News – Page 564 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Wichita city council to vote on ‘retaliatory eviction’ ordinance

info2023-12-06T10:06:42-06:00December 6th, 2023|

Incidents of retaliation against tenants by landlords are catching the eye of the Wichita city council. "We are aware of a couple of slum lords that continue to do these things," says District 1 city council member Brandon Johnson. "And unfortunately, there's only state law, but there's no state enforcement. And that's why we're looking at trying to do something on the local level to give some form of municipal justice to this injustice." The council is set to vote on a proposed ordinance to fine landlords found to be using retaliatory practices. The fine would begin at $250 on the [...]

Macksville library program fills preschoolers with happiness

info2023-12-06T10:02:31-06:00December 6th, 2023|

The Macksville City Library hosted 21 excited local preschool students in the new library addition recently to celebrate Kansas Reads to Preschoolers month. This initiative takes place each November as part of a statewide project through the State Library of Kansas to ensure that all public libraries in the state promote early literacy. The featured book for 2023, “My Heart Fills With Happiness,” by Monique Gray Smith, was a perfect read-aloud during Native American Heritage Month, with its spotlight on Native American family life and culture. Thanks to a $400 donation from the Midwest Energy Community Fund, the Macksville City Library [...]

Arkansas City police chief Eric Burr retiring after three decades in law enforcement

info2023-12-06T09:58:17-06:00December 6th, 2023|

After nearly three decades serving in various capacities with the Arkansas City Police Department, Chief Eric Burr has announced his retirement, effective January 1. Burr has been with the department since 1996, initially as a patrol officer, and then working his way up to becoming the D.A.R.E. Officer for Arkansas City schools, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, accreditation manager for CALEA (the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies), and support services captain before becoming Chief in 2021. Burr began his journey in law enforcement in 1993, when he worked for the City as an assistant code enforcement officer while also attending Butler [...]

How a movie shot 40 years ago in Kansas changed the trajectory of the nuclear arms race

info2023-12-06T09:46:29-06:00December 6th, 2023|

More than 100 million people gathered around their television sets 40 years ago to watch a mushroom cloud rise over a Midwestern town. The ABC broadcast of "The Day After" was one of the most watched television movies of all time. The film won two Emmy Awards, was nominated for 10 others and is widely credited with changing public opinion about the arms race during the Cold War. The grim portrayal of the aftermath of a full-scale nuclear war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union shook up audiences at the time. The message even reached then-President Ronald Reagan. "It has [...]

Wichita approves spending to ensure there aren’t any lead pipes in water system

info2023-12-06T13:22:02-06:00December 6th, 2023|

The City of Wichita is taking an inventory of its water system. City Council members approved spending nearly half a million dollars to finish that process. One goal is to make sure there aren't any lead pipes in the city's water system. In 2021, the EPA introduced requirements water utilities have to meet by October of next year. That includes requiring cities to identify which pipes have lead in them. The City of Wichita has started looking for lead pipes that might still be in the system. The City has been replacing lead lines since the 90s as they found them but has [...]

Wichita to spend nearly $10 million to increase police pay, boost recruitment

info2023-12-06T13:22:11-06:00December 6th, 2023|

Wichita Police Department officers are set to be among the best paid law enforcement officers in Kansas. The Wichita City Council approved nearly $10 million in unplanned pay hikes and bonuses over the next two years while increasing investment in a rewards program that police consulting firm Jensen Hughes said should be ended. In exchange, the Fraternal Order of Police has agreed to implement one Jensen Hughes recommendation, no longer requiring the city to let officers review an entire internal-investigation file before answering questions about their conduct. That change will remain in effect until the end of next year, when a new FOP contract [...]

Two equipment failures caused sewage water to pour into Wichita creek, spiking E. coli

info2023-12-06T09:42:20-06:00December 6th, 2023|

Two failures at a Wichita sewage site caused 1.7 million gallons of sewage to overflow into a nearby creek, spiking the levels of E. coli in the water, Wichita Public Works and Utilities Director Gary Janzen said Tuesday. “There’s no public health risk expected but residents are being urged to stay out of the creek and pond areas and keep their pets away from the water,” he said. “There’s no public health risk to the city’s drinking water or anyone walking or living by the creek, nor is there any anticipated impact to aquatic life or local wildlife.” A resident reported [...]

Fitness installation planned for city park named after Wichita veteran

info2023-12-06T09:32:29-06:00December 6th, 2023|

A park in Wichita’s North End named after a Hispanic veteran from the neighborhood is on track to be developed after sitting empty for 14 years. The park, at 25th Street and Wellington, will have fitness equipment, artificial turf and a flagpole to honor veterans. “I just know that the whole thing would mean a lot to my dad. Being a North Ender, a Hispanic and a veteran,” Patrick Garcia II said in a phone call. “That checks all the micro groups that one can be a part of and this thing would just put a really put a giant smile [...]

100 electric scooters, child car seats, other items pulled from Arkansas River in Wichita

info2023-12-06T09:31:27-06:00December 6th, 2023|

About 100 electric scooters, roughly 50 skateboards, child car seats, shopping carts, bicycles, light fixtures, speakers and other items were pulled from the Arkansas River near downtown Wichita last week. The city lowered the river roughly 2 feet to make “some minor modifications to the fish ladder/boat pass in order to reduce long term sediment build-up,” the city said in a news release. Veo took advantage of the lowered river to get out its rental scooters and other items. Veo operations manager Steven Miller said they also had volunteers from Boats & Bikes and Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams help with the [...]

Frontenac’s new mayor and councilman get to work

info2023-12-06T09:29:53-06:00December 6th, 2023|

As soon as they were sworn in, Steve Morrison and Nick Hansen got to work. Morrison begins his two-year term as mayor, replacing David Fornelli, while Hansen has taken Mike Snow’s position as a councilman for the First Ward for the next four years. First up on the agenda was approving payment of the first $750 annual membership fee in the Southeast Kansas Library System. Library Director Seth Nutt said this is the first step in getting the library operational as it allows him to access software to process and label the 6,000 books the library currently holds. Nutt said there will [...]