News – Page 1774 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

City of Russell Extends Utility Disconnection Moratorium to May 31, 2020

info2020-04-29T13:54:39-05:00April 29th, 2020|

The City of Russell suspended utility disconnects for non-payment until May 1, 2020, as customers and the community faced potential hardship from coronavirus. With the uncertainty of the coronavirus and the financial difficulties some customers may face during this time, the suspension of utility disconnects for non-payment is extended to May 31, 2020. This temporary moratorium ensures that the City of Russell’s utility customers will not be disconnected for non-payment.

Municipal Bond Trends for April 28, 2020

info2020-04-29T07:44:39-05:00April 29th, 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.

JoCo Recovery Planning Task Force approves four-phase approach to reopening local economy

info2020-04-29T07:42:31-05:00April 29th, 2020|

The special committee on reopening Johnson County ended its work Tuesday with a fanfare of self doubt about whether people will follow its recommendations but few major changes to the rough draft on how business should phase back in from the stay-at-home order in place since March 24. The 14-member committee ended an hour-and-a-half session in a somewhat contentious disagreement over what authority government should have in policing business during a major public health crisis, with members saying the rules were either too vague or too restrictive. It was the end of about fifteen hours of discussion over the course of [...]

Jim Schmidt was trailblazer in Kansas emergency management

info2020-04-29T07:41:29-05:00April 29th, 2020|

Mr. Schmidt, 71, who as a Rose Hill paramedic was one of the first to arrive at the devastation in Andover left behind by a massive tornado on April 26, 1991, is being remembered as a trailblazer in Kansas emergency management. He died of cancer on April 14. Services are pending. Mr. Schmidt earned a reputation as a “magnet” for his knack of being close to major events when they happened, and he was on the ground floor of many milestones in Wichita-area emergency services. (Read more: Local News |)

Economic developers pitch Elon Musk on Wichita area for Tesla Cybertruck Gigafactory

info2020-04-29T07:40:54-05:00April 29th, 2020|

Economic developers and business recruiters in Kansas are pitching billionaire businessman Elon Musk on locating Tesla’s new Cybertruck Gigafactory in the Wichita area. The Greater Wichita Partnership tagged Tesla and Musk, the company’s CEO, in a tweet on Monday marketing the Wichita area for the electric pickup factory. Musk had announced in a tweet last month that he was scouting locations for the Cybertruck Gigafactory, which he said will be in the central United States. “The most geocentric metro in the nation, 800-acre site with access to two Class I railways and the #1 manufacturing-skilled workforce in the nation. A @Tesla [...]

Reno County discusses taskforce’s reopening draft

info2020-04-29T07:40:20-05:00April 29th, 2020|

On Tuesday, the Reno County Commission read over an initial draft of the local plan for a phased reopening of the county. The Economic Recovery Taskforce and the commission will approve a final draft of the plan in coming days. Gov. Laura Kelly’s stay-at-home order expires May 3 with no plans to renew, so the county is approaching how to reopen businesses safely during the novel coronavirus pandemic starting Monday. (Read more: Local - The Hutchinson News)

Dodge City meatpacking plants beef up protocols; Ford County maintains high recovery rate

info2020-04-29T07:39:40-05:00April 29th, 2020|

With two national meatpacking plants in the county’s jurisdiction, Ford County is increasing its testing and the plants are beefing up COVID-19 protocols. The numbers for Ford County have increased to 544 individuals who have had or still have the coronavirus as of April 28. This amounts to 1.6% of the county’s population. But, according to J.D. Gilbert, a spokesman for the county, 90% of those infected have recovered. No deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in Ford County. Statewide, the deaths from the virus are at 124, or four deaths per 100,000 individuals. (Read more: Local - The Hutchinson News)

Bourbon County delays county tax sale

info2020-04-29T07:33:07-05:00April 29th, 2020|

Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday decided the time is not right following the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak to hold a tax sale in 2020. Commissioners were to discuss opening bids for title work for a tax sale sometime this year, but elected to delay a tax sale after talking with Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks. The meeting took place in the emergency operations center in the basement of the Bourbon County Courthouse, and was open to the public through the county’s website and Facebook page. (Read more: Fort Scott Tribune)

The $3.8 trillion municipal bond market, rocked by the coronavirus, looks to Washington for help

info2020-04-29T07:33:39-05:00April 28th, 2020|

The $3.8 trillion market for funding state and local governments, airports, schools and hospitals faces a test this week as New York City's transit agency offers bonds to the market for the first time since the coronavirus emptied its subways, trains and buses. Investing in the roughly $900 million offering from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will be a leap of faith on the part of investors who will will have to imagine a healthier, post-shutdown New York economy, where commuters return to work, students go back to school and tourists come to see Broadway shows again. That's the same story for [...]

With rates near zero, what to expect from Fed meeting

info2020-04-29T07:35:06-05:00April 28th, 2020|

The Federal Open Market Committee meeting that began Wednesday, and concludes with a statement and a press conference from Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell, will be unique because rates remain at the zero lower bound and the Fed has taken many actions to ensure smooth markets since the economic shutdown to contain the coronavirus. ...Tom Garretson, senior portfolio strategist fixed-income strategies for RBC Wealth Management’s Portfolio Advisory Group ... expects the Fed to announce “a more-flexible monthly purchase program [for Treasuries] north of $100 billion. While we expect the composition of Treasury purchases to eventually shift toward longer-duration as part [...]