Crews battle large grass fire in Marion County

2 Friday, December 2

Crews battle large grass fire in Marion County

info2022-12-02T09:35:39-06:00December 2nd, 2022|

Crews from several fire departments were involved in battling a large grass fire Thursday afternoon in southeastern Marion County. The fire broke out south of Florence, and strong south winds pushed the fire and smoke to the north, creating a hazard for drivers on Highway 50. There was no word of any structures that were threatened or damaged, and no injuries were reported. The fire was 90 percent contained by evening, and firefighters were watching for hot spots. Source: 101.3 KFDI

2 Friday, December 2

Municipal Bond Trends for December 1, 2022

Henry Schmidt2022-12-02T09:03:02-06:00December 2nd, 2022|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.

2 Friday, December 2

Reno County daycare survey sees issues

info2022-12-02T07:54:14-06:00December 2nd, 2022|

During a Reno County Commission meeting on Tuesday, a professor from Kansas State University told the commissioners the result of a child care survey in the county. He said Hutchinson is lacking in both childcare and housing, but he thinks housing can take care of itself through attrition. He also said enforcement of policies is an issue. Bradford Wiles, Ph.D. in human development, said the county needs to create a new position to help bring change and implement childcare practices in the county. He said this person should make from $80,000 to $100,000 annually. However, he said, the highest salary an [...]

2 Friday, December 2

Gardner public works recognized

info2022-12-02T09:29:02-06:00December 2nd, 2022|

Seven Gardner Public Works employees were recognized for their accomplishments at the Kansas City Metro Chapter of the America Public Works Association’s Snow Removal and Equipment Training Expo. Kellen Headlee, public works director, and Mayor Todd Winters presented a trophy to Eric Willard, Public Works Street Maintenance employee, who won first place in the skid steer operations event. Jake Milkey, public works street maintenance employee, placed first in the vendor’s mini excavator event, but was unable to attend. Source: Gardner News

2 Friday, December 2

KSDE Commissioner to USD 443 BOE: How does Dodge City raise happy 30 year olds?

info2022-12-02T09:30:29-06:00December 2nd, 2022|

A young lady from the Sunnyside Elementary School student council introduced herself to the Dodge City Globe with a handshake, then ushered this reporter into a classroom in which Kansas State Department of Education Commissioner Randy Watson “was happy to share really great information” with the Dodge City USD 443 Board of Education. ... how does one even define success? Watson asked, rhetorically. “How does one raise a happy 30 year old?” “A successful Kansas high school graduate has the academic preparation, cognitive preparation, technical skills, employability skills and civic engagement to be successful in postsecondary education in the pursuit of [...]

2 Friday, December 2

Kansas collects $642.3 Million in total taxes for November

info2022-12-02T02:04:15-06:00December 2nd, 2022|

The Kansas Department of Revenue today announced that total tax collections for November were $642.3 million, which is $15.4 million, or 2.5%, more than last November. Total tax receipts for Fiscal Year 2023 continue to outpace Fiscal Year 2022, with year-over-year growth at 5.4%. Total tax collections for November were 5.3% below the estimate, which was recently raised at November’s meeting of the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group to align with consistently strong revenues. The estimate for November and the remainder of FY 2023 was raised by $773.0 million. Source: hiawathaworldonline.com

2 Friday, December 2

Topgolf, Scheels bringing hundreds of jobs to Wichita

info2022-12-02T01:57:49-06:00December 2nd, 2022|

Companies new to Wichita are hiring and filling hundreds of jobs right now. Topgolf, near K-96 and Greenwich, is celebrating its grand opening Friday, Dec. 2. The company has already hired close to 300 people to work at its Wichita location. “I called my mom and I said, ‘I've never wanted to work somewhere as much as I wanna work here,’” new employee Anyssa Torres said. Torres and Carmella Estrada are getting trained this week to work at Topgolf. It held a hiring event last week and Estrada attended. Source: KAKE - News

2 Friday, December 2

Kansas Supreme Court justice tackles state’s severe shortage of rural attorneys

info2022-12-02T01:52:39-06:00December 2nd, 2022|

Eighty percent of all active Kansas attorneys live in six urban counties, leaving Kansas rural communities struggling to find legal help. The newly created Rural Justice Initiative Committee plans to tackle the issue, with the goal of attracting attorneys to practices in rural areas. In Kansas, there’s a ratio of two attorneys per 535 residents in urban areas, and a ration of one attorney per 808 residents in rural areas, according to the Kansas Judicial Branch. Wichita and Hodgeman counties have no attorneys at all, and five other rural counties have only one practicing attorney in the area. Eleven rural counties [...]

2 Friday, December 2

Kansas banking commissioner pleads for greater oversight of TEFFIs

info2022-12-02T09:31:08-06:00December 2nd, 2022|

The top banking regulator in Kansas urged legislators Thursday to embrace bills clearing a path for criminal background checks and fingerprinting of officers, directors and organizers involved in a new type of financial institution catering to wealthy people securing loans with their illiquid assets. State banking commissioner David Herndon asked a joint House and Senate committee to endorse the reforms and he reiterated frustration with state law inhibiting routine scrutiny of Beneficient Company Group, the state’s first authorized TEFFI or Technology Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institution. Beneficient, with offices in Hesston, is an online trust company offering services typically reserved for large [...]

2 Friday, December 2

Russell warns of utility disconnect scam calls

info2022-12-02T01:46:49-06:00December 2nd, 2022|

The City of Russell is warning residents about scam phone calls. The caller calls a home or business and threatens to disconnect their electrical service if they don't immediately pay a past-due balance. Several utility customers in Russell have reported receiving these calls. The City wants to let residents know that you should never give out personal or financial information like credit, debit card, social security, or bank account numbers, no matter how insistent they may be. Also, no utility will ask you to purchase a gift card, especially from another company like Amazon, a reloadable debit card, or some other [...]