City mask ordinances are constitutional, Kansas Attorney General says

Wichita’s mask ordinance is allowed by the Kansas Constitution, according to a statement from the Kansas Attorney General’s Office. Attorney General Derek Schmidt has dismissed the idea that the governor’s mask mandate is enforceable by police. But Tuesday his office confirmed that cities have the authority to enforce mask ordinances. “To the best of our knowledge, the Legislature has not enacted state law that prohibits cities from enacting local ordinances that regulate the wearing of facemasks,” Kansas Attorney General’s Office spokesman Clint Blaes said in a statement.
(Read more: Local News | Wichita Eagle)

Ranson Financial2020-07-09T07:56:21-05:00July 8, 2020|News|

Prairie Village to consider amendment that would allow mayor to override certain county decisions on health orders

The Prairie Village City Council this week voted unanimously to direct its attorney to draft an amendment to the city’s emergency ordinance that gives the mayor temporary authority to enforce local, state or federal health orders in the city. The decision to draft an amendment was prompted by the Johnson County Commission’s debate on whether or not to abide by Gov. Laura Kelly’s July 2 executive order requiring face masks. Prairie Village and the county commission are abiding by the governor’s order. But if the county had chosen not to implement Kelly’s order, Mayor Eric Mikkelson would have had no “clear authority” to override the county’s decision, he said. The proposed emergency ordinance amendment would give him the authority to order 48-hour compliance with local, state or federal health orders. If the mayor were to exercise that authority, the council would have that time to call an emergency meeting to consider a possible ordinance while the temporary order remains in effect. The council will consider the proposed ordinance amendment at its next meeting, on July 20, or sooner at an emergency meeting if it decides that becomes necessary.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Ranson Financial2020-07-09T07:56:53-05:00July 8, 2020|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for July 7, 2020

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.

Ranson Financial2020-07-08T07:55:26-05:00July 8, 2020|News|

Prairie Village inches forward in discussion to allow backyard hens, but homeowners associations would have final say

The Prairie Village City Council on Monday night voted 8 to 4 to amend the city’s animal ordinance to allow residents to keep backyard hens — an incremental step in a process that would also have to include amending the city’s zoning code. The council can’t implement the ordinance until after the city’s planning commission meets Aug. 4 and considers a zoning amendment to allow for chickens. Monday’s ordinance included the following restrictions: – Limits the number of chicks on any one lot to eight, regardless of the number of dwellings on a lot, – Limits to six the number of chickens ages 16 weeks or older on any one lot …
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-07-08T07:53:37-05:00July 8, 2020|News|

Victoria cancels Herzogfest

Victoria’s annual Herzogfest to celebrate the Volga German culture of the city has been canceled for 2020 by the Herzogfest Committee. As many as 2,000 people attend the annual event, which normally runs from Friday evening through Sunday, including a community Catholic mass on one of the town’s grassy public lawns, as well as car show, and a vendor, food and game area in the street. This would have been the 38th year for the event, usually held the first weekend of August.
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)

Ranson Financial2020-07-08T07:51:43-05:00July 8, 2020|News|

Face masks not mandated in Finney County

Finney County won’t require people to wear face coverings in public. Commissioners approved a resolution 5-0 stating that people are not required to wear face coverings in public spaces at the commission’s regular monthly meeting Monday. The resolution comes after Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order 20-52 on July 2 requiring the use of face masks in public spaces. Within the executive order there is a provision for counties to make adjustments to fit the needs of their community
(Read more: News – The Garden City Telegram)

Ranson Financial2020-07-08T07:51:03-05:00July 8, 2020|News|

Wichita City Hall slams the brakes on a huge car show because of COVID-19 pandemic

Concern over coronavirus has put the brakes on one of Wichita’s biggest car events of the year. The City Council on Tuesday denied an appeal that would have allowed the Automobilia Moonlight Charity Car Show to have rolled forward on Saturday. Automobilia organizers had expected to draw 20,000 car enthusiasts to a closed-down section of Douglas this weekend. In addition to cars, organizers promised five live bands, three food courts, a live auction and a drag down Douglas after the show.
(Read more: Local News | Wichita Eagle)

Ranson Financial2020-07-08T07:50:13-05:00July 8, 2020|News|

Shawnee County Health officer issues updated restrictions for restaurants, bars, night clubs

Shawnee County’s health officer has issued an updated emergency order placing some restrictions on restaurants, bars and night clubs. According to a news release, the latest emergency order is set to take place at 12:01 a.m. Thursday and was crafted by Shawnee County health officer Gianfranco Pezzino, in consultation with local bar and restaurant owners to minimize economic impact and preserve public health goals. According to the emergency order, restaurants, bars and night clubs in Shawnee County are allowed to operate between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and between the hours of 6 a.m. and midnight on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Each day between 2 and 3 p.m. all establishments must close their dine-in services to conduct deep cleaning of the facilities.
(Read more: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal)

Ranson Financial2020-07-08T07:49:29-05:00July 8, 2020|News|

New law enforcement device wraps up suspects

The cost is $925 each to buy one of law enforcement’s newest tools, a handheld, non-lethal “BolaWrap” device that fires a Kevlar tether, which works like a lasso while wrapping around a suspect’s arms or legs.

But such a purchase can pay for itself many times over if it enables a police department to avoid a civil lawsuit, Topeka Police Chief Bill Cochran said Tuesday. “Any time we can provide a safer environment for the officers and the citizens, I think that’s something we need to look at,” he said. Cochran was among more than 20 people, most of them uniformed law enforcement officers, who heard a pitch for the product Tuesday afternoon from representatives of Tempe, Ariz.-based Wrap Technologies, which produces the BolaWrap.
(Read more: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal)

Ranson Financial2020-07-08T07:48:39-05:00July 8, 2020|News|

Riley County opts out of Gov. Kelly’s mask mandate

Riley County commissioners Monday unanimously voted to opt out of Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order on wearing masks, effective immediately. That means people in Riley County will not be required to wear masks in public. It’s possible masks will again be required for residents of Manhattan after a Tuesday night vote by the Manhattan city commission. County commission chairman Marvin Rodriguez said he wanted to opt out because he thought the governor’s mandate was government overreach.
(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)

Ranson Financial2020-07-08T07:45:03-05:00July 7, 2020|News|