Esports leagues through city Parks and Recreation departments are on the rise, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the founder of the new esports league in Eudora. When the pandemic began, Jimmy Kegin, assistant director of Eudora Parks and Recreation, began a “virtual recreation center” for the city, with links to cooking projects, art projects and more. Then Kegin, a gamer himself, realized that now was the perfect time to start an esports league. “We are all looking for some way to program, somehow, some way,” he said, and with esports leagues, adults and youth can participate from their own homes.
Read more: LJWorld.com.

City Manager Craig Owens announced Wednesday that Jeff Crick will be the new planning and development services director for the City of Lawrence-Douglas County Planning and Development Services Department. Crick joined city staff in 2013 and has served as the planning manager for the department since 2018, according to a city news release. Owens said in the release that he was excited for Crick to take on the new role. “He has demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment to the important services provided by the department and an openness to look at these functions with a fresh perspective,” Owens said.
Read more: LJWorld.com.

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.

The Federal Reserve said it would again broaden the number of local governments eligible for a new lending program as Illinois announced it would be the first borrower to access the facility. The central bank said Wednesday it would allow all 50 states to designate two cities or counties to sell debts directly to the central bank’s program, creating an option for states with less populous municipalities to participate. Many state and local governments are facing cash crises as the coronavirus pandemic has crushed both their tax intake and driven an increase in their spending. The central bank also said state governors will be able to designate an additional two issuers whose revenues are derived from operating activities, such as airports, toll facilities, utilities or public transit, to be eligible to use the facility on their own. The changes could allow more than 380 issuers, up from around 260 before the latest changes, to access the emergency-lending program, which was first announced in April.
Read more: Wall Street Journal.

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.