Wichita officials seek dismissal in $2.4M lawsuit brought by deputy police chiefs

2 Tuesday, May 2

Wichita officials seek dismissal in $2.4M lawsuit brought by deputy police chiefs

info2023-05-02T09:53:01-05:00May 2nd, 2023|

The city of Wichita, multiple city officials and the Fraternal Order of Police are asking a federal court to dismiss a $2.4 million lawsuit filed by former Police Chief Gordon Ramsay’s leadership team. In recent court filings, the city’s lawyers called the civil complaint filed by Deputy Chief Jose Salcido and former deputy chiefs Wanda Parker-Givens and Chester Pinkston “a press release in the guise of a pleading” that fails to state “who did what to whom.” City officials have declined to comment on the lawsuit since it was filed in February. The motion to dismiss is the city’s first official [...]

2 Tuesday, May 2

After a tiny home is stolen in Colorado, deputies find it at a Kansas grain elevator

info2023-05-02T09:49:53-05:00May 2nd, 2023|

Three people were arrested after authorities recovered a stolen tiny home Sunday in western Kansas. Around 8 p.m., the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office was alerted by Colorado authorities that a stolen tiny home was possibly heading to Kansas, a social media post from the sheriff’s office said. The tiny home along with a stolen trailer and Bobcat skid steer loader were found at the Scoular grain elevator in Coolidge, Kansas, according to the post. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

2 Tuesday, May 2

Roeland Park pushes to fill empty storefronts

info2023-05-02T10:38:01-05:00May 2nd, 2023|

On Monday, the city and chamber announced the launch of a new small business initiative called Project RISE. The vision for the economic development project is to support small businesses in Roeland Park by serving as a “one-stop shop” for local entrepreneurs looking to open in the city, according to a press release. “We want to see every store front, every office occupied,” said Mayor Michael Poppa. “It comes back to all of us. Those who live, work, play and shop here. We want to have a synergy across our City where businesses thrive.” Source: Prairie Village Post

2 Tuesday, May 2

Fed Set to Raise Rates to 16-Year High and Debate a Pause

info2023-05-02T10:39:17-05:00May 2nd, 2023|

Federal Reserve officials are on track to increase interest rates again at their meeting this week while deliberating whether that will be enough to then pause the fastest rate-raising cycle in 40 years. “We are much closer to the end of the tightening journey than the beginning,” Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester said April 20. Just how much closer the Fed is to that endgame will be a focus of internal debate because officials think their communications around future policy actions can be as significant as individual rate changes. Officials are likely to keep their options open as they finesse carefully [...]

2 Tuesday, May 2

Yellen Says U.S. Risks Default as Soon as June 1 Without Debt Ceiling Increase

info2023-05-02T09:34:34-05:00May 2nd, 2023|

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the U.S. government could become unable to pay all of its bills on time as soon as June 1 if Congress doesn’t first raise the debt limit. President Biden on Monday invited the top Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill to meet next week to discuss raising the country’s roughly $31.4 trillion borrowing limit, the White House said soon after Ms. Yellen’s warning. Source: WSJ.com: US Business

2 Tuesday, May 2

Municipal Bond Trends for May 1, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-05-02T07:29:09-05:00May 2nd, 2023|

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, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.

2 Tuesday, May 2

Douglas County launches GIS ‘Geoportal,’ an information hub including interactive maps and other data tools

info2023-05-02T07:10:01-05:00May 2nd, 2023|

Douglas County’s Geographic Information Systems Department has launched a new “Geoportal,” a collection of GIS-related content like web applications, maps and data produced by county GIS staff. On the portal, the public can view interactive maps of road closures, properties, voting precincts, taxing districts, controlled burns and more. On top of that, users can download the data and maps available on the portal for free. Standard road maps and ownership maps, meanwhile, can be purchased. Source: LJWorld

2 Tuesday, May 2

Douglas County Commission will soon decide on first solar project since new regulations were approved

info2023-05-02T07:09:13-05:00May 2nd, 2023|

The first application submitted under the county’s new regulations for solar energy projects may be just one step away from winning final approval from the Douglas County Commission. On Monday, the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission voted unanimously in favor of a conditional use permit application for the “Stull Solar Farm,” a small-scale solar project located on about 12.6 acres of a 117-acre parcel south of Lecompton. With that vote, the Planning Commission is sending the application to the County Commission and recommending that the county commissioners sign off on it. The County Commission is responsible for making the final decision on [...]

2 Tuesday, May 2

Saline County organizations plan public forum on homelessness, criminal justice system

info2023-05-02T07:06:03-05:00May 2nd, 2023|

A public forum on topics surrounding mental health, homelessness and the criminal justice system will be held Wednesday at the Salina Grace Resource Center. The Saline County Community Improvement Team (CIT) Council is hosting the educational forum 6 to 8 p.m. May 3 as a way to help inform the public about how certain issues are affecting people locally and what efforts are being made to address them. Those who attend the forum will get more insight on how mental health, homelessness, substance abuse and interactions within the criminal justice system are at play locally. Local agencies that are part of [...]

1 Monday, May 1

Overland Park to review how city controls speeding on residential streets

info2023-05-01T10:20:42-05:00May 1st, 2023|

It’s time to review Overland Park’s process for approving roundabouts, speed tables and other so-called “traffic calming” measures, an Overland Park city council committee has decided. The council’s Public Works Committee will take an in-depth look at the city’s 15-year-old set of rules on what requirements must be met, as well as whether some dedicated funding can be arranged. In particular, they’ll look at whether the current process is too restrictive and whether it should be easier for neighborhoods to get such measures okayed on their residential streets. Source: Prairie Village Post