News – Page 264 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

People want to live in rural Kansas. They just need houses.

info2024-10-02T09:43:04-05:00October 2nd, 2024|

Contrary to the prevailing narratives, there are communities across the plains of central and western Kansas where people desperately want to live, helping position those places to add population. Remote work has opened possibilities for people looking for affordable housing and a different pace of life. Places such as Stafford County are seeing interest from manufacturers as it looks to develop a rail port to handle grain, fertilizer and other local products. But there’s a catch: There have to be enough places to live. The Kansas Housing Resources Corp. and the Kansas Office of Rural Prosperity in 2021 launched the first [...]

Mapping out a service connection point for homeless in Topeka

info2024-10-02T09:38:39-05:00October 2nd, 2024|

Twice a week in church parking lots, Topeka’s homeless population finds help through an array of services offered collectively – with purpose – by local partners. Through the Mobile Access Partnership (MAP), homeless individuals receive hot showers, warm meals and clean clothes, along with primary care services and immunizations for themselves and even their pets. They can also charge their phones and access supplies donated by local companies ranging from sleeping bags and tents to sunscreen and packaged snacks. MAP partners include the Topeka Rescue Mission, Valeo Behavioral Health Care, Stormont Vail Health, the Shawnee County Health Department, the Topeka Police [...]

Local police honor breast cancer awareness with pink badges

info2024-10-02T09:36:30-05:00October 2nd, 2024|

The Baxter Springs Police Officer's are turning in their badges for new pink ones in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness. "Last year several people walked up to officers and shared stories related to their experience with breast cancer. Some as the victim and others as the family or friends of someone that suffered with breast cancer. These badges are a tool to open communication between citizens and officers and spark conversations that may not be had otherwise," said Chief Henderson. The department says the pink badges are a way for the officers to show support to those that are currently battling [...]

Three Kansas counties meet to discuss concerns over proposed energy corridor

info2024-10-02T09:35:08-05:00October 2nd, 2024|

On Tuesday night, leaders of three central Kansas counties met to discuss a proposed energy corridor that has landowners concerned. The National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) is a route designated by the federal government to expand projects to transport electricity. The federal proposal could take a five-mile-wide path of land through Kansas or future energy transmission needs. Many residents are worried that their land will be taken through the eminent domain. “They want to know that their family’s safe, or that their business, if it runs across a business, that their business is safe,” said Barton County District 2 Commissioner [...]

New sales tax to support health care goes into effect in Norton County

info2024-10-02T09:33:08-05:00October 2nd, 2024|

Starting Oct. 1, Norton County residents will see a change in the cash register as a 1% sales tax increase to support health care goes into effect. Kevin Faughnder, Norton County Hospital’s CEO, said it’s tough for rural health nationwide to succeed financially. Faughnder says he is excited as a hospital employee, but understands the importance of the change. “From a taxpayer perspective, it’s always tough to pay more taxes, and I think that’s why it’s really important for us to be responsible with how we use this money,” Faughnder said. “So both excited and mindful of the fact that we [...]

Arkansas City to upgrade water system

info2024-10-02T09:31:20-05:00October 2nd, 2024|

Arkansas City has launched its new Drinking Water System Improvement Master Plan. The city says the initiative is critical to address aging infrastructure and improve efficiency. “We are excited to take this next step toward modernizing our water system,” City Manager Randy Frazer said in a news release. “While the new treatment facility was a tremendous achievement, we recognize the need to continue investing in our infrastructure to ensure reliable water service for our residents and businesses. This master plan represents a long-term commitment to sustaining our water system and distributing costs equitably.” While the city has recently improved the water [...]

Union hopes new bonus will plug gap after ‘unprecedented loss’ of Shawnee County dispatchers

info2024-10-02T09:30:17-05:00October 2nd, 2024|

Emergency dispatchers in Shawnee County will be receiving a new retention bonus in a move praised by law enforcement and a local union. Shawnee County commissioners approved of a new $3,000 retention bonus for dispatchers in late September. This new plan, which has a $94,000 price tag, also comes with various pay rates for different shifts. 27 News reached out to the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office for a response to the recent approval of the new retention bonus for dispatchers. Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Abigail Christian responded to these questions on behalf of the law enforcement group. Local Communications Workers of American [...]

Petition to lift breed-specific ban in Salina fails

info2024-10-02T09:28:22-05:00October 2nd, 2024|

An effort to lift a dog breed-specific ban in Salina has hit a roadblock. Salinans Against BSL (Breed Specific Language) has been working for years to lift the breed-specific ban. Last week, a petition containing 1,814 signatures requiring the city to either repeal or modify the ban was delivered to the Saline County Election Office. Under Kansas Law, petitions must have the signatures of at least 25% of registered voters who voted in the last municipal election. The city says that of 1,814 signatures, only 1,369 were accepted by the Saline County Election Office, which fell below the 25% requirement. The [...]

Wamego may close burn pile to non-residents

info2024-10-02T09:26:48-05:00October 2nd, 2024|

The City of Wamego’s burn pile has always been intended for city resident use only, however city officials have never enforced the rule and county residents have been allowed to haul debris there. That may soon change. Wamego City Manager Stacie Eichem on Monday informed the Pottawatomie County Commissioners maintaining the burn site has become a bigger job than what current city staff can manage. If the city is to allow county residents to continue to use the site as they have been, a full time employee will need to be hired. Wamego City Commissioners offered to leave the burn site [...]

Andover modifies policy on financial guarantees, bond terms to make suburb more ‘developer friendly’

info2024-10-02T09:25:20-05:00October 2nd, 2024|

Andover is attempting to make development easier and faster for developers. This month, the city of Andover's Council unanimously approved changes to its policy on public infrastructure financing for developments up for special assessments. The changes will reduce the financial guarantee requirements of developers and modify bond servicing terms for the city — among other things. Special assessment petitions are methods utilized by cities to finance public infrastructure improvements — such as streets, sidewalks, storm drainage, sanitary sewer, water and traffic control signals — by charging the cost directly to the properties benefiting from the improvements. The method allows the costs [...]