to hand-deliver forms in March was delayed by emergence of coronavirus infections. Census workers resumed the effort in mid-May and ended it last week. (Read [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for June 15, 2020

info2020-06-16T08:32:16-05:00June 16th, 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.

Putting a pool in your backyard this summer? Lenexa reminds residents that permits are required

info2020-06-16T08:35:29-05:00June 16th, 2020|

Backyard pool sales have made a big splash this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And, while many can’t wait to jump in, Lenexa wants to make sure residents are safe. The City of Lenexa requires permits for all above ground and in-ground pools, except for prefabricated pools less than 30 inches deep. Specific code requirements can be found in the Lenexa pool requirements guide, based on the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. (Read more: City of Lenexa)

It’s been a quiet spring at this OP farmstead, due to pandemic. That’s about to change

info2020-06-16T08:27:44-05:00June 15th, 2020|

Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is one of the top visitor destinations in Johnson County, drawing more than 439,000 people from April through October. Normally at this time of year, the farmstead would have about 2,000 visitors a day streaming through the gates rushing to see the resident bison and longhorn cattle, chat with the groundhogs, ride the ponies, fish in the pond and feed the baby goats. So far this year, it’s been quiet at the farmstead. Like everything else, the attraction has been closed due to the coronavirus. Farmstead Superintendent Virgil Miles has been leading a skeleton crew to keep [...]

‘Layers of protection’: Strataca adapts, enhances for visitors in post-pandemic world

info2020-06-16T08:28:35-05:00June 15th, 2020|

After three months of shutdown, Strataca: Kansas Underground Salt Mine is resurfacing as one of the area’s top annual summer vacation stops. There are plenty of changes, said Reno County Historical Society executive director Michael Ables, who oversees Strataca, but most are just enhancements of the mine’s previous procedures. “We want to create extra layers of protection for guests, as well as our staff,” Ables said. “No pun intended. ”The museum opened to the public on June 2. Updates include plexiglass at ticket booths, masks are recommended, spacing is marked out on trams and waiting areas, and disinfecting protocols are bolstered [...]

Name chosen for Garden City’s new aquatics center

info2020-06-16T08:28:45-05:00June 15th, 2020|

The new Garden City aquatics center won’t be open for a 2020 summer season, but it now has a name — Garden Rapids, with the tag line, the Big Pool. Last month the Garden City commissioners voted to keep the new facility closed this summer because of the coronavirus, but at a recent meeting they reviewed online survey results where community members voted on one of four name possibilities. The name choices were Garden Rapids, Thunder Basin, Garden Oasis and World of Water. (Read more: News - The Hutchinson News)

Sharrows expanding in Newton

info2020-06-16T08:29:27-05:00June 15th, 2020|

A new marking appeared on Old Main Street this week: a bicycle under two chevrons in the roadway’s driving lanes. Social media posts about the new markings expressed concern — those who do not understand what the markings mean, and, wondering why bicyclists would not instead use the sidewalk on a street that some say sees regular breaking of speed limits by drivers. Lori Kessler, with the Harvey County Health Department and the Healthy Harvey Coalition, can answer those questions — starting with what those markings are. They are called “sharrows.” “The best way to describe it is that is to [...]

Riley County commissioners eyeing salary decrease for 2021 budget

info2020-06-16T08:29:43-05:00June 15th, 2020|

Riley County commissioners are looking into a 5% decrease for their salaries. During a previous meeting, Commissioner Ron Wells brought up the idea to help save money for the budget. Both Commissioners Marvin Rodriguez and John Ford agreed with the idea. Ford says if they need to make any cuts to the budget, he would want their salaries to be cut first. “I think that’s it important as we go through next year, that if we get in a pinch we already incorporated this before we go straight to personnel,” says Ford. (Read more: 1350 KMAN)