News – Page 2048 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

‘Showing their softer side’ at Hays PD Community Night Out

info2019-08-05T08:25:35-05:00August 5th, 2019|

As usual, Hays police officer Ryan Blecha was on duty Thursday evening, but this shift did not require a patrol vehicle or even the official uniform. This duty called for wearing shorts and a special T-shirt as Blecha manned the chip station in the food line for the Hays Police Department’s “Community Night Out” at the Hays Aquatic Park (HAP). “He’s very important,” laughed Mackenzie Blecha, Ryan’s wife. Mackenzie and daughter Gentry, 18 months, were some of the Hays police officers’ family members enjoying the fourth annual event. It included free swimming for everyone and a hot dog or hamburger meal [...]

Looking for ideas to improve the countys economy

info2019-08-05T08:30:49-05:00August 5th, 2019|

Nearly 30 people attended a meeting to discuss economic development in Bourbon County. The meeting, held Tuesday evening as part of the Bourbon County Commission meeting at the courthouse, was led by Bourbon County Economic Development Director Jody Hoener. The purpose of the meeting was to provide attendees with results from a recently completed community-wide assessment and to set three priorities to move the county forward. (Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)

Stability of border war truce in question

info2019-08-05T08:31:50-05:00August 5th, 2019|

The governors in Kansas and Missouri have moved to end an economic “border war” that has gained their states unwanted national attention for using millions of dollars in incentives to entice companies into shifting jobs close to the Kansas City-area border. Their truce appears shaky. An executive order that Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed Friday showed that officials in both states have yet to fully resolve a final sticking point: the ability of cities, counties and other local governments in Missouri to offer more lucrative local tax breaks than their counterparts in Kansas. If Missouri officials don’t stop their generous [...]

Wichita civilian volunteers to monitor Old Town surveillance cameras for police

info2019-08-04T20:19:47-05:00August 4th, 2019|

A new batch of civilian volunteers is monitoring surveillance cameras for Wichita police — to help improve safety in Old Town, not to issue traffic tickets, police say. “These cameras were put in with the intent to keep Old Town safe. They weren’t put in with the intent for traffic enforcement,” Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said Friday. The volunteers are graduates of the Citizen’s Police Academy, a program that teaches civilians about policing. (Read more: Local News |)

Hays to offer discounted admission to swimming pool for Ellis residents

info2019-08-04T20:15:03-05:00August 4th, 2019|

The city of Hays plans to offer an admission discount at the Hays Aquatic Park (HAP) to Ellis residents after the Ellis swimming pool was unexpectedly closed Wednesday morning. Henry Schwaller, Hays mayor, made the suggestion during Thursday’s city commission work session. The Ellis municipal pool was losing almost 30,000 gallons of water every 2 to 3 days according to Mayor Dave McDaniel and city officials decided to shut it down ahead of the season closing date. (Read more: Hays Post)

Some Kansas Workers Are Going To Class Without Having To Punch Out Of Work

info2019-08-04T20:11:23-05:00August 4th, 2019|

Adult education programs offered by Kansas’ colleges and school districts are increasingly bringing classes to workers where they already are: at work. Washburn University will soon offer conflict resolution to staffers at the Ramada Hotel in Topeka. Dodge City Community College will provide customer service lessons at Boot Hill Casino. And several schools are providing English classes, one of the most sought-after skills. “There’s a major shift taking place in education,” said Karen Ulanski, the director for Paola USD 368’s adult education center. (Read more: Rural Messenger)

This Bill Could Save Rural Governments Millions in Infrastructure Financing

info2019-08-04T20:07:30-05:00August 4th, 2019|

A new proposal in Congress could make financing infrastructure projects in rural America far more affordable. Called the Municipal Bond Market Support Act of 2019, the bill would modernize a restriction on so-called bank-qualified municipal bonds that effectively limits small governments’ access to cheaper borrowing rates in the municipal market. The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) estimates that the proposed bill could save as much as $1.1 million in financing costs on a 15-year, $30 million bond issued by a small government. That translates into hundreds of millions of dollars in savings each year for small governments, nonprofits and [...]

Waste intake increases for Pratt County Recycling

info2019-08-04T20:04:34-05:00August 4th, 2019|

An increase in the amount of household hazardous waste coming to the Pratt County Recycle center has also increased the money the center has to pay to have the HHW removed. Jason Winkel, landfill and recycle center manager, updated the Pratt County Commissioners on the HHW issue on July 29 at the regular weekly Commission meeting. Winkel is working on options for handling HHW because of those increases. Clean Harbors, out of Wichita, provides the hazardous waste removal and their last bill to the county was $8,600. A chemist comes from Kansas City to identify acids among HHW. (Read more: Pratt, [...]

Johnson County judge orders Shawnee to drop eminent domain claim against Wayne Developers’ property

info2019-08-04T20:02:40-05:00August 4th, 2019|

A district judge has prohibited the city of Shawnee from moving forward with an eminent domain claim on property owned by Wayne Developers LLC. Judge Kevin Moriarty, district judge presiding over Division 14 in Johnson County District Court, entered his memorandum decision Wednesday, July 31. His decision granted a permanent injunction requested by Wayne Developers, which owns 20 acres of land at 18570 Johnson Drive in western Shawnee. The city of Shawnee had filed a claim of eminent domain in March over the property with plans to condemn and acquire it in order to build a centralized facility for the city’s [...]

Interest Rates Plunge After FOMC Cuts Interest Rate

info2019-08-02T07:11:50-05:00August 2nd, 2019|

Both the municipal and Treasury markets rallied one day after the Fed cut interest rates by 25 basis points and after President Trump’s declared more tariffs on China — all of which caused the 10-year Treasury to dip below 1.90%. Financial markets continue to price in greater odds of another 25 basis point Fed rate cut later this year. According to the CME FedWatch tool, odds a 25 BP rate cut when the FOMC meets on Sept 17-18 increased 70.4% from 51.9% following Trump’s tweets of additional tariffs. “The 10-year hit its lowest level since Nov. 2016 and munis followed right [...]