Kansas House debates property tax transparency measure after Senate overwhelmingly approves it

A transparency bill that would hold local elected officials accountable for increasing property taxes is working its way through the Kansas House. The Kansas Senate voted 34-1 in favor of the “Truth in Taxation” bill, which would require local government bodies to inform the public about any property tax revenue increases regardless if the increase is a result of a millage hike. Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a similar bill during the last session and because of COVID-19, lawmakers didn’t have time to attempt an override.
Source: Atchison Globe Now

Ranson Financial2021-02-02T08:19:03-06:00February 2, 2021|News|

City of Great Bend honored for generosity

It was a proud moment for the City of Great Bend during the City County meeting Monday night at the Events Center. Mackenzie Mitchell, development and communications coordinator with the Golden Belt Community Foundation, presented a sign and check to City Administrator Kendal Francis. This marked the city’s earning the Most Generous City Award from the foundation’s eighth-annual Giving Tuesday held Dec. 1. “This is very exciting,” Mitchell said. You guys do have a generous community.” This was the second year for the Most Generous City award, which was calculated with gift totals by zip code per capita. Great Bend received a grant of $1,000 to an organization or project in that community. Francis said they plan to use the funding for the Police Youth Academy.
Source: Great Bend Tribune

Ranson Financial2021-02-02T08:19:54-06:00February 2, 2021|News|

Johnson County expands Phase 2 of COVID-19 vaccination plan

Johnson County is moving forward with Phase 2 of its COVID-19 vaccination plan. “It’s about getting the vaccine into the arms into as many people as possible,” said Dr. Sanmi Areola, director of Johnson County Department of Health and Environment. The county will start vaccinating people 65 years and older, and K-12 special education teachers—who could get their shot this week. “Our special education teachers and students tend to be quarantined because of the students’ inability to mask and mask well,” said Elizabeth Holzschuh, director of epidemiology, at Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.
Source: KMBC.com

Ranson Financial2021-02-02T08:20:07-06:00February 2, 2021|News|

Regional conversations set new hospital model

The latest federal appropriations bill includes language that could enable some struggling rural Kansas hospitals to develop a new service delivery model that Kansas health experts say might save them. Adoption of the new model, however, will require both community buy-in and enabling state legislation. Several Kansas health care agencies have been working for more than five years on developing an approach similar to the proposed model, which would provide an emergency room, as well as outpatient and post-acute services, but no in-patient hospital care. …The recent federal legislation creates a new “Rural Emergency Hospital” designation, which closely aligns with the one that was being developed in Kansas called a Primary Health Center. It allows such facilities to begin operating in January 2023.
Source: Hutch News.

Ranson Financial2021-02-01T07:57:47-06:00February 1, 2021|News|

Office of Rural Prosperity Announces Successful 2020 Initiatives in Annual Report

Today Governor Laura Kelly, Lt. Governor David Toland, and Treasurer Lynn Rogers announced the release of the Office of Rural Prosperity’s (ORP) 2020 Annual Report. The report outlines ORP’s policy priorities and the office’s ongoing projects, including rural infrastructure and broadband, childcare and early education, housing, and community and workforce development. “The Office of Rural Prosperity has been an important tool to address economic issues facing rural communities, businesses, and Kansans,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “We know that more work must be done to encourage community and economic development across our state, and this report provides a roadmap to continue investing in and supporting rural Kansans.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Ranson Financial2021-02-01T06:56:38-06:00January 31, 2021|News|

Lincoln County to host mass vaccination event

The Lincoln County Health Department will administer about 2,000 doses of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine Friday at a mass vaccination event. Appointments are required to attend the event, and they will be offered only to qualified individuals who are already on the county’s pre-registration list. The health department will contact qualified individuals on the list to make an appointment and provide information about the event location; residents do not need to contact the health department. Qualified individuals are those in Phases 1A, Phase 1B-Tier 1 and Phase 1B-Tier 2. Click here to see when you are eligible to receive the vaccine.
Source: The Chanute Tribune

Ranson Financial2021-02-01T06:56:49-06:00January 31, 2021|News|

Kansas electric rates are the highest in the Midwest — and it’s about to get worse

Kansas has been in an electric rate crisis since at least 2018. And it is about to get much worse, as our already sky-high regional electric rates are headed much higher. Evergy electric rates are the highest in the Midwest region. Multiple professional studies have shown this to be the case, and Evergy even briefed its board of directors about it in December 2019. In Wichita and every other Kansas community served by Evergy, electric rates are 20% to 40% higher for residential and industrial users than in the metropolitan areas of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Iowa.
Source: Wichita News

Ranson Financial2021-02-01T06:58:06-06:00January 31, 2021|News|

Wichita police, Broadway motel owner work to cut crime in area by 73%

Crime is noticeably down around a South Broadway motel where multiple people were shot and a successful drug raid occurred in 2020 after officials and the owner worked to make changes to the property and its tenants. Since a month-long injunction in Fall 2020, aggravated assault cases near Afton Motel, 855 S. Broadway, are down 73% compared to the same time period before the injunction, Officer Charley Davidson said in a news release Thursday. Davidson said there were 76 criminal cases and 200 calls at the motel over a period of roughly seven and half months.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-02-01T07:00:37-06:00January 31, 2021|News|

Winfield park upgrade would include pickleball courts

New pickleball courts and other features could be coming to Albright Park in Winfield, if construction contracts are approved by the Winfield City Commission at its Monday meeting. The three contracts on the agenda are for construction of pickleball courts, restroom facilities and playground facilities as part of continuing improvements to the city’s park system. Park improvements were one of the priorities identified by residents in a citywide planning survey conducted in late 2019, with survey results used to help create the city’s 2020 Master Parks and Trails Plan. The park, at 15th Avenue and John Street, is in a residential neighborhood with a school and senior care facility nearby. Taking these elements into consideration, redevelopment will focus on intergenerational play in the community, according to Taggart Wall, Winfield city manager.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler

Ranson Financial2021-02-01T07:02:30-06:00January 31, 2021|News|

Pittsburg PD working to help families

A Southeast Kansas Police Department comes together to help families in need. The Pittsburg Police Department is hosting a diaper drive for Crawford County DiaperStock. Over the next week the department will be collecting diapers and wipes to help families in need. Originally this was meant to help the Pittsburg community. Thanks to assistance from the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, donations will be going to the entire county. Diann Gambill, Family Response Advocate, said, “A lot of families are struggling right now, not just because of the pandemic but because of the extenuating circumstances. Diapers and wipes are an added cost that does add a lot of stress to the families, so if we can alleviate that stress, then we are helping the families in a way.”
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2021-02-01T07:02:39-06:00January 31, 2021|News|