Electric car charging stations introduced at turnpike service areas

Electric vehicle drivers will be able to travel the entire 236-mile length of the Kansas Turnpike without ever having to exit to recharge their car’s batteries, thanks to the addition of “fast-charging” stations at the Topeka, Lawrence and Towanda service areas.

The announcement came during a news conference Wednesday morning at the turnpike’s Topeka Service Area, located just east of the capital city along Interstate 70.

Gov. Laura Kelly, who spoke at the news conference, called the charging stations “a game changer” for electric vehicle drivers.

(Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Ranson Financial2019-07-18T19:17:12-05:00July 18, 2019|News|

Over neighbors’ objections, Overland Park council OKs developer’s affordable housing project rezoning request

Neighbors petitioned against it, but the Overland Park City Council came down on the side of more affordable housing as they approved rezoning for a small plot of land surrounded by older homes a few blocks west of downtown. The alternative, they feared, would have been big “McMansions” akin to ones Prairie Villagers have seen.

Council members unanimously overrode a protest petition from neighbors near 8505 W. 80th Street seeking to block a rezoning that would allow a developer to build four new homes there.

Ranson Financial2019-07-18T19:13:00-05:00July 18, 2019|News|

CS, Mulvane EMS services take over Sumner Co. territory

The city of Clearwater’s June 25 decision to discontinue its local ambulance service leaves a 45-square-mile hole in Sumner County’s EMS coverage map.

To fill the gap, Conway Springs EMS and Mulvane EMS are splitting Clearwater’s former territory, for now on an informal basis.

The two services had already been covering for Clearwater for several months, as Clearwater struggled with volunteer availability and tried to keep its service going by hiring some full-time employees.

Ranson Financial2019-07-18T19:09:00-05:00July 18, 2019|News|

Musician walking across America and through Emporia

There is no better time than the present.

For Grammy-nominated musician Mike Posner, there’s been something on his bucket list he’s been wanting to accomplish.

Walk across America.

That’s exactly what brought the famous musician to Emporia Tuesday. The singer of songs such as, “I Took A Pill In Ibiza,” “Cooler Than Me” and “Please Don’t Go” made his way through Emporia Tuesday on his way to his destination — Venice Beach, California.

(Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Ranson Financial2019-07-18T19:07:32-05:00July 18, 2019|News|

Lawmakers warn USDA its move to Kansas City will decimate research

The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to grow — not gut — its research capabilities with its move to Kansas City, a top agency official testified Thursday.

Scott Hutchins, the USDA’s deputy under secretary for research, education and economics, laid out the agency’s plans for its move during testimony in front of the U.S. Senate’s agriculture committee. While the hearing was set to discuss implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill, much of the conversation centered on the USDA’s June announcement that it would move more than 500 jobs from Washington, D.C., to Kansas City.

(Read more: Government & Politics News |)

Ranson Financial2019-07-18T19:05:46-05:00July 18, 2019|News|

KDHE requires students to get meningitis, hepatitis A vaccines

Public school students will have to be vaccinated this year for meningitis and hepatitis A, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced Thursday.

Students entering kindergarten and first grade will need two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine, the department said. Students entering seventh grade need one dose of the meningococcal ACWY vaccine. Students entering their junior year of high school will need the meningococcal ACWY vaccine if not vaccinated before their 16th birthday.

Exemptions are allowed for medical reasons or religious beliefs. The regulations go into effect Aug. 2.

(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)

Ranson Financial2019-07-18T19:02:49-05:00July 18, 2019|News|

‘It’s going to change your life’: JoCo’s new $1M playground a sign of the future

On the top of a small hill at Shawnee Mission Park’s new million-dollar playground, children swarm on an elaborate spider web of ropes. Down a wheelchair-friendly ramp to a more shaded area, families swing, slide and clamber over a myriad of structures that spin, bounce or make music.

It’s all designed to be fun — and accessible — for kids of different abilities.

The inclusive playground highlights a growing trend in the Kansas City area of helping kids with special needs get off the sidelines and into the action. The Kansas City Zoo opened such a playground in 2018, the first zoo to do so in the nation. Later that year, Johnson County added one in Stillwell. The playground at Shawnee Mission Park opened earlier this month.

(Read more: Joco 913 News)

Ranson Financial2019-07-18T21:14:44-05:00July 18, 2019|News|

How does Ark City’s water taste? Judges say better than most

Tap water in Ark City was named the best tasting water in the state by the Kansas Rural Water Association this spring.

Four judges at an annual conference in Wichita in March drank water samples from more than 20 communities, giving Ark City top tasting honors.

The association plans to present the award to the city tonight at the City Commission meeting. The honor was highlighted in a July article in The Kansas Lifeline magazine and is posted on the association’s website.

(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Ranson Financial2019-07-17T21:55:42-05:00July 17, 2019|News|

“I went over the bump and lost my breath’: heat damages roads in Wichita and Hays

The extreme heat is affecting roads in our area, including some that have cracked and crumbled as drivers pass by.

“I was thinking, ‘oh my gosh, what in the world was that?” said Shara McMahon, Wichita resident.

McMahon was driving down South Broadway near Haysville when she drover over a giant crack.

“I didn’t even see the bump in the road,” McMahan said. “I just saw that there was a police car there with lights on so of course, you avoid it. I went over the bump and I lost my breath. It was pretty big. I had no idea it was even there.”

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2019-07-17T21:55:16-05:00July 17, 2019|News|

World record attempt: Whitewater Library hosts rocket launch

Gavin Wuthrich spent Tuesday morning helping his daughter Sadie learn to, and practice, launching a small foam rocket powered by a rubber band in a grassy field at Whitewater Park. She would pull it back, then release it, and watch it fly."We thought we would bring the kids out, have a good time, and check it out," Gavin said.At the appointed time, the Wuthrich family lined up with other story time participants to help set a world record.

(Read more: Augusta Gazette)

Ranson Financial2019-07-17T21:54:42-05:00July 17, 2019|News|

Electric car charging stations introduced at turnpike service areas

Over neighbors’ objections, Overland Park council OKs developer’s affordable housing project rezoning request

CS, Mulvane EMS services take over Sumner Co. territory

Musician walking across America and through Emporia

Lawmakers warn USDA its move to Kansas City will decimate research

KDHE requires students to get meningitis, hepatitis A vaccines

‘It’s going to change your life’: JoCo’s new $1M playground a sign of the future

How does Ark City’s water taste? Judges say better than most

“I went over the bump and lost my breath’: heat damages roads in Wichita and Hays

World record attempt: Whitewater Library hosts rocket launch

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