News – Page 1013 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Sedgwick County Firefighters Union pushes for higher pay for staff

info2022-08-04T22:05:52-05:00August 4th, 2022|

The Sedgwick County Firefighters Union said if the staff shortage gets worse, they might have to shut down a station. The union president wants staff to get a bump in pay to address the issue. In 2016 previous Sedgwick County Commissioners voted to take away bargaining power from the Sedgwick County Firefighters Union. Now the president of the union is asking for that power back. He said call volume is up, but staffing is not. "Over the last few years, we've had people leave here and there. In the last few months, we've really had people voice their concerns and [...]

Muni Bond Costs Remain High: Study Says Researchers find dealers mark up prices when customers are less likely notice

info2022-08-04T09:25:47-05:00August 4th, 2022|

Municipal bond dealers set prices well above what they pay for the securities, reaping windfalls at the expense of individual investors despite recent regulation aimed at curbing so-called markups, according to an academic study of trading data expected to be released Thursday. “Dealers appear to use their pricing discretion to charge higher markups to small customers when investors are less likely to notice,” wrote the study’s authors, John Griffin and Samuel Kruger of the University of Texas at Austin, and Nicholas Hirschey of the Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. Source: Wall Street Journal

Douglas County historical societies band together for ARPA request, aiming for increased accessibility

info2022-08-04T09:21:57-05:00August 4th, 2022|

With the help of more than $700,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding, Douglas County’s six historical societies are hoping to make their sites around the county more accessible for visitors. The team of six historical societies — the Clinton Lake, Douglas County, Eudora Area, Lecompton and Santa Fe Trail historical societies and the Black Jack Battlefield Trust — submitted a joint funding request during the county’s ARPA request process and ultimately was awarded $723,539 to cover capital expenses for a variety of projects at sites throughout the county. Source: LJWorld

Municipal Bond Trends for August 3, 2022

info2022-08-04T09:20:50-05:00August 4th, 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 Bullard sees more interest rate hikes ahead and no U.S. recession

info2022-08-04T09:13:57-05:00August 4th, 2022|

St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard said Wednesday that the central bank will continue raising rates until it sees compelling evidence that inflation is falling. The central bank official said he expects another 1.5 percentage points or so in interest rate increases this year as the Fed continues to battle the highest inflation levels since the early 1980s. "I think we'll probably have to be higher for longer in order to get the evidence that we need to see that inflation is actually turning around on all dimensions and in a convincing way coming lower, not just a tick [...]

Bentley Police celebrate National Night Out

info2022-08-04T00:49:55-05:00August 4th, 2022|

Tuesday night was a soggy one for Bentley Police Chief James “Tim” Bryan, but it was all in the name of bringing the community together. Bryan found himself on the hot-seat of a dunk tank at the police department’s National Night Out event at Williams Park. “That’s what this is all about—having good conversations with the community,” Bryan said. The department borrowed the homemade dunk tank Matt Hayden of the Haven Police Department. Bryan noted Fire Chief Jeremy Lee would be taking a turn on the dunk tank later in the evening. Source: Harvey County Now

Chippeaux exemplifies volunteerism as new Bentley resident

info2022-08-04T09:14:58-05:00August 4th, 2022|

In the eyes of Bentley Mayor Tracy Pribbenow, Chris Chippeaux is the epitome of a new resident to a small community. “To me, it’s just awesome that he dives into a community with both feet,” Pribbenow said. “I wish so many new residents would consider how to really be involved and integrated into a new place.” Chippeaux and his family moved to Bentley in December of 2020, and he wasted no time joining the volunteer fire department. He also just completed his first year on the city council. “It’s not exactly what I was expecting, but I’m learning a lot [...]

Local Mennonites Reflect On Newton Impact

info2022-08-04T09:15:17-05:00August 4th, 2022|

Mennonites from the Newton and North Newton area gathered around the Carriage Factory Art Gallery for a detailed look at how Mennonites have shaped Newton to the present. Glen Ediger presented, “The Mennonite Impact on the Newton Area,” at Carriage Factory on Thursday, July 28. This was part of a two-part presentation about the history of Mennonites in Kansas. Ediger previously presented “Mennonites Come to Kansas” in June. Much of the research done by Ediger was accomplished through Bethel College’s archives and the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online (GAMEO). Source: Harvey County Now

Peabody dog violation put bite on owner

info2022-08-04T09:16:51-05:00August 4th, 2022|

Thirteen separate dog offenses have resulted in $1,760 in fines for a dog owner who has since left Peabody. Eric J. Williams, 34, was fined in municipal court for five counts of having a dog at large, having an unvaccinated dog, being a habitual dog ordinance violator, harboring a vicious animal, having no dog tag, and having no water service in his residence. The most recent of the offenses was April 22. He was convicted last week. Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Short-staffed ambulances to charge hospitals

info2022-08-04T09:16:36-05:00August 4th, 2022|

Medical facilities that summon county ambulance crews to transfer patients or perform medical procedures soon will be charged. In the past, patients have been billed for transfers, at a much higher charge than what interim ambulance director Chuck Kenney suggested to county commissioners Friday. Under federal regulations, a hospital is responsible for the cost of transferring a patient to another facility, but ambulance services routinely bill the patients instead. Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal