Municipal News & Jobs

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.

The State of Kansas initiated an application for the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation (RFT) Program, which was created in the Reconciliation Bill to direct the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to work with states to identify the root challenges facing rural health providers and invest in solutions to improve outcomes for struggling providers. Kansas providers are estimated to receive approximately $1 billion over the next five years.
Read more: The Sunflower State Radio Network

Large-scale facility matters have been a significant talking point for USD 251 North Lyon County for well over a decade, and the district has started a patron survey as part of its latest round of community conversations. On KVOE’s Morning Show on Monday, Superintendent Bob Blair says the overall goal is to ensure the district’s sustainability well into the future.
Read more: KVOE

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation raided multiple locations across the state Wednesday, including at least two businesses in Great Bend, as part of a crackdown on businesses selling hemp products containing THC. Search warrants were served at multiple businesses within city limits.
Read more: Great Bend Tribune

Munis were a touch firmer out long in Wednesday’s trading, as U.S. Treasury yields fell and equities ended up. The two-year muni-UST ratio Tuesday was at 65%, the five-year at 63%, the 10-year at 71% and the 30-year at 89%, according to Municipal Market Data’s 3 p.m. EDT read. ICE Data Services had the two-year at 62%, the five-year at 61%, the 10-year at 70% and the 30-year at 89% at a 3 p.m. read. The Investment Company Institute Wednesday reported inflows of $1.114 billion for the week ending Sept. 24, following $1.138 billion of inflows the previous week. This is the third consecutive week that inflows topped $1 billion.
Read more: Bond Buyer

If any doubts remained about whether the Federal Reserve will be lowering its key interest rate later this month, the budget loggerheads a few blocks away in the nation’s capital may have cemented the move. Particularly if the impasse stretches out past a few days, Chair Jerome Powell and his fellow central bankers likely will err on the side of caution, which in this case would be a bias towards easing, Wall Street experts say.
Read more: CNBC

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced $23 million is available to improve broadband infrastructure through the Broadband Acceleration Grant (BAG) program. Grants up to $1 million will be awarded to offset the capital expenses providers need to deploy service in unserved areas of Kansas. In its fifth year through the bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE), the Broadband Acceleration Grant program aims to provide high-quality, reliable broadband access throughout the state, prioritizing unserved areas, economically distressed communities and areas of compelling need.
Read more: Kansas Department of Commerce

In accordance with Executive Order #20-30, Governor Laura Kelly on Tuesday directed flags be flown at half-staff on all state buildings, grounds, and facilities from sunup to sundown on Friday, October 3, 2025, in honor of Hays Police Sergeant Scott Heimann, who was killed in the line of duty on September 28, 2025. “For nearly a decade, Sergeant Heimann was committed to protecting those in Hays, and he made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his community,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “His sacrifice is a debt that we will never forget or be able to repay. My sincere condolences go out to his family and loved ones as they mourn this tragedy, and to all Kansans as we grieve our state’s fourth line-of-duty death in the last three months.”
Read more: Ad Astra Radio

After weeks of waiting for answers, the City of Newton received a summary of test results for the mystery gas emissions at the Fox Ridge Development. In August, Kansas Gas Service detected a flammable gas in the soil while conducting testing at the new development situated on top of the former Fox Ridge Golf Course. The detection of the gas prompted county and state emergency declarations, evacuations, as well as gas service being shut off to 30 households. KDHE contracted a service to test the gas, and after weeks, the city has an answer as to what it is: methane.
“They state that there is no hazard to human health,” City Director of Communications Erin McDaniel said. “The primary source of the methane is from the breakdown of plant material in the soil.”
Read more: Harvey County Now

Flock cameras have returned to Harvey County. Halstead, Bentley and Sedgwick all tried and moved on from flock cameras. Now the Harvey County Sheriff’s Department has picked up the mantle and installed four units of what Sheriff Chad Gay calls an “awesome” crime-fighting tool. Flock cameras are stationary units that take pictures of the back license plate of passing vehicles. They store vehicle information, along with location, date and time, in a nationwide database that law enforcement agencies can search to assist investigations.
Read more: Harvey County Now

Sedgwick City Administrator Kyle Nordick proposed using a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID) for new housing on South Commercial to the USD-440 Board of Education members Monday evening. Nordick said that an RHID is used to stimulate the construction or rehabilitation of housing in communities where there is a lack of quality housing options. He said it can make it more financially viable for developers to build new houses in areas where cost burdens may present a barrier to entry. In short, what an RHID would do is allow the property taxes from new housing to be used to pay for the special assessments for the new development.
Read more: Harvey County Now

After years of deliberations, work sessions, presentations and indecision, Leawood city councilmembers finally arrived at a consensus on what a future park should look like on the grounds of its original city hall and fire station. Their decision: The fire station will stay, but the old city hall will be demolished, despite some citizen-led efforts to save it. Their vision supports renovation of the fire station with an eye toward creating a future meeting and gathering space. A green space on the site would include play areas and perhaps a demonstration garden.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Overland Park officially opened its 84th city park this week, nodding to the city’s longtime connection to its sister city, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany. On Monday, Overland Park, joined by officials from Bietigheim-Bissingen, dedicated the park, formally opening it for the community. They also sealed a time capsule filled with items representing the connection between the two cities, which is scheduled to be reopened in 25 years. Dozens of people attended the ceremony, and several children took advantage of the brand new playground throughout the festivities.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Shawnee’s governing body is looking into new safety regulations for motorized scooters in the city. On Sept. 22, the Shawnee Council Committee updating the city’s Municipal Code to include regulations for motorized scooters within the city limits, including new helmet requirements and providing more education for younger riders. The discussion comes as other cities in Johnson County, like Prairie Village and Fairway, discussed restrictions on motorized bikes and scooters, as well as shopping centers in Prairie Village and other parts of Johnson County cracking down on them.
Read more: Johnson County Post

Two of Kansas’ top law enforcement officials talked about recent marijuana raids across the state. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director Tony Mattivi held a press conference Wednesday, Oct. 1 on recent KBI investigations into illegal THC and marijuana products. Kobach said that KBI agents, alongside local law enforcement agencies, conducted 10 raids across the state at businesses, like CBD dispensaries and vape shops, that were allegedly selling illegal THC or marijuana products on Oct. 1.
Read more: KSN-TV

Dodge City police say they are adding a new tool to help fight crime in the community. The department has announced the installation of Flock camera systems. The cameras are capable of reading license plates and recording the make, model, and color of a vehicle. That data is then compared against law enforcement databases to identify stolen vehicles, wanted persons, Amber Alerts, and missing persons. According to the company, Flock license plate camera systems are in use by over 4,800 law enforcement agencies in 49 states.
Read more: KSN-TV

People in Emporia will soon be able to enjoy the benefits of having a local ice rink in the city. A new holiday attraction is set to open in downtown Emporia later this year in time for the winter season. The ice rink, named the ESB Financial Holiday Plaza, comes courtesy of the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and Visit Emporia.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

Arkansas City Public Schools says its new phone policy is already paying off, with administrators, teachers and students reporting calmer classrooms, stronger connections and more focused learning. The “Disconnect to Reconnect” initiative, launched in August, requires students to secure their phones in Yondr pouches during the school day. High school principal Ryan Taylor said the change has created “livelier” classrooms and boosted morale among staff.
Read more: Local Archives – Cowley Post

Tom Roush spoke about his 37 years as an Iola police officer, including a lengthy stint as community resource officer. Roush retired Sunday. It was a match made in heaven. The term community policing, where law enforcement organizations work in league with community groups and citizens to provide safety and security, was taking root in the early 1990s, just as Tom Roush was finding his niche with the Iola Police Department. It wasn’t long after he started with the IPD that Roush agreed to take on the role of community resource officer.
Read more: The Iola Register

Douglas County commissioners have requested that staff complete more research over the next month or two toward implementing tenant right to counsel, though dozens of advocates called for a vote to launch a program this month. The city and county strategic plan to end chronic homelessness, approved in March 2024, includes a goal of establishing “the tenant’s right to legal representation in Douglas County.”
Read more: The Lawrence Times