News – Page 15 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Author argues reform and community action can help cities including Wichita battle the housing crisis

info2025-02-05T09:56:06-06:00February 5th, 2025|

Author and founder of the nonprofit Strong Towns Charles Marohn addressed a packed conference room at the Kansas Leadership Center in downtown Wichita Tuesday night. “We have two conversations going on right now when it comes to housing,” Marohn said. “In one of these conversations, housing prices must fall. They must fall and they must fall dramatically in order to get people into homes. In the other conversation, housing prices cannot be allowed to fall, because if housing prices fall, all kinds of calamity results to our economy. This is the essence of what we call a housing trap.” Source: KLC [...]

Sedgwick County begins fraud alert program

info2025-02-05T09:54:37-06:00February 5th, 2025|

The Sedgwick County Register of Deeds Office has started a new online system to notify property owners of possible fraud. The Property Fraud Alert is a free service that county residents can subscribe to, and the system will notify them each time a document is recorded with their name on it. County officials said this won’t prevent fraud from happening, but it will provide an early warning system for property owners to take action as soon as possible. In many cases, victims of mortgage fraud or identity theft have been unaware that their home or identity has been stolen. Source: 101.3 [...]

Hesston superintendent excited to return

info2025-02-05T09:53:40-06:00February 5th, 2025|

After just a couple years away, Ben Proctor is excited to return as Hesston’s superintendent. Last week, the board interviewed Proctor, who now works for the Kansas Department of Education, and Pete Bastian, who is the current superintendent of Belle Plaine schools. On Monday, Feb. 3, the board approved Proctor’s contract. He will take over as superintendent starting July 1. Proctor said he’s ready to return to the district. Source: Harvey County Now

Mural effort aims to beautify skyline, city

info2025-02-05T09:51:48-06:00February 5th, 2025|

A fundraising effort is underway to change the skyline of Newton. The Newton Community Foundation and Newton Murals and Arts project seek to create a 128-foot-high, 7,600-square-foot mural on the west side of the Ardent Mills grain elevator, transforming the elevator‘s rounded grain bins into the spines of books. The mural will serve as a backdrop to Newton’s newly completed public library. Source: Harvey County Now

Bonner Springs considers expanding TIF district for Mattel-anchored park

info2025-02-05T09:49:40-06:00February 5th, 2025|

Bonner Springs will consider expanding an established tax district to support the creation of a Mattel-anchored theme park near the Kansas Speedway. In 2017, the city created the Westgate Redevelopment District, covering about 75 acres at the southwest corner of State Avenue and North 118th Street. The tax increment financing district was created to support a $130 million mixed-use project developed by Triple R Properties LLC, but those plans never materialized. Arizona-based developer Epic Resort Destinations now requests that the City Council expand the existing TIF district by adding a combined 108 acres to the west and south, which would support [...]

This Kansas town will pay you to move there

info2025-02-05T09:48:07-06:00February 5th, 2025|

A town in Kansas is working to grow and is looking for new residents. Phil Griffith and Ben Cutler, both made names for themselves in the world of finance, are hoping to revive their hometown of Neodesha. Located about 100 miles from Wichita, Topeka, and Tulsa, Neodesha was the site of the first commercial oil well west of the Mississippi. Source: KSN-TV

Parsons Deputy Chief Dennis Dodd inspiring next generation of officers

info2025-02-05T09:46:56-06:00February 5th, 2025|

One of Parsons’ finest has dedicated 20 years to the city’s police department. Action 12’s Damara Hale spoke with Chief Deputy Dennis Dodd about being the change. “It’s someone who’s broken that cycle, where things are going good and they’re making a difference.” Since he was born, Deputy Chief Dennis Dodd has wanted to make a difference in the city where he was raised. Source: KSNF/KODE

Topeka city council approves changes to camping ordinance

info2025-02-05T09:44:39-06:00February 5th, 2025|

Topeka is expanding its restrictions on where homeless people can stay. At the City Council, on Tuesday, Feb. 4., the governing body approved new changes to a citywide camping ordinance. Two big changes are a 10-day limit for how long someone can camp on private property and no camping within 100 feet of public infrastructure. The city is also clarifying that language to include roads, utilities, government buildings schools and healthcare facilities. That was reduced from 500 feet under the previous ordinance. Source: KSNT 27 News

What is the future for Emporia’s Tyson Food Plant?

info2025-02-05T09:43:20-06:00February 5th, 2025|

A major food production plant in northeast Kansas is due to shut down this month in the Emporia area, ending hundreds of jobs for the local community. 27 News reached out to the City of Emporia this week to get an update on the imminent closure of the local Tyson Food Plant. City Manager Trey Cocking said the plant’s final day of operation will be on Friday, Feb. 14. Tyson Food, Inc. announced the closure of its Emporia plant in December 2024. More than 800 workers were included in the layoff notice for the plant, spelling the end of a major [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for February 4, 2025

Henry Schmidt2025-02-05T09:12:22-06:00February 5th, 2025|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.