info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Deputy commerce secretary: Kansas is moving into a new class in competing for companies

info2022-05-16T07:00:44-05:00May 16th, 2022|

Kansas Deputy Commerce Secretary Paul Hughes on Thursday said that Kansas is moving into an entirely new class of competition for attracting big companies to the state. Hughes spoke at the Flint Hills Regional Leaders Retreat, which was Thursday and Friday at the Manhattan Conference Center. The retreat is an event of the Manhattan, Junction City and Wamego chambers of commerce. Hughes’ presentation comes just weeks after Gov. Laura Kelly announced plans for a new $650 million manufacturing plant to come to Manhattan. But the state is looking at new ways to be competitive in attracting even bigger projects. Source: themercury.com

Shielded for growth: Wichita leaders see promise in cybersecurity

info2022-05-16T01:03:09-05:00May 16th, 2022|

One of the nation’s fastest-growing industries is finding a fast foothold in Wichita. The city in the past year has attracted cybersecurity companies from both coasts, attracted by the cost and availability of talent, and the growth of industry resources locally. And with data security taking on heightened importance in the post-pandemic age of remote work and differentiating resources already in play, local stakeholders see the industry as potentially emerging as one of Wichita’s best opportunities at economic diversification. “I think there has been a lot more awareness around it and intentionality (in attracting the industry),” says Adrienne Korson, director of economic [...]

Lawrence’s police review board approves new task force; conflict between law enforcement and DA’s office not addressed

info2022-05-16T01:00:47-05:00May 16th, 2022|

The Lawrence Community Police Review Board on Thursday advanced a charter to create a new Community-Police Oversight Task Force. The CPRB has long wanted greater authority than the scope that city law currently allows — a scope so narrow that since the board was created in 2018, it has not reviewed a single complaint. The current ordinance only allows CPRB members to review appeals of the police department’s decisions in complaints about bias-based policing. Starting in 2020, at the direction of the Lawrence City Commission, board members began drafting an ordinance that expanded its duties. But an outside consultant’s review of the [...]

Wyandotte County court system still impacted by cyber attack

info2022-05-16T00:59:11-05:00May 16th, 2022|

The cybersecurity threat that’s caused turmoil for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County is nearly a month old. It's left many offices in Kansas City, Kansas, operating without computer systems — “old school,” so to speak — with no word on when computer access will be restored. County leaders first announced that an attack had taken place on April 16. One courthouse worker described this as “a pain.” Two people involved in this county’s judicial process confirmed trouble with their digital network is ongoing. This concern, which as FOX4 has reported, might be a ransomware attack, has Wyandotte County’s court system [...]

Even with elimination of state sales tax, local governments must continue to tax groceries

info2022-05-13T08:08:38-05:00May 13th, 2022|

Even when the state’s 6.5% sales tax on groceries eventually ramps down to zero, Lawrence shoppers will still be paying close to 3% in sales taxes on groceries. The overwhelming majority of Kansas cities and counties — Lawrence and Douglas County included — charge local sales tax in addition to the state sales tax, and state lawmakers ensured that would not change. The recently passed changes not only don’t affect local sales taxes on groceries, but also prohibit local governments from reducing or eliminating their local sales taxes on groceries. Source: LJworld

It’s easy being green: Library branch in this JoCo city to offer an innovative roof

info2022-05-13T07:58:50-05:00May 13th, 2022|

The new Johnson County Library branch in Merriam will be nothing like the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, but when you go there, you will want to look up. Why? Because the library roof, arguably the building’s most distinguishing feature, will be home to prairie grasses that will help insulate the structure and provide a visual extension of the landscape surrounding the Merriam Community Center, on which the new library is expected to open in early 2024. Source: Joco 913 News

Kansas legalizes sports betting, then gets sued

info2022-05-13T07:58:12-05:00May 13th, 2022|

Kansas has legalized sports betting. But the state was sued almost immediately Thursday by a state-owned casino operator over an unrelated part of the law designed to revive a long-closed greyhound track in its area. ... The lawsuit is from the Kansas Star Casino operated by Boyd Gaming about 15 miles south of Wichita. The casino has a contract with the lottery and says that contract has been breached because the new law allows improper competition from new gambling devices at Wichita Greyhound Park. Source: KSN-TV

Parsons PD adds a furry-faced officer to the team

info2022-05-13T07:57:33-05:00May 13th, 2022|

The Parsons Police Department is celebrating a new addition. The department gained national attention at the end of last year after the brutal killing of an officer's dog. "If the community is going to put forth the money to give us these nice things to enhance our performance, I'm going to do everything I can to do that performance as best I can," said Christian Smith, Parsons Police K9 Handler. Morgan, the black Labrador, is the newest member of the Parsons Police Department. She completed her training earlier this year. Source: KSNF/KODE

Smaller, rural communities in danger of missing out on infrastructure boom

info2022-05-13T07:44:30-05:00May 13th, 2022|

As federal officials hail a coming infrastructure decade, tens of thousands of mostly smaller, rural communities may miss out because they lack capacity to compete for the funds. That's according to data from Headwaters Economics, a nonprofit research firm focused on community development and land management that developed a rural capacity index to analyze which and how many communities may have a hard time snagging infrastructure funding. “It’s hard to advocate for resources, it’s hard to navigate complicated grant applications and meet compliance requirements, all of that is very difficult for smaller communities, so it’s logical that the communities that are [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for May 12, 2022

info2022-05-13T07:41:36-05:00May 13th, 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.

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