AT&T was fined $60,000 by the Kansas Corporation Commission for 60 violations in a 30-day span of the Kansas Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act. That state law and KCC regulations require AT&T to timely locate underground lines, like when a homeowner or contractor calls 811 before digging. Source: CJonline

Hundreds of cyclists from across the Four-State area and beyond took over the streets and gravel roads of Crawford and Cherokee County on Saturday with the return of “Coal Miner’s Gravel.” Source: - Latest Stories

Action from the Texas legislature threatens to derail a long-awaited rail expansion project that would make Newton a hub for Amtrak. The Texas Legislature removed $2.6 million in funding to operate its Heartland Flyer Route. The $337 billion budget is not finalized, and subject to approval of a conference committee of the state’s legislature. Source: Harvey County Now

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.

Less than a year ago, the Federal Reserve took decisive action to bolster the U.S. economy. With inflation easing and the labor market starting to soften, the central bank opted to go big, lowering interest rates by half a percentage point and signaling further cuts to come. Rather than a panicky response to a crisis situation, the decision amounted to the Fed taking out some insurance to protect the labor market from weakening too much. In a barrage of attacks on the central bank recently, President Trump called on Jerome H. Powell, the chair, to lower borrowing costs in a similar [...]

Rob Steinmetz, a longtime resident of the Moody Hills neighborhood in northern Overland Park, isn’t so sure why the “beautiful” and mature oak tree in front of his yard had to be ripped out. Dozens of other mature trees have also recently met the same fate across the Moody Hills neighborhood. The street, once shaded with towering trees, is now lined with stump after stump. It’s all part of a street reconstruction project that will also completely overhaul other infrastructure in the Moody Hills neighborhood. The project is just one of several planned over the next decade or so that seek [...]

Plans are quickly moving forward to redevelop a decommissioned power plant in northeast Kansas City, Kansas, as a data center. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, on Thursday approved an option purchase agreement with Houston-based PowerTransitions for the sale of the Quindaro power station. Source: Kansas City Business News - Local Kansas City News | Kansas City Business Journal

Central Kansas Mental Health Center and the Ottawa County Health Department invite the public to Roots of Resilience: A Rural Mental Health Gathering on Saturday, June 7 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at the Minneapolis Public Library Meeting Room, 519 Delia Ave. This free community event is designed to spark open conversation, reduce stigma, and connect individuals in rural and farming communities with tools and resources for mental health and suicide prevention. Whether you’re a farmer, rancher, business owner, parent, or neighbor, all are welcome to attend and participate in the discussion. Source: KCLY Radio

On Wednesday, April 30, Governor Laura Kelly issued a state of disaster emergency to temporarily waive hours-of-service regulations for motor carriers in Kansas. The move comes in response to a fuel shortage affecting parts of Kansas and neighboring states, which has led to long wait times at fuel terminals and disrupted supply deliveries. The waiver aims to give fuel transport drivers more flexibility to meet demand and ease distribution delays. Diesel has been impacted first, but gasoline supplies may also be affected if the shortage continues. Source: KCLY Radio

Service providers and housing officials in Kansas launched their “Functional Zero” campaign to combat homelessness, with a focus on ensuring more people remain housed than become homeless. At a summit in Topeka, Kansas was declared a “Built for Zero” state, meaning regions will aim to reach “functional zero”—a measure of how effectively a community addresses homelessness. This goal, developed by Community Solutions, helps communities track progress in solving homelessness for specific populations like veterans or the chronically homeless. Source: KCLY Radio