News

The Sunflower State Games and Fiesta Topeka are filling the capital city with energy and visitors. Visit Topeka says events like these are making a noticeable difference in the local economy. "On the fiesta side, you know, that has traditionally been about 50,000 to 60,000 people in attendance over the multi-week activation they do. So, for us, that's about two and a half to three and a half million dollars in direct visitor spend," Visit Topeka President Sean Dixon said. "We've got more than 5,000 registered participants in the state games. So, between 250 and 500,000 right there over that two-week [...]

The Wichita City Council voted to suspend a city board focused on civil rights, diversity and inclusion on Tuesday, responding to pressure by the Trump administration to cut so-called DEI programs or lose federal funding. Trump’s executive order earlier this year aimed at eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and programs put hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding at risk for the city. Read more: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

Live chickens will remain off limits in Iola. At least for the time being. Iola City Council members voted 4-3 against a motion to allow residents to raise live chickens within city limits. That the chicken referendum even came to a vote was a bit of a surprise. Read more: The Iola Register

The Allen County Historical Society’s summer meeting Saturday will cover a state road that helped shape the area’s development in the 1860s. Meanwhile, the ACHS museum is part of a Sunflower Summer tourism campaign. Iolan Bob Hawk will talk Saturday about how an early road helped Allen County’s growing communities develop in a rapidly changing Kansas frontier. Hawk will speak about the Elizabethtown to Cofachique State Road’s origins at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Allen County Historical Society’s summer meeting. The program will be at the Frederick Funston Meeting Hall, 207 N. Jefferson Ave. in Iola. Read more: The Iola Register

The City of Topeka announced in a press release on July 15 the Hotel Topeka may have a potential buyer secured for the building. The Wichita-based group Endeavor Hotel Group has sent a Letter of Intent for the purchase of the hotel. “Our team is excited to add the Hotel Topeka to our portfolio,” said President and CEO of Endeavor Roy Arnold. “We have a clear vision intended to create value for the community and to make Topeka a preferred destination for regional conferences and events.” Endeavor Hotel Group has plans to invest $6 million for the rehab of the hotel [...]

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.

Governor Laura Kelly and Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland along with many federal and state dignitaries today celebrated with Panasonic Energy the grand opening of the largest electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing plant in the United States. Panasonic is investing $4 billion and already has hired approximately 1,000 staff at the De Soto plant. Read more: Kansas Department of Commerce

The city of Prairie Village is looking to crack down on some homebuilding practices in response to ongoing resident complaints about construction in single-family neighborhoods, particularly noise coming from teardown-rebuild projects. ... the Prairie Village City Council directed city staff to address construction-related disruptions like noise ordinance violations — particularly at teardown-rebuild construction sites — through fees, fines and other enforcement mechanisms. Source: Johnson County Post

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.

Since the beginning, the benefit to Halstead for allowing a battery energy storage system (BESS) has been in question. The only jobs provided would be temporary initial construction positions that may or may not be hired locally. Concurrent, the company leasing land in Halstead’s industrial park in hopes of building a BESS there, has stated it would be monitored remotely. It’s unclear what the tax status will be after House Bill 2083, which would have exempted BESS from property taxes, failed to get out of committee last session. Source: Harvey County Now