Ranson Financial, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Municipals take back seat as Fed hikes rates

After the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates for the first time since 2018 and said it would raise them six more times this year, U.S. Treasury yields continued to rise, while munis were relatively stable and equities rallied to close the session. Municipal to UST ratios showed the five-year at 76%, 90% in 10-years and 97% in 30, according to Refinitiv MMD’s 3 p.m. read. ICE Data Services had the five at 78%, the 10 at 95% and the 30 at 99% at a 4 p.m. read. Trading was mixed ahead of the Fed’s announcement but a few blocks traded post-FOMC. Howard County, Maryland 5s of 2030 at 1.96% and 5s of 2031 at 2.01%. Their original levels were 1.48% and 1.52%, respectively, when it priced the first week of March.
Source: The Bond Buyer

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:34:25-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Why the Federal Reserve raises interest rates to combat inflation

The Federal Reserve is poised to announce its first interest rate hike since 2018 on Wednesday. The central bank is likely to raise its target federal funds rate by 25 basis points to address the worst inflation in more than 40 years, partially brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. A basis point is equal to 0.01%. Yet consumers who are already grappling with higher prices putting a strain on their wallets may be wondering how increasing borrowing costs will help tamp down inflation. Its main tool to battle inflation is interest rates. It does that by setting the short-term borrowing rate for commercial banks, and then those banks pass rates along to consumers and businesses, said Yiming Ma, an assistant finance professor at Columbia University Business School.
Source: Economy

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:32:32-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Manhattan finalizes STAR district expansion, looks to April public hearing on redevelopment plan

The location of a proposed Art and Light Museum in Downtown Manhattan, KS (Courtesy of the City of Manhattan). The blue line indicates the old border of the STAR bond district and the red-dotted line is the approved expansion which includes the new museum location. Manhattan City Commissioners Tuesday unanimously approved the expansion of the Downtown STAR bond district, with a public hearing scheduled to update the redevelopment plan on April 5. The expansion is related to a $43.6 million Art and Light Museum being planned by the DeBruyn’s, owners of The Master Teacher in Manhattan. By expanding the lot to include the proposed development site in the lot north of Pierre and west of 3rd Street, the project is opened up to potentially $23 million in sales tax revenue projected to be generated in the district through 2026.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:30:47-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Burrton students learn importance of civic engagement

Students in Burrton are learning about the importance of being involved in their community. Several high school students attended last week’s USD-369 Board of Education meeting to fulfill a civic engagement requirement for their history class. Social studies teacher Kara Sorenson explained that she asks students to participate in three different civic engagement events each semester. “There are two categories to choose from, community service (volunteering) and government participation,” she said. “Each of my students is required to complete one activity from each category, plus an additional activity of their choice. For example, they can attend a city council meeting, a board meeting and complete one community service, or they can complete two different community services and attend one board or council meeting.”
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:27:34-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Halstead Council asks residents if they’d pay more to keep recycling service

The Halstead City Council has their ear to the ground, listening for citizen support for routine recycling pickup. The local waste management contractor, Nisly, is wondering where they should take recyclables after next month, when they will no longer be accepted at the Harvey County Transfer Station. That’s according to City Manager Ethan Reimer, who told the council at Monday night’s meeting that it could cost citizens $2 to $4 more “to continue to collect recycling and take it to a drop point other than Harvey County.” Nisly should be contacting him soon with a plan and a price point for maintaining the service, he said.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2022-03-17T22:04:46-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

USD 410 and Hillsboro partner on city improvement projects

USD 410 students presented to the Hillsboro City Council in a special city council meeting on Wednesday, March 9. … Two different groups, led by teacher Darrel Knoll, presented during the 30-minute meeting, and both gave some simple and fairly cost-effective ideas to improve the town of Hillsboro. The first group offered some revisions of the shelter houses in the park. The group consisted of Callie Plenert, Katherine Maxfield and Emily Paulus. They talked about how the shelter houses are outdated and need updating and fixing. The group suggested revamping and improving the shelter houses located in the park. “People usually have events outside of them and don’t really use the inside of them because it’s just so nasty,” said Kate Maxfield.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press

Ranson Financial2022-03-17T22:05:38-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Colwich Fire Department staff, equipment stretched thin due to recent grass fires

Recent wildfires across Kansas are taking a toll on trucks and staff at the Colwich Fire Department. Fire Chief Moe Lallement said there haven’t been any grass fires in Colwich’s immediate jurisdiction yet this year, but the department still helps respond when one breaks out somewhere else if help is needed. “It seems that we’re in a cyclic pattern, so about every week or so, every three of four days, you get what we call a red flag day, which is something we’re experiencing today,” Lallement said. Lallement said it’s so frequent that some of his volunteer firefighters are taking days off work to come in and help. “Some have the ability to, depending on their type of work, they can work from the fire station but still respond to an alarm,” he said.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:15:36-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Kansas increasingly meeting the need for rural broadband speed

At a time when civic problems often seem intractable, Kansas is actually making progress on increasing access to quality broadband, a deficiency exposed all too clearly by the pandemic. With the help of state and federal investments, spurred by the pandemic, and private companies taking leaps of their own, some Kansans are noticing the difference in internet speeds. But it’s a push that hasn’t been without hiccups and is far from complete. After hearing rumors that better broadband would finally be coming to historic Cottonwood Falls in the scenic Flint Hills, Sandy Carlson was skeptical.
Source: KLC Journal

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:12:37-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Calls for service on the rise for Spring Hill PD

The Spring Hill Police Department’s annual report shows there was an increase in calls for service in 2021 compared to each of the two previous years. Police Chief Cindy Henson gave the annual report during the Feb. 10 Spring Hill City Council meeting. The report shows there were 7,990 calls for service in 2021, compared to 6,285 calls for service in 2020 and 7,045 in 2019. Criminal reports of battery and drug arrests both saw large increases in 2021. Battery reports increased from 42 in 2020 to 61 in 2021. Drug arrests increased from 26 in 2020 to 40 in 2021.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:10:02-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

Leaders talk about state of the city, school district and county

Completion of two major street projects, updating the city’s comprehensive plan, and ringing up record sales tax collections were just a few of the topics Leigh House touched on Wednesday, March 9, while delivering her first State of the City remarks as mayor of Paola. “Paola saw a record amount of sales tax collected, showing that the community is choosing to shop local to support our businesses. And thank you all for that,” House said. “It does make a huge difference.” About 50 people gathered for the State of the City on Wednesday morning at Town Square event center in Paola. The event was organized by the Paola Chamber of Commerce. Jeremy Smail, chief financial officer of First Option Bank, served as moderator. The city of Paola issued 472 building permits with a construction value of over $9.7 million in 2021, House said.
Source: Local News | republic-online.com

Ranson Financial2022-03-16T23:05:35-05:00March 16, 2022|News|

About Ranson Financial

Municipals take back seat as Fed hikes rates

Why the Federal Reserve raises interest rates to combat inflation

Manhattan finalizes STAR district expansion, looks to April public hearing on redevelopment plan

Burrton students learn importance of civic engagement

Halstead Council asks residents if they’d pay more to keep recycling service

USD 410 and Hillsboro partner on city improvement projects

Colwich Fire Department staff, equipment stretched thin due to recent grass fires

Kansas increasingly meeting the need for rural broadband speed

Calls for service on the rise for Spring Hill PD

Leaders talk about state of the city, school district and county

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