News – Page 2400 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Beautiful new murals were just painted in north Wichita

info2018-08-03T04:41:24-05:00August 3rd, 2018|

Wichita’s North End was known for its murals way before they were en vogue. The neighborhood, which is heavily populated by people of Latino and Southeast Asian descent, has for years been home to some of Wichita’s most impressive murals. Count nine more among them. Last week, artists with the Horizontes project painted nine new murals in north Wichita — including two near the historic Dunbar Theatre at 9th and Cleveland. (Read more: Wichita Eagle)

In Sedgwick County, early-voter turnout is nearly double what it was in 2014

info2018-08-02T10:15:35-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

Early voter turnout in Sedgwick County is nearly double what it was in the 2014 primary election. As of Wednesday, 1,478 Sedgwick County residents have voted early at the county courthouse. By this date in the 2014 primary election, 739 people had voted early. The 2014 primary election saw a 19.2 percent turnout of eligible voters in Sedgwick County; there was a 25.7 percent turnout in 2010. “I would expect to see it closer to 2010 (turnout),” Lehman wrote in an e-mailed statement. Her prediction for this year is based on early-voter turnout. The 2010 primary election drew 905 early voters [...]

Harvey County wages growing, still behind

info2018-08-02T10:14:11-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

Low wages may be keeping area employers from recruiting highly-skilled workers, according to the Wichita State University Center for Economic Development and Business Research. Wages in Harvey County are lower than other area counties, as well as the state average. A worker in Harvey County made $36,918 on average in 2017, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is 18 percent lower than the state average of $45,117. In Sedgwick County, the wages are even higher. In 2017, the average annual wage for a worker in Sedgwick County was $46,392 — 26 percent higher than Harvey County. Jeremy Hill, Director [...]

Amtrak amendment sails through Senate

info2018-08-02T10:12:34-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

Although a vote wasn’t expected until Thursday, the amendment to maintain Amtrak train services along the established, long-distance passenger rail route of the Southwest Chief was included today in the 2018 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The bill passed the Senate on an overwhelming 92-6 vote. Amtrak’s SW Chief makes a stop in Newton July 27. The amendment was introduced by Kansas Senator Jerry Moran and Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico. Moran commented on the passage of the bill. In addition, this amendment would effectively reverse Amtrak’s decision to substitute rail service with bus service [...]

Unusual quakes jolt Marion

info2018-08-02T10:11:33-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

What police initially thought were two explosions Monday night turned out to a pair of mild earthquakes, unusual in that they were close enough to the surface to be heard as well as felt. The larger of the two measured 2.4 on the Richter scale and was centered three miles beneath the surface, east of US-77 between 170th and 180th Rds. on Victory Rd. “We’ve been watching this area for some time,” senior scientist Rick Miller of the Kansas Geological Survey said Tuesday. “We’ve had a couple of dozen, maybe 15 events over the last couple of years in that general [...]

Goessel City Council discusses water rates to attract valuable grant dollars

info2018-08-02T10:08:18-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

The council once again discussed the need to raise sewer rates in order to receive grant money for sewer system upgrades. Goessel’s sewer rates are too low; the city will not qualify for the grant if the rates are not raised to an appropriate amount. City clerk Jennifer Whitehead reminded the council that the city currently charges $36.95 per month. It is possible that the city might need to raise the rates to $48.98 per month. However, the council decided to make several raises instead of one larger one. Therefore, the council proposed an incremental raise of $5 at this time, [...]

Hutchinson’s Westar Energy plant preparing for the future with $25M upgrade

info2018-08-02T10:05:30-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

The expansion of renewable energy in Kansas has led to a shift in the role of Westar’s Hutchinson Energy Center and a massive $25 million upgrade. Most of the changes are not noticeable to motorists passing by the longtime electrical generation plant, since they involve primarily retrofitting diesel-powered turbines housed in relatively low-slung tan buildings near the back of the 144-acre property to run off natural gas and biofuels, The Hutchinson News reported. However, they’ll become quite apparent in the coming months as the company works to demolish and remove the massive cooling towers and original steam generation plant closer to [...]

City of Newton releases full pool survey results

info2018-08-02T10:03:00-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

he official survey results are in and Newton residents want more features at the municipal pool. A total of 1,100 residents responded to a City of Newton survey conducted June 27 through July 6 regarding the city pool. The final results, which the city released last week, will be discussed at a joint meeting at City Hall on Aug. 7, between the Newton Recreation Commission and Newton City Commission. The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Of the 1,100 survey respondents, 58 percent said they used the Newton municipal pool. That was 21 percent lower than the number of respondents that [...]

Russell County farms eligible for industrial hemp pilot project

info2018-08-02T10:01:27-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

Russell County farmers Dean Haselhorst and Troy Waymaster are still trying to decide if they’ll participate in an industrial hemp pilot project led by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. “I am thinking about it. I’ve been attending the meetings,” said the 54-year-old Haselhorst, who grew up on a farm and has been a farmer all his life, growing wheat, milo and corn. “It’s all still very preliminary, but it’s potentially better than growing wheat. The price of wheat is so low.” Waymaster, state representative for the 109th District, which includes Russell County, advocated before the Legislature for the pilot project research [...]

University of Kansas Health System buys Great Bend Regional Hospital and affiliated clinics

info2018-08-02T09:59:55-05:00August 2nd, 2018|

The University of Kansas Health System announced Wednesday it had completed the purchase of Great Bend Regional Hospital and its affiliated clinics, including Central Kansas Family Practice and Heartland Regional. Plans are to rename the hospital The University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus, but the current workforce will be “substantially remaining in place,” and patients will continue to receive care from their current doctors and practices, according to a news release from KU. Officials did not disclose terms of the sale. Great Bend Regional historically competed with HaysMed, St. Rose and Pawnee Valley Community Hospital for patients and market [...]