Ranson Financial, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

City of Emporia sees increase in sales tax revenue amid pandemic

Like other cities around the state, Emporia saw a surprising increase in sales tax revenues for June and started the 2021 fiscal year with a 2.9% increase over the previous year, despite the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. According to the Kansas Department of Revenue’s August report, which reflects mostly revenues from June, the City of Emporia brought in $395,463.23 in August — a 9.3% increase over Aug. 2019. The city ended the 2020 fiscal year, which ran from July 2018 – Aug. 2019, with $746,474.57. The 2021 fiscal year ended with $768,258.48 — 2.9% increase over 2019. So far, the city is seeing an overall increase in sales tax revenues for the year, with numbers comparatively higher in most business sectors than 2019 — $1,567,767.68 in Aug. 2020 compared to $1,561,657.32 in Aug. 2019.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Ranson Financial2020-09-18T07:08:37-05:00September 18, 2020|News|

Eudora lands deal for new railway manufacturer

Modern Manufacturing announced Thursday that it had indeed selected Eudora for the project. Leaders from the city of Eudora, Douglas County and the Kansas Department of Commerce all gathered in downtown Eudora to celebrate the announcement, and the ceremony even included one unexpected visitor — a noisy freight train rumbling through the north edge of downtown, interrupting the speech of Modern Manufacturing’s president. “Ah, there is the sound of money,” Russ Taylor, president of Modern Manufacturing, told the crowd. “That’s great.” Indeed, Eudora leaders are hopeful trains end up equating to big money for the town of about 6,300 people just east of Lawrence. Modern Manufacturing makes a variety of products for the railway industry. Those include the light systems used at crossings, while a big product is the steel “bungalows” that are located alongside the tracks to house electronic equipment for railways.
Source: LJWorld.com.

Ranson Financial2020-09-18T07:25:42-05:00September 18, 2020|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for September 16, 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 Financial2020-09-17T07:53:51-05:00September 17, 2020|News|

Survey says build new library for Newton

Things have been quiet at the Newton Public Library. While that is expected on a literal level, at this time it isn’t really expected on the figurative level. The community is in the middle of a multi-phase plan to build a new facility. Already complete are site selection — the new facility will be in Military Park, to the east of the current library location — and a feasibility review by WDM architects. The library project is now wrapping up Phase 3, public campaign. And that’s what has been relatively quiet, although that has been by design.
Source: News – Butler County Times Gazette

Ranson Financial2020-09-17T07:52:57-05:00September 17, 2020|News|

Learning hubs for virtual education grow in popularity in northern Johnson County, but traditional childcare providers raise concerns

With the start of an unprecedented school year that has tens of thousands of students across Johnson County learning remotely for at least a few days each week, many working families have started to look for educational alternatives for their children. Shawnee Mission’s roughly 27,000 students are all learning remotely for the time being, while other public school districts in Johnson County have many students in hybrid learning mode, splitting time between home and school. As a result, some parents have begun forming “learning pods” with other parents to have their children learn in small groups at home. Meanwhile, some nonprofits, churches, entertainment companies and Johnson County itself, have all launched their own learning hubs in recent weeks to support kids and families still enrolled in traditional schools.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2020-09-17T07:52:34-05:00September 17, 2020|News|

Human rights group sues Johnson County leaders, says jail withheld COVID-19 info

A national nonprofit is suing Johnson County leaders for allegedly withholding mail, some of which contained information on the new coronavirus, from jail detainees. The Human Rights Defense Center filed a lawsuit Friday against the Johnson County Board of Commissioners and Sheriff Calvin Hayden, accusing them of censorship and of violating free speech rights. Since July, staff at the Johnson County New Century Adult Detention Center have “refused” to deliver at least 58 pieces of mail from the nonprofit, including magazines, handbooks and brochures informing inmates of their legal and civil rights, the lawsuit said.
Source: KC Star Local News

Ranson Financial2020-09-17T07:51:56-05:00September 17, 2020|News|

Iola woos window manufacturer

Council approves incentives that would help Peerless Products acquire the old Haldex Brake facility. The Fort Scott-based company wants the facility to focus on a new line of commercial windows. Iola has taken a “big” step forward in attracting a window manufacturer to town. Iola City Council members approved Monday a series of incentives that would assist Peerless Products in acquiring the old Haldex Brake facility on North State Street.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2020-09-17T07:51:06-05:00September 17, 2020|News|

As COVID-19 cases in Kansas rise, state is a step closer to ramping up testing

Kansans may soon see widely expanded COVID-19 testing after a state task force Wednesday approved a plan for the distribution of millions of dollars in leftover federal pandemic aid. Gov. Laura Kelly’s Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas, or SPARK, task force’s proposed strategy for the $290 million in remaining CARES act funding emphasized three areas of need: public health, essential needs and services, and workforce support. “I think there are still a lot of needs out there in business and health and we can make really good decisions about where we spend everything, but it needs to go out and get spent and help our economy right now,” said Sen. Tom Hawk, a Manhattan Democrat. “Sometimes, we can’t make the very best decision because we don’t have the luxury of the time to go through our normal legislative paralysis of analysis.”
Source: Kansas Reflector

Ranson Financial2020-09-17T07:50:30-05:00September 17, 2020|News|

Sedgwick County and law enforcement communities remember Sheriffs’ Deputy Robert Kunze

This Wednesday marks two years since a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s deputy lost his life in the line of duty. The community and those that knew Deputy Robert Kunze remember the man, the peacekeeper, and ally. Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Kunze died September 16 2018 after sustaining gunshot wounds after responding to a suspicious character call in northwest Sedgwick County on a rural stretch of road near Garden Plain. In a fantastic display of effort, the fatally wounded 41-year-old deputy managed to get himself to his feet to pursue his assailant, firing his weapon and taking the suspect down before the deputy collapsed, according to the National Sheriff’s Association. Kunze’s efforts may have also saved the lives of two eyewitnesses who reported the incident and followed the suspect until law enforcement arrived.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2020-09-17T07:49:54-05:00September 17, 2020|News|

City of Wichita cites 4 bars over mask mandate

The mask ordinance due to COVID-19 has been in effect for more than two months in the county and the city of Wichita. It requires everyone in the city to cover their mouth and nose in public. Mayor Brandon Whipple says not everyone is complying. This week, Whipple said the city cited four more bars because staff and patrons were not wearing masks. “The way I view this is protecting people from COVID is just like protecting people from food poisoning, protecting them from other bacteria, protecting them from anything else that could be out there right now,” said Mayor Whipple. Whipple says tickets are the last resort. Officers will try to educate people on why masks are important.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2020-09-17T07:49:28-05:00September 17, 2020|News|

About Ranson Financial

City of Emporia sees increase in sales tax revenue amid pandemic

Eudora lands deal for new railway manufacturer

Municipal Bond Trends for September 16, 2020

Survey says build new library for Newton

Learning hubs for virtual education grow in popularity in northern Johnson County, but traditional childcare providers raise concerns

Human rights group sues Johnson County leaders, says jail withheld COVID-19 info

Iola woos window manufacturer

As COVID-19 cases in Kansas rise, state is a step closer to ramping up testing

Sedgwick County and law enforcement communities remember Sheriffs’ Deputy Robert Kunze

City of Wichita cites 4 bars over mask mandate

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