News – Page 25 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Edwardsville needs new city buildings. Why officials say added tax won’t burden residents

info2024-10-21T09:35:03-05:00October 21st, 2024|

About 10 years ago, the city of Edwardsville bought its police station for $1. Meant as a temporary solution, the station has seen investments over the years well beyond that face value. Now, the building — more accurately a series of trailers bolted together, standing on cinder blocks about 200 feet from City Hall — is one of three major pieces of public infrastructure that Edwardsville officials hope to rebuild. And they’re asking residents to establish a 1% local sales tax to pay for it. “It’s not an initiative of want. The bottom line here is that the conditions within these [...]

Emerald Ash borer continues to spread in Kansas

info2024-10-21T09:33:04-05:00October 21st, 2024|

The emerald ash borer continues to spread in Kansas. The pest, which has already killed hundreds of millions of Ash trees across the U.S. and Canada, has now spread to 15 Kansas counties. The latest sighting was confirmed this week in Nemaha County by the Kansas Forest Service, working with the Kansas Department of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension Office. The emerald ash borer had been suspected to be in the county for some time. However, according to Kansas State, this is the first time a live insect was found to definitely confirm it. This is the second county with [...]

McPherson’s Pfizer plant lays off 80 people

info2024-10-21T09:31:52-05:00October 21st, 2024|

The Pfizer plant in McPherson laid off 80 people, KSN News confirmed on Thursday. Those impacted included professional/salaried employees, and production was not impacted. Tucky Allen, Kansas WorkforceONE, says there will be a meeting next week for those impacted. The statement explains the layoffs are based on projected product demands. They are being carried out as Pfizer makes operations more efficient at the McPherson plant. The McPherson plant manufactures sterile injectable medicines used in hospitals worldwide. The company employs around 1,800 people. Source: KSN-TV

How these Kansas towns got their unique names

info2024-10-21T09:30:07-05:00October 21st, 2024|

In terms of size, Kansas is 81,823 sq miles, larger than 37 other states, including most of its neighbors, with the exception of Colorado. Data from the Census Bureau shows there are 671 incorporated and unincorporated communities in Kansas where people live. Many of these communities have names associated with their founders or historical figures, such as Ulysses or Lincoln. Others have names of Native American or even French origin, like Kiowa or La Cygne. Still others are named after other towns and cities where their pioneer founders were originally from. Below is a list of some Kansas communities with some [...]

Cities in Kansas competing for Tank of the Year

info2024-10-21T09:28:13-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Eleven cities in Kansas are competing for the 2024 Tank of the Year. Tnemec Co. Inc., a commercial and industrial paint company, is hosting the competition with participating cities in the USA and Canada. A two-week voting window for the People’s Choice of water tank is currently open. The public vote will close on Oct. 18, and the Tank of the Year announcement is planned for Oct. 25. Last year’s winner was featured in Tnemec’s 2024 water tank calendar. A Tnemec committee of water tank enthusiasts will select the other 11 finalists. Source: KSN-TV

Topeka receives $4 million grant to improve lead safety of local homes

info2024-10-21T09:25:24-05:00October 21st, 2024|

The City of Topeka is celebrating after being awarded a $4 million grant to improve child safety and housing health. City of Topeka spokesman Dan Garrett announced in a press release that a $4 million Lead Hazard Reduction Grant will be distributed to the city’s Housing Services Division over the course of four years. The start date for the distribution will be Nov. 15, 2024 with the end date being Nov. 15, 2024. Garrett said the cash will be used to grow the city’s rehabilitation programs to address and mitigate lead hazards. The end goal is to make an estimated 180 [...]

City leaders take action to address Topeka’s housing shortage

info2024-10-21T09:23:57-05:00October 21st, 2024|

The council unanimously approved a deal with local developer, Gen III construction, on a new housing subdivision in north Topeka. They established a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID) as part of a state-sanctioned program. Gen III will cover the costs to develop 15 houses up front. The city will reimburse them up to $385,000 on the back end using the increase in property taxes generated from the project. Prices for the houses in the subdivision will range from $260,000 to $325,000. RHIDs require city and state approval. In short, they help local governments address housing needs. Capital city leaders approved another [...]

City to consider protecting renters from income source discrimination

info2024-10-21T09:20:44-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Manhattan residents may soon be protected from discrimination based on their source of income. City commissioners on Tuesday will discuss expanding the city’s non-discrimination ordinance to bar landlords, property owners and real estate brokers from refusing to rent to prospective tenants who want to pay with legal income other than job wages. That means tenants would be able to pay for housing using vouchers, disability payments, rent relief programs and other sources of income. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, source-of-income discrimination disproportionately affects people of color, people with disabilities, elderly people and women. Lawrence and Kansas City, Missouri, [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for October 18, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-10-21T08:39:53-05:00October 21st, 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.

Three Kansas hospitals try rural emergency status

info2024-10-20T10:06:54-05:00October 20th, 2024|

Kansas has more rural hospitals at immediate risk of closure than any other state in the nation, with 31 of Kansas’s 98 rural inpatient hospitals at risk. Since 2010, eight Kansas hospitals have closed, leaving patients with less access to health care in their communities. The added barriers can add more difficulty on a population that already experiences health disparities compared to urban and suburban populations. Source: CJonline