Wichita has a role in NASA’s next giant leap

Jim Bridenstine, administrator of NASA, says that as the country celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, that it’s also time to be looking forward to the next 50 years.

And Wichita, he says, can play a role in NASA’s plans on not just other planets — but on this planet as well.

Bridenstine was in Wichita on Monday for an event at the National Center for Aviation Training, organized by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) in collaboration with Wichita State University, the school’s National Institute for Aviation Research and WSU Tech.

(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)

Ranson Financial2019-07-22T17:02:34-05:00July 22, 2019|News|

County may incur $10 million in new debt for parks and rec

Shawnee County commissioners took no action Monday after discussing whether the county should incur $10 million in new debt to finance new construction in parks and recreation, including developing a proposed “Family Park” south of S.W. 21st and Urish Road.

Commission Chairman Bob Archer spoke in favor, saying southwest Shawnee County is currently a “parks and recreation desert.”

Commissioner Bill Riphahn suggested he could also support the move.

“You have to keep growing, or your city doesn’t grow,” he said.

Ranson Financial2019-07-22T16:57:13-05:00July 22, 2019|News|

Google considering big data center project in KC with initial $600 million investment

International technology giant Google is considering an expansive data center project in Kansas City, North, with an initial investment of $600 million.

The Port Authority of Kansas City’s Board of Commissioners on Monday voted to approve bond documents for what had been called Project Shale, but is in fact Google’s latest data center project in the Midwest.

Tech giants like Google and Facebook have built data centers in states like Iowa and Nebraska to take advantage of cheaper land, alternative energy sources and central locations to house servers and other data components to support their far-flung web operations.

Ranson Financial2019-07-22T16:56:13-05:00July 22, 2019|News|

Chris Payne, Heartland Park file suit against Shawnee County clerk

Shelby Development LLC, owned by Heartland Motorsports Park owner Chris Payne, filed a lawsuit this past Friday in Shawnee County District Court against Shawnee County clerk Cynthia Beck.

The 14-page suit, which lists Beck as defendant, includes three counts of alleged violations of the Kansas Open Records Act by Shawnee County pertaining to 2016 and 2017 appraisals for Heartland Motorsports Park, formerly Heartland Park Topeka.

Count I of the petition pertains to alleged Kansas Open Records Act violations related to an April 2017 KORA request while Count II pertains to a March 2018 request and Count III to a February 2019 request.

The suit alleges that the county didn’t provide timely access to all records requested by the plaintiff, that some requested records weren’t disclosed and that some records were improperly closed, both by means of complete closure and selective closure.

Ranson Financial2019-07-22T22:07:50-05:00July 22, 2019|News|

Auburn-Washburn school board hears proposal to allow chicks in classrooms

The Auburn-Washburn Unified School District 437 Board of Education meeting on Monday featured an unusual topic.

“Let’s talk about chickens,” Ann Matthews, executive director of teaching and learning, told the board.

Matthews wanted the board to revisit an old policy that prohibits teachers from bringing baby chicks into the classroom.

The policy was created, Matthews said, during the peak of the bird flu epidemic and has never been reconsidered.

Ranson Financial2019-07-22T22:07:20-05:00July 22, 2019|News|

Mother expresses gratitude for Backpack for Kids; deadline to register Monday

When Wendy’s 7-year-old daughter gets her new backpack and school supplies every summer, she is super excited.

“She get’s so excited,” her mother said. “Her eyes light up.”

Wendy is brought to tears. She tears up because she is humbled by the gift.

Volunteers pack items for the Backpack for Kids program. Donations are still need. See a list below.

Wendy’s daughter is one of about 650 children who annually receive new backpacks and school supplies from the Backpack for Kids program, which is sponsored by First Call for Help.

The deadline to register for the program is Monday.

Students entering grades pre-K through high school, who reside and attend school in Ellis County, are eligible to receive a free backpack filled with school supplies and a hygiene bag through the program.

Register for a backpack online at http://firstcallelliscounty.com/Backpacks-for-Kids or call 785-623-2800 to reserve one over the phone.

(Read more: Hays Post)

Ranson Financial2019-07-22T13:51:57-05:00July 22, 2019|News|

Early voting for local election primaries to start Monday morning

Starting at 8 a.m. Monday morning, Sedgwick County voters can cast their votes for local election primaries.

There will be two races on the ballot for voters in Wichita including the race for a new mayor and an open spot on the Wichita School District School Board.

Voters in Sedgwick County can head to the main election office downtown from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. through Friday, and again next week. Voters will need to have an ID with them to vote.

(Read more: KAKE – News)

Ranson Financial2019-07-22T13:48:56-05:00July 22, 2019|News|

Recommendation calls for senior centers to lose funding

The Papan’s Landing, LULAC and East Topeka senior centers each received more than $13,000 in social services funding this year from the City of Topeka, as did Community Action’s Latino Family Development program.

But none of those would get any money next year under a recommendation the city’s mayor and council plan to consider this week outlining specifically how the city would allocate $434,904 in available funding to social service agencies.

Some in the community have spoken critically of that, with city council candidate Christina Valdivia-Alcala telling the council’s social services grant committee this past week that the city would be “cutting out the knees from underneath senior citizens” if it chose not to financially support the senior centers.

Ranson Financial2019-07-22T13:46:21-05:00July 22, 2019|News|

Shawnee Mission brings on first-ever coordinator of diversity, equity and inclusion

For the past several years, a group of Shawnee Mission parents have been urging the administration to improve diversity and inclusion efforts across the school district. On July 1, a new staff member joined the district with the task of addressing just that.

Tyrone Bates, Ed.D., is the school district’s first ever coordinator of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Bates comes to Shawnee Mission with nearly two decades of experience as a classroom teacher and administrator. He spent the bulk of his career as a teacher and building administrator in Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools, and spent a year as the principal of the African-Centered College Preparatory Academy in Kansas City Public Schools. The past three years, he was the principal of Banneker Elementary in KCKPS.

Ranson Financial2019-07-22T13:42:52-05:00July 22, 2019|News|

Attorney General charges former Kan. county clerk with felony misuse of public funds

The Kansas Attorney General’s office has charged the former Marshall County Clerk with felony misuse of public funds, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

The charges were filed against Sonya L. Stohs, 44, of Marysville, late Tuesday in Marshall County District Court, Attorney General Derek Schmidt said. The complaint alleges from May 2013 to April 2019, Stohs used funds belonging to Marshall County to pay for various personal items, in excess of $100,000. Stohs surrendered to law enforcement this morning at the Marshall County Jail and entered her first appearance this afternoon in Marshall County District Court.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service. Schmidt’s office is prosecuting the case at the request of the Marshall County Attorney.

All criminal charges are merely accusations. Individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

(Read more: The Salina Post)

Ranson Financial2019-07-22T13:34:29-05:00July 22, 2019|News|

Wichita has a role in NASA’s next giant leap

County may incur $10 million in new debt for parks and rec

Google considering big data center project in KC with initial $600 million investment

Chris Payne, Heartland Park file suit against Shawnee County clerk

Auburn-Washburn school board hears proposal to allow chicks in classrooms

Mother expresses gratitude for Backpack for Kids; deadline to register Monday

Early voting for local election primaries to start Monday morning

Recommendation calls for senior centers to lose funding

Shawnee Mission brings on first-ever coordinator of diversity, equity and inclusion

Attorney General charges former Kan. county clerk with felony misuse of public funds

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