info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

‘We are flexing up and flexing back’: Local hospitals talk about ICU capacity

info2020-07-31T07:55:12-05:00July 30th, 2020|

Local hospitals have seen a rising number of COVID-19 cases over the last several weeks and an increase in ICU patients. This second wave that we are dealing with now, its doubled and tripled than the first wave,” said Ascension Via Christi Medical ICU Manager, Jenifer Phelps. “We are having a lot more traffic coming through and the traffic we are having the patients are a lot sicker and they’re staying here a lot longer in the ICU.” Sedgwick County Manager, Tom Stolz said the public hospital system in Wichita has a total of nearly 200 ICU beds. The county met [...]

City of Wichita fights back against the Save Century II petition

info2020-07-31T07:55:25-05:00July 30th, 2020|

Almost three weeks after the City of Wichita was presented with a petition to “Save Century II,” the City has responded with legal action challenging the validity of the petition. The Save Century II group delivered the petition with 17,000 signatures to Mayor Brandon Whipple on July 10. Today, the City of Wichita filed a petition in the 18th Judicial District Court seeking declaratory judgment challenging the validity of the petition. In a news release, the City says it supports the petition process and the right of citizens to express their opinion. But the City believes the petition is legally invalid [...]

Columbus launches new trash program

info2020-07-31T07:55:46-05:00July 30th, 2020|

The city of Columbus has a new program to tackle trash and provide some uniformity in the community. Starting August 3rd, the city will begin taking requests for 95-gallon trash carts. Carts will be available upon request at no cost to residents. There is a limit of 200 carts as the city pilots the trash cart program, so you’ll want to get your name on the list early. Residents will receive the brochure for the trash cart program with your August water bill. The city says they will go to complete cart system by 2022. (Read more: KSNF/KODE)

Lenexa discusses Climate Action Playbook, citywide approaches to combating climate change

info2020-07-31T07:56:23-05:00July 30th, 2020|

While Lenexa already supports portions of a regional playbook on mitigating climate change, the city has room for improvement. That was a summary of a discussion Tuesday evening among Lenexa city leaders at a committee meeting to discuss the Climate Action Playbook, a compilation of approaches and resources for cities in the Kansas City metro area to consider in efforts to reduce or reverse the effects of climate change. In a presentation to the Lenexa City Council, Community Development Director Scott McCullough said the playbook would act as a guide, similar to Lenexa’s Complete Streets policy, to inform decision-making across a [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for July 29, 2020

info2020-07-30T08:24:06-05:00July 30th, 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.

Fed holds rates steady, says economic growth is ‘well below’ pre-pandemic level

info2020-07-30T08:45:23-05:00July 29th, 2020|

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady in a decision announced Wednesday that came along with a tepid outlook on the coronavirus-plagued economy. In a move widely expected, the central bank kept its benchmark overnight lending rate anchored near zero, where it has been since March 15 in the early days of the pandemic. Along with keeping rates low, the Federal Open Market Committee, which sets monetary policy, expressed its commitment to maintain its bond purchases and the array of lending and liquidity programs also associated with the virus response. Read more: CNBC.

Fight over demolishing Century II goes to court as city files to overturn petition

info2020-07-30T08:28:20-05:00July 29th, 2020|

The city of Wichita has gone to court to try to get a citizens’ petition declared invalid and preserve the city’s right to demolish the publicly owned Century II Convention and Performing Arts Center and the nearby former central library building. The citizen’s petition, if ruled valid, would require the City Council to hold a public vote on destroying either of the two buildings or other city-owned structures deemed to have historical or architectural significance. The city’s filing questions whether voters are qualified to make such decisions. (Read more: Local News | Wichita Eagle)

Merriam sales taxes down less than expected during COVID-19 shelter-in-place order

info2020-07-30T08:26:18-05:00July 29th, 2020|

The Merriam City Council on Monday evening heard the latest sales and use tax update for the month of May, when COVID-19 stay-at-home orders were still in place. Merriam’s report showed May sales taxes were down 20% overall, Finance Director Donna Oliver said. Despite being down 20%, Oliver said she thought it “was very good news” since city staff forecasted sales taxes to be down by 80% due to the shelter-in-place order. “That was quite a bit of a swing, that was good news,” Oliver said. “That disbursement made about a $500,000 difference on our ending fund balance.” (Read more: Prairie [...]

Classroom ‘gating criteria’ still unknown as Shawnee Mission families face decision about in-person vs. remote learning models

info2020-07-30T08:20:18-05:00July 29th, 2020|

The Shawnee Mission School District will ask parents this week to choose an in-person or fully remote learning model for individual students for the fall semester. But district officials don’t yet have the final “gating criteria” from the county health department on when and how in-person instruction would be permitted. At a board of education meeting Monday, Superintendent Mike Fulton said that administrators were waiting on guidance from county public health officials before they could make a determination about what class might look like on day one for students who choose the in-person option. (Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Full measure of mask impact still weeks out

info2020-07-30T08:20:48-05:00July 29th, 2020|

Reno County commissioners and the county’s health officer agreed on Tuesday that individual school districts in the county should each draft their own reopening plan for the coming school year — rather than have a countywide plan — and have the county health officer review it for recommendations. Reno County Health Department director Nick Baldetti, meanwhile, advised it will probably be at least another two weeks — and possibly three to five — before the county sees the effects of a mandatory mask order imposed in the county two weeks ago. That estimate is based on data from Douglas County, which [...]

About info