News – Page 1363 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

City of Lawrence now taking donations for utility assistance program

info2021-08-09T22:28:30-05:00August 9th, 2021|

The city is now accepting donations from residents to help their neighbors in need pay their utility bills, according to a news release Monday. Though there’s no set date for the city to restart utility shutoffs, customers who have a delinquent balance for more than 22 days could lose service once shutoffs do resume. Currently, that’s about 10% of the city’s residential customers, according to the release. “The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated a problem with outstanding utility payments as it left some of our community members unable to keep up with bills due to lost employment, an inability to work, or [...]

Wichita will use federal grant to help vulnerable communities in dealing with COVID-19

info2021-08-10T07:41:54-05:00August 9th, 2021|

The city of Wichita will receive a $4 million federal grant that will be used to improve health literacy and expand education and outreach services to help racial and ethnic minority communities and vulnerable populations in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant is from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through its Office of Minority Health. The OMH has awarded $250 million in grants to 73 local governments across the country as part of a new two-year initiative. The goal is to improve COVID-19 vaccination and other mitigation practices among underserved populations. The city will be working with [...]

SHARP Recovery Grants available for urban and rural cultural nonprofits

info2021-08-09T23:03:14-05:00August 9th, 2021|

The Humanities Kansas SHARP Recovery Grants are intended to reach a diverse network of urban and rural cultural nonprofits located in Kansas whose primary work involves the humanities. Funds are intended to help cultural nonprofit organizations recover from financial hardship resulting from the pandemic. Funds may be used to cover day-to-day expenses such as staff salaries, utilities, rent, and equipment and staffing needs related to transitioning post-pandemic. There are no cash match or cost share requirements. Award amounts are divided into three categories based on an organization’s annual budget: • Organizations with an annual budget of $100,000 or less may request [...]

Municipal benchmark yields rose by as much as 0.05% Friday, following a stronger-than-expected jobs report

info2021-08-09T07:49:22-05:00August 9th, 2021|

Municipal benchmark yields rose by as much as five basis points Friday, following a stronger-than-expected jobs report, but the asset class outperformed the moves in Treasury bonds. An increase in supply next week may test current low levels. Continued strength in the economy was seen as nonfarm payrolls rose 943,000 and the jobless rate fell to 5.4% last month, the Labor Department reported. “The dollar is surging following a better-than-expected nonfarm payroll report, which may have paved the way for the Fed to announce tapering if the economy delivers one more robust report in September,” said Ed Moya, senior market analyst [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for August 6, 2021

info2021-08-09T07:46:07-05:00August 9th, 2021|

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.

Small Kansas town is taking on Netflix, Hulu over franchise fees

info2021-08-09T08:04:17-05:00August 9th, 2021|

On its surface, the notion that Fort Scott, Kansas, could stand up to Netflix and Hulu seems like a David and Goliath battle of the highest order. On one hand, you have an 8,000-person town in the state’s southeast corner, most famous for its U.S. Army garrison in the 19th century and its role in the Civil War during that timeframe. Facing them are a pair of giants in the media world, with the companies combining for almost $30 billion in profits in 2020. But the battle royale between the unlikely foes is set to play out, with Fort Scott filing [...]

Managing Rights of Way from Top to Bottom

info2021-08-09T07:43:23-05:00August 9th, 2021|

There’s more than one way to look at vegetation management. The work electric cooperatives and their contractors do to help keep electric lines and other equipment separated from plant overgrowth plays a major role in service reliability. From mowing and brush work at ground level to tree trimming near or above power lines, electric co-ops regularly inspect and manage the landscape in and around their equipment. Effective to prevent outages, minimize the threat of fire damage and maintain access and serviceability. Utility providers, including electric cooperatives, have worked with local, state and federal foresters to develop integrated vegetation management practices aimed [...]

City of Edgerton seeks residential developers

info2021-08-09T07:41:39-05:00August 9th, 2021|

A lack of land for sale, and an untested market has limited Edgerton’s residential growth, according to a recent housing study commissioned by ElevateEdgerton! James Oltman, ElevateEdgerton! recently provided information at an Edgerton City council meeting regarding a housing study. The board of directors for ElevateEdgerton! completed a study based only on Edgerton. ... He stated the final step in the process was the final report that showed the market analysis, overview of housing challenges and assets, directions for moving forward and a memo regarding the code review. According to the report, demolitions have outpaced construction in Edgerton with 23 houses [...]

Majority of Gardner residents want fireworks, survey says

info2021-08-09T07:40:24-05:00August 9th, 2021|

The majority of Gardner residents have no issue with the current fireworks ordinance, according to survey results presented at the Aug. 2 city council meeting. According to Amy Nasta, deputy city administrator, the online survey had more than 3,300 responses and 52 percent had no concerns regarding the current ordinance. A survey was conducted thru Survey Monkey, an online software program. Nasta said the survey received the most responses from any city survey with 3,358 responses. Source: Gardner News

Kansas firefighters sharpening their skills while helping fight fires out west

info2021-08-09T07:39:49-05:00August 9th, 2021|

From California to Nevada and Idaho, wildfires are raging in the west. Crews from right here in Kansas are helping battle those blazes. A group from the Hutchinson Fire Department returned Thursday night to Hutchinson. The four-man crew said it's a trip that helped them learn more about fighting fires -- an education they believe will help them here in Kansas. Firefighter Cole Inghram and Brent Fisher were the eyes in the sky for the Stateline Complex Fire. “We were able to get up on a peak lookout tower that was at 64,000 feet and be able to look down on the [...]