News – Page 1850 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

10-year muni yield falls below 1%

info2020-02-26T06:53:20-06:00February 26th, 2020|

Fears about the COVID-19 virus continued to run rampant Tuesday, causing investors to resume selling off equities, resulting in municipal bond yields following Treasury yields down to all-time lows once again. Muni were firm with a flattening bias along the yield curve following Monday’s price gains, according to Michael Pietronico, chief executive officer of Miller Tabak Asset Management. The gains “seemed to slow down the interest in the market today from participants who seem concerned with the low overall level of rates,” he said. “We believe we are close to the bottom in yields and as such are more biased to [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for February 25, 2020

info2020-04-16T08:06:35-05:00February 26th, 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.

Topeka aids homeless camp residents who are to be evicted

info2020-02-26T06:53:31-06:00February 25th, 2020|

Topeka’s city government is helping residents of a North Topeka homeless camp prepare for their impending eviction, city manager Brent Trout said Tuesday. The city’s Homeless Task Force and the Topeka/Shawnee County Crisis Intervention Team are helping the camp’s residents understand what is going to happen and what their options are, Trout said during the monthly news conference he holds with Mayor Michelle De La Isla. “This won’t come as a surprise to them when it happens,” Trout said. “They’re going to be fully aware of what’s coming and the need for them to make a decision on where they’re going [...]

Salina terminates curbside recycle program

info2020-02-25T16:56:14-06:00February 25th, 2020|

The city’s subscription curbside recycling will end on March 31 after Salina begins restructuring the fee schedule of and upgrading the sanitation collection system. After much discussion, the Salina City Commission agreed the current system was not sustainable or cost effective with the upcoming collection system and terminated the service by a vote of 4-1. The commission also voted to approve the purchase of new automated collection trucks which city staff said would impact the ability to continue the subscription service. (Read more: News - Salina Journal)

Will there be a new government center in downtown Wichita, or are costs too high?

info2020-02-25T16:55:36-06:00February 25th, 2020|

Sedgwick County commissioners got their first look at a $45-$50 million plan to create a new government center and came away with sticker shock. The proposal unveiled Tuesday is the latest in a years-long saga as the county tries to deal with the need for more governmental office space to free up space in the courthouse for courts. The plan envisions a five-level building — four stories plus basement — that would be adjacent to and connected with the existing courthouse. The proposal is to clear space by tearing down part of an existing courthouse annex building just to the north [...]

Topeka Mayor calls upon community to support its children

info2020-02-26T06:49:07-06:00February 25th, 2020|

In the wake of recent attacks on youngsters that were caught on video, Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla asked Tuesday that the people of this community proactively support its children. “I’m calling all of us in our community, take a look at the children that we have around us, and let’s figure out a way that we can all support these kids and maybe these parents that may be working two or three jobs, or maybe the situation becomes that they don’t have a parent in the home to give them the example that they need to make the proper [...]

Kansas Suicide Rates Are Climbing, Especially In The State’s Most Rural Areas

info2020-02-25T16:41:14-06:00February 25th, 2020|

The number of suicides in northwest Kansas increased by more than half in recent years. Twenty counties in the region saw suicides climb by 57% from 2014 through 2018. That jump comes in a part of the state where people already die by suicide at a higher rate than in the rest of Kansas. In Kansas “frontier” counties — places with fewer than six people per square mile — about 26 people a year out of every 100,000 die by suicide. Statewide, Kansas sees fewer than 18 suicides per 100,000 people, according to a report by the Kansas Health Institute And overall, Kansas [...]

Cellphone app to be available in Shawnee County to keep children safe

info2020-02-26T06:50:05-06:00February 25th, 2020|

Keeping children safe is the purpose of a cellphone application that the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office is arranging to have made available here. Shawnee County Commissioners Bill Riphahn, Kevin Cook and Aaron Mays voted 3-0 Monday to acknowledge Sheriff Brian Hill had notified them that his office was paying $500 to Covington, La.-based OffenderWatch to provide “Virtual Safe Neighborhood” services in Shawnee County. The Virtual Safe Neighborhood program will enable Shawnee County citizens to buy a smartphone application that will allow parents to know if a registered offender attempts to contact their child, Hill told commissioners last week in a memorandum. [...]

Pott. County Commission discusses potential Manhattan sales tax; receives flu update

info2020-02-26T06:51:15-06:00February 25th, 2020|

Pottawatomie County Commissioner Pat Weixelman commented on Manhattan City Commission discussions about taking on a city-wide sales tax during a meeting Monday. If the city-sales tax were to become a reality, the Manhattan City Commission may no longer require the Riley County Commission’s approval before pursuing economic development projects on the Pottawatomie County side of the city.Weixelman says if this were to happen, the Pottawatomie County Commission should pursue an agreement where their approval is required for these types of projects. (Read more: 1350 KMAN)

Company says they’re ready to invest $1.5 billion in Wichita Riverfront, including Kansas’ first skyscraper

info2020-02-26T06:51:36-06:00February 25th, 2020|

$1.5 billion in a proposed development in downtown Wichita… That's the incredible amount of construction and growth a company is vowing to bring here, including a 40+ story hotel. So is it realistic? Or just pie in the sky? Just for some perspective, the Epic Center is currently the tallest building in Kansas, standing 320 feet and 22 stories tall. The proposed hotel would nearly double that. But that's not the only thing the plan includes. A company called Penumbra International LLC announced its plans to invest $1.5 billion in Wichita's Riverfront. (Read more: KAKE - News)