News – Page 543 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Heartland Flyer extension clears major hurdle

info2023-12-13T10:26:41-06:00December 13th, 2023|

The train keeps rolling forward. Laura Kelly announced that the Heartland Flyer project, which would connect Amtrak service from Oklahoma City to Newton, has been awarded a $500,000 federal grant aimed at developing passenger rail lines. The grant pays for the development of a service plan for the connection of the Southwest Chief and Heartland Flyer lines. More importantly, however, it represents an important selection hurdle cleared in a larger competitive grant process for federal infrastructure funds to develop passenger rail service lines. “It is a very big deal,” State Senator Carolyn McGinn said. McGinn has long advocated for passenger rail [...]

Courts: Kansas Star Casino owed over $19 million

info2023-12-13T10:25:29-06:00December 13th, 2023|

Sumner County and the City of Mulvane are paying back millions to the company that runs the Kansas Star Casino. The county and casino have been in court for years over how the casino is taxed. Boyd Gaming, which runs the casino, protested how much property tax it has to pay. The courts now say Boyd Gaming is owed more than $19 million in payments over tax disputes going back years. The City of Mulvane, the school district, and Sumner County have to pay that money back. "It's a positive in that we know what to expect. Instead of waiting for a judgment to come [...]

How do you attract people and businesses to rural Kansas? Communities are trying AI

info2023-12-13T10:24:26-06:00December 13th, 2023|

AI is doing everything from making art to writing computer software, and now community leaders in western Kansas are hoping it can help them crack the code for bringing people and businesses to their areas. The rural communities are turning to AI to identify the businesses, services and housing residents need. That helps them target the types of businesses they should work to attract and where housing is needed to buck long-term trends of rural population loss. It’s an intriguing idea to Shandon Classen. He sips coffee in the corner booth of his coffee shop in downtown Liberal, Kansas. He opened it last [...]

El Dorado announces Assistant City Manager

info2023-12-13T10:22:44-06:00December 13th, 2023|

The City of El Dorado announced the promotion of Tabitha Sharp to Assistant City Manager in November. Sharp has worked for the City of El Dorado since 2009 when she took the position of Intern to the City Manager. She was promoted to City Clerk in April of 2010. Since then, she has fulfilled not only the clerk functions, but also oversaw the Human Resources, Payroll, Tourism and Public Information departments. In 2022, she was promoted to Administration Director for the City. After advertising the new position of Assistant City Manager and doing interviews, Sharp was selected as the best candidate for this [...]

Wichita Public Library holds vote for new library card design

info2023-12-13T10:21:41-06:00December 13th, 2023|

The Wichita Public Library would like people to vote on a new design for their library cards. There are three categories, kid, teen and adult, with three designs to choose from in each. The categories break down into kid, teen and adult. The most popular card in each category will be the winner which will be announced in January. Once the winners have been announced, current customers will be able to trade in their old library card for one of the new designs for $2. To vote on which designs you would like the new cards to be, click the link [...]

Shop with a Wichita Cop brings smiles to two little girls who lost their father last year

info2023-12-13T10:14:36-06:00December 13th, 2023|

Tuesday it was time for kids to do a little early Christmas shopping with some folks in blue. Also known as 'Shop with a Cop.' We went along as the kids got the chance to make their holiday dreams come true. Jaxyn and her sister Willa got a big treat shopping with a Wichita Police Officer and picking out anything they wanted for a grand total of $100 each. This is the second year the Wichita Police Department had teamed up with Walmart for Shop with a Cop. Children are identified through WPD Random Acts of Kindness submissions. Jaxyn, her sister [...]

Potential sites for Sedgwick County psychiatric hospital have been reduced to four

info2023-12-13T10:12:45-06:00December 13th, 2023|

The state of Kansas is about to make big changes to its mental healthcare system, with a new psychiatric hospital located in Sedgwick County. "We see the mental health crisis that's occurring, we see the homeless crisis that's occurring, we see it in our front yard, we see it out our back door," says Historic Midtown Society President Makayla Welch. "So we had a vested interest in where they were planning on putting this hospital that is desperately needed." Scott Brunner with the state's Department of Aging and Disability Services unveiled the possible locations at a public meeting in Wichita on [...]

Garden City to break ground on new Fire/EMS station

info2023-12-13T10:09:35-06:00December 13th, 2023|

A new station for the Garden City Fire Department and emergency services is coming soon. Garden City will be breaking ground on the new fire station on Dec. 19. It will be at East Schulman Avenue and North Jennie Barker Road. "This significant event marks a milestone in our community’s commitment to public safety and emergency services," The Garden City Fire Department said in a news release. When finished, the station will be able to house up to 10 firefighters and six EMS personnel. GCFD said it will serve as a vital hub strategically positioned to respond swiftly to emergencies, ensuring residents' safety and [...]

Wichita to begin anti-violence program

info2023-12-13T10:07:56-06:00December 13th, 2023|

Wichita City Council members have voted to approve an agreement with three agencies to begin the implementation of a violence prevention program in two areas of the city. The city began working with Chicago-based Cure Violence Global in 2022 to develop a violence interrupter program. The purpose is to detect and prevent potentially violent events, provide for behavior change and support to the highest-risk individuals, and change community norms that allow and encourage incidents in chronically violent neighborhoods. The program in Wichita will be focused on socially and economically stressed neighborhoods that have had high rates of gun violence. The city is contracting with [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for December 12, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-12-13T09:38:28-06:00December 13th, 2023|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. 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.