Municipal News & Jobs

The city of Plevna, with a population of fewer than 100 residents, does not carry insurance on its municipal buildings. Many residents are also facing property damage at their own homes, leaving limited local resources to fund repairs to public structures.
Source: KSN-TV

Recovery is just beginning in Grinnell after an EF-3 tornado struck the town. Community leaders say financial donations will be key.
Source: KSN-TV

The first order of business for Brian Wells, who will become Marion city administrator June 16, will be getting to know the community and council and then deciding the best paths to take from there, he said in an interview last week.
Source: Marion County RECORD

A major manufacturing plant in Wamego will stay open under new ownership. A Caterpillar Inc. spokesperson confirmed plant workers were informed the facility will stay in the Caterpillar family and pass into the hands of a subsidiary of the company: Solar Turbines. The facility currently employs hundreds of workers locally who will now get to keep their jobs.
Source: KSN-TV

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.

Treasury yields moved higher on Wednesday as investors feared a new U.S. tax bill could worsen the country’s deficit following a Moody’s downgrade of the U.S. credit rating. At 6:57 a.m. ET, the 30-year Treasury bond yield was up over 6 basis points at 5.03%. The 10-year yield was more than 5 basis points higher at 4.537%. The 2-year yield advanced just over 2 basis points, reaching 3.994%. One basis point is equivalent to 0.01%, and yields and prices move in opposite directions. Investors are keeping an eye on discussions around U.S. President Donald Trump’s budget bill as some Republicans said they wouldn’t support the bill without larger deductions for state and local taxes. The bill could increase the U.S. government’s deficit — which has become a cause for alarm in the past week.
Source: Bonds

Municipals were little changed Tuesday as U.S. Treasury yields rose out long and equities ended down. The two-year ratio Tuesday was at 72%, the five-year at 72%, the 10-year at 73% and the 30-year at 90%, according to Municipal Market Data’s 3 p.m. ET read. ICE Data Services had the two-year at 70%, the five-year at 71%, the 10-year at 73% and the 30-year at 90% at 4 p.m.
As the second half of the month gets underway, munis are seeing small gains of 0.1%, bringing year-to-date returns to negative 0.96%. This compares to 2024, when returns for the month were 1.02% at the midway point of May, said Jason Wong, vice president of municipals at AmeriVet Securities.
Source: The Latest

A vibrant transformation is in store for the parking structure outside of Merriam Plaza Library and the Merriam Community Center. The Merriam City Council last week unanimously approved a $50,000 contract with New Orleans-based artist duo Milagros Collective for a vibrant, colorful mural to span the stairs in and around the parking structure at 6040 Slater St. This is part of the city’s larger public art master plan, which is an overarching effort to bring more public art to Merriam’s streets.
Source: Johnson County Post

With Memorial Day on the horizon, Riverview Cemetery is getting a little extra attention—but for Sexton Marcus Lynn, the work never really stops. Home to more than 13,300 graves, Riverview is managed by Lynn and one other full-time city employee. While other departments help when they can, much of the weekly upkeep is Lynn’s responsibility.
Source: KSN-TV

Recovery efforts continue in Grinnell after a tornado hit the town on Sunday. The destruction has nearly leveled the west side of town. From above, the scope of the destruction becomes clearer. The Gove County Sheriff says it will still be a while before rebuilding begins. Debris won’t be cleared out for at least a week, but the sheriff hopes to have the town cemetery prepared for Memorial Day weekend.
Source: KSN-TV

A disaster relief center has been set up in Plevna after a tornado entered the town late Sunday night into early Monday morning, leaving behind damage to buildings, vehicles, and trees. Ten minutes away in Abbyville, a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) serves a different purpose than the relief center. It’s much more focused on getting families and homeowners set up for long-term relief than providing food, water and supplies. The goal is to take people in and assess their needs.
Source: KSN-TV

Hays is seeking feedback on a proposed ordinance allowing residents to raise chickens. A community survey is now available online, and residents are encouraged to participate to guide the City Commission’s decision-making process. Under the suggested guidelines, residents could keep up to five hens, while roosters would not be permitted. Chickens would only be allowed on properties with permanent structures and must be kept within an enclosed, secure coop.
Source: KSN-TV

Topeka Police and Topeka Fire competed for the most blood donations with Monday’s 9th annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive. Those donations go to support patients all around the Sunflower State. A member of the local Red Cross says that while we aren’t in a critical blood shortage now, this time of year is imperative for blood drives. The summer season has unique challenges that make it a difficult time to collect donations.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Public health leaders in Douglas County are concerned about a spike in suspected opioid overdose cases. It’s said to be twice the number of cases they’re accustomed to seeing. The community’s public health department isn’t sure why this uptick exists. Emergency response workers in Douglas County say they see a steady stream of suspected opioid overdose cases, as many emergency medical teams do. Since early 2025, that first response agency has seen a 69 percent increase in total incidents, 83 percent of which involves a patient needing an ambulance to reach emergency care.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Year-round fireworks sales will be prohibited within Wichita city limits, despite a new state law allowing it.The Wichita City Council unanimously approved a new ordinance prohibiting the year-round sale of fireworks and prohibiting permanent firework retailers in the city.
Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |

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.

A company hopes to infuse the Topeka housing market with reasonably priced homes produced in a fraction of the time it takes to build traditional stick or modular housing. The answer to Topeka’s problem, its leaders say, is to produce 3D printed homes.
Source: CJonline

Twenty-one tornadoes were reported to have touched down late May 18 in western and central Kansas, according to a graphic posted on the website of the weather service’s Topeka office. Tornadoes damaged homes just before 7 p.m. at Grinnell, along Interstate 70 in northeast Kansas, and just before midnight in the area of Plevna, southwest of Hutchinson in south-central Kansas, the weather service said. No injuries had been reported.
Source: CJonline

An ongoing legal battle between a Kansas town and a burger joint over an unfinished mural is sparking controversy in the community, with lawyers claiming the city violated free speech rights. Steve Howard, owner of The Cozy Inn, filed a lawsuit last year after the city of Salina told him he had to stop painting a mural on the side of his restaurant because it violated city codes for signage. The Kansas Justice Institute, which filed the suit on behalf of Howard, said the city’s actions violate free speech.
Source: Wichita Kansas Local News, Crime & More |