info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Why Rural Communities Struggle to Bring in Much-needed Federal Grants

info2022-05-05T07:13:23-05:00May 5th, 2022|

Researchers examined 10 factors that influenced how well-equipped communities were to apply for grant funding, and then used those factors to calculate each county and community’s “rural capacity” score. For instance, Missoula County, Montana, home to the state’s second-largest city and flagship university campus, scored 94 out of 100, while Carter County, Montana, where there is no county head of planning and just 20 percent of adult residents have attended college, scored just 45, the lowest in the state. Within the West, Montana stands out: More than three-quarters of its communities have index scores below the national median. The state’s low [...]

Douglas County commissioners discuss First Amendment rights in regards to public comment

info2022-05-05T02:04:46-05:00May 5th, 2022|

Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday had their own comments following a public comment about public comment. Michael Eravi, of Lawrence, raised concerns during the general public comment portion of the meeting about the commission’s admonition at the beginning of meetings regarding public comments. Eravi noted this line, which Commission Chair Shannon Reid read at the start of the meeting: “The county reserves the right to mute or remove any speaker who is vulgar, rude or inappropriate.” Source: The Lawrence Times

15th anniversary of Greensburg Tornado

info2022-05-05T02:03:31-05:00May 5th, 2022|

On May 4, 2007, Greensburg was hit by an EF-5 tornado that devastated the town, killing 11 people in the town and injuring 63 others. On the 13th anniversary of the Greensburg Tornado, KSN’s meteorologist Ronelle Williams spoke with a survivor, former mayor of Greensburg, Bob Dixson: That evening, supercell thunderstorms formed across the Midwest, spawning tornadoes in several states. The intense supercell that developed southwest of Greensburg formed 12 tornadoes. One formed in northwest Comanche County at around 9 p.m. and moved northeast through Kiowa County. The tornado stayed on the ground for 65 minutes, hitting Greensburg at around 9:45 p.m. [...]

10-year Treasury yield hovers under 3% as investors anticipate aggressive Fed rate hike

info2022-05-04T07:54:28-05:00May 4th, 2022|

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield were calm on Wednesday morning with investors anticipating a big Federal Reserve interest rate decision later in the day.... The 10-year rate crossed the 3% mark on Monday, its highest point since late 2018. The benchmark yield has since eased back, though it remains high. Respondents to the May CNBC Fed Survey expect the U.S. central bank to announce on Wednesday that it will be hiking interest rates by half a percentage point. Nearly three-fifths of respondents also believed that the Fed's aggressive tightening of monetary policy would end in a recession. The Federal Open Market [...]

Officials announce Hutchinson’s 150th anniversary will be marked by a massive block party

info2022-05-04T07:41:17-05:00May 4th, 2022|

Organizers of an event to mark the sesquicentennial of Hutchinson’s founding are planning a mile-long block party. Actually, they are hoping for a dozen individual block parties, but all on Main Street during the same time, extending the mile from Avenue C north to Ninth Avenue. “I’m very excited about it,” said Hutchinson Mayor Jade Piros de Carvalho. “I convened this little committee to start thinking about a community-wide celebration in August, and we started brainstorming what it would look like.” ... The Aug. 18th anniversary date falls on a Third Thursday, so organizers of the event are hoping to draw [...]

Kansas to waive replacement fees for state documents lost in Friday’s severe weather

info2022-05-04T07:35:12-05:00May 4th, 2022|

Kansas will waive replacement fees for the birth certificates, marriage certificates, and vehicle registrations of residents affected by Friday’s severe weather, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Monday. “Last Friday’s storm placed significant emotional and financial burdens on many Kansans. My administration is working to ensure those who lost everything get back on their feet,” Kelly said in a news release. The Kansas Department of Revenue will waive penalties associated with late vehicle registrations. KDOR will also waive fees associated with the reprint or replacement of vehicle registration documentation, printed vehicle certificate of titles, driver’s licenses, and/or identification cards. Source: Wichita Eagle

Derby FD aids in Andover tornado response

info2022-05-04T07:34:48-05:00May 4th, 2022|

After a tornado touched down in southeast Wichita and Andover on April 29, first responders were quick to action in the aftermath. ... Given the massive scale of damage, multiple units from around the area responded – including staff from Derby Fire and Rescue. Chief John Turner noted a crew of six were among the initial response team from Derby, with two more helping in the second shift on April 30. Once Derby Fire personnel were alerted to the tornado April 29, they made their way to Andover, first stopping in eastern Sedgwick County to help clear roads for other emergency [...]

Derby makes pay adjustments related to inflation

info2022-05-04T07:33:34-05:00May 4th, 2022|

In an effort to address both inflation and attraction/retention of employees, City Manager Kiel Mangus brought a proposed general pay adjustment before the Derby City Council at its April 26 meeting, which the council approved 6-0. Mangus proposed a mid-year 3% general pay adjustment (GPA) given the increasing inflation trends that continue to shrink the true impact of employees’ take-home pay. Inflation-adjusted average hourly earning fell 2.7% from March 2021 to March 2022. Additionally, the Consumer Price Index increased 8.5% in that same 12-month span – the highest such increase since 1981. The pay adjustment was also recommended due to an [...]

Olpe hopes post office ‘suspension’ really temporary

info2022-05-04T07:33:01-05:00May 4th, 2022|

Olpe will be without a post office in two weeks, due to what the U.S. Postal Service calls a “change of ownership.” “We found out, probably two or three weeks ago, that there was a lease issue,” Mayor Keith Pimple said Monday. “We didn’t find out until last week that there was not an agreement made.” A letter sent to residents Friday by Emporia Postmaster Tess Weimar says the USPS had a “loss of lease” on its Olpe location at 118 Westphalia Street. Source: Emporia Gazette

Municipal Bond Trends for May 3, 2022

info2022-05-04T07:32:11-05:00May 4th, 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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