News – Page 794 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Newton schools to be back in session

info2023-03-31T01:45:45-05:00March 31st, 2023|

Officials with the Newton school district will have classes back in session Friday, as an investigation continues into a breach of the district’s computer network. Classes were canceled for Wednesday and Thursday and most computers were taken offline as a precaution. The district said there is no evidence that any personal information of students was accessed, but the investigation is continuing. Classes will be back on a full schedule for Friday. Source: 101.3 KFDI

Design team unveils plans for new Hesston school building

info2023-03-30T20:03:03-05:00March 30th, 2023|

Security is a big part of the design of the new high/middle school plans, which were unveiled Wednesday night to a group of about 50 people at the Hesston High School auditorium. Some of the discussion referred to mass shootings like the one earlier this week at a school in Nashville. In response to the first question posed, Superintendent Kevin Logan said the new high/middle school would not have metal detectors. “We will also have a lot more camera coverage through the building than we do now,” he said. “We’re way under covered right now.” Source: Harvey County Now

Bill looking to ease process for out-of-state teachers to come to Kansas

info2023-03-31T10:59:53-05:00March 30th, 2023|

Kansas may soon be adding a new tool in the fight against the teacher shortage. According to the State's Department of Education, in the Fall of 2022, there were more than 1,600 vacancies across Kansas. "It's just going to continue to get worse if we don't do some things," said Tyson Eslinger, Deerfield USD 216 Superintendent. "It's getting to the point where there's things we want to be able to do for kids, and we want to be able to offer kids, but we don't have the bodies to do that." Lawmakers are looking at Senate Bill 66, which would provide [...]

Draft strategic plan sets goals for Douglas County to reach functional zero homelessness

info2023-03-30T19:58:24-05:00March 30th, 2023|

A draft strategic plan sets a goal of 2028 for Lawrence and Douglas County to achieve functional zero homelessness. The plan emphasizes equity, inclusion, and correcting imbalances of power. Douglas County commissioners heard a presentation on the draft Housing and Homelessness 5-Year Strategic Plan Wednesday afternoon during a work session. The commission doesn’t take action during work sessions, but staff aim to bring a final plan back to the commission in June. The roughly 30-page draft breaks the issues into five focus areas: Equity and Inclusion; Affordable Housing; Supportive Housing; Systems; and Emergency Shelter. Source: The Lawrence Times

Municipal Bond Trends for March 29, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-03-30T07:31:17-05:00March 30th, 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.

Kansas fire departments, agencies prepare for critical fire conditions

info2023-03-30T07:20:55-05:00March 30th, 2023|

Rodney Redinger has worked for the Kansas Forest Service for 20 years. He says amid critical fire danger concerns over the next few days, his office is working with the Office of the State Marshal and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management. He says given the severity of the conditions, much of the state is currently a tinderbox. "Anything that's, that's gonna cause a spark, right, is going to have devastating effects," Redinger said. Redinger says in addition to keeping firefighting aircraft on standby, 20 Kansas Forest Service coordinators are currently working with hundreds of fire departments on high alert. Source: [...]

Douglas County leaders defer decision on whether energy firm can do tests for large-scale solar project

info2023-03-30T07:16:25-05:00March 30th, 2023|

Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday deferred their decision on whether an energy firm may conduct testing for a potential large-scale solar project, and they and some members of the public were skeptical about the company’s claims that it didn’t know it needed a permit. The commission’s meeting room at the Douglas County Courthouse was packed full of residents on Wednesday night, many of whom came to speak out against industrial-scale solar energy projects in general. But the county leaders were specifically deciding whether to approve four permits for Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources to conduct utility-scale solar-related testing activity on seven properties [...]

Round two of Barton County facade grants launched

info2023-03-30T07:15:10-05:00March 30th, 2023|

The Barton County Commission Wednesday morning plunged into round two of its poplar Facade Improvement Grant Program that provides assistance for business owners wanting to refresh their store fronts. Six grants were awarded. “This is near and dear to my heart,” said commission Chairman Shawn Hutchinson, District 3. “I’m excited to get this going.”... “In 2021, the commission dedicated $630,000 to the facade improvement project,” County Administrator Matt Patzner said. Funds spent on completed projects totaled $369,390.43 with extended projects estimated at $229,009.45, and there is $31,600 from the original funding remaining. Source: Great Bend Tribune

Harvey County trying new technique to solve cracking on Halstead Road

info2023-03-30T07:14:17-05:00March 30th, 2023|

Harvey County Road and Bridge Superintendent Jim Meier said the county would be trying a new technique this summer for a vexing problem that has resurfaced again and again—how to keep cracks from returning on Halstead Road. Meier said the six-mile stretch between Southwest 36th Street to the county line had a history of lateral cracking in a relatively short period, especially compared to other roads. He said the cracks that appeared were wider than those that appeared on other road projects. That allows more water to penetrate the surface and new paving material. He said the water seeped into the [...]

Newton School District cancelled for second day due to network security breach

info2023-03-30T07:13:51-05:00March 30th, 2023|

The Newton School District announced it would cancel classes on Thursday as the district continues to deal with a network security incident. Classes are expected to resume Friday, according to the release sent out to parents. On Tuesday afternoon, the district reported it was having an Internet outage and in the evening sent out a release stating that it detected a network security incident affecting certain systems within its network. The release stated that it notified law enforcement as well as began working with third-party forensic specialists to investigate the extent, cause and origin of the breach. Source: Harvey County Now