Municipal Bond Trends for September 29, 2023

2023-10-02T00:01:32-05:00October 2nd, 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.

Before Panasonic plant’s arrival, De Soto had spent decades preparing for growth

2023-10-02T08:37:58-05:00October 1st, 2023|

De Soto City Administrator Mike Brungardt says Panasonic is poised to lead his city and the surrounding area into a new era of manufacturing prosperity as electric-vehicle battery production becomes the modern equivalent of the oil booms of 100 years ago. The center of that boom in northeast Kansas will be the $4 billion lithium battery plant that the company is now building on 304 acres of the old Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, now renamed Ad Astra Enterprise Park. And because of steps De Soto has taken the past two decades, the growth will be aimed along a corridor that points [...]

Shawnee County gives tax abatement to couple who lost house in accidental fire

2023-09-29T11:16:38-05:00September 29th, 2023|

Glenn D. Leonardi and Ulrike Schlingensiepen lost their house, 3421 S.W. Briarwood Lane, in a fire in April 2022. ... Later, Leonardi realized they were still paying property taxes on a house that no longer existed. "I just felt like it was ridiculous to be paying taxes on a property that was no longer there," Leonardi told The Capital-Journal. ... Leonardi said he contacted the county appraiser's office to figure out what could be done. The Shawnee County Commission on Thursday voted unanimously to provide property tax relief for Leonardi and Schlingensiepen under Shawnee County Resolution No. 2023-32. ... K.S.A. 79-1613 [...]

Governor Kelly Announces $350M in Highway Projects Added to IKE Construction Pipeline

2023-09-29T08:02:04-05:00September 29th, 2023|

Governor Laura Kelly and Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed today announced seven Expansion and Modernization highway projects – a total investment of more than $350 million – have been committed to construction as part of the Kelly administration’s bipartisan 10-year, $10 billion Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, also known as IKE. “When combined with the first two rounds of IKE Construction projects, these investments are part of a $2 billion commitment to make our roads safer, reduce congestion, create good jobs, and deliver more economic opportunities,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “Getting these projects to construction will make getting around Kansas safer and easier [...]

WSU forecast calls for Kansas home values to continue to increase

2023-09-29T08:00:01-05:00September 29th, 2023|

Wichita State University’s Center for Real Estate is forecasting that Kansas home values will continue to appreciate in 2024. The forecast was released Thursday by CRE director, Dr. Stan Longhofer.  He said the inventory of homes available for sale is very limited, and as a result the market still favors sellers despite the softening of demand due to higher mortgage rates. Longhofer presented the forecast in Manhattan to the Kansas Association of Realtors Annual Conference.   It calls for home sales to fall slightly in Wichita and remain flat statewide next year, and new home construction activity is also expected to be [...]

Turbines to take a spin in the spotlight at ribbon-cutting

2023-09-29T07:59:03-05:00September 29th, 2023|

The formal opening of Orsted’s Sunflower Wind farm will be marked with a ribbon cutting Thursday. The 200 megawatt wind farm is one of 13 Orsted wind farms in the United States. Sunflower will produce enough electricity to power more than 70,000 homes. Local landowners, community members, and stakeholders will be at the event to celebrate the project's completion and economic benefits it will bring to the community and state. Source: HILLSBORO Star-Journal

Will this Johnson County city restrict — even ban — Airbnbs? Neighbors are complaining

2023-09-29T07:56:23-05:00September 29th, 2023|

The Shawnee City Council is considering whether to tighten restrictions on Airbnbs and other short-term rentals — or outright ban them from residential areas. City officials say they’ve received a growing number of complaints in single-family neighborhoods about noise, parking, alcohol and trash at Airbnb and Vrbo locations. And now the city is considering whether to regulate them more or get rid of them altogether, as a growing number of cities nationwide, including New York City and Dallas, crack down. Shawnee could be one of the first cities in Johnson County to do so. Prairie Village officials also have discussed regulating [...]

Governor Kelly issues state of disaster emergency for wildland fires

2023-09-29T07:52:15-05:00September 29th, 2023|

Governor Laura Kelly has issued a state of disaster emergency proclamation Thursday morning due to increased fire weather conditions. Warmer conditions, strong winds and low relative humidities will create high to very-high fire weather conditions especially in the central and western regions of the state. Governor Kelly says this declaration allows resources to be "prepositioned to provide state assistance." “I urge everyone across the state to use extreme caution and avoid burning, if at all possible,” Governor Kelly said. “Please keep yourself and your community safe and use extra precautions anytime you are doing any burning.” Source: KAKE - News

Flamingo at Kansas lake draws visitors

2023-09-29T07:50:28-05:00September 29th, 2023|

The Chase County State Fishing Lake is a popular place to be Thursday after a flamingo was spotted seemingly enjoying the warm Kansas weather. The local sheriff's office says the bird's name is Flint. "We know this is an unusual sight to see and the lake is a popular place today," the Chase County Sheriff's Office said. "So with that said we remind everyone to please watch for pedestrians and park where access is not restricted." The sheriff's office said state game wardens have been contacted and that people should not attempt to catch the flamingo. Source: KAKE - News

Lawsuit against City of Wichita claims court system doesn’t do psych evaluations before trial

2023-09-29T07:48:25-05:00September 29th, 2023|

A lawsuit against the City of Wichita covers what its court system is not offering certain defendants. That class action lawsuit claims Wichita's Municipal Court doesn't provide psychological evaluations to determine if a defendant suspected of having mental health issues should stand trial. The lawsuit says The City has been wrongfully convicting people who aren't competent for years and it needs to stop. Attorney Mark Schoenhofer says his client was wrongly convicted on charges related to drugs, petty theft, and urinating in public because there was no psych evaluation before she went to trial. Source: KAKE - News

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