info, Author at Ranson Financial Group LLC

Powell says the Fed could hike rates by 0.75 percentage point again in July

info2022-06-16T08:05:48-05:00June 16th, 2022|

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday he expects the central bank to raise interest rates by a similar magnitude again at the next policy meeting in July. "From the perspective of today, either a 50 basis point or a 75 basis point increase seems most likely at our next meeting," Powell said a press conference following the central bank's policy decision on Wednesday. "We anticipate that ongoing rate increases will be appropriate." "The pace of those changes will continue to depend on incoming data and evolving outlook on the economy," Powell said. "Clearly, today's 75 basis point increase is an [...]

Fed hikes its benchmark interest rate by 0.75 percentage point, the biggest increase since 1994

info2022-06-16T08:04:55-05:00June 16th, 2022|

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday launched its biggest broadside yet against inflation, raising benchmark interest rates three-quarters of a percentage point in a move that equates to the most aggressive hike since 1994. Ending weeks of speculation, the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee took the level of its benchmark funds rate to a range of 1.5%-1.75%, the highest since just before the Covid pandemic began in March 2020. Additionally, members indicated a much stronger path of rate increases ahead to arrest inflation moving at its fastest pace going back to December 1981, according to one commonly cited measure. According to the [...]

Newton resident makes a case to quiet trains

info2022-06-16T08:03:45-05:00June 16th, 2022|

Zelly Walker asked the Newton City Commission to do something about train noise. That something she suggested would be to put in a partial quiet zone during the evening in Newton. To do so, the city of Newton would need to apply for a variance with the Federal Railroad Administration. She mentioned multiple communities in Kansas, such as Dodge City, Parsons, Fort Scott Overland Park, Lenexa, Edgerton and Belle Plaine had all been successful in establishing quiet zones – places where trains don’t have to blare their horns going through intersections. Walker said Newton is having more trains and they seem [...]

Pottawatomie County employees to receive mid-year pay raise of 3.5 percent

info2022-06-15T19:38:17-05:00June 15th, 2022|

Pottawatomie County employees will get a slight mid-year pay increase following commission action Monday morning in Westmoreland. Commissioners unanimously settled on a 3.5 percent increase, effective July 1 to help assist employees struggling to stay afloat amid rising inflation. The increase was agreed upon after an initial proposal Monday from County Administrator Chad Kinsley, seeking a 10 percent pay increase for employees, rivaling a 10.5 percent increase Riley County approved last month. Source: 1350 KMAN

Kansas universities get $24 million to research disaster response tools

info2022-06-15T19:36:43-05:00June 15th, 2022|

A new research initiative is providing universities and colleges in Kansas with $24 million to research how the state can better support residents before and after disaster emergencies. The Adaptive and Resilient Infrastructures Driven by Social Equity, or ARISE, project is a federally funded program through the National Science Foundation. The five-year initiative will partner 17 institutions ranging from universities to business leaders, health professionals and other community stakeholders to advance the resiliency of the state infrastructure. The project involves $20 million in federal funding, and an additional $4 million from the state. Source: Atchison Globe Now

NOTO bike ordinance changed by Topeka City Council

info2022-06-16T08:08:22-05:00June 15th, 2022|

The Topeka City Council is changing the rules on a recently-passed ordinance that bans bikes from sidewalks in North Topeka. On Tuesday, the Topek City Council voted to continue to allow bicycles, scooters, skateboards and roller skates on sidewalks on Northeast Morse Street and the bridge from Oakland to North Topeka. Starting next month, riders will no longer be allowed on the rest of the sidewalks in the North Topeka Arts District. Shop owners and people who frequent NOTO might be aware of the small sidewalks. This is the main reason for this new city ordinance. Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala says to [...]

It could cost more to rent a golf cart, buy a membership at Wichita golf courses

info2022-06-15T18:43:08-05:00June 15th, 2022|

Wichita golfers could pay 15% more for memberships and $1.50 more for golf carts if park board-approved increases receive City Hall’s OK. The Board of Park Commissioners will propose the price increases to the City Council sometime next month. The park board agreed on the proposal during a meeting June 13. The plan to raise prices comes roughly three months after the council voted not to privatize the city’s four golf courses. Annual golf memberships vary in price, with the most expensive one $114.44 for a couples’ membership. That means the biggest dollar increase for memberships would be around $17. Director [...]

ReConnect Program Webinars FY2022

info2022-06-15T10:52:49-05:00June 15th, 2022|

Preparing for ReConnect Round 4 Presented by USDA Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service (RUS), this webinar will provide information about the ReConnect Program, and help prepare applicants ahead of the next Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). Staff from RUS will conduct two webinars that provide a brief overview of the ReConnect Program and helpful tips about assembling portions of the application ahead of time. Both webinars will cover the same information: What applicants can do now to prepare for the next FOA System registration and applicant identification requirements A high-level look at eligibility requirements Tips on the application system An opportunity to [...]

Here’s everything the Fed is expected to announce, including the biggest rate hike in 28 years

info2022-06-15T07:55:56-05:00June 15th, 2022|

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday is expected to do something it hasn't done in 28 years — increase interest rates by three quarters of a percentage point. In response to soaring inflation and volatile financial markets, the central bank will hike the rate that banks charge each other for overnight borrowing to a range of 1.5%-1.75%, where it hasn't been since before the pandemic crisis began. ... Goldman Sachs said new language in the statement could indicate that the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee "anticipates that raising the target range expeditiously will be appropriate until it sees clear and convincing evidence [...]

Lack of affordable and other housing options in Lawrence highlighted in homeless needs report

info2022-06-15T07:41:39-05:00June 15th, 2022|

City leaders on Tuesday heard some of the findings of a study that examined homelessness in the area as well as factors that affect the community’s ability to address the issue, including the shortage of affordable housing options and a lack of permanent supportive housing. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission received a presentation from the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research on the 2021-2022 Douglas County Homelessness Interim Needs Assessment. Some of the key early findings of the study are that the current housing options in the community are not enough to meet [...]

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