‘Results are promising’: Johnson County to test more residents for COVID-19 next week

Johnson County is planning to test another group of randomly selected residents for the novel coronavirus at a drive-thru location next week, as part of its expanded community testing program.
Last Friday, the county launched the $400,000 program aimed at collecting more data on the outbreak of COVID-19. Out of 369 residents who were tested, 14, or about 3.8%, tested positive, Sanmi Areola, public health director, said at a Johnson County Board of Commissioners meeting on Thursday.
“We are learning about this virus as we go,” Areola said. “Our results are promising, they are. And I think that’s a product of us working together. For us to be successful in curtailing this … we have to do this together. Residents have to be a part of it. Businesses have to be a part of it.”
(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Ranson Financial2020-04-17T09:00:09-05:00April 17, 2020|News|

Rural hospitals in Kansas prepared for COVID-19

Rural hospitals in the University of Kansas Medical System have a unexpected boost in the fight against coronavirus: they are behind the curve.
Heather Harris, Medical Director for Hays Medical Center explains that, “we have the advantage of being on the back end of this wave of the virus, so we can see that there has been shortages of needing for preparation.”
Great Bend resident Dawn Johnson has seen this advantage first-hand. Three weeks ago, she went into the hospital for an x-ray after taking a cruise. Johnson says, “they were really, really prepared. They had me wear a mask and be so far back.”
Administrators from three rural Kansas hospitals took part in an online briefing Thursday morning. They say they have been able to learn what they need to do from what is happening in bigger cities, like Wichita. This knowledge has allowed them to prepare rooms for isolation and stock up on personal protective equipment (PPE).
(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ranson Financial2020-04-17T08:59:32-05:00April 17, 2020|News|

Sedgwick County health officials urge people with COVID-19 symptoms to get tested

Sedgwick County health officials said since the guidelines for testing relaxed, the number of people being tested has doubled.
As many people are possible are being tested at the county’s central drive-thru coronavirus location.
With the help of a local university, the county has also caught up some on the number of swabs needed for testing kits.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2020-04-17T08:58:43-05:00April 17, 2020|News|

Here’s how the city of Wichita is helping the homeless during the COVID-19 crisis

Last week, at least two homeless individuals in Wichita were showing signs of COVID-19. Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said as of Thursday, they’ve not received any indication that those two people tested positive.
As a city response, the two individuals were put into motel rooms so they could isolate and get the care they needed.
Sedgwick County has now had more than 200 reported cases of COVID-19.
“Even though it seems the hardest, we need people to really buckle down and focus on the stay-in orders, if we’re going to protect not just ourselves but also our neighbors,” said Whipple.
(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ranson Financial2020-04-17T08:58:22-05:00April 17, 2020|News|

City of Wichita works to provide shelter for homeless community during the COVID-19 pandemic

Shelters like the union rescue mission and human kind ministries are working to assure the safety of Wichita’s homeless community. Today we spoke with city leaders to see what they are doing to to protect homeless families during the pandemic.
During his press conference today Mayor Whipple mentioned the city is working to fund a 300,000 dollar motel voucher through the United Way of the Plains to keep those homeless men and women who present COVID-19 symptoms off the streets and in a safe place to self-isolate. The plan is to temporarily house symptomatic patients while they await test results or have tested positive. the city first planned to use the old down town library for an emergency shelter.
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2020-04-17T08:57:55-05:00April 17, 2020|News|

Crawford County approves wind farm project

Crawford County Commissioners approve plans for a wind farm project that will help protect the pockets of tax payers.
The Jayhawk Wind Farm Project is 50 wind turbines between Crawford and Bourbon Counties, with about 20 turbines in Crawford County.
Commissioners approved a few agreements between the county and Apex Clean Energy.
The county will now get about $100,000 a year from the project for the general fund.
Also, they made sure the company pays for any road work while transporting materials.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)

Ranson Financial2020-04-17T08:57:34-05:00April 17, 2020|News|

“Emporia Strong” helping community and small businesses

“Emporia Strong” is a brand new organization focused on helping out local businesses and the community throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
“When this pandemic started one of my initial concerns was food and insecure kids since they rely on the schools to get their food intake for the day, so I thought what can I do to help,” said Jamie Darcy, a graphic designer at IM Design in Emporia.
“We know that these situations have only worsened and these rates have gone much, much higher with people losing hours and losing jobs,” said Jasmine Linabary, who is the Director of the EAT Initiative.
(Read more: KSNT News)

Ranson Financial2020-04-17T08:56:59-05:00April 17, 2020|News|

Gov. Kelly preparing how state will reopen when coronavirus subsides

Governor Kelly extended the state’s stay at home order until May 3. Now she’s preparing how the state will eventually reopen.
Kelly said the state could hit its peak number of coronavirus cases between April 19 and 29. It would need to see a reduction in cases for 14 days before social gathering restrictions could be relaxed.
The governor’s administration will begin talking with business leaders, economists, and health experts on just how to reopen the economy safely and effectively.
(Read more: KSNT News)

Ranson Financial2020-04-17T08:56:36-05:00April 17, 2020|News|

Spirit AeroSystems to power Wichita aircraft factory with Kingman wind farm electricity

Spirit AeroSystems will be switching to electricity generated by a Kansas wind farm to power its aircraft factory in Wichita.
Spirit officials announced in a news release on Thursday that public utility regulators had “cleared a path” for the company to convert to renewable energy at its massive 12.8 million square-foot manufacturing facility this year. The Kansas Corporation Commission approved a 10-year agreement between Spirit and Evergy under which Spirit will buy wind-generated electricity.
(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2020-04-17T08:55:32-05:00April 17, 2020|News|

Diverging from KCMO, Johnson County decides against extending stay-at-home order to May 15 — at least for now

Johnson County officials essentially decided not to decide Thursday whether to continue the stay-at-home order until May 15, as Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has done. Instead, Johnson County will stick with the business closure and distancing rules until May 3 before deciding if a longer extension is necessary. The May 3 date coincides with Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s order.
Commission Chairman Ed Eilert told commissioners meeting Thursday that he and Kansas City, Kan. Mayor David Alvey decided to diverge from the Kansas City, Mo. branch of the CORE 4, noting that the extension from the county’s previous April 23 end date would give officials time to collect data before deciding whether to continue the order another two weeks.
Some commissioners say they have been feeling pressured by residents who are in financial distress and want to see businesses reopen. Local hospitals have so far not been overwhelmed by cases as have other hard-hit areas of the country.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-04-17T08:55:11-05:00April 17, 2020|News|