A variety of tobacco issues will soon be before City of Lawrence leaders after being absent for more than a year. The Lawrence City Commission at its Oct. 18 meeting is set to discuss a number of tobacco-related items, including vaping, Tobacco 21 — the federal law raising the legal age for the sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 — and tobacco retail licensing. Kari Rinker, the American Heart Association’s state government relations director for Kansas, told the Journal-World that local measures related to tobacco retail licensing were ultimately intended to reduce youth access to tobacco products by holding [...]

Lawrence city leaders on Tuesday discussed multiple potential funding sources and methods to expand the city’s limited utility assistance programs, with plans to discuss options in more detail at a future meeting. The Lawrence City Commission previously asked to consider a possible expansion, and as part of its meeting Tuesday discussed the city’s two utility assistance programs and options for expanding the assistance or discounts available to residents. Potential funding sources discussed included federal pandemic relief dollars, money from the city’s affordable housing trust fund and general fund dollars, and both internal and external programs were suggested for consideration. Source: LJWorld

After several weather events in the past few years have taken down limbs and branches from trees in Salina, the city is looking at using a maintenance program to prevent such destruction in the future. On Monday, the Salina City Commission approved city staff to submit a letter of interest to the Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM) for a grant of more than $165,000 for a citywide right-of-way and parks tree pruning mitigation program. Salina Public Works Director Jim Teutsch said this project would allow the city to proactively maintain the city’s tree canopy. Source: Salina Journal

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Kansas Director for Rural Development Christy Davis today announced that USDA is investing $5,517,200 in loans and grants toward eight community projects across the state. “Every Kansan deserves clean water and a safe place to live.,” Davis said. “USDA Rural Development is proud to assist in projects that help rural Kansas communities meet the needs of their residents and businesses.” Background: The Rural Business Development Grant program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses. Small means that the business has fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1 million [...]

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.