Kansas community colleges seeing spike in students this fall

12 Monday, August 12

Kansas community colleges seeing spike in students this fall

info2024-08-12T09:41:54-05:00August 12th, 2024|

As students are preparing to return to campus in the coming weeks, college enrollment across the country is rising, recovering from the drop it took in 2020. In the 2024 spring semester, undergraduate enrollment grew 2.5%. That means over 300,000 more students enrolled compared to 2023. More than half of the increase is at community colleges. Community colleges across Kansas are also seeing a spike in students this fall. The official count will come later this fall, but according to the Kansas Community College Association, schools with increases have seen enrollment increases of 2-3% to as much as 20%. “What we [...]

11 Sunday, August 11

Local leaders are working to help reduce serious vehicle crashes in Douglas County with the Vision Zero initiative

info2024-08-11T09:16:57-05:00August 11th, 2024|

The initiative that’s aiming to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injury accidents in Douglas County might be called “Vision Zero,” but make no mistake: it’s really about seeing things more clearly. It’s certainly about helping drivers see things around them — like with pedestrian islands that make it easier to see people who are walking or biking. Source: LJWorld

11 Sunday, August 11

Douglas County welcomes Sean Pederson as new Deputy County Administrator

info2024-08-11T09:15:21-05:00August 11th, 2024|

Douglas County welcomes Sean Pederson as new Deputy County Administrator. He has spent the past nine years as City Manager in Bonner Springs and has 13 years of experience in local government. He will lead the Public Works and Zoning and Codes departments and the Sustainability division of Administration. Source: Douglas County

9 Friday, August 9

Municipal Bond Trends for August 8, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-08-09T11:09:41-05:00August 9th, 2024|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

8 Thursday, August 8

Municipal Bond Trends for August 7, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-08-08T08:34:10-05:00August 8th, 2024|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

7 Wednesday, August 7

It’s grain country now, but western Kansas used to be awash in watermelons

info2024-08-07T11:23:38-05:00August 7th, 2024|

Slices of sweet watermelon are synonymous with summer, but 100 years ago the fruit was also synonymous with southwest Kansas when the area was the watermelon capital of the country. Despite being surrounded by agriculture, the only watermelons you will find in Kansas now will probably be growing in a home garden. Driving to Lakin just west of Garden City, the topography won’t really stand out to visitors. There are thousands of acres growing a few crops, most likely corn, alfalfa or sorghum. You will see the occasional grain elevator, and train tracks leading up to them. But this region, home [...]

7 Wednesday, August 7

Johnson County to add dozens of new public EV charging stations

info2024-08-07T11:21:59-05:00August 7th, 2024|

More electric vehicle charging stations are in the pipeline for Johnson County, now that county commissioners have voted to accept a $1.4 million federal grant. The grant would add 32 new charging stations in 16 locations around Johnson County, with the county, some cities and the county park and library districts managing the maintenance and ongoing costs. The stations will take about a year to install, said Brian Alferman, sustainability program manager for the county health department. Source: Johnson County Post

7 Wednesday, August 7

JoCo wants cities to help pay for new homeless shelter, but some officials are pushing back

info2024-08-07T11:20:41-05:00August 7th, 2024|

Four Johnson County cities may become the first to commit to annual contributions for a countywide homeless shelter. But local officials are already raising concerns about the abbreviated process to allocate the funds, with a county-determined deadline set for just over two weeks. This week, the cities of Prairie Village, Leawood, Olathe and Mission are all discussing their individual cities’ prospective payments to go towards supporting the early years of operation at a new proposed homeless shelter at the La Quinta Inn and Suites hotel in Lenexa. The agendas for Prairie Village, Leawood and Mission show that each of those cities [...]

7 Wednesday, August 7

As Wichita pushes for more EV charging stations, some worry about fire risks

info2024-08-07T11:17:53-05:00August 7th, 2024|

Driving around Wichita, you’ll see the occasional Tesla, electric Ford F-150 Lightning pickup or even one of the city’s battery-powered buses quietly cruising around town. With more electric vehicles have come more worries about what happens if they catch fire. They burn much hotter, emit noxious gases and pose an electrocution risk. But the idea that EVs catch fire more often than gas-powered vehicles is a myth. Source: KLC Journal

7 Wednesday, August 7

The city of Wichita is selling its public housing. Where are tenants going?

info2024-08-07T11:13:37-05:00August 7th, 2024|

On a lazy Sunday morning in July, the heat is creeping into the 90s before the clock hits noon. Danielle Lenz sits on her front porch in a lawn chair, keeping an eye on her mischievous six-year old. Two years ago, she didn’t know that this sunflower yellow rental home near downtown was where her family would end up. Lenz and her four kids were living in public housing in west Wichita when the news hit in 2022 that the city planned to sell their home – and the 351 other single-family public housing units scattered throughout town. Initially, she wanted [...]