A group of Kansas researchers believe they have a solution that will help rural communities thrive, simply by helping them optimize how they use their community’s already abundant wind energy opportunities. The projects will create “cheaper energy” that can be used to treat water and maintain agricultural systems, while building on the region’s current use of wind energy. … the five-year project will build an online virtual tool that will take information about rural communities, such as its’ population size, number of available acres, average wind speed and amount of money the community has available to invest in projects. The tool will use the data to assist community leaders, groups of farmers, or even state governments in deciding whether they want to invest in these community projects, based on whether the projects will be economically sustainable.
Source: Wichita Eagle.

Coronavirus hospitalizations have fallen in Kansas from their high last month and staffing is under less strain as the shaky vaccine rollout gains momentum, although overall case numbers remain stubbornly high. Kansas Department of Health and Environment data shows that 889 adults were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected cases as of Tuesday, down 30% from a high of 1,282 on Dec. 2. It was the lowest COVID-19 patient count since early November, when the numbers began creeping steadily upward. Dr. Lee Norman, head of the state health department, said a call he had this week with officials at small, rural hospital was “really encouraging.” “There’s ICU beds available. The majority of ventilators are available, and — very encouraging — the staff are coming back off isolation because of illness or quarantine,” Norman said during a Statehouse news conference. “It’s really gratifying to see our health care workers get a little bit of a reprieve right now.”
Source: LJWorld.com.

Lawrence city leaders are moving forward with creating a committee to study potential changes to the city’s form of government, potentially paving the way for a citywide election to decide on any changes. As part of its study session Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission discussed alternative structures to the city’s current commission-manager form of government, including having a directly elected mayor, election by districts, or changes to the number of commissioners, among other possibilities. Commissioners agreed that they would each suggest two community members to take part in the committee, and the commission would set some parameters for the discussion.
Source: LJWorld.com.

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.