News – Page 1822 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

AG Derek Schmidt: New guidance now available to keep meetings open to the public during COVID-19 ‘social distancing’ limitations

info2020-03-23T09:08:14-05:00March 23rd, 2020|

The attorney general’s office has proposed formal rules for state and local governments to ensure their meetings remain open to the public during ‘social distancing’ emergency restrictions on gathering in person, Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced today. “During a time of declared emergency when lives are disrupted, many people are apprehensive, and rumors can run rampant, the importance of ensuring openness and transparency in the government decision-making process is even greater than usual,” Schmidt said. “An important way for public bodies to provide reassurance is to go the extra mile to ensure their actions are transparent during the time of emergency. [...]

Kansas small businesses eligible for disaster loans from the Small Business Administration

info2020-03-23T09:07:35-05:00March 23rd, 2020|

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that the U.S. Small Business Administration approved her request to make loans of up to $2 million available to small businesses disrupted by coronavirus. The disaster declaration extends to all 105 Kansas counties, making low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital available for Kansas small businesses suffering substantial economic injury. “The COVID-19 outbreak and the uncertainty around its spread has had, and continues to have, a significant impact on Kansas businesses,” Governor Kelly said. “I’m grateful for the combined efforts of businesses, the Department of Commerce and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management to quickly pull [...]

Officials ban gatherings of 10 or more in Reno County

info2020-03-23T09:06:12-05:00March 23rd, 2020|

The director of the Reno County Health Department has issued an official order banning all gatherings of 10 or more people within the county, effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday. There are exemptions to the order that allow businesses to stay open, but it requires they establish distances to allow at least 6 feet of social distancing. The order also mandates anyone traveling to Johnson or Wyandotte counties in Kansas or Jackson County in Missouri, or the Kansas City area, go into a mandatory 14-day quarantine. (Read more: Local - The Hutchinson News)

Muni market wrestles with COVID-19 disclosure

info2020-03-23T09:12:09-05:00March 23rd, 2020|

Regulatory relief may not be in sight for issuers as they grapple with how to deal with late filings because of the pandemic. Ahmed Abonamah, deputy director of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Municipal Securities discussed his views on disclosure and COVID-19 during a Thursday webinar hosted by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. Participants asked if the SEC would provide regulatory relief for late financial filings because of the difficulty to access materials since many people have begun working remotely. Abonamah noted that disclosures issuers make pursuant to their continuing disclosure agreements are governed by contractual obligations between the [...]

Moody’s says COVID-19 makes muni marketplace a riskier place

info2020-03-23T09:11:38-05:00March 23rd, 2020|

While munis are holding up better than most asset classes amid the COVID-19 crisis, don't be surprised to see a few defaults along the way, says Dan White, head of fiscal policy research at Moody’s Analytics. “Aside from the immediate increase in demand for many government services during this national emergency, the most visible impact to most municipal issuers will come via lower revenues,” White said in a report released Friday. “If the downturn increases in magnitude or duration, expect the impact on the muni market to be much more severe.” He said that when the COVID-19 crisis is finally over, [...]

Coronavirus hits rural Kansas, Missouri towns. Many don’t have a single hospital bed

info2020-03-23T09:11:05-05:00March 23rd, 2020|

The first novel coronavirus case in Jackson County, Kansas, about 30 miles north of Topeka, was confirmed Thursday. Though the news came with few details about the patient or how the person contracted it, one thing was certain: Coronavirus has arrived in rural Kansas, which has been depleted of the crucial resources that will be needed if the outbreak spirals. After decades of declining population, many parts of Kansas and Missouri are left with few or no hospitals to treat patients suffering from COVID-19. (Read more: KC Star Local News)

AG offers “open meeting” guidance during coronavirus

info2020-03-23T09:02:24-05:00March 22nd, 2020|

The attorney general’s office proposed formal rules for state and local governments to ensure their meetings remain open to the public during ‘social distancing’ emergency restrictions on gathering in person, Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced today. The new regulation for complying with the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) during an emergency includes: If the members of the public body are not physically gathered in one place – for example, if the meeting is conducted by telephone or videoconferencing – then members of the public must be able to join in the electronic conferencing in order to listen to or observe. ... [...]

Kansas liquor stores and bars can now sell curbside amid COVID-19 concerns

info2020-03-20T09:12:16-05:00March 20th, 2020|

Liquor stores and drinking establishments across Kansas are being permitted to sell curbside as the state fights the spread of coronavirus. State Alcoholic Beverage Control Director Debbi Beavers said in a news release that many in the industry have expressed concern about the virus and its effect on businesses, including potential closures due to social distancing requirements. Beavers said that during the duration of this temporary policy only, "the payment and the delivery of the alcoholic liquor may occur on or off of the licensed premises" and are subject to specific guidelines. (Read more: KAKE - News)

Kansas National Guard plans delivery of supplies; 35 residents have tested positive

info2020-03-20T08:48:24-05:00March 20th, 2020|

Members of the Kansas National Guard are busy planning the distribution of medical supplies recently received from the Strategic National Stockpile and other logistics for aiding in the campaign against COVID-19. They aren’t contemplating martial law, quarantine enforcement or other draconian measures outside “the realm of possibility,” said Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the state’s adjutant general. “There’s all kinds of social media saying the National Guard is taking over, they’re on the streets, they’re going to do this or that,” Tafanelli said. In reality, he said, the Guard is working to relieve pressure on local communities in the same way they [...]

Bond-Market Strains Keep Traders on Edge

info2020-03-20T08:45:17-05:00March 20th, 2020|

The global scramble for cash is putting immense pressure on bond markets, raising concern about whether they are functioning well enough to effectively distribute funds to communities and businesses. In recent days, long-term Treasury securities have suffered significant price declines alongside large stock-market retreats, an unusual dual downturn that has raised alarm among traders. A stampede into dollars is pushing up the U.S. currency’s value overseas, adding to repayment woes for companies and governments that borrowed in dollars. In the U.S., corporate issuance has been largely off limits to all but the bluest chips. State and local governments are facing sticker [...]