info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Pott County discusses potential reuse plan for old courthouse

info2022-06-29T23:11:24-05:00June 29th, 2022|

Jessica Stuck, an architect with Landmarks SGA, LLC, met virtually Monday with the county commissioners and suggested a reuse plan for the historic Pottawatomie Courthouse. Stuck specializes in adaptive reuse and historic preservation. She met previously in April with the commissioners and stakeholders to tour the building and obtain input regarding the potential future of the building. “There are thick 16-to-18-inch masonry walls which could pose problems with future reuses,” Stuck explained. Other restrictions on reuse Stuck mentioned included environmental factors such as asbestos and lead paint, proximity to the justice center, the age of the mechanical systems, and the fact [...]

Giant mural will start to be painted in downtown Osawatomie

info2022-06-30T08:14:46-05:00June 29th, 2022|

A giant mural will soon take shape in downtown Osawatomie. Samantha Moon, the city’s public information officer, said the muralist team should be on site around July 8 to begin the color application of a 40-foot by 40-foot mural on the building at the northwest corner of Fifth and Main streets. The city of Osawatomie received a $15,000 grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Rural Prosperity and the “Rural Mural” program — a pilot program designed to bring public art into rural communities. The award included all expenses for labor, equipment, supplies and other costs. Source: Local News [...]

New $340,000 public art piece installed at Lawrence police headquarters

info2022-06-29T16:28:34-05:00June 29th, 2022|

A $340,000 art installation for the city’s police headquarters was recently installed. The artwork, “Through Other Eyes,” was paid for by the city’s longstanding Percent for Art program. The program allows city leaders to set aside up to 2% of a capital project’s budget for public art. The funding was approved as part of project budget for the $19.9 million police headquarters, 5100 Overland Drive. The piece consists of a metal pavilion with panels of colorful glass representations of eyes and light projections. The light sculpture at the center of the pavilion, the sphere toward the top of the design, includes [...]

Flights to Denver and Chicago continue as SkyWest withdraws termination notice for Salina

info2022-06-29T07:45:53-05:00June 29th, 2022|

After a few months of uncertainty about passenger air service to and from the community, Salina Regional Airport announced that flights will continue uninterrupted. On March 10 of this year, the air service, which operates United Express flights at Salina, which travel to and from Chicago and Denver, announced it would terminate the service, due to a pilot shortage impacting the regional airline industry. That notice to terminate was withdrawn by SkyWest on Friday, June 24, meaning United Express flights will continue as part of the Essential Air Service, a program from the United States Department of Transportation. The Salina Airport [...]

Rural Counties Are Booming, but Can It Last?

info2022-06-29T07:44:28-05:00June 29th, 2022|

Even in the face of inflation and the risk of recession, the broad economic prospects for rural America may be looking up for the first time in years. Small communities have long lagged far behind big cities in job creation and income growth. But since the pandemic, many are seeing an infusion of remote workers drawn by lower costs, laid-back lifestyles and natural beauty—and worn down by crime and other urban challenges. Their presence has helped spur hiring, income gains and home-price growth in rural towns. The question now is whether these transplants are there to stay. Source: Wall Street Journal

Wichita firefighters, supporters protest at City Hall over wages

info2022-06-29T07:42:29-05:00June 29th, 2022|

Wichita firefighters, their families and supporters cheered outside of Wichita City Hall on Tuesday after union officials told them that during contract negotiations they immediately rejected the city’s offer for raises. International Association of Fire Fighters Local 135 president Ted Bush said the city’s offer wasn’t even close to bringing firefighter wages up to a rate comparable with other large cities in the region. Union officials said firefighters have started to leave the department in large numbers and pay is a major reason why. The department being short-staffed, they said, is putting additional stress on the remaining firefighters. Source: Local News [...]

Grow Labette reviews projects to benefit communities

info2022-06-29T07:42:09-05:00June 29th, 2022|

The Grow Labette Coalition met last week to discuss projects in process and plans for the future to achieve healthier communities as a whole and affect people’s well-being. Grow Labette Coalition seeks to strengthen alliances with health care providers, the government, business and educational institutions to create healthy choices, while building a culture that celebrates the changes made available by these healthier opportunities. It operates as a part of the Pathways to a Healthy Kansas Initiative, which provides community coalitions with the tools and resources needed to remove barriers and engage their communities in ways that support healthy eating, active living [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for June 28, 2022

info2022-06-29T07:40:55-05:00June 29th, 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’s Williams sees 50 or 75 basis-point rate hike debated in July

info2022-06-29T07:39:16-05:00June 29th, 2022|

Federal Reserve officials will discuss whether to raise rates by 50 basis points or 75 basis points when they meet next month, with the decision being determined by economic data, New York Fed President John Williams said on Tuesday. “In terms of our next meeting, I think 50 to 75 is clearly going to be the debate,” Williams said during an interview with CNBC. “My view is we’ve got to get interest rates higher, and we have to do that expeditiously.” The policy maker said he supports raising the Fed’s benchmark interest rate to a range of 3% to 3.5% by [...]

Louisburg makes changes to vicious dog codes, lifts breed ban

info2022-06-29T07:36:25-05:00June 29th, 2022|

The pit bull breed ban in the city of Louisburg has been lifted with action taken by the Louisburg City Council at its June 6 meeting. At the same meeting, the council passed two new ordinances that strengthen the dangerous and vicious animal laws inside the city limits. Both ordinances were unanimously approved by the five-member council and went into effect June 15 after publication in the official city newspaper. Under the new ordinance a dangerous animal is one that is defined that either attacks or bites any person or domestic animal or has attacked or bitten a person or domestic [...]

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