Shawnee County wins suit alleging it failed to accommodate deaf woman

Shawnee County this month emerged victorious in a lawsuit filed against it in 2016 by a deaf woman who alleged the county arrested her without probable cause and failed to accommodate her disability, the county announced this week in a news release.

The lawsuit officially came to a close in the county’s favor with the passing of the Nov. 15 deadline by which plaintiff Carolyn Hans could have appealed a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling in the county’s favor to the U.S. Supreme Court, said Shawnee County counselor Jim Crowl.

Hans — who was born deaf, to deaf parents — in June 2016 filed the nine-count suit alleging various violations of her civil rights, Kansas torts law and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Ranson Financial2019-11-24T21:36:03-06:00November 24, 2019|News|

Wichita Police Department hosts roundtable with criminal justice experts at WSU

Tenasia Taylor, a Southeast High School student, said that since she moved to Wichita four years ago, she has lost at least four friends due to gun violence or in fatal crashes that occurred while friends were fleeing from police.

That, combined with her own hardships, led Taylor to ask for a ride to Saturday’s roundtable discussion put on by the Wichita Police Department. The topic: “What’s Going On and What More Can We Do.”

The lunch was sponsored by Evergy. About 100 people attended the event at Wichita State University’s Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex. Attendees could talk with 11 pundits in the criminal justice field.

(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2019-11-24T21:34:34-06:00November 24, 2019|News|

Lenexa, Integrated Roadways sign MOU for smart pavement deployment showcase in City Center

Lenexa has taken the first official step with local company Integrated Roadways to embark on the country’s first and largest deployment and showcase of smart pavement technology.

The Lenexa city council on Tuesday unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with Integrated Roadways that facilitates a public-private partnership for the $8-10 million smart infrastructure installation at five intersections in and around Lenexa City Center, just west of I-435 at 87th Street Parkway and Renner Boulevard.

The MOU allows Integrated Roadways to access the right-of-way for installation and operations of smart pavement at four intersections on Renner Boulevard and one on the western side of City Center.

Ranson Financial2019-11-24T21:32:05-06:00November 24, 2019|News|

Block demonstrates CityPlace video panel capabilities ahead of Overland Park vote next month

Motorists on U.S. Highway 69 this week got another preview of some of the visuals that might become part of the skyline if Overland Park grants developer Ken Block’s request for a special use permit on his CityPlace office project.

The WellSky corporate office building at CityPlace, located just west of U.S. 69 several blocks south of the I-435 interchange, features a bank of video panels along its roofline that can be programmed to display any number of visuals. Block Real Estate Services held a demonstration of the LED boards’ capabilities this summer by featuring an animation of an abstract painting by Jeff Hanson, the visually impaired artist from Johnson County. A city committee recommended approval of the special use permit, which is set to go before the council for consideration early next month.

Ranson Financial2019-11-24T21:29:47-06:00November 24, 2019|News|

Fairway council adopts non-discrimination ordinance, making it 13th JoCo city to add LGBTQ+ legal protections

The Fairway city council on Thursday adopted a non-discrimination ordinance with legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, making it the 13th Johnson County municipality to put such a law on its books.

Fairway has been grappling with the exploration of an ordinance for over a year now. Mayor Melanie Hepperly called a special city council meeting for last night specifically to address the issue. Hepperly said she and the council have done their due diligence over the last year to do what’s best for Fairway. Hepperly said although she believes the protections offered by the NDO would have been better handled at the state or federal level, municipalities had to step up due to a lack of action by those officials.

Ranson Financial2019-11-24T21:28:07-06:00November 24, 2019|News|

Lack of county road upkeep by Apex concern

Neosho County Commissioners pressed developers of the Neosho Ridge wind electricity generation project and an engineer Thursday evening on road improvements in the southwest part of the county.

The issue came up Thursday evening from project critic and area resident Dustie Elsworth who said the developer, Apex Clean Energy, is not living up to its road maintenance agreement with the county.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Ranson Financial2019-11-24T21:18:56-06:00November 24, 2019|News|

Officials talk demand transfer losses, dark store theory at conference

Commissioners from as far away as Finney County in southwest Kansas traveled to Manhattan to attend the Riley County Legislative Conference on Thursday, when officials discussed losses in state revenue, the dark store theory and county home rule.

State Rep. Sydney Carlin, D-Manhattan, Sen. Tom Hawk, D-Manhattan, Rep. Ron Highland, R-Wamego, Rep. Suzi Carlson, R-Clay Center, and Rep. Tom Phillips, R-Manhattan, also attended the conference ahead of the state legislative session, which starts in January.

Chair Ron Wells discussed the end of “demand transfers” in Kansas and how it impacts counties. Demand transfers — revenue distributed by the state to counties — are dictated by statute rather than appropriation acts.

(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)

Ranson Financial2019-11-24T21:17:38-06:00November 24, 2019|News|

Osawatomie plans holiday festival Dec. 7

Osawatomie’s Small Town Holiday Festival will keep people in the holiday spirit from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 7 at The Loft on Sixth, City Auditorium and John Brown State Park.

The Loft on Sixth,

425 Sixth St.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Holiday vendors for Christmas shopping; Chamber crafts for kids of all ages; Chamber coloring contest for kindergarten through fifth-grade; lunch items for purchase; drawings for a chance to win a holiday ham from Cow Palace.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Ranson Financial2019-11-24T21:15:25-06:00November 24, 2019|News|

New trucks with ‘wing plows’ to make Topeka snow removal quicker

The city of Topeka will remove snow from streets quicker this winter as a result of its purchase of four dump trucks equipped with 8-foot-wide “wing plows” on the right side in addition to 12-foot-wide plows attached in front, city officials said Wednesday.

“This is a very big benefit,” city street operations manager Tony Trower said of having the wing plows. “I think it will serve the city of Topeka very well.”

The purchase increases from 21 to 25 the number of dump trucks and flatbed trucks the city has that can be used to plow streets, said city media relations coordinator Molly Hadfield.

Ranson Financial2019-11-24T21:13:43-06:00November 24, 2019|News|

Miami County RWD No. 3 marks 50th anniversary in operation

Water coursing through Miami County Rural Water District No. 3’s veins has done more than sustain the district and its customers for the past five decades. It has nurtured significant growth.
RWD No. 3 is marking its 50th anniversary this month. The water district was formed during the fall of 1969 when the Farmers Home Administration, the credit agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approved a $425,000 loan and a $45,000 grant for the district on Sept. 25, 1969.

(Read more: The Miami County Republic)

Ranson Financial2019-11-21T21:12:23-06:00November 21, 2019|News|

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