News – Page 617 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Two key Fed officials express support for keeping interest rates high

info2023-09-22T13:32:14-05:00September 22nd, 2023|

Boston Federal Reserve President Susan Collins expressed support Friday for keeping interest rates elevated as the battle against too-high inflation continues. In remarks to a banking group in Maine, the central bank official said there's still the possibility that the Fed will have to raise rates further if economic data doesn't cooperate. "I expect rates may have to stay higher, and for longer, than previous projections had suggested, and further tightening is certainly not off the table," Collins said in prepared remarks. "Policymakers will stay the course to achieve the Fed's mandate." The commentary comes two days after the rate-setting Federal [...]

Savonburg residents talk tenuous future

info2023-09-22T13:31:51-05:00September 22nd, 2023|

Color David Janssen a realistic optimist. The Savonburg City Councilman was asked to peer into a crystal ball and eye the community’s future, say five or 10 years down the road. On one hand, the future of small towns like Savonburg is bleak, Janssen admitted. With an aging population, fewer and fewer quality homes to entice out-of-towners and an infrastructure that has well outlived its realistic life span, it’s easy to see why rural populations continue to decline, he said. To wit, Savonburg’s population at the 2010 census was over 100. As of 2022, that number had dropped to 75. “If [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for September 21, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-09-22T09:05:26-05:00September 22nd, 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.

Fed declines to hike, but points to rates staying higher for longer

info2023-09-22T07:56:38-05:00September 22nd, 2023|

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady in a decision released Wednesday, while also indicating it still expects one more hike before the end of the year and fewer cuts than previously indicated next year. That final increase, if realized, would do it for this cycle, according to projections the central bank released at the end of its two-day meeting. If the Fed goes ahead with the move, it would make a full dozen hikes since the policy tightening began in March 2022. Markets had fully priced in no move at this meeting, which kept the fed funds rate in a [...]

Program to eliminate poverty to kick off

info2023-09-22T07:53:46-05:00September 22nd, 2023|

A Bourbon County program aimed at addressing the poverty issue is preparing to launch this fall, officials said. During the Bourbon County Commission meeting Monday, commissioners were updated on the progress of the program, called Core Communities. Local business owner Bill Michaud, who has helped get the program off the ground, and Cherri Walrod, one of two staff members who have been hired for the program, spoke to the commission. Source: Fort Scott Tribune

USD 231 joins national class-action lawsuit against social media platforms

info2023-09-22T07:50:43-05:00September 22nd, 2023|

Lynne Hermansen Gardner News School officials discuss cell phone usage The Gardner Edgerton Board of Education is joining a class-action lawsuit for vaping ads targeting youth on social media. Board officials decided to join the suit at Monday’s monthly board meeting. Superintendent Dr. Brian Huff said the lawsuit was similar to a previous class-action lawsuit several Johnson County school districts participated in against Juul tobacco and vaping products. Source: Gardner News

USD 112 superintendent asks county for daycare funds

info2023-09-22T07:46:50-05:00September 22nd, 2023|

Central Plains USD 112 Superintendent Bill Lowry met with Barton County Commissioners on Tuesday to discuss a matching funding request for daycare in the Claflin community. “I’ve raised some funds,” Lowry said, referring to donations to the school district’s Childcare Network established in October 2022 that provides 70% in state tax credits toward renovating an existing classroom in Wilson and a new building in Claflin. The program reached 50% of its goal by December 2022, but a year later Lowry was in hopes that he could move the fundraising along. “I don’t have enough at this time to really start a [...]

Fire fighting training site seeing upgrades

info2023-09-22T07:44:47-05:00September 22nd, 2023|

The Boy Scout motto “be prepared” also applies to the Great Bend Fire Department, Fire Chief Brent Smith told the City Council Monday night as he outlined improvements taking place at his department’s training facility behind Fire Station 2. “We’ve been working with Hazmat Response, our neighbor to the west of us out there station,” Smith said. The business has “been nothing but generous in donating equipment and time to do some dirt work and hauling some buildings for us to add to our burn facility.” In addition, “we’re going to be putting in a grain elevator rescue props and some [...]

Baxter Springs School District reflects on introduction of 4-day school week

info2023-09-22T07:38:58-05:00September 22nd, 2023|

This year, the Baxter Springs School District introduced a new 4-day school week. A month into the school year, administrators say the 4-day school week has been a success thus far. Superintendent David Pendergraft says he's received various emails from parents who were a bit skeptical of the change initially, but now they're seeing the benefit of how it helps them to balance their work life and personal life. The schedule change has also helped with the recruitment of teachers to the district. Source: KSNF/KODE

Outside help: Wichita plans to outsource management of city animal shelter

info2023-09-22T07:28:38-05:00September 22nd, 2023|

Wichita is seeking a private operator to take over day-to-day management of the city’s animal shelter from the Wichita Police Department. The vendor will be asked to “manage shelter services and improve communications with rescue partners to find homes for abandoned pets, provide veterinary care and overall improvement of services that fit standards and best practices,” according to a city news release. The request for proposal was issued on Sept. 15 and will close on Nov. 3. City spokesperson Megan Lovely told The Eagle that plans were already in motion to outsource management of the animal shelter before the Sept. 6 [...]