info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Douglas County leaders to consider reducing use of chemical herbicides for weed control after environmental groups voice concerns

info2021-03-19T09:00:46-05:00March 19th, 2021|

Following concerns from local environmental groups, county leaders are going to reconsider the county’s level of chemical herbicide use and discuss potential reductions. The Douglas County Commission was scheduled to approve the county’s annual Noxious Weed Management Plan as part of its consent agenda Wednesday, but members of local environmental groups voiced concerns. The county uses chemicals to control weeds in unincorporated areas, has agreements with some other entities for the same purpose, and sells chemicals to the public for weed control. Source: LJWorld.com.

Downtown Lawrence parking meter rates to increase, and new mobile app payment options to be available

info2021-03-19T09:00:05-05:00March 19th, 2021|

Changes are coming next week to downtown metered parking, including increased parking rates and the option of making payments using a mobile app instead of coins. Downtown visitors will soon be able to choose between using the current coin-operated parking meters or new mobile payment options, according to a city news release. The changes coincide with an increase in parking rates. Meters will be updated to reflect the increased rates, and stickers will be added to meters listing mobile payment options throughout the week. Source: LJWorld.com.

Municipal Bond Trends for March 18, 2021

info2021-03-19T08:57:44-05:00March 19th, 2021|

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.

Kansas Rural Opportunity Zone Program

info2021-03-19T09:49:24-05:00March 19th, 2021|

Economic development in rural Kansas could soon be getting an upgrade. House Bill 2431 is being reviewed by the Kansas House of Representatives. If passed this would add more benefits to the rural opportunity zone program. The program was launched back in 2011 and was designed to incentivize people to move to more rural areas in Kansas. ... Right now the program offers up to $15,000 in student loan assistance and tax waivers. If passed, this would also include assistance in making down payments. Source: KSNF/KODE

10-year Treasury yield surges to 14-month high of 1.74%, 30-year rate tops 2.5%

info2021-03-19T08:31:25-05:00March 18th, 2021|

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield hit 1.74% on Thursday morning, despite reassurance from the Federal Reserve that it had no plans to hike interest rates anytime soon, nor taper its bond-buying program. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note had trimmed some gains to 1.722% by 5:15 a.m. ET. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was at 2.483%. Yields move inversely to prices. After the Fed's two-day policy meeting concluded on Wednesday, the central bank said it sees stronger economic growth than previously estimated, forecasting gross domestic product to rise to 6.5% in 2021. This is up from the [...]

Kansas schools to receive $1 billion for COVID relief

info2021-03-19T08:32:16-05:00March 18th, 2021|

With passage of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan, Kansas public schools should receive approximately $1 billion to address COVID-19 related expenses, such as learning loss, according to a news release from the Kansas Association of School Boards. The new bill — called the American Rescue Act — nearly $123 billion to K-12 schools. President Joe Biden is scheduled to sign it into law last Friday. Kansas’ share of the legislation will be about $600 million. Combined with early coronavirus packages, Kansas will receive about $1 billion in federal assistance under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund (ESSR). Source: Holton [...]

State pumps in $300k to Moundridge company to expand internet access

info2021-03-19T08:32:40-05:00March 18th, 2021|

A Moundridge company is getting $312,819 from the state of Kansas to expand broadband services. The state awarded Moundridge Communications Network a matching 50/50 grant to expand fiber internet service to the community of Elyria and a rural area near Hesston. The $625,000 project will provide internet service with up to one-gigabit download speeds to “108 households, 10 businesses, 11 community anchors and one educational institution,” according to the state release. In the rural Hesston area, the company will build out north of Dutch Ave. and east of I-135. “The areas around Hesston have Century Link and they have basically abandoned their customers,” Sommer Smith, [...]

Kansas casinos push for control over legalized sports wagering

info2021-03-19T08:56:29-05:00March 18th, 2021|

Kansas casino managers are pushing House legislators to pass a Senate-backed bill legalizing and regulating online and casino sports gambling. Since a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court Ruling affirmed state’s rights to institute sports gambling, half the country has enacted some regulatory practice. Kansas lawmakers are now considering joining the 25 states and Washington, D.C., in the world of sports gambling under the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act, or KELA. Source: Kansas Reflector

Some Johnson County residents are going to rural Kansas to get vaccinated — here’s why

info2021-03-19T08:56:39-05:00March 18th, 2021|

Sue Wildgen, a Prairie Village resident in her 70s, began looking for COVID-19 vaccination appointments in early February. Several of her friends on the other side of the state line in Missouri received their first doses in early January, and despite filling out Johnson County’s COVID-19 vaccine interest survey and searching for appointments in the metro, Wildgen said her search for weeks was unsuccessful. Then, she heard that Walmart would begin offering vaccines at select locations, and she began looking for appointments across Kansas. So, like some other frustrated Johnson Countians, Wildgen, her husband Paul and fellow Prairie Village residents Beth [...]

New station moves closer for Hillsboro

info2021-03-19T08:31:42-05:00March 18th, 2021|

A new ambulance station at Hillsboro is closer to being built. County commissioners Monday heard from emergency medical services director Travis Parmley and Hillsboro city administrator Matt Stiles that Hillsboro has done a site survey of the proposed new EMS building in Hillsboro. The station is to be located near Hillsboro’s police department and also near a planned new fire station. Source: Marion County RECORD

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