Defund police? Privatize Century II? Wichita braces for $50 million city budget hole

Wichita’s city leaders are bracing for massive cuts — $50 million — to make up for the revenue shortfall expected through 2022. The city’s budget is taking a hit because of layoffs at some of Wichita’s largest companies and other economic fallout of the COVID-19 global recession. The airlines industry, which is closely tied to Wichita’s aviation-dependent economy, has taken one of the biggest hits. Wichita’s aviation companies and largest employers, Spirit AeroSystems and Textron Aviation, have announced mass furloughs and layoffs. With widespread layoffs, canceled events and lost wages, the city is bracing to miss out on sales taxes, user fees, interest earnings and other revenues until at least 2022.
(Read more: Local News | Wichita Eagle)

Ranson Financial2020-06-25T07:43:35-05:00June 24, 2020|News|

Pandemic’s effect on Wichita’s pro golf tournament isn’t hurting sales

The Wichita Open golf tournament was supposed to be played last week at Crestview Country Club. Instead, Covid-19 forced the Korn Ferry Tour to refigure its schedule and place Wichita’s 31st edition of the tournament in late September. More time for finding sponsors. The tournament announced Wednesday that two more ambassadors have joined the seventh-year program, making the total number of sponsors a record 36. The Auggie Navarro Scholarship Foundation and Central Power Systems and Services are the two newest ambassadors.
(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)

Ranson Financial2020-06-25T07:44:14-05:00June 24, 2020|News|

Uncertainty with aviation industry continues as Textron announces layoffs

Another round of layoffs highlights the impact of COVID-19 on Wichita’s aviation industry. Textron announced 250 layoffs nationwide for salaried, non-bargaining employees, 70 of which are from facilities in Wichita. This comes after other manufactures like Spirit AeroSystems announced more furloughs. It’s all a result of COVID-19’s impact on air travel and the halted production of the Boeing 737 MAX. Eyewitness News on Tuesday spoke with aviation consultant and analyst Scott Hamilton who says there are a lot of unknowns with both of these factors.
(Read more: KWCH News)

Ranson Financial2020-06-25T07:44:20-05:00June 24, 2020|News|

Dodge City Fire Department to Partner with Local Food Pantries

The Dodge City Fire Department has partnered with Manna House, Genesis Family Health, Salvation Army, Friendship Feast, and Seven Baskets Full Ministry to allow for donations of pantry items, bottled water, and hygiene products to be dropped off at Fire Station 1 at 201 Soule Street, or Fire Station 2 at 709 S. 14th Street. The Fire Department will work directly with the entities to get the donations delivered to them if community members are unable to drop off with them directly.
(Read more: Western Kansas News)

Ranson Financial2020-06-25T07:44:30-05:00June 24, 2020|News|

Reno County receiving few takers, city awards 11 businesses through COVID-19 grant program

Nearly three weeks since applications opened, Reno County has received only one request for grant assistance through a federal Community Development Block Grant program intended to aid small businesses impact by COVID-19. The deadline for applications is July 2, though that may be extended, Reno County Administrator Randy Partington advised the Reno County Commission. The Hutchinson City Council, meanwhile, approved awarding just under $90,000 to 11 businesses inside the city under the same program.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

Ranson Financial2020-06-25T07:44:46-05:00June 24, 2020|News|

Johnson County libraries shift to virtual reading program during COVID-19

With the pandemic keeping all in-person activities and programming off the books at least through the end of 2020 at the Johnson County Public Library, the librarians who plan the annual summer reading program had to get a little creative. Melanie Fuemmeler, elementary coordinating librarian, said a lot of the regular library programming has been successful in a virtual-only format so making the switch to a virtual reading program was a no brainer. “I think we’re reaching a different set of patrons,” Fuemmeler said.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Ranson Financial2020-06-25T07:45:20-05:00June 24, 2020|News|

USDA Invests in Community Infrastructure in Coffeyville, Kansas

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Kansas Lynne Hinrichsen today announced that USDA is investing $8,300 for essential community development in the city of Coffeyville. “Modern, safe infrastructure is the bedrock of any community,” Hinrichsen said. “This project is unique in that it’s repurposing vacant infrastructure into something that the local community can use for years to come. Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is dedicated to our partnerships with community organizations and their long-term commitments to economic prosperity; because when rural America prospers, all of America prospers.” The Coffeyville Area Community Foundation, a nonprofit serving the local community since 2001, will use an $8,300 Community Facilities Grant to develop some vacant lots of land into a community garden and orchard. These sites require small infrastructure improvements to make the project viable. This project will help purchase equipment to maintain proper levels of water and soil and provide security fencing around each property.
(Read more: Rural Development – U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Ranson Financial2020-06-25T07:46:09-05:00June 24, 2020|News|

Topeka city manager proposes cutting 32.5 jobs

Topeka city manager Brent Trout’s proposed 2021 city budget will include eliminating 32.5 full-time jobs in an effort to make up a $5 million deficit. “The elimination of these positions will help to balance the budget during a difficult budgeting year caused by reduced sales tax revenues,” Trout said in a statement provided to The Capital-Journal. Trout is expected to soon put his proposed 2021 budget before the mayor and city council, who will consider making changes to that document before finalizing it in August. It wasn’t clear how many of the jobs proposed for elimination are currently vacant.
(Read more: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal)

Ranson Financial2020-06-25T07:46:16-05:00June 24, 2020|News|

Ellis County hires new county administrator

The Ellis County Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce the appointment of J. D. Cox as the new county administrator. Cox brings 23 years of local government experience, including 16 years of day to day management. Cox was first City Administrator of Neodesha (in rural Southeast Kansas), followed then by City Manager of Alliance, Nebr. (rural western Nebraska); Bethany, Okla. (in the Oklahoma City metro); and most recently, Longwood, Fla., which is part of the Orlando metropolitan area. Cox and his wife Tonya have three children: Kierstyn of Tallahassee, Fla.; Cali of Phoenix; and son Collin who is attending the KUCIMAT public administration master’s program at the University of Kansas.
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)

Ranson Financial2020-06-25T07:46:46-05:00June 24, 2020|News|

Atchison County slows reopening down a bit

Atchison County is engaging Phase 3.5 of its opening plan, effective at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, June 24 until one minute before midnight Tuesday, July 7. The new phase is in keeping within Governor Laura Kelly’s order to remain in Phase 3 of the statewide Ad Astra for another two weeks due to a spike of positive COVID-19 cases attributed to community spread, Atchison County health officials told county commissioners on Tuesday. County Health Officer Lori Forge, RN told commissioners there were 400 new cases and five deaths in Kansas associated with the pandemic throughout this past weekend. She attributed them all to community spread and not to any particular cluster.
(Read more: Atchison Globe Now)

Ranson Financial2020-06-25T07:47:32-05:00June 24, 2020|News|

Services

Company