News

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 Neodesha Promise Scholarship Program, which provides an opportunity for Neodesha High School graduates to afford college, has reached quite a milestone. With 36 NHS students receiving promise scholarships in 2025, the program has awarded more than 550 scholarships to 184 graduates since its inception in 2019. The program provides scholarships to eligible Neodesha High graduates covering tuition and mandatory fees at Pell Grant-approved institutions. Neodesha students receiving Promise Scholarships have attended more than 40 different institutions across seven states. Read more: The Iola Register

It was a full house on Friday at the county commission meeting as Josh Albins presented the results of the comprehensive survey to the county commissioners. Of 30,199 residents aged 18-and-over, only 2,303 responded to the survey despite mailers, newspaper ads and billboards encouraging people to participate. According to Albins, 96% of the respondents were permanent residents of the county; 86% have lived in Crawford for 10-plus years. The majority were property owners from the rural parts of the county. The two big issues that drew the crowd were zoning and windmills. Read more: - Morning Sun

Approved agreements on Wednesday night will now allow the development process for the recently purchased 40 acres to begin. The two agreements include a development agreement with Lange Real Estate and a services agreement with Professional Engineering Consultants, P.A. (PEC). The agreement was to contract with PEC for the survey, concept planning, and platting services for the residential development located at the corner of NW 96th and Hoover. City Administrator Kyle Nordick stated that PEC will commence work within 14 days and anticipates completing an application for a preliminary plat within 60 days. Read more: Harvey County Now

Wall Street thinks interest rates are poised to come down faster than the Federal Reserve does—a wager that is already boosting the economy and markets by making it cheaper for Americans to borrow. Bets in the futures market show investors expect that the Fed’s benchmark short-term rate will fall just below 3% by the end of next year, from slightly above 4% now, according to LSEG data. That marks a sizable shift from May, when investors thought that rates would fall only to around 3.5% at the end of 2026. It is also below what most Fed officials are forecasting. Their [...]

According to the Ark Valley news, in response to a new state law — and on the advice of its attorney — the Valley Center school board recently took action to stop livestreaming its meetings on YouTube and delete all previous recordings. Per the new law, if a school board fails to stream the entirety of a meeting (except for executive sessions), it could be subject to a Kansas Open Meetings Act violation. A board member misspeaking or failing to be heard clearly could also constitute a violation. Given the gray areas and to avoid potential risks, the school board followed [...]

The Fort Scott City Commission on Tuesday debated proposed changes to an ordinance that would require food trucks to obtain a license. Commissioners agreed to have the city manager and city attorney draft an addendum to the city's solicitors, canvassers and peddler's ordinance to address food trucks, then discuss the issue again in October. Read more: Fort Scott Tribune Headlines

After its meeting on Wednesday evening, the Sedgwick city council held a workshop to discuss creating a quiet zone in the City to remove train horns. City administrative assistant Izaiah Chapman said that in years past, the topic had been discussed but never brought to a conclusion. In short, a quiet zone means trains coming through town could no longer blow their horns. The project would require the city to put medians at the two intersections in town to alert motorists of the train crossing, which will cost between $21,878.64 and $97,252.73, depending on whether they use plastic or concrete. The [...]

Just about where a visitor first sets foot inside the Chase County Courthouse a letter was found in 1950, when workmen were replacing the hardwood floor in the main hallway. The message was slipped into a crack between the boards the last time the floor was replaced, in 1924. “This beautiful bright February day Mr. Levi Chandler, the county treasurer, and the janitor, Harry Hudson, are laying a hardwood floor in the courthouse hall,” the letter began. “Mr. Chandler is doing the work for nothing if the commissioners will let the county pay for the material.” The letter was written by [...]

The Weir City Council has approved a new ordinance setting regulations for mobile homes, manufactured homes, modular homes, tiny houses, and other “live-in” dwellings within city limits. Ordinance No. 1670, adopted September 8, establishes requirements for the placement, utility connections, foundations, and spacing of these structures, which city officials say are needed to promote safety, orderly development, and good civic design. Under the new rules, all dwellings must have a minimum of 320 square feet of living area and be situated on a permanent concrete foundation or piers. Skirting approved by the mayor and council is required for trailers, tiny houses, [...]