News – Page 23 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Positive economic report singles out need for housing

info2024-10-21T10:05:45-05:00October 21st, 2024|

According to the most recent economic snapshot from Pittsburg State’s Kelce College of Business, Crawford County’s gross domestic product grew by 8.8 percent between 2015 and 2024. That was greater than the rest of the state. The number of middle-income households also increased by 9 percent in Pittsburg and by 3 percent in the county, as a whole. Statewide, this increase was only 0.1 percent and 0.9 percent nationally. The Kelce report states that local households are on a strong financial foundation that will benefit when interest rates begin to decline. As the economic center of southeast Kansas, 65 percent of [...]

City of Lawrence clears Amtrak camp; former residents look for path forward

info2024-10-21T10:04:19-05:00October 21st, 2024|

A parade of dump trucks carried away what remained of the camp where people were living behind the Amtrak station in East Lawrence throughout the day Wednesday, including memorials for camp residents who had died. The City of Lawrence Homeless Response Team gave Amtrak residents two months’ notice that the camp was closing. But, as many people in houses would likely not start moving months before they’re evicted, many of the camp residents wanted to stay there until the day they had to leave. Many camp residents had anticipated that the full cleanup of the camp would start at 8 a.m. [...]

Lawrence city commissioners vote to keep City Hall downtown

info2024-10-21T10:01:03-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday said it’s important to keep City Hall downtown before voting 3-2 against the purchase of a building near Sixth and Iowa to become the city’s new home. City staff members had asked the commission to approve the purchase of a building, at 2000 Bluffs Drive, that would require an estimated $11.7 million in remodeling on top of a $4.2 million purchase agreement. That’s $15.9 million total, which is almost $4 million more than the commission had budgeted, so a future budget amendment would be necessary. The current City Hall, at 6 E. Sixth St., was built [...]

Short-term rentals required to get licensed by last month. At least 1 in 4 haven’t complied

info2024-10-21T09:59:12-05:00October 21st, 2024|

At least one-quarter of short-term rentals in Wichita have yet to comply with new licensing regulations by the city, which went into effect last month. It could result in dozens of criminal charges being filed against non-compliant property owners, city officials say. The city passed new regulations last year for short-term rentals like AirBnBs and VRBOs, as the businesses grew more common throughout Wichita. The new code was meant to formalize the short-term rental market in Wichita because the city’s former zoning code technically made it illegal to rent out most residential properties for less than seven days. The new codes [...]

City, county commissioners get a look at RiverFrontMHK plan

info2024-10-21T09:58:05-05:00October 21st, 2024|

A large pedestrian and bicycle bridge is part of a plan for economic development around the Kansas River in Manhattan. Representatives of Anderson Knight Architects and the RiverFrontMHK committee on Thursday unveiled a development plan to officials from the Manhattan city, Riley County and Pottawatomie County commissions. The proposed RiverFrontMHK plan would connect downtown Manhattan to the Kansas River with a pedestrian and bicycle bridge to provide a direct link between downtown and new riverfront amenities. Source: 1350 KMAN

USD 383 releases a new guideline for students for using AI

info2024-10-21T09:56:49-05:00October 21st, 2024|

The Manhattan-Ogden school board discussed AI policies at its meeting Wednesday. The three-page document directs students to keep use of generated content appropriate for school, to check for information accuracy, and to consider privacy concerns and content copyright. The guide also advises students not to depend on AI generated content for assignments but to use it as a resource when it is appropriate. Source: 1350 KMAN

USD 323 puts recreation district on November ballot

info2024-10-21T09:55:45-05:00October 21st, 2024|

The Rock Creek Board of Education Monday night discussed a question that will be placed on the November ballot regarding the creation of a recreation department that would serve the Rock Creek area. Source: 1350 KMAN

City split on giving tax breaks for downtown retail, residential project

info2024-10-21T09:54:29-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Manhattan city commissioners are split on allowing a developer to use more than $2 million in tax breaks and assistance to turn the downtown Commerce Bank building into retail and residential space. Officials from Hutton Development on Tuesday requested a 10-year property tax abatement, a sales tax exemption on construction materials and for the city to pay for half the cost of improvements to Poyntz Avenue as they seek to buy the building at 727 Poyntz Ave., tear it down and construct a new one with retail space on the ground floor and residential space above. Commissioners John Matta and Jayme [...]

Kansas TIF district audit reveals delayed returns, higher crime rates

info2024-10-21T09:52:57-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Some of Kansas’ largest cities are struggling to gain full returns on tax increment financing districts meant to help bolster development activity and property values, a recent state audit found. TIF districts, as they are called, are intended to fund real estate projects that otherwise wouldn’t exist. The idea is that the development will increase property values in the designated district, resulting in higher property tax collections that are used to pay off the bonds that financed the project. State auditors surveyed six TIF districts from Kansas’ largest cities and found that half did not recover their costs in a timely [...]

Tensions flare as commissioners consider unified approach to economic development

info2024-10-21T09:51:32-05:00October 21st, 2024|

In a marathon session Wednesday, the Emporia City Commission grappled with the complex task of reimagining the city’s economic development strategy. The meeting centered on implementing recommendations from a recent VisionFirst Advisors report, particularly the creation of an umbrella organization to oversee various economic development entities. The plan, presented by VisionFirst President and CEO Gray Swoope in September, recommends consolidating several key organizations under a single umbrella structure. This would include the Regional Development Association, Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce, Emporia Main Street, and Visit Emporia. Source: Emporia Gazette