News – Page 755 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Facility study, potential building recommendations ahead for USD 251 Board of Education special meeting Wednesday

info2023-04-26T09:18:15-05:00April 26th, 2023|

Facility matters are ahead for the USD 251 North Lyon County Board of Education. The board has a special meeting at 6 pm Wednesday. The foundation of the meeting — pun intended — is a 30-page facility study recently conducted by G Kent Stewart of Manhattan, including enrollment trends, building overviews, maintenance and results from past referendums on new school facilities over the past decade. Board members will discuss those items, as well as the survey’s recommendations — maintaining the capital outlay levy and considering a new engineering study or follow-up study of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems — as [...]

Beer, airports and license plates: Topeka wanted these laws. Here’s how they impact you.

info2023-04-26T09:03:18-05:00April 26th, 2023|

Some changes are coming to the capital city — if you like to drink beer, flash your license plate or fly from an airport, that is. The capital city will be affected by three bills Gov. Laura Kelly signed into law in the past week, all of which were promoted by Topeka or Shawnee County officials as important to the city and region. One is designed to allow a better experience for public alcohol consumption, while another would create a license plate emblazoned with the Topeka city flag. A third would allow the city's two major airports to more easily be [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for April 25, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-04-26T07:51:57-05:00April 26th, 2023|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. 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, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.

Lawrence school board opposed to 4-day week in the near future

info2023-04-26T07:45:26-05:00April 26th, 2023|

Switching to a four-day student/five-day staff school week could save the Lawrence school district money and provide more plan time for teachers, according to some staff members, but it raises equity concerns for families and students. School board members said Monday they don’t believe the district in the near future will be ready to consider the switch. Jayci Roberson and Jessica Rohrberg, co-chairs of the district’s calendar committee, presented to the board during Monday’s meeting. They shared a report of the committee’s work on the four-day student/five-day staff week, which will not be implemented next year but may be considered for [...]

Families ask City to allow their pets

info2023-04-26T07:43:34-05:00April 26th, 2023|

Jessica Grigoreva addressed the Newton City Commission on Tuesday night, asking that the city let her family keep its potbellied pig. Potbellied pigs are not allowed in the city, and she would have to give the pig up if the current ordinance was enforced. “We’ve had her for two years, and she is part of our family,” she said. “We love her a lot.” Source: Harvey County Now

New book explores interesting facts, places to visit in Kansas

info2023-04-26T07:20:06-05:00April 26th, 2023|

There are some facts about the Sunflower State many people don’t know. Although the author of the newly released book, “Secret Kansas: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure,” lives in Goodland, she has traveled throughout the state finding out about an insect museum, the first airplane that didn’t fly and the 1879 tornado that might have inspired “The Wizard of Oz.” “I like to find out little stories that people don’t know about,” said Roxie Yonkey, the author of “Secret Kansas.” “And I get to the joy of finding out this secret, like whoever knew this.” Source: Hutch News

Lenexa installs new electric vehicle chargers

info2023-04-26T07:17:34-05:00April 26th, 2023|

Electric vehicle owners can now conveniently charge their cars while working out, attending a meeting or enjoying a meal on the Lenexa civic campus. The City of Lenexa recently installed four electric vehicle chargers in the Lenexa civic campus parking garage. They’re located just south of the garage’s Winchester Street entrance. Source: City of Lenexa

Here’s what ‘smart’ traffic signals in east Wichita corridor could mean for drivers

info2023-04-26T07:16:57-05:00April 26th, 2023|

By the end of 2024, some traffic signals in east Wichita will be equipped with radios that allow them to communicate back and forth with smart vehicles. “Right now, it’s really nothing more than letting a driver know when a signal is about to change, which should provide a safer environment and help drivers make better decisions,” Public Works Director Gary Janzen said. The high-tech signals will be installed on Greenwich Road from Central to Kellogg. Janzen said eventually, signals may be able to advise drivers what the optimum speed is to hit more green lights along the corridor. The new [...]

USD 501 will be first in Kansas to offer district-wide free lunches

info2023-04-26T07:16:31-05:00April 26th, 2023|

Topeka USD 501 will offer free lunches to all students starting next school year - and it's the first district in Kansas to do so outside of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicole Jahnke, USD 501's general director of child nutritional services, said the idea behind providing students with free lunches is to eliminate lunchroom inequity. Jahnke said it's an every day mission to offer nutritious food to all students, regardless of their socioeconomic background. "If you have a child in primary school and they have breakfast and lunch with us, they'll be saving just under $700 a year per student," Jahnke said. [...]

Significant Kansas drought affecting farmers and consumers

info2023-04-26T07:16:13-05:00April 26th, 2023|

Since last year, the state of Kansas has experienced a drought. This drought is one of the most significant the Sunflower State has seen in quite some time. While the drought is more so affecting the western part of the state, that doesn't mean we're not feeling it right here in northeast Kansas. Last month was one of the driest months that Kansas has seen in 128 years. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the state only saw an average of 0.54 inches in total precipitation. That's down 1.51 inches from normal. "March was the 14th driest month since [...]