info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Ready for air taxis? Here’s why Kansas could be a player in the future of aviation

info2021-11-12T08:02:47-06:00November 12th, 2021|

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill sponsored by Kansas Rep. Sharice Davids that would create a working group to study what the federal government needs to do in regards to the fledgling industry. It now heads to the U.S. Senate, where it’s being shepherded by Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran. The bill is an attempt to get the government prepared for what will likely change the future of transportation. It will mean everything from new safety regulations, to infrastructure in the form of “vertiports,” to getting the public onboard with the concept of drone-like planes flying around their [...]

Fuel, housing costs boosted October’s inflation. Here’s what it means for the Fed’s stance on interest rates

info2021-11-11T16:04:03-06:00November 11th, 2021|

October's surge in consumer prices was driven by some factors that may linger. Market pros say the Federal Reserve may be forced to move up the timeline on its ultimate inflation-fighting tool: interest rate hikes. The consumer price index jumped 0.9% on a monthly basis, and was up 6.2% year-over-year, the fastest pace in 30 years. According to Dow Jones, economists had expected a 5.9% gain. Excluding food and energy, the increase was still high, up 0.6% or 4.6% year-over-year. CPI measures inflation based on a basket of products from rents and groceries to gasoline and medical services. After the October [...]

What Johnson County residents will enjoy in 2022: enhanced bus and van transit

info2021-11-11T16:01:40-06:00November 11th, 2021|

Johnson County residents can look forward to enhanced bus and van transit starting in the second quarter of 2022. On Nov. 4, the county commission approved several pilot programs for transit, paid for by one-time infusion of federal money — $3.85 million annually for four years. “The board has established strategic priorities for transit, which include creating a transit system that is accessible, effective and efficient; is regionally coordinated; and connects housing, workforce and jobs,” Commission Chairman Ed Eilert said in a news release. Source: Joco 913 News

Douglas County sheriff wants to adapt space at the jail to give women more time outside their cells

info2021-11-11T15:56:52-06:00November 11th, 2021|

Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister wants to consider how to reuse space in the local jail — without adding any new beds — to help address inequities. Men in minimum security at the jail get 16 hours a day of free time within their housing unit, Armbrister said; in that time, they can have visitors, be on the phone or watch TV. Women in minimum security, on the other hand, have about three and a half hours of free time each day, he said. “It’s just not fair, and I can’t fix it,” he told Douglas County commissioners Wednesday. “… This [...]

Lawrence City Commission approves next steps toward long-term parklet program

info2021-11-11T15:55:17-06:00November 11th, 2021|

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday unanimously voted to move forward with an extension of the city’s temporary “parklets” while staff develops a long-term program. The temporary right-of-way program, which occupies some downtown parking spaces for outdoor dining, was implemented to help restaurants stay in business amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It was set to expire at the end of this year, but commissioners moved Tuesday to extend the program through March 31, 2022.A “Lawrence Listens” survey, which yielded 2,000 submissions, drew a largely positive response. Lawrence residents who visit downtown comprised 82.1% of respondents, and the survey showed that 85.6% of all [...]

Staffing shortages could impact KDOT for winter

info2021-11-11T15:49:32-06:00November 11th, 2021|

Kansas Department of Transportation offices in northeast Kansas are committed to keeping the highways cleared whenever inclement weather occurs. In line with workforce shortages across the nation, KDOT does not have enough equipment operators – the agency’s primary snowplow operators – in a number of areas across Kansas. These shortages create the potential for highways to not be cleared of snow and ice as quickly as in the past. The agency has dealt with reduced staffing in the past, but the shortages are greater this year. Northeast KDOT offices are about 25% short of snowplow operators needed to be fully staffed, [...]

Sedgwick County looking at impact of proposal to end the food sales tax

info2021-11-11T15:46:36-06:00November 11th, 2021|

Sedgwick County Commissioners had a brief discussion at their regular meeting Wednesday on the impact of a proposed elimination of the food sales tax in Kansas. Commissioner Jim Howell said he favors tax cuts, but he wants to know what the financial impact will be on the county’s budget. The county’s Chief Financial Officer, Lindsay Poe-Rousseau, said legislative research has indicated that there would have been a $4 million loss to the county in 2020 and a $4.3 million loss for this year. County Manager Tom Stolz said the Finance Department began looking at the numbers when Governor Laura Kelly announced [...]

Kristi Northcutt selected as the next Lindsborg city administrator

info2021-11-11T07:10:25-06:00November 11th, 2021|

Mayor Becky Anderson and city council members of Lindsborg announced the appointment of the city’s next administrator. Kristi Northcutt, will succeed longtime City Administrator Greg DuMars with the appointment effective Dec. 22, 2021. The city said Northcutt’s career includes extensive experience in community management for the past eight years, serving as Senior Director of Community Relations for Anthem, Arizona – a master planned community with 29,000 residents north of Phoenix. Source: Salina Journal

The first Fed rate hike is now expected as early as July following the hot CPI data

info2021-11-11T01:35:32-06:00November 11th, 2021|

Traders in the futures markets moved up their expectations for the first Federal Reserve interest rate hike to July from September, following a hotter than expected inflation report. "It's a very sharp move we're seeing the back end of 2022," said Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer at Bleakley Advisory Group. October's consumer price index came in at a scorching 6.2% year-over-year, higher than the 5.9% expected. Traders are now fully pricing in a first rate hike for September, but they are pricing in much higher odds that the Fed starts to raise rates sooner. The Fed has said it would complete [...]

Governor Laura Kelly Announces $3.5 Million in New Funding for Kansas Tourism Initiatives

info2021-11-12T08:05:14-06:00November 11th, 2021|

Today, Governor Laura Kelly announced Kansas has received $3.5 million in grant funding from the United States Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to distribute to local partners across the state. These funds will accelerate travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation in the state. “Kansas’ tourism industry is an economic driver for our state, which is why my administration relocated the State’s Tourism Division to the Department of Commerce last year,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “This $3.5 million will accelerate our efforts to boost travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation across Kansas – improving quality of life for Kansans and growing our [...]

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