High jumpers bring Beloit, Kansas connection to WSU

Beloit, Kansas only has a population of 3,000 citizens, which makes the connection between WSU high jumpers Brady Palen and Davis Dubbert even more special. Both Palen and Dubbert ended up at WSU following four years at St. John’s High School in northern Kansas. The pair’s paths crossed for one season in 2017 with Dubbert, a senior at the time, and Palen, a freshman, placing in first and second place at the KSHSAA State Championships. “It’s been fun for me because I find that sort of thing to be a really wonderful part of college athletics,” Director of Track and Field Steve Rainbolt said. “For two guys to be teammates like that in high school and to be first and second in state track at the same tiny little high school, then to go to college at the same NCAA Division-I school and to be first and second last year at the conference championship—I just think it’s a wonderful story, and I love it.”
Source: The Sunflower

Ranson Financial2022-05-25T00:28:18-05:00May 25, 2022|News|

Humboldt voters OK school bond issue

By a 2-to-1 margin, USD 258 voters approved a $17.45 million school bond issue in a special election held Tuesday. With fewer than 20% of voters taking advantage of the opportunity to weigh in, the vote was 255 in favor of the measure to 124 opposed. The district has 1,917 registered voters.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2022-05-25T00:11:29-05:00May 25, 2022|News|

KU Leading Project To Test New Business Model For Rural, Weekly Newspapers

Business has changed since 1833. One would be hard-pressed to find businesses operating with the same model that was in place when Andrew Jackson was in the White House. But in the case of newspapers, many are still operating with the same business model established when Benjamin Day opened the first penny press nearly 200 years ago. A University of Kansas professor of journalism is leading a project to test a new model based on research with publishers and readers to help rural newspapers adapt, survive and thrive. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Teri Finneman, associate professor of journalism at KU, took part in an oral history project to help document the experiences of rural, weekly newspapers. … This summer, the project will implement and test a model that moves away from heavy reliance on advertising and cheap subscriptions. After a year of testing, if the new model is successful in use of memberships, e-newsletters, events and new content direction, plans call to distribute a new model available for rural weeklies across the country.
Source: KU News

Ranson Financial2022-05-24T14:09:45-05:00May 24, 2022|News|

Lawrence Public Schools cut 72 teaching jobs; will add third Montessori classroom

The Lawrence school district has cut six dozen education positions, 11.5 classified staff positions and 6.5 district-level administrator positions, according to a staff presentation Monday evening. The school board made about $6.41 million in budget cuts this spring. The board gave staff guidance on where to make cuts but allowed staff to make decisions about which specific positions would be cut, and from which buildings. “Reductions were made through retirements and exits,” Kristen Ryan, executive director of human resources, told the board. “We did not have to use our reduction in force policy, and teachers whose positions were reduced were given the opportunity to transfer to open positions before those positions were open to external candidates.”
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2022-05-24T07:52:37-05:00May 24, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for May 23, 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.

Ranson Financial2022-05-24T07:39:45-05:00May 24, 2022|News|

Fed rate-hike pause in September may ‘make sense,’ Bostic says

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic said policy makers could potentially pause interest-rate increases in September after hiking by a half point at each of their next two meetings. “I have got a baseline view where for me I think a pause in September might make sense,” Bostic told reporters Monday following a speech to the Rotary Club of Atlanta. “After we get through the summer and we think about where we are in terms of policy, I think a lot of it will depend on the on-the-ground dynamics that we are starting to see. My motto is observe and adapt.” Bostic repeated that he supports Chair Jerome Powell’s plan to raise rates by a half point at the Federal Open Market Committee meetings in June and July, adding the caveat that an upside surprise on prices could call for more aggressive action. Inflation has been running close to a four-decade high and at rates more than triple the central bank’s 2% target.
Source: The Bond Buyer

Ranson Financial2022-05-23T23:56:04-05:00May 23, 2022|News|

Johnson County to vote on $1 million loan for Shawnee affordable housing project this week

The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners will vote Thursday on whether to invest $1 million in affordable housing in Shawnee. At last week’s regular meeting, the board was asked by developers for $1 million of community support funds to help construct the Hedge Lane Apartments in Shawnee. The project is a joint venture between Sunflower Development Group and Consolidated Housing Solutions. The apartment complex would have 144 units and be located on Hedge Lane Terrace in Shawnee. If the board approves the loan, units would likely be available to tenants by next spring or summer, Jay Leipzig, director of Planning, Housing and Community Development for Johnson County told The Star.
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2022-05-23T23:53:02-05:00May 23, 2022|News|

Wichita police officers now carrying Narcan, help stop overdose

“A car pulled in the driver flagged down the sergeant and said ‘help me, my friends dying’.” This was the scene Friday at the patrol west police substation in Wichita. Wichita Police Captain, Travis Rakestraw says a Sargent with the department immediately ran over to the car. He determined that the passenger was overdosing on a fake painkiller, potentially laced with Fentanyl. Rakestraw says that sergeant proceeded to use Narcan on the 20-year-old. “He applied two doses to this individual who within a very short amount of time started to come out of it became responsive and breathing better.” This moment was payoff for new policy WPD put into place last month, supplying some of its patrol officers and supervisors with Narcan.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2022-05-23T23:42:23-05:00May 23, 2022|News|

Benefit concert held for Andover Tornado relief

Artists and vendors didn’t hesitate to pitch in. “There was no hesitation. We enjoy getting paid at times, but we believe in giving back. All of the bands that are here today are donating their services. We were honored to be asked to assist,” Mike Furches, a musician at the concert said Sunday. “Wichita is a blessed community. We are not the only band here. There are like 12 other bands here. Musicians generally are people that care. We care about the victims. Thankfully, there was no loss of life, but there was loss of property. We want those families in Andover to know that we love and we care for them and we are here to serve them and hopefully raise some money today to provide some for their needs.”
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2022-05-23T23:36:30-05:00May 23, 2022|News|

New Kansas law will let Walmart, Gatik put autonomous vehicles on the road

Autonomous vehicle company Gatik and its customers, including retail giant Walmart, now will be able to put medium-duty driverless delivery vehicles on the road in Kansas after Gov. Laura Kelly’s signing of a bill last week. The law allows fully autonomous trucks — meaning without a human safety driver in the cab — and makes Kansas the 25th state to pass such legislation, Gatik said in a release announcing the expansion of its operations into Kansas. An “autonomous vehicle advisory committee” the law created will launch to provide standards, education and training, Forbes reports. The new statute applies to more than simply Gatik, which is based in Mountain View, California. It covers driverless-capable vehicles less than 34,000 pounds and with just two axles. That means the legislation includes driverless taxis, Forbes reports. The provision limiting the weight and axles expires July 2, 2025.
Source: Kansas City Business News

Ranson Financial2022-05-24T07:35:34-05:00May 23, 2022|News|