Kansas collects $7 million from $1.85 billion in sports bets in first year of legalized gambling

2 Monday, October 2

Kansas collects $7 million from $1.85 billion in sports bets in first year of legalized gambling

info2023-10-02T14:28:05-05:00October 2nd, 2023|

Kansas’ first year of sports betting brought in $7 million in state revenue from $1.85 billion in wagers. In a Sept. 28 update to committee lawmakers, Kansas Lottery finance director Matt Schwartz said revenue projections were basically on track with expectations. “Sports wagering revenues, we’re now a little more than 12 months in,” Schwartz said. “The state’s share of revenues for the first fiscal year, which was 10 months of operation, was a little more than $5.8 million.” The fiscal year ended June 30. From the September 2022 introduction of sports betting through the end of August this year, the state [...]

2 Monday, October 2

Choose Saline County incentivizes local shopping

info2023-10-02T14:27:14-05:00October 2nd, 2023|

Over $3 million has been generated in economic activity in Saline County because of its new loyalty program, Choose Saline County. It is an app that allows people to earn stars for shopping locally, anywhere from 5%-20% back. Then, they can redeem those stars at other local businesses or donate them to a local nonprofit. "You get cash back," Melissa McCoy, Saline County spokesperson, said. "And then you have stars that are as good as cash in your pocket that you can use that places like Brown's Shoe Fit or True Betty Boutique or Sharp Performance. Now, if I need something, I will [...]

2 Monday, October 2

This new Johnson County library under construction will replace the aging Antioch branch

info2023-10-02T14:24:56-05:00October 2nd, 2023|

The opening of a new public library building in Merriam is inching closer. “It’s just going to be a really beautiful building,” said Elissa Andre, media manager for the Johnson County Library, of the library’s new $13.6 million Merriam Plaza Library, now under construction in Merriam. “We’re really thrilled to bring it on to the Merriam Community Center campus.” The new facility, designed by Kansas City-based Dake Wells Architecture, is contemporary in style with an abundance of windows. It is being built just steps from the Merriam Community Center, which opened in 2020 in the 6000 block of Slater St. The [...]

2 Monday, October 2

Writers from four separate states assemble in SEK to showcase area

info2023-10-02T14:20:13-05:00October 2nd, 2023|

A group of travel writers are touring southeast Kansas. Five content creators from Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, and Minnesota are touring with Explore Crawford County to tell a story about their time here. In less than 24 hours, they've toured about a dozen different locations, including Route 66, downtown Pittsburg, Pichler's Chicken Annie's, and the McCune Farm to Market. Each writer is creating vlogs and articles to publish on different publications. "We are showcasing the amazing things that are here to see, from obviously the history of Route 66. There are just a lot of different things, and we're experiencing some unique food as [...]

2 Monday, October 2

Senator visits Topeka homeless encampments

info2023-10-02T14:32:22-05:00October 2nd, 2023|

Topeka's homeless crisis is catching the attention of federal leaders. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, recently toured a few homeless camps in the city. Barry Feaker, former director of the Topeka Rescue Mission, said he invited Marshall. The visit occurred the same day the senator met with state agricultural leaders prioritizing mental health resources for Kansas farmers. "We were able to visit two camps during this visit and have conversations with some individuals currently experiencing homelessness. When we returned to TRM (Topeka Rescue Mission) we discussed the homeless issues locally and nationally. The visit and conversation with the Senator were greatly appreciated". Topeka has [...]

2 Monday, October 2

Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office raising awareness on fentanyl dangers

info2023-10-02T14:11:53-05:00October 2nd, 2023|

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office is using social media to ramp up efforts to increase fentanyl awareness. Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves says the demographic most affected by fentanyl ranges from 18-year-olds to 45-year-olds. He also adds that the drug was recently listed as the leading cause of death among that age group. "The slogan is One pill can kill. And we've seen that here in the county. And throughout the region where somebody has taken what is a counterfeit prescription pill, they think it's a Xanax or a person or OxyContin, and it turns out to be a counterfeit pill that contains a [...]

2 Monday, October 2

Four-lane expressway to be expanded between Dodge City and Garden City

info2023-10-02T14:08:46-05:00October 2nd, 2023|

The Kansas Department of Transportation has announced that they will be expanding their four-lane expressway to Garden City. KDOT is expanding four segments of U.S. 50 to a four-lane expressway with a divided median from Aerodrome Rd in Finney County to the west city limits of Cimarron in Gray County. These projects will increase capacity, relieve congestion and enhance safety by limiting direct highway access points. The four segments have been bundled into two groups for design and construction—a western and eastern group. The western group extend from Aerodrome Rd (Garden City Airport) in Finney County east to 7 Rd in Gray County. [...]

2 Monday, October 2

Municipal Bond Trends for September 29, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-10-02T00:01:32-05:00October 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, or Henry Schmidt.

1 Sunday, October 1

Before Panasonic plant’s arrival, De Soto had spent decades preparing for growth

info2023-10-02T08:37:58-05:00October 1st, 2023|

De Soto City Administrator Mike Brungardt says Panasonic is poised to lead his city and the surrounding area into a new era of manufacturing prosperity as electric-vehicle battery production becomes the modern equivalent of the oil booms of 100 years ago. The center of that boom in northeast Kansas will be the $4 billion lithium battery plant that the company is now building on 304 acres of the old Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, now renamed Ad Astra Enterprise Park. And because of steps De Soto has taken the past two decades, the growth will be aimed along a corridor that points [...]

29 Friday, September 29

Shawnee County gives tax abatement to couple who lost house in accidental fire

info2023-09-29T11:16:38-05:00September 29th, 2023|

Glenn D. Leonardi and Ulrike Schlingensiepen lost their house, 3421 S.W. Briarwood Lane, in a fire in April 2022. ... Later, Leonardi realized they were still paying property taxes on a house that no longer existed. "I just felt like it was ridiculous to be paying taxes on a property that was no longer there," Leonardi told The Capital-Journal. ... Leonardi said he contacted the county appraiser's office to figure out what could be done. The Shawnee County Commission on Thursday voted unanimously to provide property tax relief for Leonardi and Schlingensiepen under Shawnee County Resolution No. 2023-32. ... K.S.A. 79-1613 [...]