info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

IRS says processing backlogs will likely delay refunds due to staffing shortages

info2022-01-11T15:19:38-06:00January 11th, 2022|

The Internal Revenue Service said on Monday that acute staffing shortages will likely delay tax refunds and other services this year as the agency prepares for the 2022 tax filing season, which will begin on January 24. IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig told reporters that this year’s window for filing tax returns for the year 2021 will run between Jan. 24 though April 18. Rettig also said that “enormous challenges” faced by the IRS due to severe levels of understaffing will cause delays in many aspects of IRS operations, including sending out refund checks. Agency officials said they are entering the new [...]

Doniphan County health officials update booster shot eligibility

info2022-01-11T15:16:44-06:00January 11th, 2022|

The Doniphan County Health Department and Home Health has updated its COVID-19 booster shot eligibility to coordinate with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment guidelines. During the past week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention authorized the Pfizer booster shot for children between 12 and 15 year years old to be administer five months after completion of their second Pfizer vaccination. Additionally, the booster waiting period for anyone who has completed the Pfizer primary series has changed. People can now receive a booster shot five months after receiving their second Pfizer shot. There have been no changes to the [...]

A virtual tour through history: Here’s how Shawnee Town 1929 drew technology award

info2022-01-11T14:07:43-06:00January 11th, 2022|

If omicron has you feeling cautious but you still want to dive into some local history, Shawnee Town 1929 is ready for you. The living history museum’s virtual 360 tour recently received the 2021 technology award from the Kansas Museum Association. The annual award goes to a museum that uses technology in a creative way. “The 360 tour is designed as a virtual reality component to our program, so if you cannot physically be here to take a tour, you can do it in virtual terms,” said Charlie Pautler, director of the museum. Source: Joco 913 News

Wichita school board suspends meeting after new members refuse to wear face masks

info2022-01-11T13:54:56-06:00January 11th, 2022|

The Wichita school board suspended its meeting unexpectedly Monday after three new board members refused to wear face masks. Diane Albert, Kathy Bond and Hazel Stabler, who were elected in November and started their terms Monday, sat at the board table without masks when a livestream of the meeting started. Board president Stan Reeser addressed the room. “Before we begin tonight’s BOE meeting, I would like to ask everyone present tonight to follow the Board of Education’s directive approved on Aug. 23 and please put on a protective face mask,” Reeser said. When the three members did not put on masks, [...]

Cost of fixing Wichita’s worst freeway commuter nightmare rises by $6 million

info2022-01-11T07:08:27-06:00January 11th, 2022|

The cost to fix Wichita’s worst freeway bottleneck — the notorious North Junction — is about 20% higher than originally projected, and both the city and county will have to put up more money. The work on the current phase of the project was originally projected at $30 million, but has risen to $36 million, city documents show. City Hall and Sedgwick County are responsible for 25% of the cost, which is being mostly being paid by the Kansas Department of Transportation. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

De Soto delays decision on TIF district for part of Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant land

info2022-01-11T07:07:32-06:00January 11th, 2022|

The De Soto City Council postponed a decision on creating a 6,009-acre tax increment financing district that would help redevelop a portion of the long-mothballed Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant. The council voted Thursday evening to meet Jan. 11 to discuss the annexation; the meeting will be open to the public but not accept comments. On Jan. 20, the council will hold a public hearing on the TIF district. The 9,000-acre, widely contaminated former ammunition plant, just off Kansas Highway 10 in western Johnson County, has defied redevelopment since it shut down in 1992. Source: Kansas City Business Journal

Municipal Bond Trends for January 10, 2022

info2022-01-11T07:07:02-06:00January 11th, 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.

Residents of Kansas City, Kansas, are helping create a heritage trail worthy of their history

info2022-01-11T07:06:10-06:00January 11th, 2022|

On a gray, nippy day in October, dozens of Wyandotte County residents gathered in Parkwood Park off N. 9th Street and Quindaro Boulevard to share stories about their past and envision a new future. The rolling green park is the hub of the Parkwood Historic District, a neighborhood of Prairie Style and Craftsman bungalows. The district — the park and the homes — is on the Kansas City, Kansas, Register of Historic Places and is a beloved spot in northeast Kansas City, Kansas. “It’s coming,” said Meta Townsend, 71, one of three community ambassadors on the lead team planning the new [...]

New city manager officially takes office in Fort Scott

info2022-01-11T07:05:38-06:00January 11th, 2022|

After serving just six months, Fort Scott city manager Jeremy Frazier resigned in August last year. Local businessman Mark McCoy took over on an interim basis shortly thereafter, as the city began a search to fill the position. After searching for months, a candidate was found. "It's very welcoming there's just a lot to do," says Kelley Zellner, Fort Scott City Manager, "A lot of economic development things moving forward so got a lot of good things happening." As of January 4th, Kelley Zellner has been sworn in as the new city manager of Fort Scott. Over the past week he's [...]

Goldman predicts the Fed will hike rates four times this year, more than previously expected

info2022-01-11T07:04:44-06:00January 11th, 2022|

Persistently high inflation combined with a labor market near full employment will push the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates more than expected this year, according to the latest forecast from Goldman Sachs. The Wall Street firm's chief economist, Jan Hatzius, said in a note Sunday that he now figures the Fed to enact four quarter-percentage point rate hikes in 2022, representing an even more aggressive path than the central bank's indications of just a month ago. The Fed's benchmark overnight borrowing rate is currently anchored in a range between 0%-0.25%, most recently around 0.08%. "Declining labor market slack has made [...]

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