News – Page 1719 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Defund police? Here’s how much Kansas City area spends as debate rages across U.S.

info2020-06-15T07:49:43-05:00June 15th, 2020|

Erase the thin blue line. Dissolve local police forces and create something new to enforce the laws and help people in a more humane, cost-effective and less violent way. That’s the demand from some across the country in the wake of the Memorial Day police killing of George Floyd. The Minneapolis City Council plans on doing just that. The death of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, not only sparked worldwide protests of police brutality, but also rekindled a movement that’s been smoldering since racial unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, six years ago stirred calls for radical reform of law enforcement. (Read more: [...]

Sedgwick County commissioners looking at policy for townships

info2020-06-15T07:49:55-05:00June 15th, 2020|

After hearing complaints and concerns about some rural road conditions in southern Sedgwick County, there are discussions on a policy that would allow the county to step in and resolve problems and issues inside townships. County commissioner Jim Howell says there are some cases where townships have been unable to keep the roads passable. He and other commissioners are looking at a policy that would be in line with state statutes, where the county would fix a problem road and then bill the township for the costs. Howell said “Overall, I think townships do great work, but there are some times [...]

Sedgwick County extends partnership for proposed Northwest K-96 Bypass

info2020-06-15T07:50:58-05:00June 15th, 2020|

Sedgwick County commissioners have agreed to extend a partnership with the Kansas Department of Transportation for a proposed future highway project. The county has been buying right-of-way for a proposed Northwest Bypass that would connect K-96 near Maize with Highway 54 near Goddard. The partnership will be extended another five years, starting in 2021. The county has budgeted $1 million for right-of-way purchases in 2021 and the state has agreed to match that. The county has been buying right-of-way since 2006. Commissioner David Dennis said about one third of the needed property has been purchased. He said the project represents a huge [...]

Tax-backed Sports Complex In Garden City Is On Hold Over Developers’ Lawsuit

info2020-06-15T07:59:09-05:00June 14th, 2020|

A legal dispute between two business partners has stalled the construction of a sports complex partially funded by $25.4 million in sales tax money. That fight over finances, and the pending lawsuit it spawned, could jeopardize the completion of Sports of the World. The project is financed by Kansas Sales Tax Revenue Bonds, or STAR bonds, and championed as a regional tourist draw for western Kansas. “It’s currently on hold pending the kind of resolution of some litigation between the two ... partners that are involved in the Sports of the World project,” said Bob North, the chief counsel for the [...]

Local communities nominated for Space Command headquarters

info2020-06-15T07:55:20-05:00June 14th, 2020|

Communities in Leavenworth County are being nominated in the search for the headquarters of the new U.S. Space Command. “We all know it’s a long shot,” Steve Jack said. Jack, the executive director of the Leavenworth County Development Corporation, spoke Thursday during a meeting of the LCDC Board of Directors. Despite being a long shot, Jack said it does not hurt to get the name of local communities in front of developers or the federal government. (Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Kansas launches statewide COVID-19 testing strategy with goal of testing 60,000 per month through December

info2020-06-12T08:26:20-05:00June 12th, 2020|

Three months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of Kansas has finally secured the necessary infrastructure and testing supplies to launch a statewide strategy to test at least 60,000 Kansans — or 2% of the state population — for the respiratory virus per month over the next six months, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday. The strategy will focus on more rapid deployment of testing in areas with higher concentrations of the virus, a closer monitoring of the state’s testing supplies, and the use of four types of testing facilities to distribute COVID-19 tests: KDHE labs, mobile labs, commercial labs, and local [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for June 11, 2020

info2020-06-12T08:23:32-05:00June 12th, 2020|

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.

Revenue losses coming into focus for cities, states, transit systems

info2020-06-12T08:22:32-05:00June 12th, 2020|

State and local governments that rely on sales tax to maintain services are beginning to get a clearer picture of how deeply they must cut after the two worst months of revenue losses in 2020. "As the coronavirus outbreak slows the national economy, local governments that depend on income and sales taxes are seeing immediate revenue losses," said Moody's Investors Service analyst Frank Mamo. "Cash will be critical in managing budget gaps over the next year, while localities with weak reserves will likely need to cut their budgets or rely on external support." Kroll Bond Ratings Agency anticipates losses of $690 [...]

Shawnee County won’t require masks of farmers market vendors

info2020-06-12T08:21:50-05:00June 12th, 2020|

Shawnee County officials will no longer require masks at the Downtown Topeka Farmers Market. ... More than a dozen farmers market vendors attended the Thursday-morning meeting, and by a show of hands, most of those present indicated they were pleased with the amendment. “It became pretty obvious that outdoor venues should be treated differently than indoor venues,” said commissioner Mays. (Read more: Local - The Topeka Capital-Journal)

Washburn’s fall semester to be mix of in-person classes, remote learning

info2020-06-12T08:20:54-05:00June 12th, 2020|

Washburn University’s fall semester will look slightly different as students will spend the first half taking in-person classes and transition into a remote format in November. Washburn’s director of public relations Patrick Early said in a news release Thursday the fall semester will begin August 15. However, the schedule has been adjusted in preparation for a potential second wave of the coronavirus, Early said. Washburn’s fall break, originally planned to take place October 10-13, has been moved to November 21-24. (Read more: Local - The Topeka Capital-Journal)