News – Page 1762 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

The COVID-19 effects hospitals didn’t foresee: Financial distress

info2020-05-08T08:59:50-05:00May 7th, 2020|

Dr. Bill O'Callahan, an emergency physician, rested his elbows on his desk, his head in his hands. Despite his whirlwind thoughts -- a recent COVID-19 patient with failing lungs, a 30% pay cut, the dangers he faced on a daily basis -- he still counted himself among the fortunate. He was healthy, and he still had a job -- for now. A staggering number of hospital employees have been laid off or furloughed -- sent home without pay, waiting to hear whether they can return to work. Now, a fresh look at what lies ahead for hospitals post-pandemic reveals some may [...]

City of Wichita launches emergency assistance program to help those struggling to pay rent, utilities

info2020-05-08T08:59:59-05:00May 7th, 2020|

The coronavirus pandemic is more than a health crisis—it’s a financial crisis too. The City of Wichita announced Thursday that it had launched an emergency assistance program to help those who live in Sedgwick County and have a financial hardship due to COVID-19. “If you qualify, then we’ll be able to hopefully be able to give you a helping hand when it comes to your rent or utility bills when you fall behind,” Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said. If you need help with rental and utility payment assistance or foreclosure counseling, and you meet certain income guidelines, you can receive financial [...]

Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library announces phased reopening

info2020-05-08T09:00:15-05:00May 7th, 2020|

In less than two weeks, the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library will begin a phased reopening of its facilities. Phase one of the library’s reopening plan will begin on May 18, according to a news release Thursday from the library’s communications director. Though the library will not open to the public on that date, it will begin accepting book returns, and the Engroff Eats food truck will be in the library’s parking lot to offer food normally served at the in-house Millennium Cafe. According to the news release, the library also won’t charge late fees on any items checked out [...]

Playgrounds, dog parks and bathrooms: What to expect at Wichita parks in the coming weeks

info2020-05-08T09:00:33-05:00May 7th, 2020|

Wichita parks are open but several of the amenities people enjoy in them have been closed since the coronavirus shutdown in March. There are still a lot of unknowns about when all activities overseen by the city’s park and recreation department will resume. But Parks and Recreation director Troy Houtman, in a Thursday afternoon Facebook live chat with council member Bryan Frye, gave a loose outline of what you can do now and what will — and won’t — be opening in the coming weeks. (Read more: Local News |)

JoCo residents owing property taxes May 11 can take advantage of partial payments, but will accrue interest

info2020-05-08T09:01:04-05:00May 7th, 2020|

Johnson County residents who did not pay the full amount on their 2019 real estate and personal property taxes can take advantage of a partial payment option for the second installment of the tax payments — which are due on or before Monday, May 11. The Board of County Commissioners last month approved to accept partial payments following the economic impact of COVID-19, though residents can expect to see interest accrue daily on any unpaid balance starting May 12. The county does not have jurisdiction to change the property tax due date nor to defer payments, Director of Financial Management Tom Franzen [...]

Shawnee will direct federal COVID-19 funding at small businesses, public service providers

info2020-05-08T09:01:21-05:00May 7th, 2020|

The city of Shawnee was awarded $168,955 in federal funds to mitigate the growing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. City leaders Tuesday debated how they wanted to spend the funds — whether to support small businesses or public service providers — but ultimately went with city staff’s recommendation to allocate $56,955 toward public service provider assistance and the remaining $112,000 toward business assistance. The council also supported matching the federal funding with city dollars. The federal funding comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which made available $5 billion in Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus funds. [...]

Kansans paint their town to spread joy

info2020-05-08T09:03:15-05:00May 7th, 2020|

Residents in one Kansas town are using their creativity to spread cheer during the COVID-19 pandemic. “With all of the residents who have been having to stay home, we thought let’s make a cool project for the town and let’s paint all of the fire hydrants in town,” said Kechi Mayor John Speer. In a matter of weeks, Kechi’s fire hydrants went from drab to fab. “Oh, we have got Pacman down the street. We have got sunflowers and Spongebob. We’ve got the character from The Office, geometric designs, KState, KU, Wichita State,” Speer explained. The creations are a community effort. [...]

KDHE and KU undertake study for COVID-19 detection in wastewater

info2020-05-08T09:04:24-05:00May 7th, 2020|

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) recently teamed up with the University of Kansas School of Engineering (KU) to determine if genetic remnants of COVID-19 can be detected in wastewater. The concept originally tested in Massachusetts and the Netherlands, and now throughout the United States, is that people infected with the virus shed it through their urine and feces. The genetic material can be extracted from wastewater and matched against genetic markers keyed to COVID-19. The virus itself does not survive in wastewater, and therefore wastewater is not a significant means of disease transmission. Detecting the genetic material in [...]

Wichita Public Library begins curbside service May 11

info2020-05-08T09:04:29-05:00May 7th, 2020|

The Wichita Public Library will begin curbside and drive up window service on Monday, May 11. Customers who had holds placed on items before the library closed in March, and any holds in queue that was initiated during the closure, will receive notifications to pick those up beginning Monday. If customers would like to check materials out, they’ll be able to place holds on items through the online catalog at catalog.wichitalibrary.org beginning Monday, May 18. They can also call 261-8500 during regular business hours for staff assistance. Notifications will be sent to customers once their holds are available for pick up. [...]

Area cities weigh options of opening public pools

info2020-05-08T09:04:37-05:00May 7th, 2020|

Many Kansas communities are weighing when it comes to public swimming pools this summer. Under Governor Kelly’s plan, they can open in Phase II. Taking a dip in the Augusta Municipal Swimming Pool is a big part of things to do for kids in the community. “We’re far enough away from Wichita and Andover that the kids don’t have anywhere that they can just walk and like go to the YMCA or whatever,” said Mike Rawlings, Mayor of Augusta. Rawlings said that was a big reason the city council voted to open the pool this season. He said staff is using [...]