News – Page 1989 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Olathe school district poised to sue Juul amid vaping illness outbreak

info2019-09-26T18:51:43-05:00September 26th, 2019|

The Olathe school district is poised to sue a major electronic cigarette manufacturer as the number of deaths from a vaping-related lung disease continues to climb. The school board will hold a special meeting at 11:30 a.m. Friday to vote on filing a lawsuit against Juul, the largest U.S. seller of e-cigarettes. Vape users and parents have filed dozens of lawsuits targeting Juul, including a man in Johnson County, who alleged the company’s marketing has led to widespread substance abuse among young people. District officials declined to comment until after Friday’s meeting. (Read more: Local News |)

Shawnee County officials, others bid farewell to Commissioner Bob Archer

info2019-09-26T22:19:59-05:00September 26th, 2019|

Shawnee County Commission chairman Bob Archer got a standing ovation from those present at the end of Thursday’s commission meeting, which was his last on that body. A standing-room-only crowd filled all 35 public seats in the commission chambers at Thursday’s meeting, where various speakers bid farewell to Archer while praising him for having helped make Shawnee County a better place to live, work and play. “You have been an integral part of this community’s forward momentum,” said Curtis Sneden, senior vice president for the Greater Topeka Partnership. (Read more: Local Government - The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Impact Avenues to combat student homelessness

info2019-09-26T22:18:41-05:00September 26th, 2019|

Officials estimate there are between 700 and 1,000 homeless students in Topeka and Shawnee County schools. The poverty and uncertainty of living in such a situation has a major effect on a student’s ability to learn. Topeka USD 501, the city of Topeka and the Topeka Rescue Mission, along with a number of other area businesses and agencies, have come together to launch the Impact Avenues program in an effort to combat this problem and break the generational poverty cycle. (Read more: Local - The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Douglas County Commission to receive report on local effort to address mental health issues among farmers

info2019-09-25T21:17:56-05:00September 25th, 2019|

While many Kansas farmers believe mental health is a serious issue, almost half of them said in a recent Kansas Farm Bureau study that it’s hard to access mental health services designed for their lifestyle, said Mallory Meek, an agent for the K-State Research and Extension office in Douglas County. However, in Douglas County, Meek’s office is partnering with the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center to reverse that trend, she said in a memo to the Douglas County Commission. During the commission’s meeting on Wednesday, Meek will present ways the partnership is attempting to address mental health issues among local [...]

Lawrence seeks ideas to improve downtown as part of new master plan; parking lots one option for redevelopment

info2019-09-25T21:14:25-05:00September 25th, 2019|

The next phase of Lawrence’s Downtown Master Plan process will soon begin, and the city wants to know how residents think downtown should look and function in the years to come. The new master plan will cover downtown land use and development for the next 15 to 20 years. Planning and Development Director Scott McCullough said the visioning phase of the plan’s development will look at multiple aspects of downtown and how they could improve. “It’s really looking at the opportunities for development and public spaces and traffic and infrastructure, and laying out a shared vision for what downtown could become [...]

Wichita’s freak-out over e-scooters is nothing new

info2019-09-25T21:24:32-05:00September 25th, 2019|

Since appearing on Wichita streets in July, electric rental scooters have incited their share of wrath. Critics call them “stupid,” “trashy,” “an absolute menace” and “all kinds of bad.” Supporters, including transportation officials and members of the city’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, say the initial frustration is understandable, but things should improve as e-scooters become a part of Wichita’s landscape and culture. What neither side may realize: This battle began more than a century ago. Motorized scooters, first called autopeds and powered by an air-cooled engine over the front wheel, debuted in 1915. (Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Wichita growing into a professional pickleball scene

info2019-09-25T21:23:34-05:00September 25th, 2019|

Many people are still learning about the sport of pickleball and don't know that Wichita is gaining national attention as a professional hub for the sport. “So the top 16 pros from all over the country are here for this weekend,” said Wisconsin contestant Dave Weinbach. Wichita is turning into a hot spot for pickleball; not only casually but professionally as well. Weinbach said, “It’s a very very special event, a very unique event, one of a kind, it’s never happened before. And it’s been one of the largest payouts in the history of pickleball.” (Read more: KWCH News)

Progress continues on Neosho Ridge Wind project

info2019-09-25T19:51:30-05:00September 25th, 2019|

Upgrades to public roads are almost complete in the construction area of the Neosho Ridge Wind project, and the developer hopes to begin pouring foundations next week. Project Manager Chris Weatherford said upgrades are 95 percent complete to public roads that will be used to deliver components to the project’s lay down equipment yards. Work has also started on access roads across private land to reach the sites of 139 windmills in the southwest part of the county around Thayer and Galesburg. The Neosho Ridge Wind project, developed by Apex Clean Energy, will generate 300 megawatts of electricity when completed. (Read [...]

Superintendent announces retirement

info2019-09-25T19:44:08-05:00September 25th, 2019|

Following Monday night’s Board of Education Meeting, a district press release announced that Superintendent Deb Hamm will retire at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. “Newton is our home,” Hamm stated in the release. “I’ve enjoyed serving this community as a teacher and administrator. I will miss working with the staff and students. However, I am excited to be able to spend more time with my family.” Hamm has worked in the district from 1989 to 1998 as a teacher, and then assistant principal, before serving as a principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent out of district. In 2012 She returned [...]

Newton raises minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21

info2019-09-25T19:42:46-05:00September 25th, 2019|

If you want to buy tobacco products in Newton, Kansas, you'll have to be at least 21 years old starting next year. The Newton City Commission on Tuesday approved a T21 ordinance, which raises the minimum age to 21 to purchase tobacco products. It goes into effect on January 1, 2020. All tobacco products are covered in the ordinance, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, etc. Newton was the 500th city in the nation to adopt T21. (Read more: KAKE - News)