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 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.

On the heels of a stronger-than-expected jobs report and elevated inflation readings, the Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady at the end of its two-day meeting this week.
Source: CNBC

In Augusta, residents will decide whether to approve $55 million for USD 402. Further west, in Ness County, voters in USD 303 will decide on a $24 million bond.
Source: KSN-TV

Water was released Monday morning from the Cedar Bluff Reservoir to aid Russell and Hays, which face drought conditions that city leaders expect to worsen. Leaders from both cities said this is only a band-aid, not a long-term solution.
Source: KSN-TV

Crews were in Iola Thursday to begin restoration work on the old Iola movie theater. Work will include a new marquee and replacing windows and doors…. The historic theater, built in 1931, is being restored through efforts of the Iola Theatre Association, Inc., a local nonprofit. Funding includes $3.2 million through the 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The group also has raised $1 million through private donations and two grants.
Source: The Iola Register

The City of Lawrence is tightening requirements for people to receive homelessness services, and people who previously lived in town, relocated elsewhere and returned are now “considered non-residents” until they’ve established housing.
Source: The Lawrence Times

AT&T was fined $60,000 by the Kansas Corporation Commission for 60 violations in a 30-day span of the Kansas Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act. That state law and KCC regulations require AT&T to timely locate underground lines, like when a homeowner or contractor calls 811 before digging.
Source: CJonline

Hundreds of cyclists from across the Four-State area and beyond took over the streets and gravel roads of Crawford and Cherokee County on Saturday with the return of “Coal Miner’s Gravel.”
Source: – Latest Stories

Action from the Texas legislature threatens to derail a long-awaited rail expansion project that would make Newton a hub for Amtrak. The Texas Legislature removed $2.6 million in funding to operate its Heartland Flyer Route. The $337 billion budget is not finalized, and subject to approval of a conference committee of the state’s legislature.
Source: Harvey County Now

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.

Less than a year ago, the Federal Reserve took decisive action to bolster the U.S. economy. With inflation easing and the labor market starting to soften, the central bank opted to go big, lowering interest rates by half a percentage point and signaling further cuts to come. Rather than a panicky response to a crisis situation, the decision amounted to the Fed taking out some insurance to protect the labor market from weakening too much. In a barrage of attacks on the central bank recently, President Trump called on Jerome H. Powell, the chair, to lower borrowing costs in a similar fashion to prevent the economy from slowing down. But the Fed no longer has the flexibility to move pre-emptively.
Source: NYT > Business

Rob Steinmetz, a longtime resident of the Moody Hills neighborhood in northern Overland Park, isn’t so sure why the “beautiful” and mature oak tree in front of his yard had to be ripped out. Dozens of other mature trees have also recently met the same fate across the Moody Hills neighborhood. The street, once shaded with towering trees, is now lined with stump after stump. It’s all part of a street reconstruction project that will also completely overhaul other infrastructure in the Moody Hills neighborhood. The project is just one of several planned over the next decade or so that seek to rebuild aging neighborhood streets, which are often lined with mature trees. The need to renovate aging streets often comes into conflict with the city’s long-term commitment to promote a healthy tree canopy and can make for a tough balance to strike.
Source: Johnson County Post

Plans are quickly moving forward to redevelop a decommissioned power plant in northeast Kansas City, Kansas, as a data center. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, on Thursday approved an option purchase agreement with Houston-based PowerTransitions for the sale of the Quindaro power station.
Source: Kansas City Business News – Local Kansas City News | Kansas City Business Journal

Central Kansas Mental Health Center and the Ottawa County Health Department invite the public to Roots of Resilience: A Rural Mental Health Gathering on Saturday, June 7 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at the Minneapolis Public Library Meeting Room, 519 Delia Ave. This free community event is designed to spark open conversation, reduce stigma, and connect individuals in rural and farming communities with tools and resources for mental health and suicide prevention. Whether you’re a farmer, rancher, business owner, parent, or neighbor, all are welcome to attend and participate in the discussion.
Source: KCLY Radio

On Wednesday, April 30, Governor Laura Kelly issued a state of disaster emergency to temporarily waive hours-of-service regulations for motor carriers in Kansas. The move comes in response to a fuel shortage affecting parts of Kansas and neighboring states, which has led to long wait times at fuel terminals and disrupted supply deliveries. The waiver aims to give fuel transport drivers more flexibility to meet demand and ease distribution delays. Diesel has been impacted first, but gasoline supplies may also be affected if the shortage continues.
Source: KCLY Radio

Service providers and housing officials in Kansas launched their “Functional Zero” campaign to combat homelessness, with a focus on ensuring more people remain housed than become homeless. At a summit in Topeka, Kansas was declared a “Built for Zero” state, meaning regions will aim to reach “functional zero”—a measure of how effectively a community addresses homelessness. This goal, developed by Community Solutions, helps communities track progress in solving homelessness for specific populations like veterans or the chronically homeless.
Source: KCLY Radio

The changing political landscape around clean energy makes for an uncertain future for Kansas students training for jobs at the multi-billion-dollar Panasonic Energy plant in De Soto, Kansas.
In order to help build the workforce of the new electric battery plant in De Soto, Kansas, Panasonic Energy partnered with community colleges, including in Kansas, to create a pathway into a career at the manufacturing hub expected to employ 4,000 workers.
Source: Up To Date

Runners from across the country participated in the Prairie Fire Spring Races on Sunday. Since 2010, the Prairie Fire Marathon has grown into a premier running event, attracting more than 48,000 participants. Many have traveled to Wichita from all 50 states and 15 foreign countries. The Prairie Fire race series is split into two parts: spring and fall. The spring races are held on the first Sunday in May, while the fall races take place on the second Sunday in October. This year’s spring events included a half marathon, a 5K, and the “Mayor’s Friendly 5K Run.”
Source: KSN-TV

More than just a building, Park City’s new senior center is set to become a hub for connection, activity, and community for residents 55 and older. City leaders broke ground Saturday on the long-awaited 13,000-square-foot facility that promises to expand wellness, socialization, and engagement opportunities in one of the city’s fastest-growing areas. The new facility, located at 1811 Stuart Drive near Hydraulic and 61st, replaces a 4,000-square-foot building constructed in 1997. City leaders say the current center no longer meets the needs of participants or the range of activities offered.
Source: KSN-TV