There’s not much city can do with trains blocking crossings

Great Bend City Administrator Kendal Francis said told the City Council Monday night that he has fielded questions from the public and council members about railroad crossings, and trains sitting across the tracks. One instance included a train blocking South Main for at least a couple hours. But, as it turns out, such delays are out of the city’s hands, he said. “We do have city ordinances in place that limit the timing of that,” he said. However, in 2018, Kansas Court of Appeals said that it infringed on federal law.
(Read more: Great Bend Tribune)

Ranson Financial2020-05-08T08:58:51-05:00May 7, 2020|News|

The COVID-19 effects hospitals didn’t foresee: Financial distress

Dr. Bill O’Callahan, an emergency physician, rested his elbows on his desk, his head in his hands. Despite his whirlwind thoughts — a recent COVID-19 patient with failing lungs, a 30% pay cut, the dangers he faced on a daily basis — he still counted himself among the fortunate. He was healthy, and he still had a job — for now. A staggering number of hospital employees have been laid off or furloughed — sent home without pay, waiting to hear whether they can return to work. Now, a fresh look at what lies ahead for hospitals post-pandemic reveals some may not recover from a COVID-19 patient surge that never came. Toward the beginning of the pandemic, initial worries included health systems being overwhelmed. But for most hospitals, novel coronavirus-related admissions have been more than offset by declines in unexpected areas. While fewer outpatient services and elective surgeries were expected, few hospitals anticipated steep declines in emergency room visits and in-hospital stays.
(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ranson Financial2020-05-08T08:59:50-05:00May 7, 2020|News|

City of Wichita launches emergency assistance program to help those struggling to pay rent, utilities

The coronavirus pandemic is more than a health crisis—it’s a financial crisis too. The City of Wichita announced Thursday that it had launched an emergency assistance program to help those who live in Sedgwick County and have a financial hardship due to COVID-19. “If you qualify, then we’ll be able to hopefully be able to give you a helping hand when it comes to your rent or utility bills when you fall behind,” Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said. If you need help with rental and utility payment assistance or foreclosure counseling, and you meet certain income guidelines, you can receive financial assistance from the city.
(Read more: KWCH News)

Ranson Financial2020-05-08T08:59:59-05:00May 7, 2020|News|

Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library announces phased reopening

In less than two weeks, the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library will begin a phased reopening of its facilities. Phase one of the library’s reopening plan will begin on May 18, according to a news release Thursday from the library’s communications director. Though the library will not open to the public on that date, it will begin accepting book returns, and the Engroff Eats food truck will be in the library’s parking lot to offer food normally served at the in-house Millennium Cafe. According to the news release, the library also won’t charge late fees on any items checked out in 2020. Phase two of the library’s reopening is scheduled to begin on May 26. At that point, the library will offer curbside pickup of books and DVDs. Library patrons will be able to pick up reserved items 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Ranson Financial2020-05-08T09:00:15-05:00May 7, 2020|News|

Playgrounds, dog parks and bathrooms: What to expect at Wichita parks in the coming weeks

Wichita parks are open but several of the amenities people enjoy in them have been closed since the coronavirus shutdown in March. There are still a lot of unknowns about when all activities overseen by the city’s park and recreation department will resume. But Parks and Recreation director Troy Houtman, in a Thursday afternoon Facebook live chat with council member Bryan Frye, gave a loose outline of what you can do now and what will — and won’t — be opening in the coming weeks.
(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2020-05-08T09:00:33-05:00May 7, 2020|News|

JoCo residents owing property taxes May 11 can take advantage of partial payments, but will accrue interest

Johnson County residents who did not pay the full amount on their 2019 real estate and personal property taxes can take advantage of a partial payment option for the second installment of the tax payments — which are due on or before Monday, May 11. The Board of County Commissioners last month approved to accept partial payments following the economic impact of COVID-19, though residents can expect to see interest accrue daily on any unpaid balance starting May 12. The county does not have jurisdiction to change the property tax due date nor to defer payments, Director of Financial Management Tom Franzen said.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-05-08T09:01:04-05:00May 7, 2020|News|

Shawnee will direct federal COVID-19 funding at small businesses, public service providers

The city of Shawnee was awarded $168,955 in federal funds to mitigate the growing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. City leaders Tuesday debated how they wanted to spend the funds — whether to support small businesses or public service providers — but ultimately went with city staff’s recommendation to allocate $56,955 toward public service provider assistance and the remaining $112,000 toward business assistance. The council also supported matching the federal funding with city dollars. The federal funding comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which made available $5 billion in Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus funds. Shawnee already receives federal Community Development Block Grant funding and has allocated about $294,000 to eligible projects this year.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Ranson Financial2020-05-08T09:01:21-05:00May 7, 2020|News|

Kansans paint their town to spread joy

Residents in one Kansas town are using their creativity to spread cheer during the COVID-19 pandemic. “With all of the residents who have been having to stay home, we thought let’s make a cool project for the town and let’s paint all of the fire hydrants in town,” said Kechi Mayor John Speer. In a matter of weeks, Kechi’s fire hydrants went from drab to fab. “Oh, we have got Pacman down the street. We have got sunflowers and Spongebob. We’ve got the character from The Office, geometric designs, KState, KU, Wichita State,” Speer explained. The creations are a community effort. People of all ages have pitched in.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2020-05-08T09:03:15-05:00May 7, 2020|News|

KDHE and KU undertake study for COVID-19 detection in wastewater

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) recently teamed up with the University of Kansas School of Engineering (KU) to determine if genetic remnants of COVID-19 can be detected in wastewater. The concept originally tested in Massachusetts and the Netherlands, and now throughout the United States, is that people infected with the virus shed it through their urine and feces. The genetic material can be extracted from wastewater and matched against genetic markers keyed to COVID-19. The virus itself does not survive in wastewater, and therefore wastewater is not a significant means of disease transmission. Detecting the genetic material in wastewater is indicative of COVID-19 being present and may give local health officials knowledge of how widespread it is in their community, allowing them to take proactive measures to mitigate its spread. While drinking water is not part of this ongoing study, they said it’s important to note disinfection by all Kansas public water suppliers inactivates the virus and drinking water remains safe for consumption.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2020-05-08T09:04:24-05:00May 7, 2020|News|

Wichita Public Library begins curbside service May 11

The Wichita Public Library will begin curbside and drive up window service on Monday, May 11. Customers who had holds placed on items before the library closed in March, and any holds in queue that was initiated during the closure, will receive notifications to pick those up beginning Monday. If customers would like to check materials out, they’ll be able to place holds on items through the online catalog at catalog.wichitalibrary.org beginning Monday, May 18. They can also call 261-8500 during regular business hours for staff assistance. Notifications will be sent to customers once their holds are available for pick up. When customers arrive to their designated library branch to pick up materials, they will check-in by calling the phone number on the outdoor signs or proceed to the drive-up window. Library staff will ask for their name and library card number to verify their materials. Staff will bring materials to customers’ vehicles in plastic bags.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2020-05-08T09:04:29-05:00May 7, 2020|News|