info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

CNBC Daily Open: Concerns over high interest rates return, pressuring stocks

info2024-10-23T09:07:32-05:00October 23rd, 2024|

U.S. markets were mixed on Monday. The Nasdaq Composite rose while the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell, with the latter snapping its three-day winning streak. The 10-year Treasury yield jumped almost 12 basis points. Europe’s Stoxx 600 index lost 0.66%, with almost all sectors retreating, though oil and gas stocks managed to gain 0.6%. The S&P 500 will return just 3% over the next 10 years, on an annualized and nominal basis, forecast Goldman Sachs’ equity strategy team led by David Kostin. By comparison, the index has returned an average 13% annually over the last 10 years, [...]

Commerce Announces New Round of Funding for HEAL Grants

info2024-10-23T09:04:44-05:00October 23rd, 2024|

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced that $1.5 million is available for a fifth round of Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grants to revitalize dilapidated and underutilized downtown buildings in small communities across the state. These grants help close the financial gaps for communities striving to make their downtown districts economically vibrant. Since Commerce launched the program in 2021, nearly $5 million has been awarded to fund 87 different community projects throughout Kansas. Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Kansas economy growing rapidly: More workers needed to support revitalization

info2024-10-22T08:29:33-05:00October 22nd, 2024|

Armed with a new economic report, Kansas officials touted jobs data while warning that the workforce continues to face a challenge of not enough laborers. “It’s simple: we need more humans in Kansas to keep up with the phenomenal economic growth our state is experiencing,” said Lt. Gov. David Toland, who is also the Commerce secretary. Source: Salina Journal

Positive economic report singles out need for housing

info2024-10-21T10:05:45-05:00October 21st, 2024|

According to the most recent economic snapshot from Pittsburg State’s Kelce College of Business, Crawford County’s gross domestic product grew by 8.8 percent between 2015 and 2024. That was greater than the rest of the state. The number of middle-income households also increased by 9 percent in Pittsburg and by 3 percent in the county, as a whole. Statewide, this increase was only 0.1 percent and 0.9 percent nationally. The Kelce report states that local households are on a strong financial foundation that will benefit when interest rates begin to decline. As the economic center of southeast Kansas, 65 percent of [...]

City of Lawrence clears Amtrak camp; former residents look for path forward

info2024-10-21T10:04:19-05:00October 21st, 2024|

A parade of dump trucks carried away what remained of the camp where people were living behind the Amtrak station in East Lawrence throughout the day Wednesday, including memorials for camp residents who had died. The City of Lawrence Homeless Response Team gave Amtrak residents two months’ notice that the camp was closing. But, as many people in houses would likely not start moving months before they’re evicted, many of the camp residents wanted to stay there until the day they had to leave. Many camp residents had anticipated that the full cleanup of the camp would start at 8 a.m. [...]

Lawrence city commissioners vote to keep City Hall downtown

info2024-10-21T10:01:03-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday said it’s important to keep City Hall downtown before voting 3-2 against the purchase of a building near Sixth and Iowa to become the city’s new home. City staff members had asked the commission to approve the purchase of a building, at 2000 Bluffs Drive, that would require an estimated $11.7 million in remodeling on top of a $4.2 million purchase agreement. That’s $15.9 million total, which is almost $4 million more than the commission had budgeted, so a future budget amendment would be necessary. The current City Hall, at 6 E. Sixth St., was built [...]

Short-term rentals required to get licensed by last month. At least 1 in 4 haven’t complied

info2024-10-21T09:59:12-05:00October 21st, 2024|

At least one-quarter of short-term rentals in Wichita have yet to comply with new licensing regulations by the city, which went into effect last month. It could result in dozens of criminal charges being filed against non-compliant property owners, city officials say. The city passed new regulations last year for short-term rentals like AirBnBs and VRBOs, as the businesses grew more common throughout Wichita. The new code was meant to formalize the short-term rental market in Wichita because the city’s former zoning code technically made it illegal to rent out most residential properties for less than seven days. The new codes [...]

City, county commissioners get a look at RiverFrontMHK plan

info2024-10-21T09:58:05-05:00October 21st, 2024|

A large pedestrian and bicycle bridge is part of a plan for economic development around the Kansas River in Manhattan. Representatives of Anderson Knight Architects and the RiverFrontMHK committee on Thursday unveiled a development plan to officials from the Manhattan city, Riley County and Pottawatomie County commissions. The proposed RiverFrontMHK plan would connect downtown Manhattan to the Kansas River with a pedestrian and bicycle bridge to provide a direct link between downtown and new riverfront amenities. Source: 1350 KMAN

USD 383 releases a new guideline for students for using AI

info2024-10-21T09:56:49-05:00October 21st, 2024|

The Manhattan-Ogden school board discussed AI policies at its meeting Wednesday. The three-page document directs students to keep use of generated content appropriate for school, to check for information accuracy, and to consider privacy concerns and content copyright. The guide also advises students not to depend on AI generated content for assignments but to use it as a resource when it is appropriate. Source: 1350 KMAN

USD 323 puts recreation district on November ballot

info2024-10-21T09:55:45-05:00October 21st, 2024|

The Rock Creek Board of Education Monday night discussed a question that will be placed on the November ballot regarding the creation of a recreation department that would serve the Rock Creek area. Source: 1350 KMAN

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