News – Page 465 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

This southwest Kansas newspaper printing press is an oasis in an expanding news desert

info2024-04-17T12:15:07-05:00April 17th, 2024|

Print media is struggling in many areas, but it survives in 15 towns thanks to a printing press still churning out newspapers in Liberal, Kansas. The light blue machine takes up most of a warehouse, about the size of a school bus, with newspapers flying through different pulleys as ink is applied. At medium speed, it can spit out 500 papers per minute. Danny Morua, the pressman for almost 20 years, makes a small adjustment, and within seconds is pushing a new roll of paper that weighs 700 pounds back onto the mechanism. “Me casa is su casa," Morua said while [...]

Wichita could go to a stage-two drought in mid-late summer if more rainfall doesn’t come

info2024-04-17T12:13:42-05:00April 17th, 2024|

Water restrictions may come as soon as mid to late summer if we don't get rain soon. The city of Wichita says if Cheney Lake levels don't get higher, you might not be able to water your lawn as often. Right now, the lake is 3% points away from the city having to go to a stage-two drought based on a 12-month average. “I've been out there. It's, it's a little jarring to see it so low, and to know that that's where the city water comes from., and to see it dwindling in that way,” said Homeowner Jonathan Peters. The [...]

Hoisington teacher wins ‘Wheel of Fortune’

info2024-04-17T12:12:31-05:00April 17th, 2024|

A middle school English teacher in Hoisington, Kiley Klug, took her language skills to the big stage, winning "Wheel of Fortune." "At the end of the day, it didn't really matter how much I won or if I won; I just wanted to experience that and check it off my bucket list," Klug said. Klug says being a middle school English teacher, she loves all word games. She applied multiple times before getting her shot. After she got the "yes" she'd been waiting for, she began thinking of logistics. Klug says as a teacher, she wasn't sure what they would be able to afford. "We [...]

City puts resources into affordable housing for disabled residents

info2024-04-17T12:10:34-05:00April 17th, 2024|

A Wichita apartment complex that houses people who are low-income and disabled is in the process of rebuilding. On Tuesday, the Wichita City Council approved industrial revenue bonds for a sales tax exemption for the rebuild at The Timbers. The apartment complex is knocking down its older units built in the 1970s to create new ones that follow updated ADA guidelines. What the City did Tuesday was grant The Timbers $13 million worth of industrial revenue bonds for a sales tax exemption. In simpler terms, that means they don't have to pay sales tax on supplies they buy for their renovation project. Having the [...]

Need a job? City of Wichita has 293 positions open

info2024-04-17T12:09:33-05:00April 17th, 2024|

The City of Wichita is hosting a career fair from 1- 4 p.m. on Monday, April 22, at the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas, 2021 N. Amidon, Suite 1100. Applications will be accepted for all job openings, and staff will be on hand from the following departments to answer questions: Airport Police and Fire; Fire; Information Technology; MAPD (Metropolitan Area Planning Department); Municipal Court; Park & Recreation; Police; Public Works & Utilities; and Wichita Transit. The City has 293 open positions across its departments, including multiple seasonal opportunities. To learn more and apply for a job, visit www.wichita.gov/jobs. Source: KSN-TV

Governor calls tax plan ‘too expensive’; expert weighs in

info2024-04-17T12:07:40-05:00April 17th, 2024|

Gov. Laura Kelly is weighing in on a tax package sent to her desk, which includes a slew of tax cuts. The package received bipartisan support in the Senate, with one Democrat voting in favor of the plan, and it passed unanimously in the House. However, Gov. Kelly said Tuesday that her initial interpretation of the bill is that it's 'too expensive.' "I think what I said when it got passed, though, is it's a little out of the ballpark. It's too expensive so I really need to take a look at that and have some serious conversations with my budget people looking [...]

City looks at plans to restore buildings destroyed in April 2023 storm

info2024-04-17T12:06:15-05:00April 17th, 2024|

Chanute city commissioners looked at plans from owners of four buildings in downtown Chanute destroyed by a storm in early April 2023. Buildings the commission reviewed at last Monday’s meeting were 23/25 W. Main,; 29 W. Main; 101 S. Grant; and 313 E. Main. Commissioners looked at a packet of plans for each property and also heard from some owners. The city hired Keystone KC Engineering, LLC in order to develop studies for each of the buildings. City Manager Todd Newman said the owner of 23/25 W. Main has a plan to replace the building. The owner, who lives in New [...]

Riley County no longer requiring licenses for pets in unincorporated areas.

info2024-04-17T12:05:13-05:00April 17th, 2024|

Most pets are no longer required to be licensed in unincorporated Riley County. Riley County commissioners on Monday adopted an animal control resolution that included changes to the licensing policy. “We removed the licensing requirement for just general pets,” deputy county counselor Shelley Woodard said. “There’s still a licensing requirement for potentially dangerous animals — dogs and things that are just more rare.” Another change relates to animals that are kept tied or chained up. “One of the issues with tethering is making sure they had access to food and water,” Woodard said. That’s required under the new rules. Negotiations also [...]

Newman, Garden City CC expand collaboration to battle Kansas education desert

info2024-04-17T12:04:29-05:00April 17th, 2024|

One of Wichita's universities is expanding its resources in southwest Kansas. The aim is to alleviate southwest Kansas' higher-education desert while also keeping them near home to enter the professional workforce. That's what is behind a collaboration between Garden City Community College, a 2-year school, and four-year Newman University based in Wichita. The schools are working beyond their two-decade startup effort to offer elementary education degrees to Garden City students and expanding to degree programs in business, agribusiness and nursing. The city and business community benefit by having a better chance of keeping young adults in the area, said Jessica Bird, [...]

City approves resolution revising how incentives will be funded for housing projects

info2024-04-17T12:03:09-05:00April 17th, 2024|

The Manhattan City Commission on Tuesday revised a recent decision to provide incentives for low-income housing projects, seeking state tax credits. Commissioners debated three options, ultimately selecting a resolution that involves covering the project’s building permit and water/sewer connection fees without specifying the exact funding source. Commissioners had previously opted to utilize workforce housing funds for most of it and cover the remainder with economic development funds. Commissioner Peter Oppelt supported not specifying where the money comes from, noting it’s not that important. The incentives are aimed at helping the Sunflower Flats and Cypress Ridge projects have better standing for its [...]