News – Page 1387 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Shawnee launches banner project to honor local veterans

info2021-07-13T22:18:52-05:00July 13th, 2021|

The City of Shawnee is working on a new way to honor veterans living in the community. The Hometown Hero project creates banners featuring the names of veterans and active duty service members from the six major branches of the military to be installed on streetlights downtown. Derrick Rolfo is a Shawnee firefighter who came up with the idea for the project and modeled it after a similar program in his hometown of Visalia, California. Rolfo served in the Marines Corps from 2002 to 2006. “It was great driving down the road and being able to see the banner with your [...]

Overland Park moves forward with plans to convert hotel to apartment complex

info2021-07-13T22:17:24-05:00July 13th, 2021|

Developers are one step closer to converting an Overland Park hotel into a new multi-family apartment complex. Monday, the Overland Park Planning Commission voted 9-0 to approve a request to rezone 10610 Marty Street from a Planned Office Building District (CP-O) to a Planned High-Rise Apartment District (RP-6). The property currently houses a three-story La Quinta Inn & Suites that was built in 1987. Developers want to remodel the existing 143 hotel rooms into 121 studio units and 22 one-bedroom units. To be classified at an RP-6 District, the property must maintain one major amenity and three minor amenities. According to city [...]

Wichita City Council delays action on anti-discrimination ordinance

info2021-07-14T08:00:19-05:00July 13th, 2021|

After another round of public comments Tuesday, the Wichita City Council has voted to delay final action on a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance until October 12th. The vote was 5-2, with Mayor Brandon Whipple and Vice-Mayor Brandon Johnson voting no. Mayor Whipple said the ordinance has been discussed and vetted and he wanted the council to finish the work that has been started. As they did a week ago, the Council heard from a number of speakers, many of them in support but others said the ordinance would have a negative impact on churches. District 2 Council member Becky Tuttle moved [...]

Topeka’s NOTO may become a business improvement district. What does that mean, and who would it impact?

info2021-07-13T07:05:34-05:00July 13th, 2021|

North Topeka's NOTO Arts & Entertainment District has placed greater emphasis in recent years on creating a destination for locals and visitors alike — but up to this point, such improvement efforts have largely been grassroots. That has sparked questions among members of the community about how to keep beautification projects in the arts district going long term. "Part of the challenge with that is, how do you support it?" said Tom Underwood, NOTO executive director. Underwood and business owners in the district have engaged in conversations over the past year about the possibility of standing up a business improvement district, [...]

Abilene’s Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo returns to celebrate its 75th anniversary

info2021-07-13T07:03:00-05:00July 13th, 2021|

Celebrating its 75th anniversary when it commences next month, tickets are now on sale for the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo in Abilene. Happening from Aug. 4 to Aug. 7 at the Central Kansas Free Fairgrounds, the rodeo returns after being canceled, along with the rest of the Central Kansas Free Fair, in 2020. ...to honor the 75th anniversary, a herd of longhorn cattle, from Sanders Ranch in Woodward, Oklahoma, will visit the rodeo. The herd will be part of the parade and driven into the the rodeo arena before and after the rodeo. Source: Salina Journal.

Kansas heritage sites can help save rural communities

info2021-07-13T06:53:45-05:00July 13th, 2021|

...when a National Heritage Area is designated, landowners have the option to allow their property to be used or not. There is also a stipulation that if land owners opt in but change their minds later, they can opt out and have their land removed from the designation area. A designation provides a community the freedom to renovate, preserve and market local places that are of state and national significance. For example, Freedom’s Frontier directly supports its sites in two ways. First, it offers grants to fund on-the-ground projects. And second, it works to promote the entire region in a way [...]

Need a telescope? Now you can borrow one from the Wichita Public Library

info2021-07-13T06:52:15-05:00July 13th, 2021|

Starting today (Monday), Wichita Public Library patrons will be able to use their library card to check out telescopes for free. The library purchased 11 new Orion Starblast telescopes, 10 for circulation, and patrons can borrow them for two weeks at a time. “It’s an excellent program. I’m really excited about it,” said Jerelyn Ramirez, the president of the Kansas Astronomical Observers, whose organization has been working with the library to prepare the telescopes for the public. “Some telescopes are very complicated, but this one is the most simple telescope one can buy.” Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Feds sending Kansas rural hospitals $23.5M to fight COVID

info2021-07-13T06:51:27-05:00July 13th, 2021|

Kansas’ small rural hospitals will get $23.5 million from the federal government to fight COVID-19 — the second most of any state as health officials brace for a delta-driven case surge. The funds from the Department of Health and Human Services amount to reinforcements as Missouri, which will receive $8.3 million, struggles with a growing number of outbreaks that Kansas officials fear will creep across the state line. The White House, which announced the funding on Monday, said the dollars will boost mitigation efforts and testing at the facilities, a critical element in controlling the virus’s spread. Source: Wichita Eagle.

Municipal Bond Trends for July 12, 2021

info2021-07-13T06:47:30-05:00July 13th, 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.

Kansas tightened rules on development incentives. They don’t apply to these projects

info2021-07-13T06:45:28-05:00July 13th, 2021|

Kansas lawmakers added transparency and accountability measures to the widely criticized STAR bonds program this spring, but the new rules will not apply to two youth sports facilities — in Overland Park and Kansas City, Kansas — that are moving closer to construction. STAR bonds, a development incentive backed by Kansas sales tax revenue, have drawn scrutiny because of failed projects that did not meet the program’s tourism and income goals. When legislators reauthorized the program for five more years in April, they insisted on higher investment minimums and added a handful of new guidelines intended to prevent future unsuccessful ventures. [...]