News – Page 1528 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Vaccinations slow but ramping up

info2021-01-28T06:54:42-06:00January 28th, 2021|

Allen County currently gets about 100 doses of COVID-19 vaccine a week. The supply chain filters from manufacturers to the federal governments, to states and then to county health departments who will allocate it as needed. The county is nearing the end of Phase 1. Volunteers are sought for a vaccination clinic. It’s going to take a bit of time and a lot of patience before most Allen County residents can get a COVID-19 vaccine, but the local health department is starting to develop a plan for when that time comes. Source: The Iola Register

Federal Reserve leaves interest rates and asset purchases unchanged, sees growth slowing

info2021-01-28T06:53:15-06:00January 28th, 2021|

The Federal Reserve kept its foot to the floor Wednesday in terms of the help it is providing for an economy that central bank officials say has slowed down. Consistent with market expectations, the policymaking Federal Open Market Committee said it was keeping its benchmark short-term borrowing rate anchored near zero and maintaining an asset purchasing program that is seeing the Fed buy at least $120 billion a month. At the core of the move to keep policy historically accommodative was an economy in which the sectors most vulnerable to the pandemic are taking the hardest hit. Source: CNBC - Bonds

Sedgwick County commissioners add citizens advisory boards to promote transparency, accountability

info2021-01-28T06:52:24-06:00January 28th, 2021|

Sedgwick County commissioners continue to develop citizens advisory boards to keep elected officials accountable, while working to remain transparent. Commissioners Lacey Cruse and David Dennis created citizens advisory boards for their districts last year, while Commissioner Jim Howell will have the first meeting with his board next month. Commissioner Sarah Lopez is in the beginning stages of developing her own and the last commission is following suit it the near future. The citizens advisory boards are official groups formed by commissioners and the members are selected citizens who live in each district. Source: KSN-TV

Marion’s drug dog earns her keep in 1st year

info2021-01-28T06:51:41-06:00January 28th, 2021|

In her first year as a drug dog, Blue’s nose for illegal substances already has led to multiple drug busts for Marion’s city police. A few times, an arrest would not have been possible without her, said officer Aaron Slater, who serves as Blue’s handler for the department’s K-9 unit. “She has been working really well,” he said. “I’ve bonded with her for sure.” Source: Marion County RECORD

Grant Opportunity: “WaterSMART Funding”

info2021-01-27T16:52:01-06:00January 27th, 2021|

Through the WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects Reclamation provides 50/50 cost share funding to irrigation and water districts, tribes, states and other entities with water or power delivery authority for small water efficiency improvements that have been identified through previous planning efforts. Projects eligible for funding include installation of flow measurement or automation in a specific part of a water delivery system, lining of a section of a canal to address seepage, or other similar projects that are limited in scope. More information is available here. The Bureau of Reclamation has published a notice of funding opportunity for the WaterSMART Small-Scale Water [...]

City officials will soon begin discussing proposal to allow accessory dwelling units in more Lawrence neighborhoods

info2021-01-27T08:17:05-06:00January 27th, 2021|

City planners are moving forward with drafting a code change that would allow homeowners to build garage apartments and other smaller living quarters in all neighborhoods. The city will soon begin taking public input regarding the details of the code amendment, and it is expected to go to the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Commission for consideration this summer. The local comprehensive plan as well as an affordable housing plan have called for expanding the areas where such living quarters, known as accessory dwelling units or ADUs, can be built, and city planner Sandy Day said the units can be used for [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for January 26, 2021

info2021-01-27T08:15:25-06:00January 27th, 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.

Johnson County voters approve $264M bond, tax increase for Shawnee Mission schools

info2021-01-27T08:14:35-06:00January 27th, 2021|

Johnson County voters overwhelmingly approved a $264 million bond issue and property tax increase in the Shawnee Mission school district to rebuild and renovate schools, plus hire additional teachers as a way to address workload concerns. More than 49,600 voters cast ballots, which were due at noon Tuesday. According to the unofficial results, 69.4%, or 34,441 voters, approved the bond referendum, while 30.6%, or 15,178, voted against it. Source: Joco 913 News

Douglas County approves plan to distribute Phase 2 vaccinations

info2021-01-27T08:12:22-06:00January 26th, 2021|

Douglas County says it has approved an initial plan to begin distributing COVID-19 vaccines to groups identified in Phase 2 -- residents 65 years and older, those who live and work in congregate settings and essential workers. "Doses right now are extremely limited based on the supply. Given that everyone in Phase 2 is considered critical and a priority, each group will receive an allocation of doses every week," said Dan Partridge, director of Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health. Source: KMBC.com

No more Shawnee Mission North Indians: District to drop all Native American mascots

info2021-01-27T08:12:30-06:00January 26th, 2021|

Shawnee Mission North High School and three district elementary schools must retire their “Indians” and “Braves” mascots under a new policy after thousands petitioned for the change. The Shawnee Mission school board voted unanimously Monday to approve removing the mascots. The new policy states that school mascots must be culturally and racially appropriate, and that they may not be derogatory or offensive toward a person or class of people protected under the district’s nondiscrimination policy. North, which has had “Indians” as its mascot for almost a century, as well as Belinder, Shawanoe and Rushton elementary schools, will begin the process of [...]