From the Flint Hills to the Flatlands: Hundreds of cyclists make the trek across the Sunflower State

17 Monday, June 17

From the Flint Hills to the Flatlands: Hundreds of cyclists make the trek across the Sunflower State

info2024-06-17T13:08:39-05:00June 17th, 2024|

50 years ago, the inaugural Biking Across Kansas ride kicked off with participants traveling through Tribune. For the anniversary year, over 700 riders gathered back in Tribune and have spent the past week cycling across the Sunflower State. BAK is the second longest across-state ride in the country. While the eight-day, 505-mile trip can be physically demanding, it’s the comradery with fellow riders that keeps them coming back year after year. Former participant and first-year Executive Director Bryan Toben considers everyone to be family. “It can be a challenge, but we always talk about doing this together,” Toben said. “There isn’t a rider out there [...]

17 Monday, June 17

Mercy looks to complete acquisition of Pittsburg hospital by Sept. 1

info2024-06-17T13:03:19-05:00June 17th, 2024|

Mercy Hospital Joplin’s top official said Thursday progress continues toward the acquisition of the existing hospital in Pittsburg. Mercy announced in February that it planned to acquire the 50-bed hospital in Pittsburg from Wichita-based Ascension Via Christi ministry. Mercy's presence in Southeast Kansas already includes the 26-bed Mercy Specialty Hospital Southeast Kansas in Galena and the 25-bed Mercy Hospital Columbus, as well as a number of clinics and medical offices. Mercy officials said the transition of the Pittsburg hospital was delayed for about a month by an apparent cybersecurity problem in the Ascension Via Christi computer system that forced the two groups to hold [...]

17 Monday, June 17

Portrait of a Kansas town that went all-in on clean energy after a devastating tornado

info2024-06-17T12:59:39-05:00June 17th, 2024|

Greensburg was mostly destroyed by the tornado of May 4, 2007. Some homes on the outskirts were repairable. But most of the core of the town was completely wiped out. Debris was everywhere. Hohl’s son’s bedsheet was lodged in a tree, where it would stay for 10 years. And the town’s roughly 1,400 residents had to not only figure out how to put their own lives back together but how to rebuild the town and the community that many had been part of for generations. The decision they made, not to rebuild the town as it was, but to use the [...]

17 Monday, June 17

Freeman plans to open emergency room, 10 inpatient beds in Fort Scott, Kansas

info2024-06-17T12:56:54-05:00June 17th, 2024|

Freeman Health System announced a further expansion into Southeast Kansas on Thursday. Freeman CEO Paula Baker told a crowd gathered around the emergency entrance to the former hospital in Fort Scott — now known as the Bourbon County Medical Facility — that Freeman would reopen the emergency department at the former hospital. Freeman would also have 10 inpatient beds in the building. Baker said: “We’re going to have six separate bays, and we will have 365-day coverage, 24/7, by licensed physicians and nurses that are specifically trained in emergency medicine. We’re also going to have some support for that emergency department, such as [...]

17 Monday, June 17

Municipal Bond Trends for June 14, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-06-17T00:07:02-05:00June 17th, 2024|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. 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.

14 Friday, June 14

Municipal Bond Trends for June 13, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-06-14T10:02:33-05:00June 14th, 2024|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. 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.

14 Friday, June 14

Wind energy banned in Shawnee County, solar on one year moratorium

info2024-06-14T09:39:01-05:00June 14th, 2024|

Shawnee County Commissioners are moving one step closer to shaping the future of wind and solar energy within the county. ... Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the solar moratorium. That gives the planning department one year for extensive research into regulations, looking into the viability for solar farms in Shawnee County. Source: KSNT 27 News

14 Friday, June 14

Newton police getting new training facility

info2024-06-14T09:04:22-05:00June 14th, 2024|

The Newton City Commission approved the plans for a police training facility Tuesday night. The city bought a building near City Hall in August and is now asking contractors to put in bids to update it. Newton Police Chief Craig Dunlavy says headquarters will remain at the courthouse, but the department will use the new facility for monthly training and staff meetings as they need more space. Right now, they are asking community partners to borrow their space. The facility is not replacing the state law enforcement training center. It’s going to be used for auxiliary training purposes. Chief Dunlavy says [...]

14 Friday, June 14

Pittsburg city leaders support $50 million “Gorilla Rising” project for downtown with $10 million investment

info2024-06-14T09:02:47-05:00June 14th, 2024|

City leaders throw their support behind a project to bring a new college of business to downtown Pittsburg. Building on the success of Block 22, project Gorilla Rising is an initiative to build a new college of business at 3rd St. and Broadway. It`s expected the new college of business would be approximately 54,000 square feet and provide space for administrative and faculty offices, educational centers, and additional downtown parking space. Along with that, the historic Besse Hotel on 4th St. will be redeveloped, to create more than 60 new students housing beds and space for the PSU reading and testing [...]

14 Friday, June 14

In Newton, Professionals organize to serve, unite Latino and Spanish-speaking community

info2024-06-14T08:57:47-05:00June 14th, 2024|

Navigating a new country, culture, bureaucratic system and language is no easy task. Sal Lujano Jr. said he watched his family do it firsthand when they came to Newton from Mexico. “When we first came here, we didn’t have a bilingual person to go to with many things,” he said. “My dad had to figure it out all on his own.” He said it doesn’t have to be that way anymore. He, along with seven other professionals in the community, have been working to create a group named “Latinos Unidos.” The group, with members fluent in Spanish and English, aims to [...]