News – Page 1827 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

‘This is absurd’: Parents, students angry over Kansas closing schools for coronavirus

info2020-03-18T08:35:38-05:00March 18th, 2020|

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s order Tuesday to keep students out of K-12 schools for the remainder of the school year incited an explosion of anger, shock, tears and questions that school officials have not answered yet. The move, unprecedented for the state, was needed because it became clear that the spread of the new coronavirus “cannot be controlled if school districts return to normal operation,” Kelly said. Some school districts posted notices as soon as Kelly spoke, promising details to come. But confusion reigned, judging by the social media storm that followed. (Read more: KC Star Local News)

House, Senate speed toward new $9.9 billion transportation plan

info2020-03-18T08:34:52-05:00March 18th, 2020|

The House and Senate considered last-minute negotiations on a new 10-year transportation plan guaranteeing infrastructure money to every county in Kansas and a mandate to complete unfulfilled promises of the T-Works program launched a decade ago. House and Senate members Tuesday were pressing to complete legislative work before adjourning early because of the spread of COVID-19 in Kansas. The Senate approved the $9.9 billion FORWARD plan for construction, improvement, reconstruction and maintenance of the state’s transportation system based on recommendations by Gov. Laura Kelly. Also on Monday, the House came up with a modified $9.9 billion package christened in honor of [...]

Munis sell off in ‘dislocated’ market amid virus fallout

info2020-03-18T08:40:10-05:00March 18th, 2020|

The municipal market was once again pummeled as financial and government systems around the world grapple with the growing COVID-19 pandemic. The short end of the municipal curve was again down by as much as 25 basis points by some reads in the 1- to 5-year on Tuesday with sources citing confusion, dislocated pricing, and benchmarking as trades showed selling pressure on the short end of the curve as investors fought for cash. Meanwhile, New York City may follow San Francisco and enact a “shelter in place” order within 48 hours, the Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday afternoon, which will [...]

How is coronavirus affecting the legislature?

info2020-03-18T08:31:22-05:00March 18th, 2020|

Everything got different last week under the Dome. After legislators spent weeks reading and listening to news about the coronavirus, or COVID-19 as it’s called by heath experts, they quietly and with whispers learned that a member of the Legislature who had been sneezing was tested for the sometimes-fatal disease. The lawmaker tested negative over the weekend–doesn’t have it. The news doesn’t get much better than that in the culture that lives under the Dome and chats elbow-to-elbow at the third-floor Rail, and crowds into elevators and, well, generally lives in a building only slightly less crowded than a prison yard. [...]

A new wow factor is about to happen in Derby

info2020-03-18T08:30:52-05:00March 18th, 2020|

Over the years I have seen a number of new facilities, businesses and public meeting places that from my view have been significant to the enhancement of Derby. The opening of Rock Regional Hospital in Derby a little less than a year ago was definitely one of those significant enhancements to Derby. It’s not just from the mere fact of what having a hospital in your community does for improving health care, but as much from the facility itself, and what is inside of it. I remember when I walked through the doors for the first time. All I could feel [...]

Kansas suspends operations at four state-owned casinos

info2020-03-18T08:27:57-05:00March 18th, 2020|

Operations at the four state-owned casinos in Kansas have been suspended until at least March 30. The decision, announced Tuesday by the Kansas Lottery, follows Gov. Laura Kelly's executive order Monday immediately banning gatherings of 50 or more people amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Read more: Pittsburg Morning Sun)

Cosmosphere closing in response to COVID-19

info2020-03-18T08:26:14-05:00March 18th, 2020|

Effective March 17, the Kansas Cosmosphere will be shutting down as a precaution in response to concerns over the coronavirus. Staff positions related to visitors and programming duties will be asked to stay home. (Read more: DerbyInformer.com - news,news/)

‘I think we are all in shock’: Educators react to schools being closed in Kansas

info2020-03-18T08:25:40-05:00March 18th, 2020|

Many school districts in Kansas only learned the news of all schools across the state closing just hours before the announcement. “It is shocking — just trying to think about what you are missing out on and what your kids are going to missing out on in the classroom,” said Erin Glamman, who teaches at Rex Elementary School. “I think we are all in shock,” said Clay Murphy, USD 356 Garnett Schools Superintendent. Despite the closing of school doors, educators, both private and public, are now enrolled in a crash course working to figure out how to educate their students. (Read [...]

Gov. Laura Kelly orders all K-12 schools closed to in-person education for remainder of school year

info2020-03-18T08:22:22-05:00March 18th, 2020|

Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday announced the mandatory closure of all K-12 school buildings to in-person instruction through the rest of the 2019-20 school year, a move she said was necessary to help stem the spread of the novel coronavirus here and “flatten the curve” in an effort to avoid overwhelming the health care system. “The reality of this pandemic is that it cannot be controlled statewide if school buildings return to normal operations, or if they respond inconsistently in local communities,” Kelly said. “Unprecedented circumstances threaten the safety of our students and the professionals who work with them every day, [...]

Johnson County doctors have had limited access to COVID-19 tests so far. State officials say that should change soon

info2020-03-18T08:21:35-05:00March 18th, 2020|

With limited access to test kits in Kansas and Missouri, physicians in Johnson County say they’ve been operating under strict guidelines about who can get screened for coronavirus infection. But state health officials suggest the expansion of testing could be in the offing in the coming days. Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman said at a press conference Monday afternoon that Kansas is now conducting 150 to 200 COVID-19 tests per day, describing the number of kits available in the state as “enough for now.” (Read more: Prairie Village Post)