News – Page 771 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Osawatomie to launch ‘Third Saturday’ campaign with downtown block party

info2023-04-13T10:25:00-05:00April 13th, 2023|

Downtown Osawatomie will be a happening place to be Saturday, April 15, during the city’s first “Third Saturday” block party. Main Street will be blocked off from Fifth to Sixth streets from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. during the event, which will include early activities from 4 to 7 p.m. like pickleball and cornhole tournaments, children’s street games, children’s bicycle parade and bike course, Nine Square, board games, and the Bull Creek BBQ food truck. Source: Local News | republic-online.com

USD 232 enrollment expected to boom — Here are the schools most impacted

info2023-04-13T10:23:35-05:00April 13th, 2023|

Starside Elementary in De Soto and Mill Creek Middle School in Lenexa are expected to both be over capacity by the 2027-2028 school year with growth booming on the western side of USD 232. That’s according to an enrollment analysis from school planning firm RSP Associates presented to the USD 232 school board earlier this month. The report outlined how new residential growth, the addition of a new Panasonic EV battery plant and other expected investments on the old Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in De Soto could draw in more residents and lead to more growth in the district’s student population. Source: [...]

North Lawrence camp residents say violence and chaos is increasing, and the new fence hasn’t helped

info2023-04-13T10:20:48-05:00April 13th, 2023|

People living at the city-run campsite in North Lawrence say they’re struggling with increased interlopers, assaults, theft and drug activity in the week since the city installed a fence intended to prevent visitors, and a woman said she was raped at the camp on Sunday. Tension, anger and fear at the campsite are increasing. At times, the feeling hanging over the camp is a foreboding one, said Jenn Adams — known as the “camp mom” — who has experienced violence while living outside before. “I felt safer out at Sandra Shaw after my throat had been cut than I do here [...]

Giant solar power generation facility proposed just north of Lawrence

info2023-04-13T10:19:24-05:00April 13th, 2023|

A division of oil giant Royal Dutch Shell is proposing to build a solar energy facility covering more than a square mile just north of Lawrence, near Midland Junction. The “Kansas Sky Energy Center” would supply electrical power to local utility Evergy Inc., which would ultimately own the facility. Savion LLC, based in Kansas City, said it has acquired more than 1,100 acres of land — currently used as farmland — on which to build the giant solar array. It said the solar collection equipment would cover as much as 734 acres of the land. Source: The Lawrence Times

City manager: Aggieville requesting $25K for gift card promotion

info2023-04-13T10:16:28-05:00April 13th, 2023|

Manhattan city manager Ron Fehr said he’s received a special funding request from the Aggieville Business Association to attract visitors back to the entertainment district. Fehr told Manhattan city commissioners Tuesday evening that he recently received a letter from the ABA board requesting $25,000 for use in a promotion that ABA officials think would bring people back to Aggieville, following months of construction projects in and out of the district. Fehr said the promotion would consist of $25,000 being spread out over 400 to 500 prepaid cards that would be available to Aggieville patrons either through direct purchase or some sort [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for April 12, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-04-13T08:11:46-05:00April 13th, 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.

Sedan Police Department calls out ‘Pothole Bandits’ after creative prank

info2023-04-12T21:39:44-05:00April 12th, 2023|

A pop of color on Montgomery Street isn’t a welcome sight for city workers in Sedan. In a lighthearted post alerting residents to “be on the lookout,” the Sedan Police Department reports “mysterious growth sprouting from several potholes.” The unidentified culprits who filled potholes with plants are dubbed “The Pothole Bandits” by police. While Sedan police acknowledge the humor and creativity, they’re calling for the beautification effort to stop. Source: KWCH

New path to teaching: KSDE to pilot educator apprenticeship program

info2023-04-13T07:17:49-05:00April 12th, 2023|

Ten candidates will this fall pilot a potential apprenticeship program that could be one of the best solutions to a rise in Kansas’ teacher vacancies. The Kansas State Board of Education on Tuesday heard an update on a pilot for teaching registered apprenticeship program that will tentatively start this fall. Shane Carter, director of licensure at the Kansas State Department of Education, said the program, if advanced past the pilot stage, is one of the most promising avenues he’s seen to help Kansas school districts grapple with increases in educator vacancies and a trickling pipeline of new teacher candidates. Source: CJonline

Thousands of New Yorkers tried to win free trip to Topeka

info2023-04-13T08:45:48-05:00April 12th, 2023|

More than 2,000 residents of the Big Apple entered a contest to win a free trip for four to Topeka. The 2,024 people entered the giveaway by Visit Topeka and Kansas Tourism after New York Mayor Eric Adams made comments Feb. 27 belittling the position of Topeka's mayor. "I’d like to express my gratitude for the thousands of New Yorkers who’ve expressed interest in Topeka and Kansas and want to learn more about our great capital city,” said Sean Dixon, president of Visit Topeka, on Wednesday. Visit Topeka has randomly chosen the winner's name and is in the process of contacting [...]

Supply issues impact vehicle purchases for Saline County

info2023-04-12T12:22:22-05:00April 12th, 2023|

The lingering effects of automobile industry shortages have left their mark in Saline County, most recently through the bid process for new vehicles in the county’s Sheriff’s Office. Low inventory has left local automobile dealers without the capability to supply entities that go out to bid with a more immediate need for a vehicle. Dealers are now saying that in order to ensure vehicle availability, they should be ordered in the last quarter of the year prior to the year a vehicle is needed. So, if the county wants new vehicles in 2024, dealers are suggesting the county gets bids to [...]