News – Page 21 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

See the tax rebates, home improvement grants on offer in your Johnson County city

info2025-02-24T10:16:48-06:00February 24th, 2025|

As property taxes continue to rise along with home values in Johnson County, residents may be looking for any way they can to save money. Many local cities in Johnson County, as well as the county itself, offer a variety of rebate programs aimed at helping homeowners pay their annual property tax bills, as well as make repairs and renovations. Many of these programs are aimed at certain populations, including low-income homeowners, seniors and disabled veterans. But other rebates are open to a wider segment of homeowners looking for assistance in paying for everything from replacing windows and installing solar panels [...]

Wichita approves public art plan to fill empty spots downtown

info2025-02-24T10:15:37-06:00February 24th, 2025|

The City of Wichita has approved a plan to once again fill the empty pedestals in Old Town and elsewhere with sculptures. Starting in 2008, the city installed over a dozen pedestals, most of them in Old Town, as part of a sculpture walkabout program. That program ended in 2023. On Tuesday, the Wichita City Council voted 7-0 to approve a $200,000 plan (using funds explicitly earmarked in the budget for art projects) to fill the pedestals with permanent pieces. Source: KSN-TV

Topeka residents meet, evaluate the city

info2025-02-24T10:14:35-06:00February 24th, 2025|

Topeka residents met Wednesday, Feb 19, to serve on a special city committee that hasn’t been seen in a decade. The Topeka Citizen Government Review Committee is made up of five people all selected by the mayor. The last time this group was put together was 2014. For the next six months, the committee, along with public comment, will examine and evaluate Topeka’s form of government and determine if they have recommendations for change. Source: KSNT 27 News

Symphony in the Flint Hills will end after 20 years

info2025-02-24T10:12:56-06:00February 24th, 2025|

The Symphony in the Flint Hills announced Wednesday, Feb. 19 that 2025 will be the last year for shows. These annual shows were a way for people to appreciate and learn more about the Flint Hills tallgrass prairie After 20 unforgettable years, the Symphony in the Flint Hills Signature Event will have its Grand Finale on Saturday, June 14, at Evans Family Ranch in Chase County. Join us for one last breathtaking evening of music, prairie skies, and community as we celebrate this milestone event. Along with the Signature Event concert, the Symphony in the Flint Hills hosted a prairie art [...]

Most homeowners in Sedgwick County will see increase in tax appraisal. Here are details

info2025-02-24T10:11:36-06:00February 24th, 2025|

Tax valuations will increase for 87% of homeowners in Sedgwick County this year. The average median increase for residential properties is 9%. Notices will be mailed out March 1. Last year, 60% of residential property owners saw an increase in valuation, with a 10% median increase. Tax appraisal increases are driven by the sales prices of new and existing homes. “Demand is high and the supply of homes is tight, thus prices increase as a result of this continuing imbalance,” county appraiser Mark Clark told county commissioners. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Are Wichita-area schools running out of snow days? See what Kansas law says

info2025-02-24T10:10:45-06:00February 24th, 2025|

Wichita school districts students have so far had this week off amid snow and bitter cold. School officials canceled classes Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There was no school Monday because it was President’s Day. So far this year, including Thursday, Wichita students have been off school eight days because of severe weather. Half of those were in January, with the rest in February. So will they — and students from surrounding districts in similar situations — have to make up days? Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

It’s illegal to own a pet raccoon in Kansas. One man is trying to change that

info2025-02-24T10:08:52-06:00February 24th, 2025|

Kansas lawmakers are considering a proposal that would allow Kansans who obtain raccoon ownership permits to keep the animals as pets. For the past four years, Lenexa resident Stephen Kaspar has been feeding and training wild raccoons that wander onto his property. But it’s against Kansas law to own a pet raccoon. That’s why Kaspar is urging state lawmakers to pass a bill that would legalize pet ownership of raccoons. Owners would be required to obtain a raccoon ownership permit, complete educational training and vaccinate their raccoons for rabies and other diseases. They’d have to provide raccoons with their own room [...]

Kansas needs qualified computer science teachers. This K-State program delivers — for free

info2025-02-24T10:07:30-06:00February 24th, 2025|

When Josh Weese completed high school nearly 20 years ago, his exposure to computer science had been a short unit on robotics in shop class and some basic HTML coding and word processing in business class. Today, he’s working to bring more robust computer science education to districts large and small all across the state through Kansas State University’s Cyber Pipeline. Weese, a teaching associate professor of computer science in the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering and a Kevin and Jacquie Elmore – Carl and Mary Ice Cornerstone teaching scholar, co-directs the Advancing Learning and Teaching in Computer Science, or [...]

‘A special building’: Historic hotel in Alma reopens to the public

info2025-02-24T10:05:20-06:00February 24th, 2025|

A hotel originally constructed in the 19th century has new life. Friday marked a grand opening of the two-story Brandt House, 402 Missouri Ave. in downtown Alma. Built in 1887 by Christena and Joseph Brandt, the hotel was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. After going through several ownership groups — and previously named the Alma Hotel — Brandt House’s current owners consist of Alma couples Morgan and Tyler Holloman, as well as Alex and Amanda Gnadt. The four acquired the hotel originally in November 2023 and received $73,400 through the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Attraction Development [...]

Commerce Unveils Groundbreaking Overhaul of Community Development Block Grant Program

info2025-02-24T10:04:06-06:00February 24th, 2025|

The Kansas Department of Commerce announced today significant changes to its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – Community Facilities program to allow a rolling application process, lower local match requirements and an expanded scope of eligible projects. The revamped CDBG – Community Facilities program opens the door for projects ranging from emergency sirens and ADA upgrades to new libraries and major park developments. Notably, the transition from an annual competition to a rolling application process means that cities and counties can apply for funding year-round, receiving decisions in a matter of weeks rather than waiting months for a single funding cycle. [...]