News – Page 4 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

This JoCo city is moving to a single trash hauler. What happens next?

info2024-12-16T08:36:14-06:00December 16th, 2024|

The city of Merriam is seeking a single citywide waste hauler. On Monday, the Merriam City Council unanimously approved an organized collection plan that outlines a request for proposals — a formal call for bids — for a contracted single waste hauler to serve the entire city. This comes after months of discussions, including three separate single waste hauler committee meetings, exploring what options are available for a citywide waste hauler. “We don’t know how much it’s going to cost, we don’t know who the hauler is going to be, and we won’t know that until we get those bids back,” [...]

Westwood voters will weigh in on controversial park sale, settling months-long dispute

info2024-12-16T08:34:37-06:00December 16th, 2024|

Residents of Westwood will vote this spring on the sale of a city park as part of a controversial commercial development project, a win for citizens who had pushed for the effort to get voter approval through a petition and a months-long legal battle. Westwood City Council members voted Thursday to put the question of whether the city would sell Joe D. Dennis Park before the public on the April 1 ballot. The election will take place by mail, city officials said. Source: KC Star Local News

Western Kansas farmers are wrestling with how to save their water source — and their future

info2024-12-16T08:33:25-06:00December 16th, 2024|

State lawmakers want farmers in western Kansas to take action by 2026 to halt declines in the Ogallala aquifer. But the region’s whole agriculture system is built to produce irrigated grain at a high volume. The state is asking them to slow the decline of the source of this hidden water – the Ogallala aquifer, which supports most of the economy and towns in western Kansas. The region relies on irrigation for agriculture, but after 70 years of pumping, that water source is starting to come up dry, causing concern. It’s been an ongoing debate over how this area will approach [...]

Wichita finds about 6,000 water lines that will need to replaced under new federal lead pipe rules

info2024-12-16T08:30:51-06:00December 16th, 2024|

The city of Wichita has alerted about 6,000 water customers that their pipes could be at higher risk for lead contamination and will need to be replaced under the federal government’s new lead pipe rules. The new rules, laid out by the Biden-Harris administration in October, require drinking water systems to identify and replace lead and some galvanized steel service lines between 2027 and 2037. Exposure to lead can harm children’s growth and development. Wichita completed an inventory of its water service lines in October, finding 16 lead pipes and 5,958 galvanized pipes that require replacement. Galvanized pipes are iron or [...]

Kansas does not have a dental school. How that could soon change

info2024-12-16T08:29:45-06:00December 16th, 2024|

In Kansas, over 70 counties are considered by the federal government to be a dental desert. It’s been a serious issue for decades. Dr. Gregory Hand, Wichita State University’s president and the dean of health professions, says the problem goes beyond dentistry. “We do have dentists that are here that are getting extra training, but in terms of having a dental school where students from colleges come in and train and get licensed as dentists, Kansas does not have that,” said Dr. Hand. That’s why WSU asked the Kansas Board of Regents for permission to ask the state for $5 million. [...]

‘It’s very emotional’: Shawnee County neighbors confront local leaders over plan to build new duplexes

info2024-12-16T08:28:25-06:00December 16th, 2024|

A group of neighbors and farmers in Shawnee County took a stand against the local government in a failed bid to keep an area of farmland from turning into new housing. Developers are looking to transform plots of land near Soldier Township into duplexes and new housing for locals in the Seaman School District. The move is not sitting well with some area residents who aired their frustrations at the Thursday, Dec. 12 Shawnee County Commission meeting. Source: KSNT 27 News

The Fed’s Game Plan on Interest-Rate Cuts Keeps Shifting

info2024-12-16T08:03:49-06:00December 16th, 2024|

Investors widely expect a third-in-a-row rate cut this week. Officials are ready to slow—or even stop—lowering rates after that. Source: Wall Street Journal

How much will city charge to park in Old Town and downtown? Council to revisit plan

info2024-12-15T09:20:10-06:00December 15th, 2024|

The city of Wichita plans to start charging visitors a dollar an hour to park in downtown Wichita and the Old Town entertainment district starting in summer 2025. Parking in those areas is free now, with a few exceptions. The Wichita City Council is expected to vote on whether to approve that plan for paid parking downtown at its meeting Tuesday. City Hall launched a public relations campaign in the summer after significant pushback to its announcement of the changes, but the new plan is essentially the same as the old plan. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ark City mulling pet registration program

info2024-12-15T09:18:42-06:00December 15th, 2024|

Arkansas City officials are considering animal registration requirements in response to concerns about loose pets and limited space at the Humane Society shelter. Loose and aggressive dogs roaming through neighborhoods has become a major problem. Some residents report that their own animals have been attacked and even killed. Others have been threatened by the animals. While the registration system won’t keep the animals from getting loose, it will help determine ownership and allow warnings or fines to be issued to the animals owners. Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Rose Hill seeks Purple Star designation

info2024-12-15T09:17:35-06:00December 15th, 2024|

At its school board meeting on Dec. 9, Rose Hill USD 394 officially started the process of becoming a Purple Star district. The school board approved a resolution in support of military-connected students and families to move forward with the district’s application (due Feb. 1, 2025). Through the Kansas State Department of Education, the Purple Star Designation is assigned to schools and districts that support military students. As part of its efforts, district staff is looking to enhance current measures in support of military families, with 136 military students (8.6%) currently enrolled in Rose Hill schools. Source: Derby Informer | Area