News – Page 2444 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Barton County Sheriff’s inmate medication costs set to exceed budget

info2018-06-19T07:12:51-05:00June 19th, 2018|

Inside the budget for the Barton County Sheriff’s Office is an expense line for inmate medication. Jails are required to provide medication to inmates that are prescribed by contracted physicians while the subjects are incarcerated. Sheriff Brian Bellendir says as of June 15, the Sheriff’s Office was at 95 percent of its allotted $19,000 budget for medication for the year. Bellendir says the Sheriff’s Office is at the mercy of whatever the price is for inmates’ medication and that many of the prisons in Kansas are dealing with this issue. The Barton County Jail has averaged 105 to 108 inmates per [...]

Warren Buffett to open company in Lenexa, creating 500 jobs

info2018-06-19T07:11:25-05:00June 19th, 2018|

Business icon Warren Buffett plans to open a new Geico Insurance service center that will bring 500 jobs to Lenexa. The Kansas City Area Development Council said in a news release Monday that the center will begin hiring customer service and sales employees immediately. It will open in August and add 500 jobs over five years. Buffett is scheduled to be in Lenexa Tuesday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the center. Geico is owned by Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway. The commerce department says Geico invested almost $10 million in a Lenexa office building for the center. Tim Cowden, president and CEO [...]

Unemployment remains low in Riley County, across the region

info2018-06-19T07:10:25-05:00June 19th, 2018|

Preliminary estimates reported by the Kansas Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.4 percent in May. This was unchanged from April and down from 3.6 percent in May 2017. “The number of unemployed Kansans looking for work dropped below 50,000 for the first time since May of 2000,” said Secretary Lana Gordon. Northeast Kansas jobless rates remain low, with the unemployment rate in Riley County at 2.8 percent. (Read more: Little Apple Post)

Overland Park community has its say about plans for Santa Fe Commons Park

info2018-06-19T07:00:52-05:00June 19th, 2018|

The word “park” is integral to Overland Park’s name, and residents care deeply about their public spaces. That was obvious Thursday night when about 100 people showed up for an open house to explore the future of Santa Fe Commons Park, 8045 Santa Fe Drive, in downtown Overland Park. “I want it to stay the way it is,” said Joan Norman, who lives on 80th Street and loves the 3.8-acre park’s trees and pastoral setting. “We need the green space. It’s the only green space we have in downtown.” The city is working with a consulting firm, Omaha-based RDG Planning and [...]

Shawnee City Council approves creation of TIF redevelopment district for new Bellmont Promenade project

info2018-06-19T06:53:38-05:00June 19th, 2018|

An updated version of the much-anticipated Bellmont Promenade project is in motion. Last year, it was proposed to the city as a retail and commercial site. Now, the plan includes a residential component, making it mixed-use. Nearly a year ago, in July 2017, the council approved a $19.5 million incentive package for Bellmont Promenade, which is set to sit at the southwest corner of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Maurer. For the new mixed-use plan, the developers are requesting the same amount for a TIF and CID. So, it’s going through the process all over again. (Read more: The Dispatch stories)

Salina interim city manager named

info2018-06-19T06:49:37-05:00June 19th, 2018|

Deputy City Manager Mike Schrage has been named interim city manager. Salina city commissioners made the decision after a closed session at their regular meeting Monday. City Manager Jason Gage has resigned to take become city manager of Springfield, Mo., on Aug. 1. He will be with Salina until the end of July. City Attorney Greg Bengtson said that from now on, city commission discussions about replacing Gage on a permanent basis will have to take place in open session until commissioners are ready to talk with individuals. (Read more: News - Salina Journal)

Wichita union says firefighter staffing is risk to safety

info2018-06-19T06:47:56-05:00June 19th, 2018|

The Wichita Firefighters Union says reduced staffing is risking your safety, but the fire chief and mayor disagree. IAFF Local 135 put out a post Monday morning and another this weekend stating four units were out of service because of self-imposed budget cuts. The post encouraged people to contact the mayor. Mayor Jeff Longwell responded on his Facebook page about an hour later commenting that Wichita just received the best fire safety rating. He also addressed the union's claim. "In regard to claims that we are shutting down department units, we are continually evaluating the best use of resources and always [...]

City council votes to deny claim seeking $116K for water damage to downtown Topeka business

info2018-06-19T06:24:30-05:00June 19th, 2018|

Topeka’s governing body voted unanimously Saturday morning to deny business owner Chris Schultz’s claim seeking $116,000 in damages related to water damage to buildings he owns at 909 and 911 S. Kansas Ave. The council, which made the decision following a 40-minutes executive session, characterized the decision as significant and serious. “My issue with this claim is the process,” Deputy Mayor Brendan Jensen said. “I’m just simply not equipped to make this decision. I don’t have the resources and the tools. We’re just not set up to do that. So, I’m going to vote to deny this, but not because I [...]

City-funded grants support downtown Topeka businesses’ growth

info2018-06-19T03:24:32-05:00June 19th, 2018|

Significant advances in downtown Topeka’s redevelopment have boosted interest in investing downtown, according to a downtown official, and have increased the number of projects submitted to a city-funded incentive grant program. For nearly each of the 18 years since the grant program’s inception, the city has budgeted funds for Downtown Topeka Inc. to administer through the Downtown Topeka Redevelopment Incentive Grant Program. The program encourages residential and commercial improvements to buildings in the Capital City Business Improvement District bounded by S.W. Topeka Boulevard, S.E. Adams, S.W. 13th and the Kansas River. Vince Frye, executive director of DTI, said at least 100 [...]

Governor Colyer Orders Flags to be Flown at Half-staff in Honor of Fallen Deputies on Thursday, June 21

info2018-06-18T16:24:25-05:00June 18th, 2018|

In accordance with Executive Order 10-12, Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff state-wide from sun-up until sun-down on Thursday, June 21, 2018 in honor of Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Deputies Theresa “TK” King and Patrick Rohrer who were killed in the line of duty last week. “These two brave individuals lost their lives protecting the public and we owe them a deep debt of gratitude for their selfless service,” said the Governor. “We pray for their loved ones, as well as all law enforcement officers as we mourn this senseless tragedy.” A joint funeral will be [...]