info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Elton John tweeted to his Arkansas City fans (after KC concert)

info2022-02-03T09:14:31-06:00February 3rd, 2022|

Pop star Sir Elton John took to Twitter thanking Kansas City fans who showed up to his latest show — but his message contained an error quickly noticed on social media. “What a great night @tmobilecenter in Arkansas City! Thank you to everyone who came down - you were all amazing,” the rock-and-roll icon tweeted early Wednesday, along with several photographs from inside the T-Mobile Center. The message was posted on John’s official Twitter account. But it was not immediately clear whether the artist wrote the tweet himself. Source: Kansas City Star

Grant covers furnishings for new Moundridge library

info2022-02-03T09:13:09-06:00February 3rd, 2022|

A $90,600 grant from the United States Department of agriculture will cover a large portion of the furniture for Moundridge Public Library’s new building, but a few planned items still have to wait. Funding is still a little bit short despite multiple grants and fundraising, but the new building will upgrade patron space by 2,000 square feet, which is a lot to furnish. “The biggest expense is the new shelves,” director Betsy Davis said. “We have 18,000 volumes. That’s a large amount of shelving.” Source: McPherson Weekly News

Sink or swim: Lifeguards needed in McPherson

info2022-02-03T09:12:28-06:00February 3rd, 2022|

Staff shortages are common in almost every industry right now, and that includes lifeguards. The McPherson Family YMCA has put out a call, desperately seeking lifeguards. While more lifeguards are needed in the summer months when the McPherson Water Park is in operation, there is a year-round need for lifeguards as two indoor pools are still operating at the McPherson Family YMCA. “We have had to shorten our pool hours at different times throughout the day due to the shortage of lifeguards,” Ameilea Alexander, aquatics director, said. Source: McPherson Weekly News

McPherson Police Department begins Reserve Program

info2022-02-03T09:12:02-06:00February 3rd, 2022|

The McPherson City Commission placed their seal of approval on the McPherson Police Department Reserve Program on Monday morning. The reserve program will begin immediately with four reserve officers ready to begin. Police Chief Mikel Golden advised there are four Central Christian College students who want to begin the program. While serving as reserves, they can gain real-world experience while also receiving college credit for their participation in the program. The rate is $8.04 per hour for reserve time, but for college credit, it will be volunteer time and ride alongs. Source: McPherson Weekly News

Municipal bond buyers are back; long end sees large gains

info2022-02-03T09:08:37-06:00February 3rd, 2022|

Municipals were better across the curve with the largest bumps out long Wednesday, moving the 30-year down 11 basis points in two days, while U.S. Treasuries were slightly better and equities saw modest gains. ... Buyers appeared to return to the market the past two sessions after the January correction moved yields and ratios higher. Secondary trading was up again on Wednesday and new deals were well-received. Secondary trading showed clear moves to lower yields, particularly out long. Source: The Bond Buyer

Is that a cluck you hear in Johnson County? City Council lightens up on OP bird rules

info2022-02-03T09:07:49-06:00February 3rd, 2022|

Starting March 1, Overland Park residents stand a better chance of receiving permission for backyard chickens. Under a two-year pilot program approved by the City Council on Jan. 24, residents no longer will need a special use permit approved by the Planning Commission and City Council. Instead, people in single- and two-family residences can apply for an administrative permit through City Hall. Source: Joco 913 News

Private activity bonds for broadband: A potential new solution

info2022-02-03T09:07:23-06:00February 3rd, 2022|

The $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ... sets aside over $42 billion for states to build local broadband networks in their unserved and underserved communities, many of them in rural areas. It also allocates $14 billion to continue to subsidize provision of broadband service to low-income residents; in this way inner city students can do their homework on their connected laptops at home, and elderly patients in rural areas can visit virtually with their doctors. ... Generally speaking, private activity bonds, or PABs, allow private service providers to borrow funds from bond investors at tax-exempt rates to finance “qualified [...]

With $1.4B in Awards, USDA Seeks to Loosen Grip of ‘Extraction Economy’ on Rural America

info2022-02-03T09:08:57-06:00February 2nd, 2022|

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday announced $1.4 billion in grants and loans to businesses and other entities in rural areas that he said have been hurt by the nation’s “extraction economy.” “Resources are taken from rural lands only to create jobs and economic opportunity in urban and suburban areas,” he said. Vilsack said the department instead wants to support “a circular economy, where value is added closer to home, so the wealth created in rural areas stays in rural areas.” The 751 grants and loans in 49 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, he said, are intended to bolster businesses [...]

Free Cybersecurity Tools Available to State and Local Governments

info2022-02-02T22:12:56-06:00February 2nd, 2022|

Cybersecurity tools are available for free to many local governments—they just need to know to ask for them, a panel of experts said during a webinar hosted by the National Association of Counties. “One of the challenges I have found over the past few years is knowing what resources we should be taking advantage of and being able to differentiate between one organization that provides a resource and another,” NACO CIO Rita Reynolds said during the Jan. 26 event titled “Advanced Security Resources Available for Local Government Through the Center for Internet Security.” One tool that is available free to all [...]

Statewide Survey yields interesting facts about growth of cities in Kansas

info2022-02-02T22:10:56-06:00February 2nd, 2022|

A group of city managers recently got to hear first-hand about the survey taken and the market analysis for specific areas of Kansas. Kansas will face housing challenges and opportunities in the next 10 to 15 years so the timing of this study and the results will help cities to plan for their futures. Atchison County and City participated in this study and some of the pertinent information is listed below. For purposes of this article, Atchison County is the base and Atchison City will also be designated. The large picture shows a need to add or free up more middle-income [...]

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