Kansas Receives $451.7 Million for High Speed Broadband Infrastructure

26 Monday, June 26

Kansas Receives $451.7 Million for High Speed Broadband Infrastructure

info2023-06-26T13:27:51-05:00June 26th, 2023|

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that Kansas will receive $451.7 million in funding to support broadband infrastructure construction to connect all Kansans, ensuring access to high-speed internet across the state. ... This investment is made possible through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program as part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The BEAD Program, which is led by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) office at the U.S. Department of Commerce, will provide a total of $42.45 billion to State Broadband Offices to expand broadband to unserved areas across the country. ... In anticipation of this [...]

26 Monday, June 26

Motel owners seek city help to reopen

info2023-06-26T13:30:24-05:00June 26th, 2023|

The Town House Motel in downtown Arkansas City may soon be back in business. The affordable motel which evolved into long-term, low-income housing for some residents, closed in December of 2020. Two of the building owners, Raju Sheth and Hasu Bhakta, approached city commissioners during a work session Friday to discuss reopening the motel. Sheth said that he had been working with building official Mike Bellis with plans to revamp and reopen the facility. A big holdup has been getting an electrician to come and make the necessary wiring improvements. Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

26 Monday, June 26

Hotel Topeka not fully in city’s hands just yet

info2023-06-26T11:59:25-05:00June 26th, 2023|

The City of Topeka is in the process of finalizing its deal to take over Hotel Topeka. The city won an online auction bid earlier this month to acquire the hotel at $7.6 million. At the time, a city spokeswoman told KSNT 27 News that officials were finalizing the purchasing documents, then the sale would be final. After asking for a status update Thursday morning, the sale is not yet final. "Because Hotel Topeka at City Center is in receivership, the purchase has to be approved by the court. That is unlikely to occur until late July. We do not expect [...]

26 Monday, June 26

City of Readings reach continues to grow with evolution of annual Tornado Trot and Trail

info2023-06-26T11:56:35-05:00June 26th, 2023|

What originally began as a benefit for a community impacted by a natural disaster has grown into an event with an incredible reach far beyond just the local area. The 11th annual Reading Tornado Trot and Trail took place at Reading Park Saturday morning with right around 100 participants either running or riding the route. Organizer Jan Briggs says this was easily one of the largest turnouts they have had for the event in recent memory. The Trot and Trail began back in 2011 as a benefit for the community following an EF-3 tornado that damaged the town and killed one [...]

26 Monday, June 26

Wichita police use surveillance cameras to help find arrest shooting suspect in Oklahoma

info2023-06-26T11:55:05-05:00June 26th, 2023|

Police used the Flock Safety license plate reader surveillance system to help find a 45-year-old Wichita man in Oklahoma after he was accused of shooting someone in the middle of the street in broad daylight at 18th and Chautauqua. Jeremi Mothershed will be extradited to Wichita. He has been charged with felon in possession of a firearm and aggravated battery, police said Friday. Police took the suspect vehicle description and used Flock to find a white Audi headed south toward Oklahoma. The vehicle and license plate were then relayed to law enforcement in Oklahoma. Mothershed was arrested by Norman police and [...]

26 Monday, June 26

Wellington City Council approves $18,974 for the purchase of 20 point-blank ballistic vests

info2023-06-26T13:31:05-05:00June 26th, 2023|

The Wellington City Council met Tuesday to clear their desks of routine purchases and resolutions before the July holiday. The first resolution of the evening completed a request from the Wellington Police Department to purchase 20 point-blank AXBIIIA ballistic vests for $18,974.40. Ballistic vests have a shelf life of five years, and this bid came in at $4,000 under budget. Police Chief Tracy Heath also stated that he would apply for a Department of Justice grant to reimburse the City for half of the cost. After that, the council approved the resolution unanimously. Source: Sumner NewsCow

26 Monday, June 26

JoCo government questions sheriffs power to bring civil lawsuit

info2023-06-26T13:32:44-05:00June 26th, 2023|

Johnson County government is locked in a dispute over whether Sheriff Cal Hayden can independently bring litigation against an Overland Park man accused of making hundreds of harassing phone calls to sheriff's office deputies and employees. The county this week asked a Johnson County judge for permission to intervene in the lawsuit brought by the sheriff against Leonid Khayet, who according to the court records called the sheriff's office 503 times during the last four months of 2022. During that same time frame, the sheriff's office said that Khayet sent 381 emails to 21 deputies. Source: Sunflower State Journal

26 Monday, June 26

Hutchinson raises chicken count

info2023-06-26T11:46:58-05:00June 26th, 2023|

Hutchinson residents can bring more chickens home to roost. The Hutchinson City Council voted Tuesday to increase the number of chickens a resident can own, changing it from three to eight chickens on most city properties, the Hutchinson News reported. Jim Sietnater, interim planning director, told the newspaper that keeping chickens is a growing trend. If someone wants a larger flock of chickens and has the area to do that, they can add an additional chicken for every 250 square feet. That maxes out at 20 chickens. All chickens must be fenced in, with coops being kept neat in appearance. However, [...]

25 Sunday, June 25

Municipal Bond Trends for June 23, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-06-25T21:07:26-05:00June 25th, 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.

23 Friday, June 23

Shawnee deputy city manager up for job in nearby Merriam

info2023-06-23T14:15:06-05:00June 23rd, 2023|

Shawnee’s Deputy City Manager and long-time city employee Caitlin Gard is the final candidate for one of the top jobs in Merriam city government. During its upcoming meeting on Monday, the Merriam City Council will vote on Gard’s appointment to serve as the assistant city administrator. Source: Prairie Village Post