info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Overland Park considers boosting school crossing guard pay to $25 an hour

info2022-10-13T20:16:08-05:00October 13th, 2022|

Overland Park is looking to increase the hourly pay for school crossing guards as the city continues to deal with a shortage of people willing to fill the position since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Driving the news: On Wednesday, the Overland Park City Council’s Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to recommend a proposed amendment to the city’s crossing guard contract, increasing guards’ hourly rate from $21.75 to $25.01 per hour. Source: Prairie Village Post

Johnson County certified ‘gold’ for environmental sustainability efforts

info2022-10-13T20:13:16-05:00October 13th, 2022|

Nearly two years after it, the new Johnson County Courthouse in downtown Olathe is on track to achieve a green-building certification for sustainability under the internationally recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, design standards. This comes as the county itself also recently received notification that its countywide operations have also been LEED-certified by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council for having environmentally sustainable practices in a number of areas. Source: Prairie Village Post

City of Marion to host food and school supply drives

info2022-10-13T20:07:46-05:00October 13th, 2022|

The City of Marion is celebrating Public Power week by hosting a food Drive and a Teacher School Supply Drive. Bring items to Margo Yates at the city office and enter the drawing for a chance to receive $25 off your City of Marion bill. Please bring nonperishable food items only. Suggested items for teachers are sticky notes, paper towels, white paper plates, ziplock bags in gallon and quart sizes, small packages of Kleenex, fun band-aids, sidewalk chalk, crayons, washable markers, pencils, glue, craft paints, peppermints, Tootsie rolls, M&Ms and skittles. Source: Hillsboro Free Press

Inflation increased 0.4% in September, more than expected despite rate hikes

info2022-10-13T07:42:36-05:00October 13th, 2022|

Prices consumers pay for a wide variety of goods and services rose more than expected in September as inflation pressures continued to weigh on the U.S. economy. The consumer price index for the month increased 0.4% for the month, more than the 0.3% Dow Jones estimate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a 12-month basis, so-called headline inflation was up 8.2%, off its peak around 9% in June but still hovering near the highest levels since the early 1980s. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, core CPI accelerated 0.6% against the Dow Jones estimate for a 0.4% increase. Core [...]

Hutchinson, Reno County shatter sales tax records with October receipts

info2022-10-13T06:28:13-05:00October 13th, 2022|

The city of Hutchinson and Reno County both shattered all-time sales tax records with their latest receipts. Local officials indicated they had not reviewed the figures in detail, so they couldn’t comment on why. However, it’s likely that higher prices from continuing inflation, resulting in additional taxes collected, were a factor. State data show the city received a cumulative $1.846 million in sales taxes in September. Retailers collected the taxes on July sales. That was about $412,000 more than was received in September last year, a nearly 29% jump. Source: Hutch News

USDA Invests $1.25 Million to Improve Health Care in Three Kansas Communities

info2022-10-13T06:22:10-05:00October 13th, 2022|

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Kansas State Director Christy Davis today announced that USDA is awarding $1,255,209 million in grants to improve health care facilities in three Kansas communities. These grants will help rural health care facilities expand critical services in Republic, McPherson and Mitchell counties.... The Emergency Rural Health Care program is designed to help rural hospitals and health care providers implement telehealth and nutrition assistance programs, increase staffing to administer COVID-19 vaccines and testing, build or renovate facilities, and purchase medical supplies. The details of the Kansas investments are: A $792,340 grant will help the Republic County [...]

Boom! Street Art and Mural Festival underway in Salina

info2022-10-13T06:17:22-05:00October 13th, 2022|

Anyone visiting downtown Salina this week has the opportunity to see art in action as work for the Boom! Street Art and Mural Festival is in progress. Boom is part of the Salina Kanvas Project, and by the end of the month, a total of five murals by seven artists will be displayed on downtown walls facing alleyways and parking lots. Source: Hutch News

Salina schools can have Narcan

info2022-10-13T06:16:08-05:00October 13th, 2022|

The USD 305 Board of Education approved a policy change Tuesday that will allow the district to possess and administer a drug used to counteract opioid overdose. Naloxone, better known as Narcan, is known to be effective when administered to counteract an opioid overdose. As drug overdose is now a leading cause of injury deaths in the U.S., school districts across the nation have been looking into or implementing similar policies. Eryn Wright, executive director of human resources and legal services for Salina Public Schools, said the Kansas Association of School Boards provides guidelines if a policy were to be developed [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for October 12, 2022

info2022-10-13T06:14:40-05:00October 13th, 2022|

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.

Fed officials expect higher rates to stay in place, meeting minutes show

info2022-10-13T05:53:07-05:00October 13th, 2022|

Federal Reserve officials have been surprised at the pace of inflation and indicated at their last meeting that they expect higher interest rates to remain in place until prices come down, according to minutes released Wednesday from the central bank's September meeting. In discussions leading up to a 0.75 percentage point rate hike, policymakers noted that inflation is especially taking its toll on lower-income Americans. They reiterated rate hikes are likely to continue and higher rates prevail until the problem is showing signs of resolving. Source: CNBC

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