City of Lawrence announces first director of equity and inclusion

Lawrence City Manager Craig Owens announced Monday that Farris Muhammad has been hired to be the city’s first director of equity and inclusion. Muhammad was selected after a nationwide search from a field of over 120 applicants, according to a city news release. During the process, the city used several interview panels of community members and staff to provide input. Panelists included representatives of organizations that serve marginalized populations, advocacy groups, city staff and local leaders working in diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as other community institutions and organizations. Owens said in the release that he was eager for Muhammad to join the city as it works more intentionally to advance equity.
Source: LJWorld.com.

Ranson Financial2020-10-14T06:37:23-05:00October 13, 2020|News|

Ark City finance director Kathy Cornwell retires with praise

Kathy Cornwell has analyzed her last spreadsheet for the City of Arkansas City. The finance director retired Friday at a send-off with city officials and staff. Cornwell held that position for more than eight years. She described her job as interesting, exciting and frustrating. Two projects stand out as being particularly interesting and challenging among the complex issues she dealt with, she said. “Being part of the automated meter-reading project was very interesting, in how it intertwined with the utility billing system,” Cornwell said. “Of course, the hospital bond refinancing and dealing with bond rating agencies.” Former City Manager Nick Hernandez said Cornwell came in at a time when the city was struggling financially. He credited her effort and knowledge for helping the city get back on track.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler

Ranson Financial2020-10-13T07:37:26-05:00October 13, 2020|News|

Project to fix Wichita area’s worst highway bottleneck in line for county funding

Sedgwick County, Wichita and the Kansas Department of Transportation are about to start on a plan to relieve the area’s biggest traffic headache, the oft-congested interchange of I-135 and I-235 in north Wichita. On Wednesday, the Sedgwick County Commission is expected to vote on spending $3.7 million toward the rebuilding of the “North Junction,” a well-known bottleneck between the city and points north. The project started in November 2018, but the work to date has been mostly rebuilding parts of I-235 to the west of the interchange and the only impact on traffic flow has been to slow things down in the construction area.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2020-10-13T07:35:43-05:00October 13, 2020|News|

Avoidance of COVID-19 testing a real concern

Although the number of COVID-19 cases among Pittsburg State University students has decreased sharply since the outbreak at the start of the fall semester, Crawford County health officials are increasingly concerned about the spread of the coronavirus among older area residents. “COVID-19 case numbers in Crawford County have begun to increase from the previous weeks with a higher percent positive for those tested,” the county health department said in a press release Friday.
Source: Leavenworth Times

Ranson Financial2020-10-13T07:35:26-05:00October 13, 2020|News|

Lawrence bar owner sues Douglas County health official over COVID-19 restrictions

A Lawrence bar is suing a local health official over an emergency health order that limits bar hours in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. According to the Oct. 1 order issued by a Douglas County, Kansas health official, restaurants and bars with liquor licenses are required to stop serving alcohol by 11 p.m. and have to shut their doors to in-person clientele by midnight. Rita “Peach” Madl, the owner of The Sandbar, a popular bar in Lawrence, home to the University of Kansas, filed a lawsuit Friday against Douglas County’s Local Health Officer Thomas Marcellino, who issued the order.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2020-10-13T07:34:40-05:00October 13, 2020|News|

Valley Center to vote on sales tax to expand aquatic facilities, build rec center

Three weeks from today, voters will decide on local, state and federal political candidates. Taxpayers in Valley Center will have an additional measure on their ballot: a sales tax increase to pay for a new aquatics complex and recreation center. According to city administrator Brent Clark, the 1 percent sales tax would be in place for up to 15 years. If the bonds are paid off earlier, the increase would sunset.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2020-10-13T07:34:12-05:00October 13, 2020|News|

Should Kansas cities opt out of mask orders by counties? The two disagree

Local control had been cited as the biggest reason for why counties should have the ability to opt out of statewide orders — but now, counties face that same argument being used for cities. “We have so many areas and counties where we have a single city within the county that actually has most of the population of that county,” Rep. Bradley Ralph, R-Dodge City, said during a committee meeting. … Mayor Hunter McMillen, of Solomon, with a population of around 1,100, said his town isn’t like the more-populated areas of Dickinson County such as Abilene, the county seat. “They’re having an outbreak in in Abilene, Kansas, or Dickinson County where the courthouse is,” he said. “They’re having an outbreak and he’s punishing all the other little towns for what his town has done. And I don’t think that’s right at all.”
Source: Leavenworth Times

Ranson Financial2020-10-13T07:26:21-05:00October 13, 2020|News|

City of Newton reveals winning flag design

A new flag is flying on Main Street in Newton, the winner of a community contest that had been in the works for more than 5 months. Black with gold railroad tracks and wheat heads, the flag, created by businessman Robert Palmer, owner of Back Alley Pizza and former owner of Norms, and minister Brandon Eck, of The Gathering Church, won a contest created by the Newton Flag Committee. That committee was under the advisement and approval of Newton city commissioners.
Source: Leavenworth Times

Ranson Financial2020-10-13T07:22:02-05:00October 13, 2020|News|

WSU starting new COVID testing program

Wichita State is trying out a new testing method to identify people with COVID-19 who are not showing symptoms. The Voluntary Asymptomatic Surveillance Testing Program will involve a sampling of 5% of the on-campus student population. Participating students are chosen at random, with testing taking place every two weeks. The program is set to begin Tuesday, October 13. While supplies last, participating students will get a Shocker Hall meal pass if they choose to take part. Students who have been selected for testing will be notified through their campus email.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2020-10-13T07:16:06-05:00October 12, 2020|News|

Johnson County receives grant to help with high demand in voting

By the end of Monday, there will be a little over 500 hours until Election Day. Johnson County, Kansas commissioners accepted a grant to help with the high demand. “The postage, the paper cost, the ballot cost for the large quantity by mail ballots that we’re sending out, none of that was included in our budget for this year,” Elections Commissioner Connie Schmidt. It’s been an unusual election year for staff at the Johnson County, Kansas Election Office. Schmidt said employees are planning for Election Day in the middle of a pandemic and a high demand of mail in voters.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF

Ranson Financial2020-10-13T07:17:12-05:00October 12, 2020|News|