News – Page 571 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Trying to save an ER in rural Kansas

info2023-11-20T11:01:33-06:00November 20th, 2023|

When the emergency room in Fort Scott, Kansas, closes next month, the next closest in-state facility will be 40 minutes away — and some patients may not make it that far. Mayor Matthew Wells says the closure shows the need for the Kansas Legislature to pass Medicaid expansion. When Fort Scott, Kansas' Mercy Hospital closed in early 2019, the community of 7,550 people in southeast Kansas briefly lost its emergency room. Mayor Matthew Wells remembers the time without an ER clearly. Now, his town is once again in that position after the community’s stand-alone ER closed, leaving residents to travel at [...]

Kansas City, Kansas, has a new strategic plan for balancing development and history

info2023-11-20T10:59:47-06:00November 20th, 2023|

Urban sprawl and decades of disinvestment have created a strain on Kansas City, Kansas' ability to grow a healthy and vibrant community. A new long-range comprehensive plan aims to reverse that trend through strategic investment and intentional development. PlanKCK will focus on 11 elements — including economic development, transit access, historic preservation, and housing — in an effort to make strategic decisions that balance equity, access, health and regeneration. "They want access to attainable housing, reliable transportation, childcare, all of those things that make community vibrant," said Alyssa Marcy, long range community planner for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. [...]

Hungry for ‘braised urban squirrel’? A Lawrence, Kansas, cook-off will star wild foods

info2023-11-20T10:58:32-06:00November 20th, 2023|

Squirrel, elderberries and pawpaws aren't usually the stars of Kansas cuisine. But they — and other ingredients found in the Kansas outdoors — are taking center stage at Wild Foods Cook Off in Lawrence this weekend. Amy Bousman, an education specialist at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and organizer of the event, said the idea came from a similar event focused on invasive species in Oregon. "I thought, why aren't we doing this cook-off with wild foods?" she said. "There's so many hunters and anglers and foragers in our state, and also in Missouri, that aren't getting to feature their skills and [...]

What is the Ogallala Aquifer and why is it running out of water?

info2023-11-20T10:46:43-06:00November 20th, 2023|

Millions of years ago, sediment from the Rocky Mountains was deposited in the High Plains. Over thousands of years, water dripped below the surface creating an underground water deposit called the Ogallala Aquifer. The water — which spans from South Dakota to Texas and was once the size of Lake Huron — at one point accounted for 30% of the crop and animal production in the U.S. Kansas accounts for about 10% of the water in the Aquifer, the third most of the eight states that can access the water. The Ogallala aquifer is the principal source of water for agriculture [...]

North Newton to light up the sky

info2023-11-20T10:43:27-06:00November 20th, 2023|

North Newton might set the heavens aglow this holiday season because there will be a Holiday Lighting Competition for businesses and residences. “Bethel College approached me back in May, really wanting to gain some excitement and some spirit around the holiday season before students are sent back home,” City Administrator Kyle Fiedler told the North Newton City Council during its regular monthly Monday night meeting. “This also came from my first year here. The tree on Main Street that was lit up, I think a lot of customers enjoyed that. We wanted to try to encourage that, and we never came [...]

Wichita to consider ordinance to fine landlords that retaliate

info2023-11-20T11:18:38-06:00November 20th, 2023|

The Wichita City Council will consider fines of $250 up to $2,500 for landlords that evict tenants for complaining about living conditions. "You have to keep paying your rent. That's state statute," said Brandon Johnson. But Johnson wants the city to help people who pay their rent and still have unfair living conditions. He explains the proposed city ordinance would stop landlord retaliation, where he says some are getting kicked out while still paying rent. "The hope is that it makes a difference permanently," said Johnson. "There are landlords right now that have been trying to evict folks and actually evicting them just for [...]

Firefighters save Shawnee Co. horse trapped in mud

info2023-11-20T10:37:40-06:00November 20th, 2023|

It's a sticky situation one Shawnee County woman will never forget. One of the horses she watches after on her property in Berryton found himself stuck in the mud on Wednesday evening. Without the help of one of her other horses, Amy Bermudez may not have found him as quickly as she did. "It was dark, 6 o'clock when I go to get the horses in, and I call for Cooper, the victim, and he doesn't come," Bermudez told KSNT News. "So I go to get my other horse that's out in the yard, and when I go to get her, she normally [...]

Ribbon cutting honors Walter Johnson’s new birthplace marker in Humboldt

info2023-11-20T11:19:25-06:00November 20th, 2023|

A ribbon cutting in southeast Kansas honors the "Humboldt Thunderbolt." That's legendary, 1924 World Series Champion Walter Johnson. He was a pitcher with the Washington Senators from 1907 to 1927. A sign along US 169 as you enter Humboldt from the south, has honored the city as Johnson's birthplace for several years. But, now it has a fresh new look. Allie Utley's grandfather, Dick Davis, created the original marker. She felt like it was her duty to upgrade the sign. "Seemed obvious that I should be doing a project that also included my family's legacy, so I just think I felt really compelled by the [...]

Simple economics giving a major boost to Emporia sales tax collections

info2023-11-20T11:20:01-06:00November 20th, 2023|

The City of Emporia’s sales tax collections have been on the rise throughout the past year according to Treasurer Janet Harouff. ...Harouff noted the city collections have increased steadily each month this year putting the city seven percent above where it was this same time last year with a total of $5.3 million collected as of October. When asked what is contributing to this steady increase, Harouff explained it is simple economics. When asked if a decrease in inflation would mean a dip in city collections, Harouff stated that would be dependent on whether or not product makers lower their prices. She says [...]

Johnson County looks to convert abandoned factory into trail hub

info2023-11-20T10:08:33-06:00November 20th, 2023|

Johnson County officials are looking to convert the old Kuhlman Diecasting plant at 159th and Mission into a trail hub. Photo credit Roxie Hammill. Thirty years ago, the old Kuhlman Diecasting plant just south of 159th Street and Mission Road was abandoned, gradually becoming a toxic eyesore and a danger to the school children who made it their forbidden playground. Now, after years of frustration, the plant’s demolition and environmental clean up, local officials are considering making the site a trail hub that would connect bike and nature trails in the area and, they hope, improve the Blue River watershed. Johnson [...]