News – Page 1745 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Roeland Park sets 2025 deadline to reduce carbon emissions by 28%, approves solar-ready ordinance

info2020-05-21T09:55:34-05:00May 21st, 2020|

The Roeland Park city council Monday evening approved a resolution setting a 2025 goal to reduce the city’s carbon emissions by 28%, in addition to a solar-ready ordinance. Roeland Park’s 28% reduction goal and date complies with Paris Climate Agreement recommendations, and the city intends to achieve its goal by implementing suggested strategies from Dynamhex — the company tracking the city’s carbon emissions — and the Climate Action KC Playbook. Mayor Mike Kelly, Climate Action KC leader, said he appreciated the council’s unanimous approval of the resolution. “I’m excited for all the great co-benefits that will come with [lowering the city’s [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for May 20, 2020

info2020-05-21T09:47:13-05:00May 21st, 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.

Muni yields lure investors away from corporates

info2020-05-21T09:38:21-05:00May 20th, 2020|

The short end of the municipal yield curve was bumped seven or more basis points, but yields across the curve were lower by at least five basis points. New issues fared well, with large universities pricing deals into a market that rewarded them with 15 basis point bumps in repricings, even though many may not hold in-person courses in the fall. Municipal to U.S. Treasury ratios were attractive, especially on the short end, which drove secondary yields lower. How long investors can stomach yields below 30 basis points on the short end is yet to be determined. (Read more: The Bond [...]

Derby updates overarching list of priorities

info2020-05-21T09:39:02-05:00May 20th, 2020|

With the Derby City Council updating its list of priorities in January, city staff has taken on work to address those items. Mostly, though, that was put on hold because of COVID-19 before staff came before the council with a report at its most recent meeting on May 12. Fittingly, the pandemic has jumped to the top of the priorities list for the city – as response is expected to continue for at least two years, according to staff. How to maneuver through that situation becomes a top priority – whether that’s how to structure meetings, further adjusting city services, updating [...]

KU school of medicine students graduate early to help rural hospitals fight COVID

info2020-05-21T09:40:19-05:00May 20th, 2020|

A virtual graduation ceremony was held this past Sunday for the University of Kansas School of Medicine but for some newly minted doctors, they graduated a few weeks earlier to help out rural communities in the Sunflower State with their battle against Covid-19. Jesse Voth-Gaeddert is one of those early graduates. “This is, you know, why you go into medicine, because we want to be of service.” He and 20 of his fellow KU Med students took part in the Kansas pandemic workforce volunteer program. It was created in March to help the state’s Covid-19 response. Jesse and another student were [...]

What can you expect? Questions answered following move to ‘Phase 2’ in plan to reopen KS

info2020-05-21T09:40:55-05:00May 20th, 2020|

Friday (May 22) marks a move into a modified version of Phase Two in Kansas Governor Laura Kelly's plan to reopen the state's economy. This current, modified phase limits mass gatherings to 15 people, down from 30 in the prior version of Phase Two. In the current timeline of reopening the state, Phase Three could start as soon as June 8 with the state phasing out with many restrictions lifted as early as June 22. Currently under Phase Two, larger entertainment venues, bars, nightclubs, swimming pools and summer camps are among businesses not yet cleared to reopen. (Read more: KWCH News)

Kansas casinos to open Memorial Day weekend

info2020-05-21T09:40:41-05:00May 20th, 2020|

Most Kansas casinos will re-open Memorial Day weekend. The Boot Hill Casino and Kansas Crossing Casino will both reopen at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. respectively on Friday pending regulatory approval. The Kansas Star Casino will reopen Saturday (May 23). All guests there will have their temperatures taken when they enter. Some amenities, such as table games and poker room, will not be available. Guests are also encouraged to wear face coverings. “We have missed being your entertainment destination over the last several weeks, and we are excited to have the opportunity to host you again,” an announcement reads on the Kansas Star Casino's Facebook [...]

Annual rodeo a ‘go’ in Kiowa County

info2020-05-21T09:41:06-05:00May 20th, 2020|

The annual Memorial Day weekend rodeo, held each year in Greensburg, was given the go-ahead by the Kiowa County commissioners to proceed with plans for the 2020 event in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Commissioners Bert Lowery, John Bertram and Ron Freeman held a special meeting May 14 to hear discussion surrounding the Greensburg event slated for May 22 and 23 at the Triangle Rodeo Arena. Members of the Triangle Rodeo Club and Medicine River Rodeo Company presented a safety plan to the commissioners. (Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Legislature prepares for one-day marathon debate on taxes, executive power

info2020-05-21T09:41:37-05:00May 20th, 2020|

Members of the Kansas Legislature, with masks in hand and social distancing the rule, convene Thursday for the final day of the 2020 session with plans to usher through pandemic-inspired reforms on emergency oversight, taxation and budgeting. Details of the legislative packages were being crafted by House and Senate leadership Wednesday as Gov. Laura Kelly spent the day in Washington, D.C., for a scheduled meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House. She is to discuss response and recovery to the COVID-19 pandemic with an emphasis on rural economic challenges. Sudden departure of state legislators from the Capitol in mid-March [...]

Topeka council increases its oversight of high-dollar street projects

info2020-05-21T09:42:50-05:00May 20th, 2020|

Topeka’s mayor and city council late Tuesday gave themselves increased oversight of high-dollar street projects financed by a city-wide, half-cent sales tax. Before voting 10-0 to adopt a resolution approving the city’s 2021-2023 capital improvement budget and 2021-30 capital improvement plan, the mayor and council voted 10-0 to adopt an amendment to that resolution proposed by Councilman Neil Dobler. That amendment takes steps that include requiring council approval for all street project budgets of $250,000 or more for work financed totally or in part by revenue from the citywide, half-cent sales tax. (Read more: Local - The Topeka Capital-Journal)