Aftermath in Leoti, Kansas

Saturday’s storm causing a lot of damage for some residents in Leoti, Kansas. KSN News talked with a farm bureau agent who says the storm kept her busy. Berta Binns says as of yesterday morning she had more than 12 clients filling reports of damage. Residents were sending in pictures of golf size hail, showing their car and house windows broken and reporting farm damage. NWS confirms two tornadoes in western Kansas Binns says although she would like to say this is the first time, they’ve had to deal with a situation like this, these high winds and storms are always likely to cause a headache during this time of year. Now, the only thing Binns hopes is to be able and help residents in that area as soon as possible.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2022-04-25T07:19:25-05:00April 25, 2022|News|

Strong winds cause damage in western Kansas, six possible tornadoes

WESTERN KANSAS (KSNW) — Wind, hail, severe weather, and multiple possible tornadoes went through the western part of Kansas overnight, causing damage across the Sunflower State. The severe weather started Friday evening, with hail ranging from ping pong ball to tennis ball size being reported in Leoti, Colby, Holcomb, Ulysses, Hugoton, and Garden City. As of Saturday morning around 11 a.m., KSN has seen reports of six possible tornadoes, ranging from Sharon Springs to one mile southwest of Oberlin. Sharon Springs sustained large amounts of damage to structures, but Sheriff Unruh says there are no reported injuries.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2022-04-25T07:15:45-05:00April 25, 2022|News|

Strong storm rolls through Sharon Springs, tears roofs off buildings

National Weather Service officials were in western Kansas Saturday to assess damage from a strong storm and a possible tornado that damaged buildings in Sharon Springs and elsewhere, authorities said. Officials say the late Friday storm rolled through numerous Kansas cities, including Grainfield, Mingo and Winona. Photos of damage in Sharon Springs posted on social media sites show roofs that are caved in or gone and debris blown around city streets.
Source: www.joplinglobe.com

Ranson Financial2022-04-25T07:12:18-05:00April 25, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for April 22, 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 Financial2022-04-25T07:10:19-05:00April 25, 2022|News|

Fed’s Mester casts doubt on the need for ‘shock’ interest rate hikes ahead

Cleveland Federal Reserve President Loretta Mester said Friday she’s in favor of raising interest rates quickly to bring down inflation, but not so quickly as to disrupt the economic recovery. That means a strong likelihood of backing a 50 basis point rate hike at the next Fed meeting, and perhaps a few more after, but not going to 75 basis points, as St. Louis Fed President James Bullard suggested earlier this week. A basis point is 0.01 percentage points. “My own view is we don’t need to go there at this point,” Mester said on CNBC’s “Closing Bell” when asked by host Sara Eisen about the 75 basis point move. “I’d rather be more deliberative and more intentional about what we’re planning to do.”
Source: CNBC – Bonds

Ranson Financial2022-04-25T07:01:59-05:00April 24, 2022|News|

KPERS weighs cutting anticipated investment return rate despite political pressure to delay

Trustees of the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System deferred Friday until at least next month a decision about lowering the assumed rate of return on pension investments below the current 7.75% target and dramatically inflating the system’s unfunded liability. Action by the KPERS board in response to soured market conditions would have practical implications in terms of dealing with the system’s long-term liability as well as political ramifications from state legislators opposed to the adjustment. Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson and Senate budget chairman Rick Billinger, both Republicans, advised trustees they weren’t “convinced about the wisdom” of plans to trim the baseline investment assumption. They argued a reduction of 0.25% would deepen the system’s unfunded liability by $600 million.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2022-04-24T18:44:24-05:00April 24, 2022|News|

You should still call, but people can now text 911 in Douglas County

People in Douglas County now have the ability to text 911 in situations where they are unable to safely call, the sheriff’s office announced Friday. The Kansas 911 Coordinating Council began rolling out a Text-to-911 service in recent years. Tony Foster, director of the Douglas County Emergency Communications Center, said in a news release that because the county has a large college student population, it might have a higher utilization of the service. “The Douglas County Emergency Communications Center recognizes this is an important service to offer in our community for those in need of help, but we also want to emphasize calling 911 should be the first resort,” Foster said. “If someone can’t safely call 911 in an emergency, they do have the ability to text us, and we hope this can help more people experiencing dangerous circumstances.”
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2022-04-24T18:42:57-05:00April 24, 2022|News|

Fire board has questions for newly created position

Former Johnson County Fire District 2 Fire Chief Jim Francis was introduced at the Fire District April 12 board meeting as the new county fire service administrator. Francis said his new role was part of the county’s new restructuring of departments. “I am happy to be here and look forward to working with you in the future,” he said. Francis was a fire chief for 25 years and retired from District 2 after 35 years but said there was still work to be done for District 2. Francis said his new county role is to facilitate collaboration and enhance conversations. On October 21, the Johnson County Board of Commissioners authorized two separate agreements splitting and transferring Fire District 2 services to the City of Overland Park and Johnson County Fire District 1. The transition began on November 28.
Source: Gardner News

Ranson Financial2022-04-25T07:07:13-05:00April 24, 2022|News|

Marion County’s new EMS building is ready for business

EMS Director Travis Parmley informed the Marion County Board of Commissioners on Monday that the new building, located in Hillsboro, is completed, and they should be all moved in by the end of the day. Those on duty were able to sleep there that night. There is still landscaping to be done and some other small projects, but overall, the building is ready. The project has been in progress for months and the board and Parmley expressed appreciation that the building was complete. On other building news, Parmley and the board discussed the Annex remodel and various bids for work that is needed. Parmley explained that two main problems are lighting and paint. He also reported that the building needs carpet replaced, electrical work, some windows replaced and more.
Source: Hillsboro Free Press

Ranson Financial2022-04-25T07:07:57-05:00April 24, 2022|News|

Shawnee City Council will vote on prohibiting coliving housing

After neighborhood and city official resistance to two coliving homes in Shawnee, a revised ordinance will go before the City Council on Monday to approve new definitions in single-family residential districts. Last month, the Shawnee Planning Commission proposed that city staff could require unrelated tenants to be subject to one lease per household or to restrict subleases within single-family homes. Rather than discourage transiency by imposing a lease requirement, the staff suggested redefining a “single housekeeping unit” as no more than three unrelated tenants who share a kitchen, household activities or responsibilities, according to city documents.
Source: Kansas City Business Journal

Ranson Financial2022-04-25T07:08:36-05:00April 24, 2022|News|