info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Treasury yields continue to climb, 10-year Treasury yield tops 1.55%

info2021-10-06T06:53:17-05:00October 6th, 2021|

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield climbed back above 1.56% early on Wednesday, ahead of the release of ADP's September employment change report due later in the morning. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose 3 basis points to 1.564% at 3:20 a.m. ET. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond jumped nearly 4 basis points to 2.137%. Yields move inversely to prices and 1 basis point is equal to 0.01%. The 10-year rate topped 1.56% last week, which was its highest point since June, amid inflation and tighter monetary policy concerns. Source: CNBC - Bonds

K-State receives $3.4 million to build new core research facility

info2021-10-06T00:29:54-05:00October 6th, 2021|

Kansas State University received a $3.4 million grant from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services to create a new research and biosecurity development lab space. University officials announced the grant Friday. The money comes from the National Institutes of Health and will be used to build up K-State’s laboratory capacity and help the university become “a premier institution in advancing the discovery and development of biosecurity strategies for emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases,” according to a statement from KSU officials. More specifically, the grant will be used to bolster the KSU Biosecurity Research Institute, the National Bio and Agro-Defense [...]

Senators Moran, Marshall Announce $750K Grant for Wichita Entrepreneurship Coalition

info2021-10-06T00:27:19-05:00October 6th, 2021|

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall announced a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Dept. of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration for Wichita State University and the Wichita Entrepreneurship Coalition. The grant will support the resources needed to recruit, support, and enable regional entrepreneurs, and improve the coalition’s access to technology and startup resources. Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Local governments struggle to hire public sector workers

info2021-10-06T00:23:26-05:00October 6th, 2021|

Some local Kansas governments are operating with 10% of their positions unfilled, making it hard to deliver the services that citizens expect. Across the state, Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that Kansas has seen a 4.7% drop in the number of public sector workers, which translates into about 12,000 vacant jobs, but some towns are being hit harder. The pandemic has made the situation worse because the competitive labor market has made it hard to replace older employees who decided to retire. And private companies, which are also struggling to hire, have more flexibility in pay and benefits that city [...]

From firehouse to concert venue, Kansas fire chief wears multiple hats

info2021-10-06T06:45:38-05:00October 6th, 2021|

A Kansas firefighter is doing much more than protecting his community; he spreads joy through music. Colby Fire Chief Bob McLemore spends the majority of his day answering emergency calls. When he's not at the firehouse, he is either planning or preparing for Colby's bluegrass festival, Pickin' on the Plains, or setting up the sound system for the city's Picnic in the Park. "I do sound for Picnic in the Park every Wednesday," said McLemore of the June and July event. Picnic in the Park, put on by the Colby Chamber of Commerce, invites people to enjoy their lunch outside while [...]

Manhattan Regional Airport awarded $5.9 million Department of Defense grant to help rebuild runway

info2021-10-06T00:19:46-05:00October 6th, 2021|

The Manhattan Regional Airport will be receiving a nearly $6 million grant to help reconstruct the airport's runway. According to the city, the project is expected to cost more than $47 million. The current runway is 150 feet wide and 7,000 feet long. Airport Director Jesse Romo said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will only participate in funding 100 feet of that width. That is where the DOD grant comes in to help. Romo said losing that extra 50 feet would be hugely detrimental for the region. Source: KSNT News

City officials welcome Top City Golf to Topeka

info2021-10-06T00:18:02-05:00October 6th, 2021|

A local business is celebrating the official opening of its new facility. GreatLIFE North's Top City Golf will provide the ultimate golfing experience to the Capital City. The concept of Top City Golf is just like Topgolf in Kansas City. The closer you can get the ball to your target, the more points you earn. City officials welcomed the golf experience to Topeka with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. They said it should give Topeka yet another fun activity for people to enjoy in town. Top City Golf is located at 350 NE U.S. 24 HWY. Source: KSNT News

With 60 open jobs, this Kansas jail is feeling understaffing effects

info2021-10-06T00:15:33-05:00October 6th, 2021|

Understaffing has always been an issue for guards in detention centers, but since the pandemic, the issue has only worsened. The pandemic, the overtime, the time away from families and the mental health effects have deterred people from working at correctional facilities. At Shawnee County Jail, they have felt these effects for a while. "Everybody's tired but on top of being exhausted from working so many hours, " said Sgt. Caitlyn Ross, "It's now the workload because you're now working for other officers because we don't have them." The department currently has 120 officers working but is budgeted for 180 workers. [...]

Is Ark City affordable? One ranking says yes

info2021-10-06T00:10:57-05:00October 6th, 2021|

It may not feel this way to some local residents, but Arkansas City is one of the most affordable cities in Kansas. That’s according to a research group attempting to rank cities of 5,000 people or more by affordability. SmartAsset, a New York company that offers online financial advice, said it examined closing costs, real estate taxes, homeowners’ insurance, mortgage rates, and the cost of home ownership in 64 Kansas cities each over a five-year period. That cost was then measured as a proportion of median household income to determine affordability, and indexed on a scale from 0 to a top [...]

LaHarpe tech center keeps growing

info2021-10-06T06:46:57-05:00October 6th, 2021|

Interest in the Regional Rural Technical Center in LaHarpe continues to grow, with a record 87 students taking part in five areas of study, and two new teachers who are familiar faces to Iola High School students. Welding continues to be the most popular program at the tech center, USD 257 Superintendent Stacey Fager said. In fact, the class has become so popular that it expanded to three sessions. Three adults also are taking classes. “I think a lot of kids just like doing it. They like welding,” Fager said. “And I think it has caught on as a financial consideration [...]

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