Ranson Financial, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Pandemic puts nearly $100 million squeeze on Kansas casino, lottery revenue

Revenue at the four state-owned casinos and through Kansas Lottery ticket sales plunged nearly $100 million last fiscal year as COVID-19 undermined operations at legal games of skill and chance, officials said Wednesday. Stephen Durrell, executive director of the Kansas Lottery, said the casinos in Dodge City, Mulvane, Pittsburg and Kansas City, Kan., closed March 23 and didn’t reopen for two months. By the end of the fiscal year June 30, the casinos reported revenue declines of 15% to 20% for a total decline of $77 million compared to the previous fiscal year. Overall revenue slumped from $411 million to $334 million.
Source: Kansas Reflector

Ranson Financial2020-09-25T07:42:19-05:00September 24, 2020|News|

Pittsburg officials honor retiring Fire Chief Simons

After nearly 20 years with the Pittsburg Fire Department, Chief Mike Simons is retiring. City officials recognized Simons this week for his decades of service. At Tuesday’s city commission meeting, Pittsburg Mayor Dawn McNay read a proclamation declaring Sept. 22, 2020 as Fire Chief Mike Simons Day. City Manager Daron Hall also thanked Simons and presented him with a Key to the City of Pittsburg. “It’s been my pleasure to work with you sir,” Hall said. “You’ve done an excellent job. Congratulations, and you’re a good friend, I’m going to miss you.” Simons, who was accompanied at the ceremony by members of the Fire Department, also thanked city officials, the community, and his colleagues.
Source: Pittsburg Morning Sun

Ranson Financial2020-09-25T07:42:29-05:00September 24, 2020|News|

Lenexa’s City Center opens mixed-use residential/office space; Shawnee kicks off process to revitalize comprehensive plan

Less than a year after breaking ground in Lenexa City Center, The Lofts at City Center, a mixed-use residential/office space, opened earlier this month. Representatives of Real Property Group and city leaders celebrated the opening with a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Sept. 15. The Lofts features 67 boutique apartments, 10,000 square feet of office space and an underground parking garage. The site also features amenities such as a fitness center and outdoor entertainment facilities such as fire pits, BBQ grills, outdoor TV, pool and hot tub. Artwork by Lenexa resident Catherine Kirkland of Kirkland Creative Art + Design is installed throughout the building.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2020-09-25T07:44:40-05:00September 24, 2020|News|

Changes being discussed to Kansas Emergency Management Act

Various state and community leaders spoke with legislators Wednesday in a committee hearing, seeking changes or wanting to keep parts to the Kansas Emergency Management Act. The Special Committee on the Kansas Emergency Management Act is reviewing the state’s virus response and is considering the next best steps regarding the state’s emergency management laws, including House Bill 2016, which details which powers Gov. Laura Kelly can and can’t use to respond to the pandemic.
Source: State Government – The Topeka Capital-Journal

Ranson Financial2020-09-25T07:45:39-05:00September 24, 2020|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for September 23, 2020

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.

Ranson Financial2020-09-24T10:04:08-05:00September 24, 2020|News|

Art gallery opens in downtown Chanute

A New York couple starting anew have opened an art gallery in downtown Chanute. Named “The Old Normal,” the business at 214 W. Main opened Sept. 16 and includes limited-edition lithographs, jewelry, crystals and other items. Owners Mikey Feldman and Kayleigh Wilson came to Chanute in August. “We were collectors of art,” Feldman said. They had a successful dog-walking business in New York City and sold jewelry online before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Source: The Chanute Tribune

Ranson Financial2020-09-24T10:01:30-05:00September 24, 2020|News|

Topeka, Shawnee County Public Library documenting local pandemic stories for exhibit

Workers at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library are collecting stories of how people spent their time during the pandemic. The library plans to display the stories and pieces collected from people in a new exhibit. They will show stand-out moments during these past months like the toilet paper shortage. The exhibit will have pieces from the Black Lives Matter movement which is also going on right now. Workers at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library are collecting stories of how people spent their time during the pandemic.
Source: KSNT News

Ranson Financial2020-09-24T10:00:13-05:00September 24, 2020|News|

KS’ rural hospitals skeptically view federal COVID funds

The money lent from the federal government is meant to help hospitals and other health care providers weather the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet some hospital administrators have called it a payday loan program that is now brutally due for repayment at a time when the institutions still need help. David Usher, chief financial officer for a 12-bed rural hospital in western Kansas, is sitting on $1.7 million he’s scared to spend. The money lent from the federal government is meant to help hospitals and other health care providers weather the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet some hospital administrators have called it a payday loan program that is now brutally due for repayment at a time when the institutions still need help. Coronavirus cases have “picked up recently and it’s quite worrying,” says Usher, who is the chief financial officer for Edwards County Medical Center in Kinsley, Kansas. He would like to use the federal loan money to build a negative-pressure room. Such rooms are a common and effective tool for keeping contagious patients apart from those in the rest of the hospital.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2020-09-24T09:59:14-05:00September 24, 2020|News|

Florence moves to clean up rundown houses

Florence’s standards board is mailing notices to 30 properties not in compliance with Florence city codes, according to standards board member Darla Spencer, but there are two properties that especially concern her. The homes, one on 6th St. and the other on 7th St., are in poor condition and do not have running water or sewage, Spencer said during Monday’s city council meeting.
“We felt like there had to be an ordinance that it’s in violation of,” she said. “I don’t know how someone can live in town at a property that doesn’t have city sewer or water.”
Source: Marion County RECORD

Ranson Financial2020-09-24T09:57:37-05:00September 24, 2020|News|

Barber County man attacked by bees says sheriff deputy saved his life

“I was scared to death… I was scared because I didn’t know what the outcome was going to be,” said Withrow. When harvesting, beekeepers use smoke to calm the bees down during the process. But this time, it didn’t work. The angry swarm of bees attacked him, getting inside his suit. “There were several hundred bees on my face by the time I got away. And I knew in the end that I had to get the veil off and out of the yard completely in under a hydrant to kind of wash them off,” said Withrow. His wife called 911. That’s when Barber County Sherriff Sergeant Chad Hacker showed up.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2020-09-24T09:56:58-05:00September 24, 2020|News|

About Ranson Financial

Pandemic puts nearly $100 million squeeze on Kansas casino, lottery revenue

Pittsburg officials honor retiring Fire Chief Simons

Lenexa’s City Center opens mixed-use residential/office space; Shawnee kicks off process to revitalize comprehensive plan

Changes being discussed to Kansas Emergency Management Act

Municipal Bond Trends for September 23, 2020

Art gallery opens in downtown Chanute

Topeka, Shawnee County Public Library documenting local pandemic stories for exhibit

KS’ rural hospitals skeptically view federal COVID funds

Florence moves to clean up rundown houses

Barber County man attacked by bees says sheriff deputy saved his life

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