News – Page 888 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Westfall looks back on his 16 years in office as county commissioner

info2022-12-15T00:42:47-06:00December 15th, 2022|

George “Chip” Westfall offered sage advice for anyone who might be considering a run for local office. “Always listen,” he said. “You don’t have to discuss it in detail with them.” Westfall, who decided not to run again after serving four terms as a Harvey County commissioner, said it was hard to discuss an issue in detail with someone who appeared before commissioners. He said he tried to be friendly when he ran into somebody again because there’s no reason to be offensive. “You don’t have to become enemies and a lot of people think that you are,” he said. “Be [...]

Without enough drivers, Olathe schools to cancel certain bus routes on ‘blackout’ days

info2022-12-15T00:41:19-06:00December 15th, 2022|

Without enough bus drivers, the Olathe school district next month will begin eliminating routes on “blackout days,” requiring families to find alternative transportation on those days. The district has previously warned families that its bus driver shortage has reached an “all-time high.” Last week, officials said there is a “substantial waitlist of families unable to receive transportation, as well as several buses that regularly arrive up to 30 minutes late for pick up/drop off, impacting instructional time.” Source: KC Star Local News

City, county finally finalize tax rebate plan

info2022-12-15T08:24:04-06:00December 15th, 2022|

After weeks of discussion, Allen County commissioners signed on to Iola’s Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. The county will keep its tiered rebate reimbursement plan, while the three other participating entities will change theirs. That was a point of contention week after week, starting when Gregg Hutton, codes enforcement officer for Iola, asked for the change. The city’s hope is to boost housing construction by offering a full, 100% rebate for 10 years. The program works by rebating property taxes for homeowners who make improvements; the rebate applies only to the amount of taxes that were added because of those improvements. All participating [...]

New ‘downtown’ Park City expected to get off the ground in 2023

info2022-12-15T08:27:44-06:00December 15th, 2022|

Spurred by recent economic development growth in the area, a years-long effort to build a downtown district in Park City is expected to get off the ground in 2023 ... city officials say [it] will serve as a vibrant city center on 48 acres of city-owned land near the southeast corner of 61st Street and Hydraulic Avenue. Called Park Centre, the project includes initial plans for a central park, a 416-unit apartment complex, an 89-unit townhome complex, and 96,000 square feet of commercial space available for lease. Source: Wichita Business Journal

Law enforcement ‘taking a beating’, Emporia chief says

info2022-12-14T13:36:13-06:00December 14th, 2022|

Emporia’s Police Chief says law enforcement “has been taking a beating” over the last few years, but he’s “proud” to see new officers willing to serve. Ed Owens gave the keynote speech Friday at a commencement ceremony for the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in Lawrence. “The resilience of young people like we have today — it’s refreshing to me, my administration and everyone’s across the state and nation,“ Owens told a class of Basic Training graduates at the University of Kansas. Source: Emporia Gazette

Fed raises interest rates half a point to highest level in 15 years

info2022-12-14T13:35:25-06:00December 14th, 2022|

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its benchmark interest rate to the highest level in 15 years, indicating that the fight against inflation is not over yet despite some promising signs lately. Keeping with expectations, the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee voted to boost the overnight borrowing rate half a percentage point, taking it to a targeted range between 4.25% and 4.5%. The increase broke a string of four straight three-quarter point hikes, the most aggressive policy moves since the early 1980s. Along with the increase came an indication that officials expect to keep rates higher through next year, with no [...]

Kansas share of federal broadband cash in jeopardy because of ‘grossly inadequate’ map

info2022-12-14T13:34:15-06:00December 14th, 2022|

Kansas officials worry the state will lose part of its share of a $42.5 billion federal investment in broadband expansion because the Federal Communications Commission commissioned a “grossly inadequate” map of existing services. The map, released in late November, shows broadband is available everywhere in Kansas. The state faces a Jan. 13 deadline to challenge the map by encouraging residents to self-report discrepancies with it. The federal broadband investment is part of the massive infrastructure package Congress passed last year. Grant money will be allocated to states based on the need for broadband services. Staff members from the state broadband office explained [...]

Shawnee Mission ACT scores are declining

info2022-12-14T13:27:56-06:00December 14th, 2022|

Shawnee Mission’s ACT scores have been steadily declining over the last five years with the district’s average composite score down more than two points in that time. The district’s average ACT score of 21.3 remains above state and federal averages but essentially sits right at the cutoff of 21 used for admissions for Kansas Board of Regents schools, including KU and K-State. ... The class of 2022’s average composite ACT score in Shawnee Mission was 21.3, down from 23.8 for the Class of 2018, according to board documents. Why this could be happening: District administrators told the board there are several [...]

Wichita City Council considering new rules for renting following shooting

info2022-12-14T13:27:04-06:00December 14th, 2022|

After a shooting that killed one person and injured three others, the Wichita City Council is considering new rules for short-term rental properties. The goal of these changes is to hold the property owners accountable while making the neighborhoods safer. “Well, I definitely think they should, because there doesn't seem to be any teeth behind anything,” said a concerned Crown Heights resident. This man who didn't want to be identified lives near a short-term rental property on Battin Street. It's where a shooting in April of last year killed one man and injured three others. Source: KAKE - News

Fitch: Inflation to mount for U.S. water, sewer utilities in 2023

info2022-12-14T13:25:50-06:00December 14th, 2022|

Fitch Ratings says 2023 will bring a series of challenges that U.S. water and sewer utilities have not experienced in over a decade, according to Fitch Ratings’ 2023 outlook for the sector. Fitch Ratings’ 2023 sector outlook for U.S. water and sewer utilities is ‘Deteriorating’ and largely driven by rising inflation and a slowing U.S. economy, with Fitch economists calling for a mild recession around mid-2023. Next year will likely mark a second straight year of cost and capital pressures for water and sewer utilities, according to Senior Director and U.S. Water and Sewer Sector Head Audra Dickinson. “General inflationary pressures, [...]