News – Page 1140 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

What Russia’s war in Ukraine means for Kansas farmers

info2022-04-06T07:14:41-05:00April 6th, 2022|

Together, Russia and Ukraine supply more than a quarter of the world's wheat, and are also substantial producers of barley, corn and other grains. With war threatening to cut off international shipments of wheat, economists predict it could push up demand and prices for wheat grown in other parts of the globe. "This is probably the most impactful crisis we've had probably since World War II, simply because this has the potential to disrupt trade patterns for quite a long time," said Allen Featherstone, head of the department of agricultural economics at Kansas State University. "Part of it is just going [...]

Johnson County will reconsider proposed solar farm regulations critics say are too restrictive

info2022-04-05T07:38:23-05:00April 5th, 2022|

After a four-hour public hearing of speakers solidly in support of solar energy development, the Johnson County Commission voted to send proposed solar farm regulations back to the county planning commission with suggestions that would make them less restrictive. ... The county planning department began working on the regulations for large-scale solar farms about a year ago, after learning Florida-based NextEra Energy was interested in building an array of panels in western Johnson County and eastern Douglas County. The county did not have any rules for solar farms yet, and planners needed them on the books before any applications for specific [...]

Lawrence to reconsider policy that requires most homeowners to pay for sidewalk repairs

info2022-04-05T07:35:42-05:00April 5th, 2022|

Lawrence city leaders are set to discuss the city’s controversial sidewalk policy that generally requires property owners, not the city, to pay for repairs to sidewalks bordering their homes and businesses. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will receive a staff presentation about the city’s sidewalk repair policy and related financial assistance program, and respond to commissioners’ questions regarding potential policy changes, according to a city staff memo to the commission. ... the commission will discuss the origin of the current policy that was adopted in 2018, the subsequent implementation of the program in 2019, and changes [...]

The history of Arma on display in Southeast Kansas

info2022-04-05T07:25:35-05:00April 5th, 2022|

People are getting a look at the history behind one Southeast Kansas community. The Miner's Hall Museum has opened its second quarterly exhibit titled "Little Balkans Coal Camp - Arma." Before it was incorporated in 1909, Arma was formerly known as Rust, Armiton and Armacost. The exhibit will feature three presentations over three months. They will feature stories of Arma, its French cookies and the history behind the longest held WWII homecoming. Source: KSNF/KODE

Some policy issues unresolved: Legislators debated past midnight before leaving Topeka

info2022-04-05T07:05:15-05:00April 5th, 2022|

Kansas lawmakers left Topeka Saturday morning after advancing a rash of bills but without acting on some major pieces of legislation. ... Legislators failed to pass the K-12 budget, opting to save the bill for when they return for veto session. ... Tax policymakers repackaged dozens of proposals into three bills: one just on the food sales tax (HB 2106), another with smaller or less controversial tax cuts (HB 2239) and a third with larger or more controversial positions (HB 2597). Only HB 2239, a compilation of 29 different bills, was taken up by both chambers. It passed with bipartisan support. [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for April 4, 2022

info2022-04-05T06:59:29-05:00April 5th, 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.

Prairie Village housing panel says city needs to be ‘part of solution’ to metro’s rising costs

info2022-04-05T01:24:33-05:00April 5th, 2022|

Johnson County suburbs like Prairie Village need to “opt in” to being part of a metrowide solution to rising housing costs and inequities in home ownership. That was one of the key messages delivered at a special panel discussion on housing in Prairie Village Sunday, which continued the city’s ongoing conversations around attainable housing and diversity. The panel discussion, entitled “Housing in Prairie Village—Past, Present and Future” was part of an almost two-year-long effort by the city of Prairie Village to address housing and diversity issues. In surveys and in public meetings in recent years, Prairie Village residents — and Johnson [...]

Signals point to retail return to munis, for now

info2022-04-05T01:22:14-05:00April 5th, 2022|

Municipals were steady to firmer in spots Monday, while U.S. Treasuries strengthened inside five years but key parts of the curve remained inverted while equities ended in the black. Triple-A municipal yield curves were relatively stable, while the two-, three-, five- and seven-year UST were still sitting above the 10- and 30-year. More activity surfaced in the municipal market on Monday as the first full week of the second quarter got underway and after last week ended with more of a bid from retail accounts. “We have seen some pretty good situations coming out on the longer end; the maturities have [...]

Lawrence businesses ready to face KU crowds

info2022-04-05T01:20:39-05:00April 5th, 2022|

Downtown Lawrence bars said this is one of their busiest days of the year and they're ready to face the big crowds on Mass St. While they were preparing for the crowd, people waited in line for hours until the bars opened. "I got out here at 10:30 and I was the third person in line,” KU fan Jacki Becker said. The bars anticipated the madness after the turnout they had during Saturday’s game when the Jayhawks beat Villanova. Sean Donnely at Louise's in Downtown said they over prepare for a day like this. Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 - WDAF

Think the roads look trashy? MoDOT and KDOT say they don’t like it either and they’re looking for workers to help

info2022-04-05T01:14:23-05:00April 5th, 2022|

The departments of transportation for both Missouri and Kansas want you to know — they see it, too. Officials with MoDOT and KDOT have been getting call after call from people all complaining about the same thing — trash. And, they don't like it either. But it's not an easy fix right now. Officials with KDOT say most of the state's complaints come from the Kansas City core metro area where there's a high volume of traffic. In Missouri, officials said the department spends more than $1 million on cleanup in our area alone each year, but it's not enough. "Across [...]