News – Page 33 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Manhattan City Crews Hauled more than 2,000 tons of Snow after Winter Storm Blair

info2025-01-29T09:47:04-06:00January 29th, 2025|

Manhattan city crews and contractors plowed over 42 million cubic feet of snow following Winter Storm Blair, which, with 15 inches, delivered the second-highest single-day snowfall in city history, surpassed only by 18 inches in 1900. Between January 4 and 13, crews plowed 500 lane miles, equivalent to the distance from Manhattan to Denver, and hauled more than 2,000 tons of snow from areas including Aggieville, downtown, and major roads. They also used 400 tons of salt to treat city streets. The 42 million cubic feet of snow could have filled the City Pool 468 times or Bill Snyder Family Stadium [...]

Kansas Agricultural Land Values Stabilize After Years of Growth, With Regional Variations and Economic Pressures Ahead

info2025-01-29T09:46:06-06:00January 29th, 2025|

Non-irrigated cropland prices in Kansas increased by 3.8% last year, while pasture and hay ground saw a 2.7% rise, according to the 2024 Kansas Agricultural Land Values and Trends report. Kansas State University farm economist Robin Reid explained that these figures suggest land prices are stabilizing after years of rapid growth, with some regions even experiencing declines. As margins tighten and farm income decreases, Reid anticipates that land values could continue to decrease. Source: KCLY Radio

Local firefighters awarded during ceremony for bravery, heroic actions

info2025-01-29T09:44:50-06:00January 29th, 2025|

Some local firefighters were recognized during a ceremony in Pittsburg Friday night. According to the city, community members came together to recognize the bravery of local firefighters during its inaugural awards ceremony. "Every day, our crews leave a lasting impact on someone's life. It may be something that seems small to us, like waving at a child as we drive by or stopping to chat in a store. Or it might be something monumental, like performing life-saving operations. Regardless of the scale, I am deeply proud of every individual who wears the title of Pittsburg Firefighter," said Chief Taylor Cerne. Source: [...]

New developments in effort to build $2 billion semiconductor facility in Bel Aire

info2025-01-29T09:43:12-06:00January 29th, 2025|

Federal funding has been offered to help build a nearly $2 billion semiconductor assembly and test plant in the Wichita area, according to Sen. Jerry Moran. But there are still a lot of questions about whether the plan will come to fruition or if it will be on the scale of the initial proposal. Moran’s office says that CHIPS funding was offered to Integra but did not say how much. Earlier this month, KSN reported that Micross Components bought Integra, and the state said the sale would not affect the CHIPS application. Moran’s office says he has had conversations with the [...]

Liberal hires from within for city manager position

info2025-01-29T09:42:04-06:00January 29th, 2025|

The City of Liberal has hired from within for the open city manager position. Scarlette Diseker has been hired as Liberal’s new city manager. Diseker has been with the city since 2022, previously serving as Director of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and the interim city manager since Oct. 1. Diseker is a Liberal native. Before being employed by the city, she worked for over 20 years at First National Bank, now an Equity Bank. Source: KSN-TV

Sedgwick County to launch Property Fraud Alert service

info2025-01-29T09:40:45-06:00January 29th, 2025|

The Sedgwick County Register of Deeds is launching a new service to help property owners. The service is called Property Fraud Alert. It will notify subscribers each time a document, such as a real estate deed, mortgage, lien, or easement, is recorded with their name on it. Citizens can enter as many personal, business, and trust names as necessary. Sedgwick County says that while the service will not prevent fraud from happening, it will provide an early warning. This way, property owners can take action as soon as possible. Source: KSN-TV

Ogallala Aquifer drops by more than a foot in parts of western Kansas

info2025-01-29T09:38:46-06:00January 29th, 2025|

Aquifer levels in parts of western Kansas that rely on groundwater for everything from drinking to irrigation fell more than a foot last year, Kansas Geological Survey scientists said Tuesday. The Kansas Geological Survey earlier this month completed its annual campaign to measure the Ogallala Aquifer, which supplies the western one-third of the state with water. The Ogallala, the largest underground store of freshwater in the nation, has been declining for decades because of overuse to irrigate crops in otherwise arid parts of the state. Source: KSN-TV

Topeka gets recognition for being ‘bicycle friendly’

info2025-01-29T09:37:46-06:00January 29th, 2025|

The capital city is being honored for its work to make Topeka a better place for people to bicycle. Tuesday, Jan. 28, the League of American Bicyclists recognized Topeka for its efforts to create a better place for people to bicycle. Topeka was honored with a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) award. Topeka is one of 459 communities nationwide involved in a movement to create safer streets for everyone. Source: KSNT 27 News

What did winter storm Blair cost Topeka?

info2025-01-29T09:36:44-06:00January 29th, 2025|

In early January, northeast Kansas was blanketed with history’s third-largest single-day snowfall. What did it cost the city? From Jan. 4-5, the City of Topeka saw 14 inches of snow during the blizzard. Starting on Jan. 4, city crews started working 24-hour operations in 12-hour shifts. Crews worked until Jan. 13 plowing streets and treating residential neighborhoods for ice. According to the Kansas Open Records request, the total cost for equipment, labor, materials, contractors and fleets was $972,685. Source: KSNT 27 News

House panel signs off on amended property tax bill

info2025-01-29T09:34:42-06:00January 29th, 2025|

A top legislative priority for House Republicans got out of a committee Tuesday with the panel approving a bill that would cut the state property tax levy for schools by 1.5-mills. The House tax committee amended the bill to ensure that the revenue loss from cutting the 20-mill tax levy would be backfilled with revenue from the state general fund. The proposal is estimated to cost about $823 million over five years. Source: Sunflower State Journal