After disruptions last week, Douglas County leaders say outbursts from audience members will no longer be tolerated at meetings

After members of the audience disrupted the Douglas County Commission’s meeting last week and forced a brief recess, commissioners have made it clear that future outbursts won’t be tolerated. At the beginning of their meeting Wednesday, commissioners took time to clarify when members of the public may be removed from meetings for their behavior. County leaders agreed that members of the public who direct profanity or name-calling toward public servants — such as law enforcement officers or the commissioners — or people who cause excessive outbursts at any point in the meeting will be asked to leave.
Source: LJWorld.com

Ranson Financial2022-04-14T07:26:06-05:00April 14, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for April 13, 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 Financial2022-04-14T07:15:16-05:00April 14, 2022|News|

Governor Laura Kelly Announces Infrastructure Project Funding Grant Awardees

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that $100 million is going toward 35 infrastructure investment projects associated with economic development across the state. This funding is made available through the Building a Stronger Economy (BASE) grant program. “The BASE program is vital to enhancing Kansas’ economic competitiveness,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “These grants provide essential funding to our local communities, positioning them to succeed and be a place of continued economic growth.” As approved by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee, the BASE grant program offers matching funds to address economic development opportunities to expand the state’s base of businesses and residents to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The SPARK Executive Committee allocated $100 million in COVID-19 relief funds to the BASE program.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Ranson Financial2022-04-14T01:42:17-05:00April 14, 2022|News|

Olathe school budget looks bleaker, cutting $28.6 million, eliminating 140 more jobs

The Olathe school district is facing a larger budget deficit than originally announced, as officials now look to cut $28.6 million next school year, including 140 more job eliminations. Last month, officials said that due to declining enrollment and other challenges, the district would need to cut more than $20 million for the next school year. They announced the closure of the district’s virtual school. Reductions in department budgets were expected across the board. Library clerk positions — about 15 total at middle and high schools — as well as kindergarten aides and some other aide positions would be cut.
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2022-04-14T01:40:17-05:00April 14, 2022|News|

Police warn of new trend involving water beads

Over the weekend the El Dorado Police Department received reports from multiple citizen’s regarding individuals who were in a vehicle firing water beads at people at random. While the water beads may initially seem harmless, multiple people received welts after being struck by the beads and one child was almost hit. “This behavior is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” the department said in a statement. “Firing any type of firearm, even a ‘fake gun’ out of a vehicle is extremely dangerous… this has the potential to turn a ‘fun’ trend into a deadly situation.” The department also said this act is considered criminal and prosecution will be requested on individuals involved in these types of investigations.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2022-04-14T01:38:13-05:00April 14, 2022|News|

Axe on Kansas Grocery Tax likely to keep shoppers’ dollars in Atchison

Elimination of the 6.5 percent sales tax on groceries is currently pending in the Kansas Legislature and is an issue that Governor Laura Kelly is hopeful lawmakers will hear all about from constituents throughout the spring break. Kelly said she is hopeful the elimination of the 6.5 percent grocery tax will become effective July 1. “People need it now,” Kelly said in an interview with the Atchison Globe and added Kansas consumers need the relief as inflationary cost of living expenses are on the rise.
Source: Atchison Globe Now

Ranson Financial2022-04-14T01:36:13-05:00April 14, 2022|News|

Wichita City Council approves grants for small business, workforce development programs

Wichita City Council members have approved a first round of grants for programs to help small businesses and promote workforce development. The city received $72 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, and $10 million of that will be dedicated to workforce and business efforts. The council approved a total of $6.3 million in grants to 14 organizations. WSU Tech is getting about 60 percent of the funding from the first round, for partnerships with the Wichita school district and other agencies to train workers for health care and manufacturing jobs.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2022-04-14T01:28:20-05:00April 14, 2022|News|

Recycling alive in Newton but won’t be cheap

Continued curbside recycling service in Newton now hinges on 300 households being willing to pay $151 a year to continue having service. The City of Newton revealed private recycling bids for service at its Tuesday meeting. Nisly Brothers out of Hutchinson was the only company to respond to a bid request for service from the city and submitted two options. The first option would cost $8.80 a month to provide and bill recycling to all city customers. The other bid cost $12.63 per month to be assessed to only recycling customers. Option two would have Nisly handle the billing. The bid is tied to a five-year contract, and costs are also tied to inflation rates of recycling processing charges. It also requires a minimum of 300 customers to be initiated.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2022-04-14T01:26:40-05:00April 14, 2022|News|

Halstead Fire gets hoses checked

The Halstead Fire Department completed the annual testing of all its hoses on Monday. In the past, the department has done hose testing during a training night, but this year for the first time, they hired a company to do it for them. Division Chief Doug Hoffman credited Burrton Fire Department with doing the research to find FireCatt, a professional hose testing company out of Michigan. Halstead piggybacked while they were in the area. “We looked at it and considered the labor-saving aspect,” Hoffman said. “They do it in one day and they’re done.” Burrton was going to have their hoses tested this Thursday.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2022-04-14T01:24:02-05:00April 14, 2022|News|

Wichita renters feeling the effects of inflation

Inflation is paving a tough road ahead for renters in Wichita. Director for the Center for Economic Development Business Research at Wichita State University Jeremy Hill said, he’s been following rent rates in Wichita since the start of this year. He said since January 2020, rent in the Midwest has outpaced the average rent across the United States. “Instead of the nation growing a lot faster in rental prices, it is the Wichita market going a lot faster than the nation,” Hill said. Demetri Dehncke-White chose to move when facing a rise in rent. The struggle to find a new place to rent was hard, and experts said Dehncke-White is not alone. “Nothing was really set in stone until they told us that, ‘Yeah, we’re gonna have to raise your rent to what the current market rate was.’” Dehncke-White said.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2022-04-14T01:12:57-05:00April 14, 2022|News|