Kansas universities get $24 million to research disaster response tools

15 Wednesday, June 15

Kansas universities get $24 million to research disaster response tools

info2022-06-15T19:36:43-05:00June 15th, 2022|

A new research initiative is providing universities and colleges in Kansas with $24 million to research how the state can better support residents before and after disaster emergencies. The Adaptive and Resilient Infrastructures Driven by Social Equity, or ARISE, project is a federally funded program through the National Science Foundation. The five-year initiative will partner 17 institutions ranging from universities to business leaders, health professionals and other community stakeholders to advance the resiliency of the state infrastructure. The project involves $20 million in federal funding, and an additional $4 million from the state. Source: Atchison Globe Now

15 Wednesday, June 15

NOTO bike ordinance changed by Topeka City Council

info2022-06-16T08:08:22-05:00June 15th, 2022|

The Topeka City Council is changing the rules on a recently-passed ordinance that bans bikes from sidewalks in North Topeka. On Tuesday, the Topek City Council voted to continue to allow bicycles, scooters, skateboards and roller skates on sidewalks on Northeast Morse Street and the bridge from Oakland to North Topeka. Starting next month, riders will no longer be allowed on the rest of the sidewalks in the North Topeka Arts District. Shop owners and people who frequent NOTO might be aware of the small sidewalks. This is the main reason for this new city ordinance. Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala says to [...]

15 Wednesday, June 15

It could cost more to rent a golf cart, buy a membership at Wichita golf courses

info2022-06-15T18:43:08-05:00June 15th, 2022|

Wichita golfers could pay 15% more for memberships and $1.50 more for golf carts if park board-approved increases receive City Hall’s OK. The Board of Park Commissioners will propose the price increases to the City Council sometime next month. The park board agreed on the proposal during a meeting June 13. The plan to raise prices comes roughly three months after the council voted not to privatize the city’s four golf courses. Annual golf memberships vary in price, with the most expensive one $114.44 for a couples’ membership. That means the biggest dollar increase for memberships would be around $17. Director [...]

15 Wednesday, June 15

ReConnect Program Webinars FY2022

info2022-06-15T10:52:49-05:00June 15th, 2022|

Preparing for ReConnect Round 4 Presented by USDA Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service (RUS), this webinar will provide information about the ReConnect Program, and help prepare applicants ahead of the next Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). Staff from RUS will conduct two webinars that provide a brief overview of the ReConnect Program and helpful tips about assembling portions of the application ahead of time. Both webinars will cover the same information: What applicants can do now to prepare for the next FOA System registration and applicant identification requirements A high-level look at eligibility requirements Tips on the application system An opportunity to [...]

15 Wednesday, June 15

Here’s everything the Fed is expected to announce, including the biggest rate hike in 28 years

info2022-06-15T07:55:56-05:00June 15th, 2022|

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday is expected to do something it hasn't done in 28 years — increase interest rates by three quarters of a percentage point. In response to soaring inflation and volatile financial markets, the central bank will hike the rate that banks charge each other for overnight borrowing to a range of 1.5%-1.75%, where it hasn't been since before the pandemic crisis began. ... Goldman Sachs said new language in the statement could indicate that the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee "anticipates that raising the target range expeditiously will be appropriate until it sees clear and convincing evidence [...]

15 Wednesday, June 15

Lack of affordable and other housing options in Lawrence highlighted in homeless needs report

info2022-06-15T07:41:39-05:00June 15th, 2022|

City leaders on Tuesday heard some of the findings of a study that examined homelessness in the area as well as factors that affect the community’s ability to address the issue, including the shortage of affordable housing options and a lack of permanent supportive housing. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission received a presentation from the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research on the 2021-2022 Douglas County Homelessness Interim Needs Assessment. Some of the key early findings of the study are that the current housing options in the community are not enough to meet [...]

15 Wednesday, June 15

Douglas County leaders hold hearing about proposal for new city

info2022-06-15T07:39:48-05:00June 15th, 2022|

The County Commission will have the final say in deciding whether Clearfield may incorporate as a new city, and Wednesday night’s hearing is a requirement in the process for doing so. During the hearing, commissioners will hear testimony from people who reside within the 18-square-mile territory that petitioners are proposing as the new city’s boundaries. There are more than a dozen factors that will ultimately inform the commissioners’ decision, including the likelihood of significant growth there or in adjacent areas within the next 10 years and the new city’s proximity to other cities nearby. Source: LJWorld

15 Wednesday, June 15

Municipal Bond Trends for June 14, 2022

info2022-06-15T07:34:18-05:00June 15th, 2022|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.

15 Wednesday, June 15

Muni yields rise further ahead of Fed rate hikes

info2022-06-15T18:52:06-05:00June 15th, 2022|

Municipals were weaker amid larger losses in U.S. Treasuries while equities ended mixed as markets were quieter ahead of the FOMC rate-hike decision Wednesday. Triple-A benchmark yields were cut five to eight basis points, depending on the scale, while USTs rose six to 11 basis points. Muni-to-UST ratios were at 66% in five years, 84% in 10 years and 99% in 30, according to Refinitiv MMD's 3 p.m. read. ICE Data Services had the five at 67%, the 10 at 83% and the 30 at 98% at a 4 p.m. read. In the primary, J.P. Morgan Securities priced for Riverside County, [...]

15 Wednesday, June 15

City Council votes to end extra sales tax, improvement district in northeast Wichita

info2022-06-15T07:28:49-05:00June 15th, 2022|

Wichita City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday to end an extra one-cent sales tax that helped fund public improvements to go along with a development near K-96 and Greenwich Road. The district northeast of the interchange includes the Wichita Sports Forum and a number of restaurants and retail stores. The district was created for a 22-year term that would have ended in October, 2036, but strong retail sales growth in the area will allow the city to pay off the bonds on the public improvements and end the tax on September 30th of this year. The sales tax that was in [...]