Municipal Bond Trends for April 26, 2022

2022-04-27T07:09:40-05:00April 27th, 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.

Miners Hall looks back at Arma’s history  

2022-04-27T07:09:13-05:00April 27th, 2022|

The Miners Hall Museum in Franklin hosted Rediscover Arma, a short program about the founding and history of the town, on Sunday. Christie Nicoletti Parrish, Linda Robers and Mike Doue sponsored the event, inviting three speakers to give a brief lecture, coupled with their own recollections, about growing up and living in Arma. The program is part of a series the museum intends to run throughout the summer. ...Joan Barbieri, whose grandparents immigrated to southeast Kansas in the late 19th century, started with the founding of Arma as a small mining camp in 1886 on 65 acres of land owned by [...]

Merriam City Council gets first look at new $136M concept to remake former Kmart site

2022-04-26T23:45:29-05:00April 26th, 2022|

The Merriam City Council on Monday got its first look at a development concept that could remake the abandoned Kmart property on Shawnee Mission Parkway. After some uncertainty over the property’s future, Overland Park-based Drake Development appears to be holding steady on its plans to turn the long-vacant lot into a mixed-use development. But several more steps must occur before any plans for the prominent site are finalized. Source: Prairie Village Post

Tuesday marks 30 years since devastating F-5 ‘Andover Tornado’

2022-04-26T23:40:35-05:00April 26th, 2022|

Today marks 31 years since of one of Kansas' most devastating tornadoes. Known as the Andover Tornado, the F-5 caused damage across Harper, Sedgwick and Butler Counties on April 26, 1991. That twister claimed 17 lives -- most of them taken from the Golden Spur mobile home park. It began with a touchdown in Harper County and then tore across Sedgwick and Butler counties. In Sedgwick County it grew to F-3 intensity and tore through parts of south and east Wichita, making a direct hit on McConnell Air Force Base. Four people were killed in Sedgwick County. The tornado then grew [...]

Wichita officials looking at steps to protect, replace trees in the community

2022-04-26T23:34:35-05:00April 26th, 2022|

Wichita City Council members are looking over a proposed new policy to promote tree planting and protect existing trees in the community.  The proposal was presented during a workshop meeting Tuesday. The city’s park and recreation director, Troy Houtman, said the city is in a situation where it is having a net loss of trees.   He said a number of trees are dying because of disease or because they have reached the end of their life span.  He said the proposed policy will protect trees that are in good health.   It would set up a review process to avoid tree loss [...]

Co-living rentals banned in Shawnee after unanimous council vote 

2022-04-27T07:00:41-05:00April 26th, 2022|

On Monday, a Johnson County city unanimously voted to ban a living arrangement aimed at helping tenants decrease the amount of rent they pay. The Shawnee City Council voted 8-0 to ban co-living, becoming among the first Kansas City area municipalities to prevent the practice, which has gained popularity in recent years as rent and home prices have soared. The new ordinance defines a co-living group as a group of at least four unrelated adults living together in a dwelling unit. The ordinance stated that if one adult is unrelated to another adult, then the entire group will be classified as [...]

Voting begins for $143.5 million Hays school bond

2022-04-26T23:26:30-05:00April 26th, 2022|

Early voting began Monday on a school bond in Hays. The bond totals $143.5 million. With it, USD 489 hopes to renovate two elementary schools, renovate the current middle school into a new elementary, construct a new high school and move the middle school to the high school. One older elementary school and administration center would be closed. "I'm expecting a big turnout and that is just because there's been a lot of push for this bond issue. There's been a lot of things in the news, signs all over our town so you know I'm expecting a big turnout," said [...]

Dodge City named Most Charming Small Town in Kansas

2022-04-26T23:20:06-05:00April 26th, 2022|

In its 150th year since it was established, the city of Dodge City was named the Most Charming Small Town in Kansas by the travel website Trips to Discover. "Once considered to be the wildest town in the Wild West, with a cast of colorful characters, including gamblers, cowboys, and prostitutes, Dodge City offers plenty of historic charms," author K.C. Dermody wrote about the small community in southwest Kansas. "Boot Hill Museum focuses on its heritage with entertaining historical exhibits, and there are trolley tours of historic sites, along with mock gunfights complete with costumed cowboys. Grabbing a drink in one [...]

Wichita’s City Council: Leave TIF district policy as is for transparency sake

2022-04-26T23:17:45-05:00April 26th, 2022|

During a workshop meeting Tuesday, Wichita's City Council explored potential changes to the criteria for tax increment financing districts — an economic development tool that captures the incremental increases in property taxes within a district's boundaries to cover certain costs of private development. The strongest message delivered Tuesday by three members of the Council, though, was to leave it be. I like the TIF language as is," Council member Brandon Johnson said during the meeting. "... The proposed one I get, but I just know that other taxpayers really want to see final effort and everything's been exhausted." Source: Wichita Business Journal

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