info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Fed Seen Holding Rates at Zero for Five Years in New Policy

info2020-08-27T08:10:06-05:00August 27th, 2020|

The Federal Reserve looks likely to keep short-term interest rates near zero for five years or possibly more after it adopts a new strategy for carrying out monetary policy. The new approach, which could be unveiled as soon as next month, is likely to result in policy makers taking a more relaxed view toward inflation, even to the point of welcoming a modest, temporary rise above their 2% target to make up for past shortfalls. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is slated to provide an update on the Fed’s 1-1/2-year-old framework review of its policies and practices when he speaks on Thursday [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for August 26, 2020

info2020-08-27T07:51:25-05:00August 27th, 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.

Mammoth statue goes up near Haviland

info2020-08-27T08:14:45-05:00August 27th, 2020|

Motorists driving recently along US-54 highway near Haviland may have noticed a new 14-foot-tall statue in the shape of a mammoth. The metal statue was created by Paul Miller with the assistance of his son, Andre, and Haviland resident Ed Lofgren to advertise the Heart of America Science Resource Center located there. “There were a lot of technical details along the way that no one could have anticipated,” said Paul Miller. “This was a mammoth of a task, you might say, and it can now attract people to our resource center.” Source: News - The Hutchinson News

A tale of two learning platforms – parents decide between traditional schooling and remote live learning

info2020-08-27T07:47:00-05:00August 26th, 2020|

With the school year starting back up, numerous schools are offering a variety of learning platforms. Traditional learning versus remote live learning. While some parents prefer sending their kids back to school, others are bringing the classroom home. Laura Tawater has a daughter in eighth grade, learning in a traditional classroom setting. She says her daughter learns better from in-person instruction and the social contact she gets from being at school can’t be replicated from behind a screen. “She’s been at home for five months so she’s been really excited to get back to school, see her friends, engage in sports,” [...]

Shawnee County now accepting applications for community-based programs seeking monetary relief

info2020-08-27T07:47:14-05:00August 26th, 2020|

Shawnee County is now accepting applications for coronavirus-relief funding meant to support community-based programs. According to a news release from the Shawnee County SPARK Committee — which was tasked with allocating the roughly $36.7 million the county received from the state for COVID-19 response efforts — $5.5 million has been dedicated to community-based programs that are helping to address needs of community residents during the ongoing pandemic. "The results of regional employment loss, restrictions on social interactions, and disruptions to supportive services focused on mental health, job training, food distribution and sheltering has impacted the county," the committee said in the [...]

With unique needs, Topeka private schools make own plans for return to classes

info2020-08-27T07:47:21-05:00August 26th, 2020|

Grabbing onto a rope to keep social distancing while moving around school, the children in Cecilia Junghans’s second grade class followed her cheerfully Wednesday morning as she led them out to the Christ the King Elementary School’s playground area for their daily recess. Junghans showed her students how to take of their masks, and warned them to make sure they were maintaining social distancing while on the playground. Once she gave the all clear, red, white and blue polos ran, jumped and skipped around the blacktop area, since Wednesday was not their turn to use the jungle gym equipment. After a [...]

‘This isn’t just a Lenexa issue’ — City grapples with shelter regulations as homelessness concerns grow across Johnson County

info2020-08-27T07:47:29-05:00August 26th, 2020|

The Lenexa City Council on Tuesday began discussions to draft zoning regulations for homeless shelters within the city. Although the meeting agenda was set up to focus on the intricacies of land use — defining where the city could allow homeless shelters — much of the night’s discussion centered around broader philosophical questions about the city’s and county’s need to address homelessness. The meeting also marked the first time the city council met in person with members of Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church as well as Project 1020, a cold-weather homeless shelter for single adults in Johnson County Source: Prairie Village Post

Urban Outfitters seeks $403M in bonds for KCK distribution center

info2020-08-27T07:48:53-05:00August 26th, 2020|

The $403 million cost for the distribution center — which will become Urban Outfitters' largest nationwide — breaks down into $14.5 million to acquire the land from Kansas Speedway, $112.5 million for facility construction and $276 million for machinery and equipment. With the industrial revenue bonds issued, Urban Outfitters would enjoy a 10-year, 100% property tax exemption and a sales tax exemption on construction materials. During that time, the development agreement calls for the company to make payments of lieu of taxes at 25% of what it otherwise would owe to affected jurisdictions. Source: Kansas City Business Journal - The Business [...]

Kansas State to install devices in dorms to check COVID-19

info2020-08-27T07:50:21-05:00August 26th, 2020|

Kansas State University plans to install in dorm rooms a device that emits dry hydrogen peroxide to lower the risk of students being infected with COVID-19. The university had installed units in some of its facilities including the student health center and recreation center, Dr. Kyle Goerl, medical director at Kansas State, said on Wednesday. The university plans to also place devices in residence halls next week, he said. The state Department of Health and Environment said Wednesday that Kansas saw another 1,536 confirmed and probable cases since Monday, an increase of 4%. The total since the pandemic began is 39,937. [...]

Derby artist leaving his legacy on school walls

info2020-08-26T09:10:13-05:00August 26th, 2020|

John Thatcher, a local artist who has done work in numerous Derby schools, doesn’t just paint for his own personal enjoyment. He likes knowing that his work will be loved by multiple generations of staff and students. “[My art] is probably going to stay for years to come,” Thatcher said. “Some of the work I’ve done, my kids went to that school and have seen it, and I’d eventually think that their kids would go to those schools that I’ve worked in and see it too. I think that’s pretty awesome.” Thatcher owns CMDesigning, a business that offers a variety of [...]

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