info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Municipal-Bond Investors Pay a Hefty Price for Not Being Taxed

info2023-09-07T13:23:23-05:00September 7th, 2023|

Municipal-bond investors are paying a greater premium than should be expected for the “pleasure of not being taxed,” a new study finds, often negating the bonds’ benefit. In a perfectly priced world, a muni bond would pay interest equivalent to a Treasury bond minus the investors’ tax burden on the Treasury and adjusted for liquidity and credit quality of the issuing state or municipality. But munis pay investors even less than that, according to the study, which appeared in a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper in June. On average, the study found, the yield of the muni bonds was [...]

Hoisington looking at city-owned pound

info2023-09-07T12:21:58-05:00September 7th, 2023|

After about two decades of outsourcing animal control services to the local veterinary clinic, the City of Hoisington is looking to go back to self-service. At last Monday’s meeting of the Hoisington City Council, City Manager Jonathan Mitchell told council members that Hoisington Veterinary Hospital will terminate its city animal control contract effective Dec. 31, and so the city needs an alternative solution up and running by the first of the year. City council discussion of alternatives began in early August, when Mitchell informed council members that fees for services from the Hoisington Veterinary Clinic would be going up. Investigating the prospect of [...]

Shawnee adjusts fireworks rules — Here’s what’s different

info2023-09-07T12:20:40-05:00September 7th, 2023|

The city of Shawnee is making some adjustments after the first summer of the city allowing for the limited sale and usage of fireworks. On Monday, the Shawnee City Council voted 7-1 to make a series of amendments to the city’s fireworks ordinance. Most notably, the city shortened by a day the time for when fireworks can be sold legally around the Fourth of July. The city is also exploring whether to drop its lottery for handing out permits to sell fireworks and instead use a system that prioritizes vendors who are local and have sold fireworks with good reviews in [...]

Streetlight inventory reviewed for the City of Edgerton

info2023-09-07T13:12:40-05:00September 7th, 2023|

Edgerton city officials are reviewing the community’s streetlights as they develop plans to modernize them after a 2022 citizen survey showed residents were dissatisfied with the quality and number of streetlights throughout the city. ... The city has 294 streetlights within its city limits. Of those, 120 residential street lights are 10 to 15 years old and owned by Evergy, but leased to the city. The lighting at Logistics Park and the Homestead Street interchange bridge are owned by the City of Edgerton. ...[engineer's] staff used a collector app to document each fixture with photographs and looked at inventory types of poles [...]

Buhler High School ‘leading by example’ during sports official shortage

info2023-09-07T12:15:02-05:00September 7th, 2023|

The high school football season kicks off this week amidst a shortage of referees from the middle school level all the way up to varsity. There's one high school in Reno County that's trying to do something about it. Buhler High School has a half dozen teachers and administrators who also serve as game referees and officials. It's also one of only a handful of schools across the state that is offering a class in sports officiating. The classrooms and hallways at Buhler High School are filled with current and possibly future football and basketball referees. "Within a few walking steps, there's three [...]

Splash Pad opening postponed amid supply chain issues, water crisis

info2023-09-07T12:12:47-05:00September 7th, 2023|

The Strong City Splash Pad opening will be delayed, amid a statewide water crisis putting strain on many communities’ water supply. Wednesday evening, the Strong City Council made the decision to postpone the opening of the new splash pad, which was tentatively set to open over the Labor Day weekend before supply chain issues delayed the final touches on the pad. With the severe drought conditions threatening the state’s water supply, the grand opening could be postponed until next year. “With so many struggling during these extremely dry days and delays in some equipment, we will more than likely save our [...]

‘We want to stay in the area’: Burlington breaks ground on new chips manufacturing plant

info2023-09-07T12:11:25-05:00September 7th, 2023|

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, along with Coffey County commissioners and leadership from Secure Semiconductor Manufacturing, broke ground on a new 30,000 square foot facility Friday afternoon. The facility will be located just north of the Coffey County Airport on U.S. Highway 75. SSM is a microelectronics manufacturer who will primarily supply semiconductor components for EMP Shield and other semiconductor manufacturers across the United States as part of a $1.9 billion investment that includes a partnership with Flint Hills Technical College and area high schools to provide the necessary training for potential employees. Gov. Laura Kelly announced the project in February. SSM’s [...]

Wichita Public Library opens library card design contest

info2023-09-07T13:14:34-05:00September 7th, 2023|

The Wichita Public Library is asking for designs from customers for three new library cards that will be introduced next year. A contest is underway through 5 p.m. on Friday, October 27th for people in three age categories to submit designs. The categories are kids ages 5-12, teens age 13-17, and adults 18 and older. The rules call for one entry per person and the artwork must be in color, original and not published elsewhere, and it should be free of copyright restrictions. ... The public will choose the winner in each category on social media platforms. The winners will be announced in [...]

Russell gets over $2 million from FEMA for power upgrades

info2023-09-07T12:08:04-05:00September 7th, 2023|

The city of Russell has been awarded over $2 million from a grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's "Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities" program. A news release from FEMA says the grant program is intended to help states, local communities, tribes and territories fund projects that reduce the risks from disasters and "emphasize the need for resilient infrastructure." Russell received a total of $2,039,650 to fund the project's second phase, which will rebuild the entire power distribution system from north Russell city limits from St. John Street to Culp and 9th Street to the 1900 block of North Main. In all, 124 [...]

Wichita considering policy for fines regarding retaliatory landlords

info2023-09-07T12:06:03-05:00September 7th, 2023|

Wichita is considering fines for landlords who retaliate against tenants who are otherwise in good standing. The proposed ordinance introduced Aug. 22 to City Council would penalize landlords who evict or raise rent within six months of a tenant’s complaint to the city or landlord about housing conditions. It would not apply to tenants who are late on rent or fail to uphold other tenant responsibilities. The council has not yet voted on the ordinance. State law makes it technically illegal for landlords to retaliate against tenants for complaining to city inspectors. But there is no agency to enforce the rule. [...]

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