News

Municipal Bond Trends for December 13, 2024

2024-12-16T10:10:21-06:00December 16th, 2024|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

New El Dorado aquatic center planning underway

2024-12-16T08:41:02-06:00December 16th, 2024|

At Wednesday evening’s work session on December 11, the El Dorado Aquatic Center Committee met with the El Dorado City Commission to discuss intentions and plans for the future aquatic center. It was mentioned during the September 16 City Commission meeting by Jeremy Sundgren and Patrick Todd during public comment that El Dorado needed a new public pool. During the Commission comment period, it was motioned to appoint Kelly Tetrick to form a committee with private citizens and work towards plans for what the pool and facility would look like. Source: Andover American

Rose Hill Police Stuff the Squad Car

2024-12-16T08:39:31-06:00December 16th, 2024|

The Rose Hill Police Department hosted a donation drive on December 7 to stuff a squad car as their 19th annual holiday event. The crew collected donations at the local Dollar General from 10am-2pm that included food, toys and cash or check. The cash received, which totaled $991, was used to purchase extra food and toys before dropping off all donations. Detective Melissa Tharp said the food and toys were halved between the local food pantry at Hope Connections located at the Rose Hill United Methodist Church and Sunlight Children’s Home in Andover. The agency is still collecting donations until December [...]

City of Emporia provides updates on response to Tyson Plant and Holiday Resort closures

2024-12-16T08:37:54-06:00December 16th, 2024|

The City of Emporia has provided several updates concerning efforts to assist displaced workers in finding new employment and receiving financial assistance following the announcements of the Tyson Plant and Holiday Resort closure last week. The two closures - one expected in February and the other expected within 30 days - will result in potentially over 900 job losses in the Emporia community. Source: Emporia Gazette

This JoCo city is moving to a single trash hauler. What happens next?

2024-12-16T08:36:14-06:00December 16th, 2024|

The city of Merriam is seeking a single citywide waste hauler. On Monday, the Merriam City Council unanimously approved an organized collection plan that outlines a request for proposals — a formal call for bids — for a contracted single waste hauler to serve the entire city. This comes after months of discussions, including three separate single waste hauler committee meetings, exploring what options are available for a citywide waste hauler. “We don’t know how much it’s going to cost, we don’t know who the hauler is going to be, and we won’t know that until we get those bids back,” [...]

Westwood voters will weigh in on controversial park sale, settling months-long dispute

2024-12-16T08:34:37-06:00December 16th, 2024|

Residents of Westwood will vote this spring on the sale of a city park as part of a controversial commercial development project, a win for citizens who had pushed for the effort to get voter approval through a petition and a months-long legal battle. Westwood City Council members voted Thursday to put the question of whether the city would sell Joe D. Dennis Park before the public on the April 1 ballot. The election will take place by mail, city officials said. Source: KC Star Local News

Western Kansas farmers are wrestling with how to save their water source — and their future

2024-12-16T08:33:25-06:00December 16th, 2024|

State lawmakers want farmers in western Kansas to take action by 2026 to halt declines in the Ogallala aquifer. But the region’s whole agriculture system is built to produce irrigated grain at a high volume. The state is asking them to slow the decline of the source of this hidden water – the Ogallala aquifer, which supports most of the economy and towns in western Kansas. The region relies on irrigation for agriculture, but after 70 years of pumping, that water source is starting to come up dry, causing concern. It’s been an ongoing debate over how this area will approach [...]

Wichita finds about 6,000 water lines that will need to replaced under new federal lead pipe rules

2024-12-16T08:30:51-06:00December 16th, 2024|

The city of Wichita has alerted about 6,000 water customers that their pipes could be at higher risk for lead contamination and will need to be replaced under the federal government’s new lead pipe rules. The new rules, laid out by the Biden-Harris administration in October, require drinking water systems to identify and replace lead and some galvanized steel service lines between 2027 and 2037. Exposure to lead can harm children’s growth and development. Wichita completed an inventory of its water service lines in October, finding 16 lead pipes and 5,958 galvanized pipes that require replacement. Galvanized pipes are iron or [...]

Kansas does not have a dental school. How that could soon change

2024-12-16T08:29:45-06:00December 16th, 2024|

In Kansas, over 70 counties are considered by the federal government to be a dental desert. It’s been a serious issue for decades. Dr. Gregory Hand, Wichita State University’s president and the dean of health professions, says the problem goes beyond dentistry. “We do have dentists that are here that are getting extra training, but in terms of having a dental school where students from colleges come in and train and get licensed as dentists, Kansas does not have that,” said Dr. Hand. That’s why WSU asked the Kansas Board of Regents for permission to ask the state for $5 million. [...]

‘It’s very emotional’: Shawnee County neighbors confront local leaders over plan to build new duplexes

2024-12-16T08:28:25-06:00December 16th, 2024|

A group of neighbors and farmers in Shawnee County took a stand against the local government in a failed bid to keep an area of farmland from turning into new housing. Developers are looking to transform plots of land near Soldier Township into duplexes and new housing for locals in the Seaman School District. The move is not sitting well with some area residents who aired their frustrations at the Thursday, Dec. 12 Shawnee County Commission meeting. Source: KSNT 27 News

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