News – Page 1868 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Discussion held on future of downtown Chanute

info2020-02-07T06:39:34-06:00February 7th, 2020|

Community leaders met for round-table discussions Wednesday evening on the future of downtown . About 30 to 35 people attended the 2 1/2-hour meeting in the Alliance Room of the Memorial Building that was organized by Main Street Chanute. Main Street Director Ruthann Boatwright said Thursday morning she was very happy with the turnout, which included a good cross-mix of building owners, business owners and interested residents. “I couldn’t have been more pleased,” she said, noting that the turnout was what she had been hoping for. (Read more: www.chanute.com)

Firefighters conduct mitigation burns to help prevent wildfires in Reno County

info2020-02-07T06:38:21-06:00February 7th, 2020|

Firefighters brought out the torches north of Hutchinson this morning. They're using fire to help prevent wildfires. "We're out here doing some mitigation work," said Hutchinson Fire Division Chief of Operations, Doug Hanen. The Hutchinson Fire Department, Kansas Forest Service, and Reno County Emergency Management worked together on small controlled burns along 82nd Avenue and Plum Street Thursday afternoon. (Read more: KAKE - News)

Municipal Bond Trends for February 6, 2020

info2020-04-16T08:06:41-05:00February 7th, 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 Advisors.

Prairie Village becomes latest to drop pit bull ban. KC area has some holdouts

info2020-02-07T06:26:35-06:00February 6th, 2020|

Prairie Village has joined a growing list of cities across the Kansas City metro that have repealed bans on pit bulls. This week, the City Council voted 9-2 to end the prohibition on the breed — a move the Council tried and failed to accomplish in 2016. Prairie Village follows the lead of nearby cities, including Shawnee, Roeland Park and Fairway. Kansas City, Kansas, and Liberty both removed their ordinances this past year. Now, only a few cities in the area have maintained their bans, including Overland Park and Independence. (Read more: Joco 913 News)

Johnson County says Chiefs Super Bowl parade shuttle service was ‘overwhelming success’

info2020-02-06T18:26:53-06:00February 6th, 2020|

The shuttle bus system set up to get Johnson Countians to the Chiefs parade was an “overwhelming success,” with around 20,000 people moved Wednesday, said Josh Powers, business liaison for the county. The system went off without a hitch, Powers told the county commission this morning, adding that there were no failures or incidents while it was in place at Oak Park Mall parking lot. The longest wait to get on a bus was 40 minutes at the peak busiest time, Powers said, but the average was closer to 20 minutes. The 70 buses in operation made around 300 round trips. [...]

Valley Heights board chooses Kennedy as superintendent

info2020-02-07T06:27:25-06:00February 6th, 2020|

Valley Heights USD 498 has selected Melissa Kennedy as new superintendent to replace John Bergkamp, who will retire on July 1. Kennedy is currently grade school principal in the Buhler school district. Valley Heights’ school district issued a news release that said Kennedy’s broad educational experience as a teacher, curriculum director and principal appealed to the school board. (Read more: The Marysville Advocate)

Pratt to build regional fire training facility

info2020-02-07T06:28:59-06:00February 6th, 2020|

Pratt City Fire Department Chief David Kramer’s vision to build a regional fire training facility in Pratt moved from the drawing board to an action plan when Pratt city commissioners on Monday unanimously approved $13,360 for the purchase of four storage containers that will be delivered from Kansas City. “Our firefighters really enjoy the training,” Kramer said. “It is a critical aspect of the job, and we want to be able to attract regional departments who would like to train as well.” (Read more: News - The Hutchinson News)

Florence brings back standards board

info2020-02-06T16:26:36-06:00February 6th, 2020|

Florence city council reestablished a standards board Monday to combat nuisance vehicles and houses, with councilman Mary Shipman serving as the city’s representative. The board will include Shipman, resident Darla Spencer, who was the driving force, and two additional community members. “Whatever we decide we’re going to do to get this town cleaned up, we’re backed by everything,” Spencer said. “Once we get the standards board enacted, the team I put together is ready to start.” (Read more: Marion County RECORD)

Muni Bonds Go Wild. Could 1% 10-Year Yields Be Far Behind?

info2020-02-06T08:22:21-06:00February 6th, 2020|

The $3.8 trillion U.S. municipal bond market, sometimes called a sleepy asset class, has been partying awfully hard lately. Consider that investors poured $1.8 billion into muni mutual funds in the week through Jan. 29, the 56th consecutive week of inflows, according to Refinitiv Lipper US Fund Flows data. Then, on Jan. 31, the biggest high-yield muni exchange-traded fund, the VanEck Vectors High-Yield Municipal Index ETF, drew in $150.2 million, the largest one-day increase in assets since inception in 2009. The amount of state and local debt on the books of Wall Street banks has dwindled to the least since late [...]

A look back at the Great Kansas Bond Scandal of 1933

info2020-02-06T06:41:48-06:00February 6th, 2020|

Kansas Gov. Alf Landon called out two officers of the Kansas National Guard in 1933 to protect the treasury at the Kansas Statehouse as authorities investigated a scandal involving the forgery of $1.25 million in municipal bonds....the Great Kansas Bond Scandal, which came about in the midst of the Great Depression after bank examiners questioned the authenticity of bonds held as collateral by a bank in Topeka. Investigators concluded State Treasurer T.B. “Tom” Boyd had given access to the treasury vaults to 34-year-old Ronald Finney, the son of wealthy Emporia banker W.W. “Warren” Finney, who was also part of the scheme. [...]