News – Page 1227 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Vandalism of Wichita parks puts other projects on hold

info2022-01-13T23:59:02-06:00January 13th, 2022|

The City of Wichita said that every time it has to make repairs from vandalism, it has to use money that was supposed to go to other projects. It is becoming a more significant concern because of the increase in destruction at city parks. Thursday morning, Troy Houtman, Wichita Parks and Recreation director, said the costs are adding up. For example, someone damaged a control panel at a Aley Park. Part of the panel was knocked off the wall. Houtman said they will have to pay $5,000 to replace it. Vandals also broke into the building at the swimming pool in [...]

‘It would just be a battle’: Wichita-area leaders avoid COVID restrictions amid surge

info2022-01-13T23:57:39-06:00January 13th, 2022|

As COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations top record numbers in Wichita, local officials say there isn’t enough public support to issue any public health orders aimed at slowing the spread. The Sedgwick County Commission and Wichita City Council signaled this week that they will instead continue encouraging people to get vaccinated, a long-term strategy that would do little to slow the current surge, as most COVID-19 vaccines aren’t considered fully effective until five or six weeks after the first dose (two weeks after the second dose). Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Parsons Registered Offender Program begins

info2022-01-13T23:54:21-06:00January 13th, 2022|

The Parsons Police Department has launched a new program to keep registered offenders in compliance with their required conditions of release or sentencing. In late 2021, the department’s officers became concerned after an audit of registered offenders in Parsons found 44% in violation of registration requirements. Acting Commander Kyle Wiford developed what would become the Parsons Registered Offender Program. Wiford worked with selected patrol officers, the Labette County Sheriff’s Office and the Labette County Attorney’s Office to develop the process and procedures for PROP. Source: Parsons Sun

Lenexa will prioritize certain homes for popular exterior grant program reimbursing improvements

info2022-01-13T23:50:53-06:00January 13th, 2022|

The city of Lenexa is revising its increasingly popular exterior grant program to prioritize home projects most in need of improvements. After expanding the city’s exterior grant program from a few select neighborhoods to citywide, Lenexa is now revising the program in order to reduce the number of eligible applicants and focus program funding on older homes and those with lower appraised values in order to make the biggest impacts on neighborhoods. In 2021, the city funded 11 of the 356 exterior grant applications it received, according to a city memo. In turn, the program generated more than $100,000 in investment [...]

Lawrence Public Schools considering closing several schools in proposed scenarios

info2022-01-13T23:43:59-06:00January 13th, 2022|

Multiple school closings were proposed by the Lawrence school district’s Boundary Advisory Committee Wednesday in an attempt to lessen an impending budget crisis. Executive Director of Data and Technology Zach Conrad presented four scenarios, each of which involves closing or repurposing at least two schools at the elementary and middle school levels. So far, these scenarios are still just ideas for the school board to consider – the school board will ultimately make decisions moving forward. Kathy Johnson, executive director of finance for the district, said the school board should publish proposals and host public hearings by the Feb. 14 board [...]

Commission adopts commercial wind regulations for unzoned portions of Reno County

info2022-01-13T07:31:46-06:00January 13th, 2022|

The Reno County Commission Tuesday finally adopted new regulations for the development of commercial wind turbines in the county after 18 months of debate. The board then voted to create a new countywide overlay zone that will apply those regulations to parts of the county that are otherwise not zoned. The commission previously voted to ban commercial wind development in the fully-zoned portions of the county. Source: Hutch News

Municipal Bond Trends for January 12, 2022

info2022-01-13T07:20:12-06:00January 13th, 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.

Inflation rises 7% over the past year, highest since 1982

info2022-01-13T07:06:07-06:00January 12th, 2022|

Inflation plowed ahead at its fastest 12-month pace in nearly 40 years during December, according to a closely watched gauge the Labor Department released Wednesday. The consumer price index, a metric that measures costs across dozens of items, increased 7%, according to the department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a monthly basis, CPI rose 0.5%. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been expecting the gauge to increase 7% on an annual basis and 0.4% from November. Source: CNBC

Kansas receives $72 million to help families pay energy bills

info2022-01-12T23:43:59-06:00January 12th, 2022|

To qualify, applicants must be responsible for direct payment of their heating bills. Income eligibility requirements are set at 150% of the federal poverty level. The level of benefit varies according to household income, number of people living in the home, type of residence, type of heating fuel and utility rates. Applicants need to have made payments on their heating bill two out of the last three months. Those payments must be equal to or exceed $80 or the total balance due on their energy bills, whichever is less. Source: KAKE - News

Topeka history buff taking personal collection public to educate community

info2022-01-12T23:42:26-06:00January 12th, 2022|

A Topeka man is taking years of history and putting it into one room, to educate people about the history of Topeka and trains for free. Did you know there used to be an amusement park in Topeka? Or that many trains dropped off and loaded materials through the Capitol City? If you knew these things, you might be a history buff like Bruce Beach. If you didn't, well, you might want to meet Bruce Beach. Beach loves two things: trains and history. He got the chance to combine the two a little while back. "I wanted to build an amusement [...]