News

Public universities across Kansas are asking the Board of Regents for permission to raise tuition by 8% next fall. Only one university requested no rate change. The schools say they're under financial pressure to keep up with inflation, and in some cases, a reduction in government funding. Wichita State University is asking for a 3.5% increase, 1% more than their average hike. Source: KSN-TV

The City of Wichita is asking residents to sound off on local fireworks regulations through a brief online survey open now through May 30. The 2025 Fireworks Survey takes about five minutes to complete and is part of the city’s annual outreach on fireworks usage. Wichita’s fireworks season runs June 27–July 5. “Safe and sane” fireworks are allowed daily from 10 a.m. to midnight, while aerial fireworks are only permitted July 3–5. Source: KSN-TV

A unique new sign has made its way to Route 66 in Galena. It's located just as travelers cross the yellow brick road state line from Missouri Route 66 into Kansas Route 66. At the bottom of the "Welcome to Galena", signs reads "Home of the Sea Slug King of Kansas". Those behind the sign say the story of name, was an accident. It started as a joke when Dale Oglesby thought he was purchasing just one sea slug but ended up purchasing seven towable bladder sea slugs back in January. Source: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

Topeka's city leaders are using some cash to help decorate the North Topeka Arts District (NOTO). The Topeka City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday, May 13 to send $52,000 to NOTO. The money will now go towards three separate project areas in the arts district. You may notice the cash at work in the coming days with some improvements to NOTO. Source: KSNT 27 News

Although Wyandotte County has yet to see a reported measles outbreak, public health officials are readying public guidance and offering vaccine services as the disease inches north from southwest Kansas. As of May 7, Kansas’s 48 reported measles cases remained among eight counties in the state’s southwest corner, according to a state dashboard tracking the disease. The state’s northeast counties and others in the Kansas City metro had not reported any new cases as of publication time. The majority of patients testing positive for measles are unvaccinated. Source: The Iola Register

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.

The City of Lawrence is planning to ban people from camping “anywhere in Lawrence” effective in mid-August, representing a change that has long been in the works. Still, the change has come as a surprise to some. Katie Kraus, who is currently experiencing homelessness in Lawrence, said she’s worried about her friends after learning of the camping ban.  “Things are changing really fast and it’s scary,” she said.  Effective Aug. 15, though, “Camping will no longer be allowed anywhere in Lawrence, including Brook Creek Park, Burcham Park and Sandra Shaw Park,” according to a city flyer given to people living outside.  Source: [...]

Kansas Court of Appeals judges have upheld the City of Lawrence’s ordinance intended to ensure voucher recipients can secure housing, finding that “State and local governments have a legitimate interest in protecting the affordability and quality of housing.” The Lawrence City Commission in February 2023 approved an ordinance change that creates a protected class based on renters’ source of income, as well as their status as a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking or stalking. It also disallows discrimination based on prospective tenants’ immigration status. The ordinance went into effect June 1, 2023.  Source: The Lawrence Times

The city of Leavenworth and CoreCivic will take their fight to court June 9 to determine whether the company can reopen its prison facility as an ICE detention center without going through a permitting process. Attorneys for Leavenworth filed suit in March in U.S. District Court against the Nashville-based company, which ran the Leavenworth Detention Center before it was closed in 2021. CoreCivic announced its intent to reopen its prison facility as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center, which would be named the Midwest Regional Reception Center.  Source: The Lawrence Times

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday that longer-term interest rates are likely to be higher as the economy changes and policy is in flux. In remarks that focused on the central bank's policy framework review, last done in the summer of 2020, Powell noted that conditions have changed significantly over the past five years. During the period, the Fed witnessed a period of surging inflation, pushing it to historically aggressive interest rate hikes. Powell said that even with longer-term inflation expectations largely in line with the Fed's 2% target, the era of near-zero rates is not likely to return anytime [...]