Think the roads look trashy? MoDOT and KDOT say they don’t like it either and they’re looking for workers to help

The departments of transportation for both Missouri and Kansas want you to know — they see it, too. Officials with MoDOT and KDOT have been getting call after call from people all complaining about the same thing — trash. And, they don’t like it either. But it’s not an easy fix right now. Officials with KDOT say most of the state’s complaints come from the Kansas City core metro area where there’s a high volume of traffic. In Missouri, officials said the department spends more than $1 million on cleanup in our area alone each year, but it’s not enough. “Across the state, we’re facing a staffing shortage that impacts our litter pickup efforts,” said Matt Killion, Assistant District Engineer for MoDOT. Both departments are facing the same problem — they don’t have enough workers to pick up all of the trash.
Source: KMBC.com

Ranson Financial2022-04-05T01:14:23-05:00April 5, 2022|News|

29 buildings to be razed for Topeka viaduct

Plans call for 29 buildings to go under the wrecking ball to clear the way for the project, aimed at eliminating a sharp curve atop the Polk-Quincy Viaduct on Interstate 70 in downtown Topeka. A chart and map sharing the details were provided to The Capital-Journal by the Kansas Department of Transportation, which remains in the process of acquiring those properties. “Due to ongoing negotiations, we cannot provide information about what was paid for the properties,” said Kelly Kultala, KDOT’s public affairs manager for northeast Kansas. KDOT plans “total acquisition” of 41 properties, it said.
Source: CJonline

Ranson Financial2022-04-04T07:52:43-05:00April 4, 2022|News|

Making downtown thrive: A new stage means more things to enjoy for Salinans

Making downtown thrive is a high priority for Salina Downtown. Last week, the organization came one step closer to helping Santa Fe Avenue remain a thriving artery – they moved onto the downtown street. … Along with the city, Salina Downtown is helping to open up a performance stage at Santa Fe Avenue and Ash Street. This stage is expected to open May 6, with a Salina Arts and Humanities event. On May 7, Visit Salina will have the sculpture unwrap event, featuring 23 sculptures.
Source: Salina Journal

Ranson Financial2022-04-04T07:51:21-05:00April 4, 2022|News|

See the celebration in downtown Lawrence as fans celebrate KU Final Four victory

The University of Kansas men’s basketball team is moving onto the NCAA National Championship game. Here’s a look at some of the scenes from downtown Lawrence on Saturday as KU beat Villanova in the national semifinal game. Check back for more updates as tens of thousands of fans are expected in the downtown area following the KU game.
Source: LJWorld.com

Ranson Financial2022-04-04T07:42:07-05:00April 4, 2022|News|

Markets will be looking for clues from the Fed ahead, as historically strong month gets underway

The stock market is heading into what promises to be a volatile second quarter, but April is traditionally the best month of the year for stocks. The major indices were higher in March, but they turned in a weak performance for the first quarter, the worst since the pandemic. Investors have been worried about rising interest rates, the war in Ukraine and inflation, which was made even worse by disruptions in commodities exports from both Russia and Ukraine. … The Dow was off 4.6% for the first quarter, while the S&P 500 was down 5%. The worst performer by far was the Nasdaq, down 9.1%. In the past week, the Dow and S&P were slightly negative while the Nasdaq was flat. Interest rates also moved dramatically during the quarter, with the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield temporarily touching a high of 2.55% in the past week, after starting the quarter at 1.51%. On Friday… the 2-year yield, which most reflects Fed policy, was at 2.43%. The 2-year was yielding 0.73% at the beginning of the year.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

Ranson Financial2022-04-04T07:08:49-05:00April 4, 2022|News|

New medical school getting ready for first class in downtown Wichita

A new medical school that will open in downtown Wichita this summer has received around 1,500 applications for its first class. The Kansas Health Science Center – Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine will have 85 students in its first class, which begins work in August. Construction on the school is almost complete in the former State Office Building complex at 217 East Douglas. KHSC president Tiffany Masson and Associate Dean Richard Winslow talked to reporters Thursday during Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple’s weekly media briefing. Masson said Kansas-based students will have the opportunity to do clinical rotation in Kansas and they will have residence opportunities in the state. She said that would create a 60 to 70 percent chance of retaining medical talent in Kansas. The school has 37 faculty members and over 60 employees, and it expects to have around 99 full-time and part-time employees by the time classes begin.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2022-04-04T01:01:33-05:00April 4, 2022|News|

Emporia eyes skatepark upgrades

The city of Emporia expressed support for improvements to the Southwest Santa Fe Skateboard Park, as commissioners reviewed renderings of the project Wednesday afternoon. The skateboard park received an anonymous $250,000 donation last year to make improvements and updates. The donation came after Maddox Gutierrez, a local teenager, petitioned the city to make improvements to the park. The city will review renderings from American Ramp Company and pricing quotes for construction. According to its web site, American Ramp Company has been in the action sports park business for more than 20 years.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Ranson Financial2022-04-04T06:48:29-05:00April 4, 2022|News|

Lyon County tax collections up 16%

Lyon County appears to be doing well financially, based on a report to the county commission Thursday. County Controller Dan Williams said sales tax collections are up 16% from the first three months of 2021. But Chair Rollie Martin admitted there are different ways of looking at that. “It might be a little bit of an inflation factor, too,” Martin said. Collections in March totaled about $267,000. That’s $40,000 more than last year. The commission also discussed changing some language in its employee policy manual about harassment complaints. “It was recommended to us by a consultant that… everybody has the opportunity to go directly to the H.R. (Human Resources) person or the county counselor,” Martin said.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Ranson Financial2022-04-04T00:54:57-05:00April 4, 2022|News|

Bourbon County signs agreement to save on natural gas

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday approved an agreement with a consultant that could help the county save money on natural gas. Commissioners approved a motion by Commissioner Clifton Beth to have Commission Chairman Jim Harris sign a letter of exclusive representation for Hamlin Energy. The county can revoke the agreement at any time with a letter to the firm, officials said.
Source: Fort Scott Tribune

Ranson Financial2022-04-04T06:53:40-05:00April 4, 2022|News|

How Kansas could lose billions in land values as its underground water runs dry

In increasingly dry western Kansas, underground water makes everything possible. Irrigation for crops. Stock water for cattle. Drinking water for towns. In all, the Ogallala Aquifer provides 70-80% of water used by Kansans each day. So how much is all that water worth? A recent study from Kansas State University says the aquifer under western Kansas increases land values by nearly $4 billion. But those billions are drying up at an accelerating rate. Aquifer water levels across western and central Kansas dropped by more than a foot on average this past year. That’s the biggest single-year decrease since 2015, according to the Kansas Geological Survey’s annual report.
Source: KCUR News

Ranson Financial2022-04-04T00:48:57-05:00April 4, 2022|News|

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