News – Page 624 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Wichita Parks Department makes changes to Pickleball complex plans to address noise problems

info2023-09-15T07:43:16-05:00September 15th, 2023|

Pickle Ball is one of the fastest growing sports in America and the distinctive sounds of the plastic ball hitting a paddle is popping up all over cities in the US. That sound is something William Long will have to get used to. "It doesn't really bother me,“ Long told KAKE on Thursday. Long lives right next to the soccer fields of South Lakes sports complex. It is also going to be the home of the City of Wichita's new pickleball complex. While pickleball is a fast growing sport, one problem about it is also growing at a major rate, noise [...]

Kansas folk artist M.T. Liggett is more than his eccentric ‘character’ in a new documentary

info2023-09-15T07:41:11-05:00September 15th, 2023|

Those who drive through Mullinville, Kansas, population 197, might not remember the town. But they probably remember the miles of metal sculptures that line U.S. 400 just outside of it. Those totems and whirligigs are the work of eccentric folk artist M.T. Liggett. He's the subject of "It Started With A Horse," a documentary by Kansas City filmmaker Joshua Dubois. The documentary, filmed over the course of 20 years, aims to tell the "true story" of Liggett, who died in 2017. Source: KCUR

Open Streets ICT to take place in downtown on Sunday

info2023-09-15T07:37:39-05:00September 15th, 2023|

Open Streets ICT will take place this Sunday, Sept. 17, from 12 to 5 p.m. through downtown Wichita. The event will run on Douglas Avenue from Wichita's historic Delano District all the way to College Hill. Douglas will be blocked for four miles from Bluff to Glenn Street during that time. Wichitans and visitors will be able to cruise along Douglas on bikes, skateboards, or walk and stop at activity hubs, shop businesses on the route, and visit food and street vendors while listening to music. There will be hubs of shops located at West Douglas, Kennedy Plaza, Naftzger Park, East [...]

Pittsburg is landscaping with new “four-wheel-drive weed eaters”

info2023-09-15T07:36:11-05:00September 15th, 2023|

The City of Pittsburg has a new landscaping team - one with a new "environmentally friendly" approach. "The area that customers are looking to maintain will show up while fenced off with a portable electric fence. And then, we'll turn to goats in there. And then, depending on how far down, we usually try to do 70 to 75% vegetation reduction. But it's up to the customers how long they want to leave the goats in there," said Robert Dutton. Source: KSNF/KODE

Century-old pipes, water tower maintenance cause water main breaks in Emporia

info2023-09-15T07:35:09-05:00September 15th, 2023|

A combination of water tower maintenance, shifts in water pressure and 80 to 100-year-old pipes is causing water main breaks across Emporia. On Wednesday, the City of Emporia issued a Water Watch after a 20-inch pipe from 1926 broke. After the pipe was isolated the watch was rescinded. "The tower being out of service is changing the water pressure patterns, and we have selected water hydrants open to reduce pressure levels," Emporia spokeswoman Christine Torrens said. Source: KSNT 27 News

‘It’s not really about the bikes’: Advocates seek ideas to improve Wichita’s livability

info2023-09-15T07:34:08-05:00September 15th, 2023|

Ten years ago, Wichita had less than 60 miles of bike paths. When the city asked people how to make Wichita more bike friendly, over 4,000 responded, calling for more paths – and more safety awareness from drivers. That level of public interest was something the city couldn’t ignore. So it created its first bike master plan to guide cycling development for the city and make Wichita more welcoming for bikes. Since then, more than 50 miles of bike paths have been added, and the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Board was appointed to gather advice from cyclists. Source: Local News | [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for September 13, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-09-14T08:24:17-05:00September 14th, 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.

The Kansas Supreme Court could strike down a Wichita ordinance used to arrest a protester

info2023-09-13T14:34:03-05:00September 13th, 2023|

Kansas Supreme Court justices seemed skeptical Tuesday of a Wichita city ordinance used to justify arresting a protester. They will decide whether the ordinance is a violation of First Amendment rights. In 2020, Gabrielle Griffie led a protest over the death of George Floyd. The group marched through Wichita, even walking through streets and blocking some traffic. The demonstration ended at the steps of the federal courthouse. Nobody was arrested the day of the protest. But Wichita Police watched social media videos after it happened and charged Griffie with disorderly conduct for blocking traffic. ... At the heart of the debate [...]

Saline County takes advantage of new federal provision, redirects ARPA money to roads

info2023-09-13T14:33:02-05:00September 13th, 2023|

Saline County canceled two projects that failed to get off the ground and reallocated American Rescue Plan Act funds to go toward road projects Tuesday. Following a new federal provision which provides counties with additional options for investing coronavirus relief dollars, the county elected to create a new category to help fund a couple small road improvement projects. The U.S. Department of Treasury, through an interim final rule approved in August, now allows ARPA funds to be used for three new areas: transportation and infrastructure, disaster relief and community development. Federal provisions had previously not allowed the funds to be used [...]

At many banks, pandemic-era bond purchases are still tugging at profits

info2023-09-13T14:40:29-05:00September 13th, 2023|

Banks' pandemic-era bond investments are still hampering some lenders, dragging down the profitability of those that are saddled with low-yielding portfolios for months or even years to come. The concerns are far less severe than they were in March and April, when the failure of Silicon Valley Bank brought scrutiny of surviving banks whose large bond portfolios were also underwater. The question now is less about whether more banks are at risk of failing — and more about how much their profitability will be squeezed. The pressures aren't universal since some banks held off on putting much cash into bonds during [...]