info2021-01-19T06:45:14-06:00January 19th, 2021|
Many Johnson Countians wanting to get the COVID-19 vaccine now have a way to tell county health officials. The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment on Friday launched an online survey that allows people in Phase 2 of the county’s vaccine rollout plan to let the county know they’d like to receive the two-dose vaccine when they become eligible. Source: Prairie Village Post
info2021-01-19T06:44:48-06:00January 19th, 2021|
Sedgwick County announced Friday that the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccine should begin in the next few weeks, as vaccines become available in the county. Dr. Garold Minns, Sedgwick County Health Officer, in consultation with local medical providers and the Sedgwick County Health Department, is finalizing the Phase II vaccination plan. It is expected to follow the guidance from the CDC and local medical professionals, with vaccines available to people 65 and older first. Individuals with medically verified high-risk factors would follow. Vaccines from the county, when available, will be by appointment only through a registration portal. Additional vaccination and scheduling options will also be offered in the future. [...]
info2021-01-19T06:43:33-06:00January 19th, 2021|
Wichita residents who need help paying their rent and utilities because of the coronavirus-related economic downturn can apply to a new city program that will cover back payments and future bills. Applications are not open yet, but could be by late January or early February, said Sally Stang, director of housing and community services for the city of Wichita. The city expects to receive at least $12 million in federal funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, also known as the economic stimulus bill passed by Congress and signed by President Trump in December. The same bill extended a federal eviction ban [...]
info2021-01-19T06:43:04-06:00January 19th, 2021|
John Allison, superintendent of the Olathe school district, will retire at the end of this school year, he announced Thursday night. And the district has already named his successor. The school board appointed Brent Yeager, assistant superintendent for learning services, to replace him starting in July. He’s the second Johnson County superintendent to announce his retirement in as many months. In December, Shawnee Mission Superintendent Mike Fulton announced that he also plans to retire in July. The district has yet to name a replacement. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
info2021-01-15T08:04:46-06:00January 15th, 2021|
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell affirmed his commitment to keeping interest rates low for the foreseeable future even as he expressed hope for a strong economic recovery. "When the time comes to raise interest rates, we'll certainly do that, and that time, by the way, is no time soon," the central bank chief said Thursday during a Q&A session presented by Princeton University. During the wide-ranging discussion, Powell spoke about how the Fed handled the challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as his expectations for what is ahead. Source: Economy
info2021-01-15T08:01:04-06:00January 15th, 2021|
This spring, volunteers will begin collecting litter around the city to determine how big of a problem plastic bags pose and whether they should be banned locally. A decision is at least a year away. The Wichita City Council created the Wichita Single-Use Plastic Bag Taskforce in February 2020 to assess the possibility of banning plastic bags. The task force will use the litter study, which it announced Thursday, to help make its recommendation to the city. ...The project will identify locations to pick up litter, organize volunteers in the litter collection and categorize and count the type of trash and [...]
info2021-01-15T07:56:49-06:00January 15th, 2021|
The Senate's flip to a Democratic-majority makes an infrastructure bill likely to pass in the coming months, and key lawmakers support including important municipal bond provisions. ... A Democratic Congress and White House mean a solid chance for some sort of infrastructure bill to break through, sources say. This comes as the Chamber of Commerce launched an initiative on Wednesday with over 130 organizations to push for an infrastructure package by July 4. ... Municipal bond provisions are set up for success in the next Congress. Last summer House Democrats passed the Moving Forward Act, which has expired and will need [...]
info2021-01-15T07:54:31-06:00January 15th, 2021|
It’s a bull market in grains. Farmers are watching as the wheat market soars above $6 and the one question many are wondering is, how high will it go? Being pulled by strong soybean and corn prices, wheat is not far behind, topping price highs that haven’t been seen in nearly six years according to the Kansas Wheat Commission. All major U.S. wheat classes have been climbing in the markets for weeks. “In the 40 or 45 years that we’ve farmed, I’ve seen this happen like once,” said Vance Ehmke, Lane County Farmer. Poor crop conditions and low acreage has led [...]
info2021-01-15T07:53:09-06:00January 15th, 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.
info2021-01-14T20:49:27-06:00January 14th, 2021|
The Kansas Senate on Thursday passed legislation to require local governments to notify residents by mail and hold public hearings before increasing property tax collections. The tax bill removes a controversial lid on yearly mill levy increases and instead establishes a “revenue neutral rate,” which adjusts the effective tax rate to account for increases in assessed property value. Cities and counties that fail to follow the rules will have to refund taxpayers. Other provisions in the bill, which passed 31-1, ban counties from increasing property values as a result of normal maintenance and give treasurers the authority to offer a payment [...]
