News – Page 420 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

What tuberculosis outbreak in Wyandotte County means for the rest of Kansas

info2024-08-23T09:07:53-05:00August 23rd, 2024|

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Thursday confirmed a tuberculosis outbreak in Wyandotte County, with more cases than the entire state recorded last year. ... Overall, 75 people statewide have been treated this year for the lung disease and two people have died. Officials say the disease requires consistent contact to spread. “There is a very low risk of infection to the general public in these communities,” KDHE communications director Jill Bronaugh told the Kansas News Service in an email. Source: CJonline

Johnson County, reStart meet with residents on homeless shelter plans

info2024-08-23T09:07:34-05:00August 23rd, 2024|

Johnson County residents packed a meeting in Olathe Wednesday night to find out more about plans for converting a hotel in a busy shopping area into a homeless shelter. However, the $10.5 million plan for the LaQuinta Inn off I-35 on 95th Street still faces an uphill battle. At last count in January Johnson County had 250 people who were homeless, 58 without shelter. The county has an agreement to buy LaQuinta Inn and renovate it into a 50-bed shelter for single adults living in their own rooms. “We have a real chance to address this now when it’s manageable and [...]

Many warnings, but no citations, for violating Wichita water restrictions, city says

info2024-08-23T09:00:09-05:00August 23rd, 2024|

The city of Wichita has issued 165 warnings — but no citations — for violations of the city’s drought water-use restrictions. “Ideally, we won’t have to issue a single fine,” Gary Janzen, director of public works and utilities, said. “We don’t want this to be punitive. What’s more important is coming together collaboratively. . . . We really want to focus on education over enforcement.” The city has had Stage 2 drought restrictions — which limits outdoor watering to one day a week in each quadrant of Wichita — in place for two and a half weeks. Water levels at Cheney [...]

Wichita urges continued focus on water conservation

info2024-08-23T08:58:37-05:00August 23rd, 2024|

‘Remote workers have killed us’: Downtown Topeka businesses share challenges

info2024-08-23T08:56:57-05:00August 23rd, 2024|

...some small and locally owned businesses in downtown Topeka are still paying the price in the new hybrid work-experience. Angie Anderson, owner of Cashmere Popcorn, said she has seen a significant decline in walk-in traffic because of the work-from-home policies that many offices based in downtown buildings now have. "We are learning to adjust," Anderson said. "This, of course, has been going on since 2020." Source: CJonline

Fed minutes point to ‘likely’ rate cut coming in September

info2024-08-22T11:48:28-05:00August 22nd, 2024|

Federal Reserve officials at their July meeting moved closer to a long-awaited interest rate reduction, stopping short while indicating that a September cut had Federal Reserve officials at their July meeting moved closer to a long-awaited interest rate reduction, but stopped short while indicating that a September cut had grown increasingly probable, minutes released Wednesday showed. “The vast majority” of participants at the July 30-31 meeting “observed that, if the data continued to come in about as expected, it would likely be appropriate to ease policy at the next meeting,” the summary said. Markets are fully pricing in a September cut, [...]

Developer clears hurdle for Olathe project with housing, industrial

info2024-08-22T11:46:27-05:00August 22nd, 2024|

Plans to build a massive mixed-use development along U.S. Highway 169 in Olathe could bring hundreds of new jobs to a fast-growing corridor. On Tuesday, the Olathe City Council unanimously approved a series of zoning changes for Ward Development to create Park 169 on 247 acres northeast of 167th Street and Highway 169. Park 169 includes plans for townhomes, apartments, single-family homes and more than a dozen industrial buildings. The site is surrounded by homes to the east, undeveloped land to the south and industrial business parks to the west and north. A right-of-way for Burlington Northern Railroad sits between Highway [...]

Despite more housing, Wichita seeing a 10% increase in rent

info2024-08-22T11:42:33-05:00August 22nd, 2024|

Last year, 800 new housing units were built in Wichita, a five-year high. Still, even with the supply going up, rent went up by 10%. A real estate expert at Wichita State University said the new apartments aren’t helping the market as much as you’d think because we’ve been in a deficit of new builds since the 2008 financial crisis. The need for housing goes beyond numbers in a report. According to local nonprofits, it’s directly impacting their operations. When you operate an emergency domestic violence shelter, you have to be able to admit people fast. “We don’t have a waiting [...]

Familiar barriers hinder city’s growth

info2024-08-22T11:40:38-05:00August 22nd, 2024|

A recent article in the Topeka Capital-Journal listed Pittsburg in the top 14 Kansas cities to lose at least 100 residents between 2022 and 2023. Three other southeast Kansas cities — Independence, Coffeyville, and Chanute — also made the list at the 11th, 12th, and 14th spots, respectively. Pittsburg ranked seventh with a loss of 154 citizens, leaving the city with 20,504 residents. Pittsburg City Manager Daron Hall said he reviewed the Capital-Journal’s data, going back as far as 2015. In that year, the Journal reported Pittsburg’s population as 20,394 and is now reporting 20,504 for 2024. That is an increase [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for August 21, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-08-22T10:19:35-05:00August 22nd, 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.