News – Page 1541 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

U.S. bond yields could keep rising after piercing 1%

info2021-01-08T07:52:07-06:00January 8th, 2021|

U.S. bond yields could be headed still higher after piercing 1% this week, according to analysts and investors who point to a wide gap between the benchmark Treasury yield and the next key support level. Driven by the Democratic victory in Georgia, the 10-year Treasury yield on Thursday hit its highest level since March at 1.088%, breaking out of recent trading ranges. Yields rose on expectations a Democrat controlled Congress would have the clout to pass more fiscal stimulus and spending, bolstering economic activity and debt issuance. Source: Reuters.

Municipal Bond Trends for January 7, 2021

info2021-01-08T07:46:53-06:00January 8th, 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.

Groundwater levels deplete, drought and demand for irrigation lead to higher rates of decline

info2021-01-08T07:41:45-06:00January 8th, 2021|

The Kansas Geological Survey reports groundwater levels across much of the state have been on the decline for years. Water levels have been tracked dating back to the 40s and since the mid-90s the state of Kansas has been closely monitoring changes and trends in the aquifer. Throughout this past week, the state has had crews out measuring aquifer levels. This year they are reporting a larger decline. The Kansas Geological Survey and the Division of Water Resources annually record groundwater levels across the High Plains Aquifer stretching from Colby to Liberal and east toward Wichita. Source: KSN-TV

Chanute Land Bank details first property donation

info2021-01-08T07:40:18-06:00January 8th, 2021|

A century-old house may showcase ways the Chanute Land Bank program can improve the city’s housing stock during 2021. The land bank committee met Wednesday and discussed the house at 909 N. Garfield that was the first property donation to the program. Chanute Regional Development Authority program director Kim Ewert said the land bank received the quit claim deed Monday, and they are in the process of clearing it out and cleaning it up. The one-bedroom, one-bath house will be secured and assessed, she said, and might be sold as is. Source: The Chanute Tribune

Barton County continues vaccine rollout

info2021-01-08T07:38:27-06:00January 8th, 2021|

In mid-December, Barton County hospitals received some of the first allocated doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and began administering them to health-care workers. This week, the Barton County Health Department set up a drive-through vaccination clinic at the Expo Complex west of Great Bend. Approximately 200 people received the vaccine Wednesday and Thursday, according to County Administrator Phil Hathcock. Most of those were administered Wednesday during the county’s biggest drive-through vaccination clinic to date. Hathcock said the county made phone calls to employers who had people in the state’s Phase One group for vaccine eligibility. “The Kansas Department of Health and [...]

Manhattan brought in more sales-tax revenue than expected during 2020

info2021-01-08T07:37:01-06:00January 8th, 2021|

The City of Manhattan brought in more revenue in 2020 than officials expected. Sales tax revenue for 2020 was down by about 2.6 percent from 2019, although officials thought sales-tax revenue would drop by 20 to 30 percent. Ron Fehr, Manhattan city manager, says this is partially due to a rise in online sales increasing local income from the Compensating Use Tax by 20 to 25 percent. “That didn’t necessarily help our local businesses,” Fehr said. “Some of them did switch to an online platform. Certainly, as folks were working from home and being home more and more reluctant to get [...]

Kansas moves people 65+ up in line for COVID-19 vaccinations

info2021-01-08T07:45:46-06:00January 8th, 2021|

Kansas expects to finish giving COVID-19 vaccines to long-term care residents and health care workers by the end of this month and has moved people aged 65 and older into the next group to receive the shots. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday announced new details about the order in which her state’s residents will be eligible for inoculations, and making people aged 65 to 74 years an earlier priority was the biggest shift. The state’s previous plan had that age group getting theirs after people in “congregate” living, such as state hospitals, shelters for the homeless, and prisons. Source: KAKE [...]

An 8-foot tall Bigfoot statue named Brian continues to occupy downtown Wichita

info2021-01-08T07:43:31-06:00January 8th, 2021|

There have been plenty of Bigfoot sightings in Wichita over the past few months, but conspiracy theorists have yet to flock to south central Kansas. More specifically, “Bigfoot Brian” made a home for himself in the window of the former Legacy Antiques building on the southwest corner of Douglas Avenue and Emporia Street since the beginning of the holiday season, and by popular demand will stay in residence until the end of January. “It exceeded everyone’s expectations and has just been wonderful,” said Emily Brookover, director of community development for Downtown Wichita. “It was a really great way to enjoy Brian [...]

Kansas stumbles on coronavirus vaccinations, leaving health officials confused and doses on shelves

info2021-01-07T08:12:25-06:00January 7th, 2021|

For starters, the COVID-19 vaccine doses intended for Ness County in west-central Kansas landed somewhere else. “That was my first clue we had a problem,” said Carolyn Gabel, the county’s public health administrator. Then someone from Dodge City called. Those vials bound for Ness City? They hadn’t been kept as cold as needed. They were no good anymore and needed replacing. Eventually, she had to drive to the next county to the west, pick up a different set of doses, put them in her cooler and dash back across 30-plus miles to her office. “Instead of having the vaccine before Christmas [...]

Douglas County Commission adopts new dock regulations for Lone Star Lake

info2021-01-07T08:12:07-06:00January 7th, 2021|

New private docks built on Lone Star Lake will now need to follow specific regulations aimed at preserving the lake and keeping the structures safe. The County Commission on Wednesday approved new regulations related to private structures built in Lone Star Lake Park, a county-owned park in southwest Douglas County. The regulations focus primarily on the boat docks and decks extended from the private properties onto the lake’s surface, but also apply to sidewalks, stairways and retaining walls built on the county’s property, Public Works Director Chad Voigt said. Source: LJWorld.com.