News

Water grants a boon for Humboldt, LaHarpe

2025-02-24T09:56:30-06:00February 24th, 2025|

Humboldt will get $3 million and LaHarpe $750,000 in state water grant funds. Humboldt's will go toward the city's planned $13 million water system replacement project; LaHarpe's will pay to replace the city's six sewer lift stations. Source: The Iola Register

Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2025-5: Teacher Contracts

2025-02-24T08:08:22-06:00February 24th, 2025|

Synopsis: The purpose of continuing contract law is to prevent any uncertainty or controversy regarding the status of a teacher’s continued employment by treating the time between the end of a teaching contract and the beginning of the renewed contract as part of continued employment. Continuing contract law does not apply after a contract’s term ends when the teacher has provided the school with proper notice of nonrenewal. After a contract ends and is not renewed, the teacher is no longer considered employed by the school. The teacher is entitled to receive all benefits from the contract but is not entitled [...]

Finding the best local fit

2025-02-23T07:47:48-06:00February 23rd, 2025|

Shopping malls may seem like they’re shrinking, but most are only transitioning to what best fits their market. ... Malls now face the challenge of being overbuilt, causing them to have to adjust by identifying what’s best for the area. Source: CJonline

Municipal Bond Trends for February 19, 2025

2025-02-20T08:22:45-06:00February 20th, 2025|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Municipal Bond Trends for February 18, 2025

2025-02-19T10:40:53-06:00February 19th, 2025|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

City, county have $15.5M to spend fighting opioid use. Here’s an early look at the plan

2025-02-19T08:55:50-06:00February 19th, 2025|

People in Sedgwick County could see expanded treatment options for substance use as the city and county plan how they will spend $15.5 million in opioid settlement funds. Local officials heard recommendations recently about how the money could help mitigate the opioid crisis in the county. Options focused on expanding substance use treatment services, stigma reduction, overdose prevention and integrated care. Overdose deaths are trending downward in Sedgwick County but are still much higher than other parts of the state. In 2023, 243 people died from an overdose – most fentanyl-related – in the county, according to the health department. Source: [...]

More details released after cockfighting raid in Mulvane where 400 roosters and hens found

2025-02-19T08:54:55-06:00February 19th, 2025|

More details were released Friday about a possible cockfighting operation in Mulvane that law enforcement and animal officials raided on Tuesday after a two-year investigation. No one has yet been arrested and names will not be released until charges are filed, Sumner County undersheriff Mike Westmoreland said in an email Friday afternoon. “More than 400 roosters and hens were found living in small wire or wooden structures with little protection from the below freezing temperatures, some without access to clean drinking water,” according to a joint release sent out Friday by the sheriff’s office and Humane World for Animals. “Some of [...]

Is enrollment declining in Wichita schools? What’s happening in city and suburban districts

2025-02-19T08:53:40-06:00February 19th, 2025|

Public school enrollment has been falling in Wichita for years, following a national trend that has left many districts wondering how to best use resources going forward. Since the 2014-15 academic year, Wichita Public Schools has lost nearly 10% of its students, and it’s projecting a similar drop over the next 10 years. This past fall, enrollment sat at 46,154 students — 9.5% less than when it peaked during the 2015-16 school year, according to Kansas Department of Education data. Overall student enrollment in every grade in elementary and middle school, excluding preschool, is down compared to 10 years ago, with [...]

This small Kansas town is paying people to move there. Here’s what it’s offering

2025-02-19T08:52:46-06:00February 19th, 2025|

A small town about a two-hour drive from Wichita is offering tempting incentives for people willing to relocate. Neodesha in southeast Kansas has a population of about 2,300 and is looking for that number to grow through a partnership with the company MakeMyMove. The goal? To bring people back to rural communities. The full incentives package includes up to $15,000 in student loan repayment assistance, 100% Kansas state income tax waiver through 2026, a college scholarship incentive reaching up to $25,000 and more. Source: Wichita Eagle

Winfield considering goats to manage vegetation

2025-02-19T08:51:28-06:00February 19th, 2025|

The City of Winfield is considering the use of goats to help manage vegetation around Island Park, according to information presented at Thursday’s work session. The process would involve hiring a company the brings in a herd of goats, pens off a portion of the land where the goats will graze for a couple of days, then moving the pen and the goats until all of the land has been grazed, Winfield public improvements director Patrick Steward said to commissioners. “It’s relatively low risk, and other communities have had a positive response,” Steward said about using goats as vegetation control. Source: [...]

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