University of Kansas shortens its in-person fall semester

The University of Kansas announced Monday that it will shorten the time students are on campus for the fall semester as it seeks to block a coronavirus wave. Under the plan, classes would begin in person as scheduled on Aug. 24 and in-person instruction would end just before the Thanksgiving holiday, with students encouraged to leave campus, the Lawrence Journal-World reported. After Thanksgiving, there will be a week to study for finals, which will be done remotely like they were for the spring semester.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Ranson Financial2020-06-16T08:31:20-05:00June 15, 2020|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for June 12, 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 Financial2020-06-15T07:57:46-05:00June 15, 2020|News|

Former Wichita mayor and gubernatorial candidate Carl Brewer has died, official says

Former Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer, who oversaw much of the revitalization of downtown and was a key figure in the development of Wichita Eisenhower National Airport, died Friday morning after a long illness. He was 63. Brewer, the city’s first elected African-American mayor, served on the City Council or as mayor from 2001 to 2015, the maximum terms that Wichita law allows its city officials. He ran unsuccessfully for Kansas governor in 2018.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Ranson Financial2020-06-15T07:56:59-05:00June 15, 2020|News|

Officials seek to nab alligator spotted in Kansas creek

Authorities in Kansas have closed a trail around a creek as they try to catch an alligator spotted there. The 5-foot alligator is believed to be one of two stolen from a pet store in the northeastern Kansas city of Manhattan last weekend, the Mercury reported. A man called 911 to report seeing an alligator while he was walking along Linear Park Trail on Wednesday. Animal control officers who responded saw the animal lounging on log in Wildcat Creek.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Ranson Financial2020-06-15T07:55:44-05:00June 15, 2020|News|

Former Wichita Mayor, Gubernatorial Candidate Carl Brewer Dies

Carl Brewer, the first African-American to be elected mayor of Wichita, has died. A statement from his family said he passed away Friday morning. He was 63. His family said there are no details yet for a memorial service. “The family appreciates the support they have received from the community,” the statement said. “They ask for privacy at this time.” Brewer was elected to the Wichita City Council in 2001 and 2005 before defeating incumbent Carlos Mayans in the 2007 race for mayor. Brewer easily won a second and final term in 2011.
(Read more: KMUW/a>)

Ranson Financial2020-06-15T07:53:58-05:00June 15, 2020|News|

Topeka business owners thank law enforcement for keeping community safe

Business owners in downtown Topeka presented the Topeka Police Department, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, and Kansas Highway Patrol with a banner of appreciation. Edie Smith, the owner of a business downtown, said the banner is to thank them for how they handled the protests that happened in downtown Topeka over a week ago, but also for the work they do in protecting the community year round. “We’re just very proud of them and wanted to show that appreciation so they had something positive to focus on from the community than having to hear just the negativity all the time,” Smith said. Chief Bill Cochran with the Topeka Police Department said the scrutiny has been hard for Topeka Police Officers, but he’s grateful for the show of support from businesses downtown.
(Read more: KSNT News)

Ranson Financial2020-06-15T07:53:18-05:00June 15, 2020|News|

Sidewalk cafes, outdoor retail space now can open in Wyandotte County

Because of COVID-19, some of the rules governing restaurants and retail stores have been loosened to allow sidewalk cafes and retail space. The Unified Government Commission approved the rules on June 4 and they went into effect on June 11, after publication. The ordinance and resolution allows some businesses to use public rights-of-way as additional space to do business.
(Read more: Wyandotte Daily)

Ranson Financial2020-06-15T07:52:46-05:00June 15, 2020|News|

FAA funds Hays airport improvements

Hays Regional Airport, Hays Aircraft LLC general manager Chris Springer is aware of the $2.2 million in upgrades the city of Hays has planned in the next year for the airport. The construction, financed by the Federal Aviation Administration through the Phase III Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, will have minimal affect on operations, according to city officials. Hays Aircraft, the fixed base operator that fuels and repairs aircraft and offers flight lessons, will see a difference when work begins on an asphalt overlay to rehabilitate Airport Fuel Road on the east side of the airport. “That’s how we get our fuel trucks to the airport, all the deliveries come on that road,” Springer said. “So we’ll be re-routing the trucks to another road.”

(Read more: Newton Kansan)

Ranson Financial2020-06-15T04:49:15-05:00June 15, 2020|News|

Parsons to consider microchipping vicious dogs

Recent dog bites in Parsons may lead to approval of an ordinance requiring the owners of vicious dogs to pay for an identification microchip. The ordinance city commissioners will consider on Monday would require the city to impound any animal that bites a person and have it implanted with a microchip to help identify the animal in the future. The cost would be assessed to the owner if the animal is ultimately declared viscous. The dog could later be impounded in violation of the ordinance requiring vicious animals to be removed from the city. The city would have the option to euthanize the dog if the court deems it necessary. During a Thursday afternoon work session, City Manager Debbie Lamb said the proposed ordinance is a result of several dog bites in the last few weeks. She said it is fairly certain that one of the dogs had been declared vicious and the owners ordered to remove it from town.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)

Ranson Financial2020-06-15T07:47:50-05:00June 15, 2020|News|

Public pool patron in Ark City confirmed to have virus, free testing Monday

A teenager girl who tested positive for the coronavirus was at the Arkansas City public pool on Wednesday and also attended a sleep over in Ark City, possibly exposing others to the virus, according to a press release from the public health department. The girl, 14, experienced symptoms June 5 and was tested in Sedgwick County, where she splits residence with custodial parents there and in Cowley County. The girl’s mother took the child to a local private care clinic, which contracted a private lab for the test. She came to Cowley County this week and Wednesday night the test result came back positive, the City-Cowley County Health Department stated.
(Read more: www.ctnewsonline.com)

Ranson Financial2020-06-15T07:48:11-05:00June 15, 2020|News|