News

New state law will require Lawrence City Commission to change how it handles public comments in its live streams

2025-04-10T07:27:06-05:00April 10th, 2025|

The new law updates the Kansas Open Records Act and Kansas Open Meetings Act, and a provision in it says that any governing body or agency that “elects to live stream their meeting on television, the internet or any other medium shall ensure that all aspects of the open meeting are available through the selected medium for the public to observe.” That would affect the Lawrence City Commission, which currently does not include all parts of its meetings in its live broadcasts on YouTube. Source: LJWorld

Municipal Bond Trends for April 8, 2025

2025-04-09T09:24:05-05:00April 9th, 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.

The Stock Market Is in Chaos. Why Are Treasury Yields Above 4%?

2025-04-09T08:19:57-05:00April 9th, 2025|

The stock market has been the acute point of stress for investors the past week. But the bond market hasn’t given them much of a break either. On Tuesday, as the S&P 500 tumbled for a fourth straight day, prices of long-term U.S. Treasury debt fell, too. That drove their yields, which move in an inverse relationship to prices, higher. It was especially confounding because long-term Treasury prices in preceding days hadn’t gained as much as they normally would in the face of a steep-stock market selloff. So much for government debt being a haven at a time of upheaval. The [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for April 7, 2025

2025-04-08T10:08:40-05:00April 8th, 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.

Farmers work to protect Wichita’s water

2025-04-08T09:52:31-05:00April 8th, 2025|

Last week, Wichita city leaders extended an agreement with the McPherson County Conservation District. The agreement is meant to work with farmers to reduce levels of atrazine in the Little Arkansas River, keeping those chemicals from being recharged into the Equus Beds Aquifer.... "That we pay farmers $100 an acre when they plant cropland back to grass," Howard Miller, a leader for the Cheney Lake Watershed, said. Source: KSN-TV

New partnership may help solve crimes faster in Goodland

2025-04-08T09:51:56-05:00April 8th, 2025|

A new partnership between Fort Hays Tech Northwest and the Goodland Police Department may help speed up investigations for the department. ... The school says the agreement will establish a fully functioning fingerprint lab at the Goodland Police Department. Source: KSN-TV

Wichita family raises backyard chickens as egg prices soar

2025-04-08T09:51:08-05:00April 8th, 2025|

The Villalobos family has been raising chickens in their backyard for five years. "So, at the start of COVID, we got chickens. We decided to hedge against some security. As everything started locking down, we wanted the kids to have something to do for fun, and it also gave us eggs," Jeremy Villalobos said. Source: KSN-TV

Saline County takes its hits to the people with successes of past year

2025-04-08T07:27:54-05:00April 8th, 2025|

In celebration of April being National County Government Month, Saline County is reflecting on successes it's had over the past 12 months. County administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes is going around the community to present the "greatest hits of Saline County." Melissa McCoy, the county's public information officer, asked him to compile a list of hits, and rather than take up a lot of precious time and going through an entire Top 40, he narrowed things down a bit. Source: Salina Journal

Municipal Bond Trends for April 4, 2025

2025-04-07T09:37:04-05:00April 7th, 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.

Kelly signs seven ‘government efficiency’ bills, bringing total to 29

2025-04-07T09:25:14-05:00April 7th, 2025|

Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday signed seven more bills, bringing to 29 the number of pieces of legislation that she has signed into law this year. So far, she has vetoed four bills, including two on Monday. She has been overridden twice so far, with the Legislature scheduled to return April 10 for more veto override votes. She has allowed three bills to become law without her signature. Source: Sunflower State Journal

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