News – Page 74 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Despite more housing, Wichita seeing a 10% increase in rent

info2024-08-22T11:42:33-05:00August 22nd, 2024|

Last year, 800 new housing units were built in Wichita, a five-year high. Still, even with the supply going up, rent went up by 10%. A real estate expert at Wichita State University said the new apartments aren’t helping the market as much as you’d think because we’ve been in a deficit of new builds since the 2008 financial crisis. The need for housing goes beyond numbers in a report. According to local nonprofits, it’s directly impacting their operations. When you operate an emergency domestic violence shelter, you have to be able to admit people fast. “We don’t have a waiting [...]

Familiar barriers hinder city’s growth

info2024-08-22T11:40:38-05:00August 22nd, 2024|

A recent article in the Topeka Capital-Journal listed Pittsburg in the top 14 Kansas cities to lose at least 100 residents between 2022 and 2023. Three other southeast Kansas cities — Independence, Coffeyville, and Chanute — also made the list at the 11th, 12th, and 14th spots, respectively. Pittsburg ranked seventh with a loss of 154 citizens, leaving the city with 20,504 residents. Pittsburg City Manager Daron Hall said he reviewed the Capital-Journal’s data, going back as far as 2015. In that year, the Journal reported Pittsburg’s population as 20,394 and is now reporting 20,504 for 2024. That is an increase [...]

Municipal Bond Trends for August 21, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-08-22T10:19:35-05:00August 22nd, 2024|

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.

Johnson County opens a facility for kids in mental health crises

info2024-08-21T11:13:27-05:00August 21st, 2024|

A new Johnson County facility is opening with promises of a more sympathetic approach to helping kids in crisis. It has video games, basketball courts and weekly yoga. It offers couches and a TV — an improvement from the steel bars or hospital gowns at other locations. Source: Johnson County Post

Disaster declaration approved for May storms in Kansas

info2024-08-21T11:12:54-05:00August 21st, 2024|

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says disaster assistance will be available to help with recovery efforts from severe storms that hit 14 Kansas counties in May. ... Public assistance federal funding is available to the state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the storms in Barton, Ellsworth, Harvey, Hodgeman, Lincoln, Morris, Ottawa, Pawnee, Reno, Rush, Russell, Stafford, Wabaunsee and Wyandotte counties. Source: 101.3 KFDI

Municipal Bond Trends for August 20, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-08-21T10:43:55-05:00August 21st, 2024|

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.

Disappearance of city clerk leaves Peabody in challenging situation

info2024-08-21T10:29:38-05:00August 21st, 2024|

Christopher King, husband of Jonathan Clayton, interim city clerk for the City of Peabody, reported him missing on Aug. 3. His disappearance has left his family, friends, and the City of Peabody scrambling for answers. The disappearance: Clayton’s last known phone conversation was with Peabody Mayor Catherine Weems at 9:20 a.m. on Aug. 3. Clayton mentioned attending a PMSA meeting at 11:30 a.m. and that his husband, Christopher King, was unwell. Weems noted no changes in Clayton’s behavior “Even our conversation on Saturday morning seemed perfectly normal,” Weems said. However, when Clayton failed to appear at the meeting, concerns arose. “A [...]

Halstead working to improve safety for students

info2024-08-21T10:22:59-05:00August 21st, 2024|

Planning is underway to update a portion of Sixth Street in Halstead, making it safer for students on their way to school. “It will make it safer for children to walk,” Halstead City Clerk Julie Wait said. This is part of the Safe Routes to School project Halstead is working on. Wait said from Sixth to 10th Street, there are no sidewalks. “They [students] are walking in the street,” Wait said. Wait said the project would also improve the existing sidewalks. Wait added that the proposed improvements would make the street more visually appealing, as well. Halstead received a $400,000 Transportation [...]

Governor Kelly Announces Elanco to Invest $130M, Create 70 Jobs in Elwood

info2024-08-21T10:21:00-05:00August 21st, 2024|

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that Elanco Animal Health Inc., a global leader in animal health, is investing $130 million to expand and renovate its manufacturing facility in Elwood. The expansion in Doniphan County is expected to create approximately 70 new jobs over the next two years. “The continued investment by Elanco speaks to the work my administration is doing to attract and retain businesses,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Elanco’s expansion is not only creating new jobs but is adding to the unparalleled economic momentum that has made Kansas the best state in the nation to live, work, and raise a [...]

Halstead sets another public hearing for battery storage

info2024-08-21T10:19:11-05:00August 21st, 2024|

With the City of Halstead still awaiting feedback from Concurrent LLC, the planning commission tentatively set a public hearing for their next meeting on Monday, Sept. 16. City Manager Ethan Reimer hoped this would get a response from Concurrent, a company wishing to locate a battery energy storage system (BESS) in Halstead. The commission listed regulations at a meeting in June. The city attorney then sent the regulations to Concurrent but hadn’t heard back. “I’m hoping this will put pressure on them,” Reimer said. Reimer said if he told them there was another public hearing, he hoped that would encourage Concurrent [...]