Chick-fil-A opens with more than 100 area employees

More than 100 area residents began work this week at Hays’ long-awaited Chick-fil-A, which opened Thursday, Oct. 15, under the leadership of local Owner-Operator Brett Pennell. Pennell said Wednesday that he personally interviewed and hired approximately 106 to 110 employees to staff the new restaurant. The team includes residents of Hays, Ellis and Victoria, as well as Fort Hays State University (FHSU) students, high school students and area parents seeking full- and part-time work.
Read more: Hays Daily News

Ranson Financial2026-10-22T10:51:19-05:00October 22, 2026|Eco Devo, News|

Frontenac community celebrates the end of childcare shortage with new facility

Two women’s decade-long fight to bring quality childcare to their small Kansas community culminated Tuesday with Governor Laura Kelly, as they celebrated the opening of the Frontenac’s Community Early Learning Center. Kari Cronister, director of New Foundations, and Kristina Cullison, assistant principal of Frontenac Elementary Schools, launched their effort after struggling to find accessible childcare for their own nine children combined.
Read more: www.koamnewsnow.com

Ranson Financial2026-10-22T10:51:25-05:00October 22, 2026|Eco Devo, News|

A bird’s-eye view of Hillsboro’s fire department drone

A man fleeing law enforcement in pitch-black conditions. A family stranded on a boat at Marion Reservoir without gas and with little idea where they were headed. A single-vehicle crash victim slumped in the passenger seat, responders unsure whether anyone else was inside the car. These are just a few emergencies in which Hillsboro Fire Department has deployed its remote controlled drone.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

Ranson Financial2026-10-22T09:29:42-05:00October 22, 2026|News|

Turbine cash may pay for EMS site

Payments from two wind farms could pay for a Peabody ambulance station, county commissioners were told Monday before deciding to review the impact on county finances. Commissioner Clarke Dirks proposed using accumulated payments in lieu of taxes from Enel Green Power’s Diamond Vista and Ørsted’s Sunflower Wind to move forward with the long-discussed station.
“We’ve kicked this can down the road for a while,” he said.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

Ranson Financial2026-10-22T10:51:40-05:00October 22, 2026|Eco Devo, Finance, News|

Colwich City Council approves new e-bike, e-scooter rules

After several months of discussion and research into other small-town policies, the Colwich City Council approved a set of rules to be written into a city ordinance to be approved at next month’s meeting. Discussions began this summer, when Police Chief Mark Hinkle, Council Member Bill Quaney and several other community members noticed an uptick in e-scooters and e-bikes driving in potentially dangerous ways. Speeding, lack of helmets, and riding on busy sidewalks are the largest issues Hinkle noted. Members of the council and city employees were hesitant to put an outright ban into effect, as many students use e-bikes and e-scooters as school transportation. The rules the council established are common-sense rules and based on similar regulations from neighboring small towns. The three rules the council set are a bike speed limit of 20 mph, riders 16 and under must wear a bicycle helmet, and sidewalks on Wichita Street are off-limits.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

Ranson Financial2026-10-22T10:51:50-05:00October 22, 2026|Legal|

Marysville lands major trail grant

Funding for Marysville’s Blue River Trail Corridor Project took a $1.5 million step forward Monday with the announcement of the award of a Community Development Block Grant for the project from the Kansas Department of Commerce.
Read more: www.marysvilleonline.net

Ranson Financial2026-10-22T10:54:46-05:00October 22, 2026|Grants|

AG Opinion 2026-12: Board Membership Prohibited for College Employees

K.S.A. 71-1403(d) prevents any member of the board of trustees of a community college from being an employee of the community college. Under the facts provided, the Executive Director of the Coffeyville Community College Foundation is an employee of the College. As such, he cannot serve as a member of the Coffeyville Community College Board of Trustees.
Read more: Kansas Attorney General Opinions

Ranson Financial2026-10-22T07:38:53-05:00October 22, 2026|Legal|

Municipal Bond Trends for October 20, 2026

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.

Henry Schmidt2026-10-21T10:05:54-05:00October 21, 2026|Finance|

KDHE Announces Two Additional Grant Opportunities in Second Round of RHTP Funding

The application period for the Community Health Worker + Accountable Food is Medicine (CHW+AFIM) and the Non-Emergency Transportation (NEMT) grants will open Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, to eligible Kansas providers. CHW+AFIM program grants will improve health outcomes among rural Kansans. NEMT program grants will support innovative, sustainable local transportation solutions to help rural Kansans reach medical appointments.
Read more: KDHE

Ranson Financial2026-10-21T19:58:08-05:00October 20, 2026|Grants|

AG Opinion 2026-11: Schools – Nonpublic Accreditation; Secure Storage

Synopsis: Backpacks and lockers that are accessible to students during the school day do not satisfy HB 2299’s minimum requirements for the secure storage of personal electronic devices. HB 2299 amends K.S.A. 72-5170 to provide that "[e]ach nonpublic school accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the state board of education shall be entitled to the same rights as nonpublic schools accredited by the state board of education." This provision is not limited to matters related to the personal electronic device ban found in other provisions of the bill. Cited herein: 2026 Senate Substitute for House Bill 2299; K.S.A. 72-5170.
Read more: Kansas Attorney General Opinions

Ranson Financial2026-10-21T19:58:17-05:00October 20, 2026|Legal|