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.
Governor Laura Kelly today announced the Department of Commerce’s launch of the new Kansas Certified Sites program, a critical tool that will help accelerate economic development efforts throughout the state. The program, originally created and administered by the Kansas Economic Development Alliance (KEDA), lets developers know when the state has deemed a potential site ideal for investment and development.
(Read more: Kansas Department of Commerce)
After postponing the event to September, the Emporia Main Street Board of Directors have officially canceled The Taste. The announcement was made Tuesday. The event, originally scheduled for April 4, was postponed to Sept. 26 as the community grappled with the early stages of the novel coronavirus pandemic. “There was no way we felt like we could put the quality of people required to make that event work in an in-door location and make that safe for everyone involved,” said Casey Woods, Executive Director of Emporia Main Street. “We went through in fine detail [of research] and just didn’t think we could do The Taste justice.”
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
The Madison City Council met in an online meeting Monday evening to discuss a new proposed ordinance that will affect property owners, as well as several bids for COVID-19 safety measures. “What [the real estate covenant ordinance] does is stop a current property owner trying to tie up a piece of real estate in downtown Madison and not allow it to be used for commercial purposes in the future,” said Paul Dean, Mayor of Madison. “It doesn’t make anything illegal, it just voids those provisions. It allows people to use the property they bought the way they desire to use it.” The new ordinance is only targeted in regard to commercial real estate properties when a restrictive covenant is placed that prohibits the property from being used again in the future.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
The Topeka City Council has banned the use of no-knock warrants by law enforcement in the city. The Capital-Journal reports that the council voted 8-to-1 Tuesday night to adopt the ordinance banning the controversial practice. Police Chief Bill Cochran has said this department already had a policy of not allowing no-knock warrants before the ban was made local law. Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala was the only member to vote against the measure. She said while she opposes the use of no-knock warrants, she doesn’t trust the city’s police auditor to offer an independent review of possible violations because he answers to the city manager.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment recently released a chart that explains the risk level of ordinary activities. It ranges from low to high risk for contracting coronavirus. On the low end it includes staying at home, but also shows that visiting a park or going camping are safer than most activities. In Topeka, Einstein’s Outdoor Outfitters is seeing more people wanting to get outside. “I would say there’s more interest this summer, people looking for tents, primarily because of again, lack of long term travel, lack of flying, lack of long-distance travel, myself included, said Alan Wisman, co-owner of Einstein’s. “I have family in Colorado, well we’re not going to Colorado, we’re probably just going to stay around here.” Einstein’s sells tents, sleeping bags, and all the supplies you might need to go camping. “It offers a relatively inexpensive vacation, it offers family time, it offers getting out of doors,” Wisman said. “A lot of young people have been inside for months and months.”
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Ascension Via Christi will take over operation of Sumner Community Hospital’s emergency-room operations next year under an agreement between the hospital group and the Wellington City Council. Sumner Community Hospital closed suddenly March 11, leaving Wellington and surrounding communities without an emergency room. Wellington’s City Council contacted Via Christi about taking over the ER in a similar way the hospital group did in Fort Scott in 2019. “We are committed to providing Kansans access to care by collaborating with others to develop sustainable models of care,” said Don King, Via Christi CEO and market executive for Ascension Kansas ministry.
(Read more: Wichita Business Journal)
New hospitalization numbers from Sedgwick County show more COVID-19 patients are in hospital beds and intensive care units than ever before, though more ICU beds are available than previously reported. The new statistics from the Sedgwick County Health Department’s COVID-19 dashboard provide a fuller picture of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on local medical facilities. The new report added numbers for total intensive care unit beds and total ICU beds in use at public hospitals in Sedgwick County. The report shows more ICU beds are available than the county had reported a week ago, though more patients with COVID-19 are in Wichita hospitals. “We continue to be concerned as the volume of patients rises, but we are not yet seeing strain on our capacity to care for them,” Dave Stewart, the director of marketing and public relations for Wesley Healthcare, told The Eagle.
(Read more: Local News | Wichita Eagle)
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.
Wichita plans to increase police funding by millions of dollars next year and privatize Century II, bucking suggestions from protesters and community activists on both issues, as the city grapples with an expected $50 million budget hole over the next three years due to the coronavirus pandemic. The city’s proposed 2021 budget cuts some services, pushes back deadlines on capital improvements and doesn’t raise the property tax rate. Arts and cultural funding will take a 5% cut. Fewer trees will get planted. Stray cats will be left to roam. And the Wichita Animal Shelter will no longer accept animals from people trying to put their pets up for adoption. The $50 million is what needs to be cut between 2020 and 2022 to balance the city’s nearly $630 million-a-year budget.
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)
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