Johnson County emergency responders deploy to protect Kansas from wildfires

Emergency responders from the Kansas side of the metro have deployed to help protect the rest of the state. Members of the Johnson County Wildland Task Force deployed to Salina Tuesday afternoon. It includes employees from Northwest Consolidated Fire District, City of Olathe Fire Department, and City of Shawnee, KS Government Fire Department. The group shared a video showing employees packing up to leave and arriving at their posts. A utility vehicle, three brush trucks and one tender have also been deployed as part of the task force. The Kansas Forest Service and Kansas Division of Emergency Management made the decision to activate the Task Force after Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly issued a State of Disaster Emergency due to the high threat of wildfires across the state this week.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2022-04-08T00:45:47-05:00April 8, 2022|News|

SE Kansas schools band together for Parsons Fire Dept.

Two southeast Kansas schools are uniting to help their local fire department. Students from Labette Community College and Parsons High School have constructed a fire training box — made from an old shipping container. They did so after the Parsons Fire Department approached the Workforce Education Department at LCC about the project. The Department has used similar containers at different training events. “I believe this is very beneficial, it helps our students out with live-training exercises in the welding world and it helps them prepare for the manufacturing we do in this area,” said Travis Brumback, PHS Welding Instructor.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2022-04-08T00:44:20-05:00April 8, 2022|News|

Columbus Schools awarded Waste Tire Grant

A southeast Kansas school district is making things more accessible for its students. The Columbus School District has been named one of the recipients for the 2022 Waste Tire Grant. It’s an annual award from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. $9,000 will go towards resurfacing the playground at Park Elementary with recycled tires. It will help make the playground ADA accessible — which has been a goal for Superintendent Brian Smith. “I wanted to make all of our playgrounds and so by doing this at Park and then with the bond issue at Central will be moving the students from here up there, that will allow us to build new playgrounds there and actually make all our playgrounds accessible,” said Brian Smith, USD 493 Superintendent.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2022-04-08T00:42:34-05:00April 8, 2022|News|

Topeka finishes cleaning up “Tent City”

The City of Topeka has finished its clean-up efforts at a large homeless camp as of Wednesday. The city began to clear out “Tent City” on Tuesday for public health and safety reasons. City of Topeka Director of Communications, Gretchen Spiker, said that the homeless who were located on the property would be temporarily relocated and would be able to return to the site once clean-up ended on April 6 at 5:00 p.m. Tents still remain but are located on railroad property which the City of Topeka has no jurisdiction over. As of 7 p.m. on Wednesday, no one had moved back into the site to set up tents in the cleared area.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Ranson Financial2022-04-08T00:40:51-05:00April 8, 2022|News|

Riley County seeks input from residents on healthcare

Riley County is hosting several public meetings during April and May for residents to share their perspectives on healthcare, financial resources and neighborhood environments. Officials said the discussion will help guide the top priorities for health in Riley County for the next three to five years. “The 2020 community needs assessment gave us a good idea of the needs in Riley County,” Riley County Health Educator Shanika Rose said in a statement. “Now we’re asking residents to help decide on top priorities, so we can address what’s most important to them.”
Source: themercury.com

Ranson Financial2022-04-08T07:03:04-05:00April 8, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for April 6, 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 Financial2022-04-07T07:10:13-05:00April 7, 2022|News|

Fed’s Patrick Harker is ‘acutely concerned’ about inflation, sees ‘deliberate’ rate hikes

Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Patrick Harker joined the chorus of central bankers warning about inflation and the interest rate hikes needed to control rising prices. In remarks Wednesday, the policymaker said he is worried about an inflation rate running at its highest level in 40 years. He anticipates the Fed will respond by raising rates and reducing the level of bonds it is holding on its balance sheet. “Inflation is running far too high, and I am acutely concerned about this,” Harker told the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. “The bottom line is that generous fiscal policies, supply chain disruptions, and accommodative monetary policy have pushed inflation far higher than I — and my colleagues on the [Federal Open Market Committee] — are comfortable with,” he said. “I’m also worried that inflation expectations could become unmoored.”
Source: CNBC – Bonds

Ranson Financial2022-04-07T01:48:32-05:00April 7, 2022|News|

Johnson County will reconsider solar farm rules that are among the strictest in the country

After a four-hour public hearing of speakers solidly in support of solar energy development, the Johnson County Commission voted to send proposed solar farm regulations back to the county planning commission with suggestions that would make them less restrictive. The 6-1 decision, with Commissioner Charlotte O’Hara the lone vote against, takes aim at three proposed rules that govern: how big a solar farm could be, how long it could be in operation and how close it could be to a city limit. Those three items were made more restrictive during a politically charged planning commission meeting late last year and have since been criticized as being so unfriendly that they would discourage all solar development in the county.
Source: KCUR News

Ranson Financial2022-04-07T01:45:17-05:00April 7, 2022|News|

Emergency rental assistance still available; guidelines changed to help more Kansans at risk for eviction

The Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance program is accepting applications for rent, utility and internet assistance from tenants and landlords who have experienced financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Known as KERA, recent updates have allowed the state to serve more Kansans, according to a news release from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. Here are the changes: Eligible households may receive up to 18 months of assistance — an increase from the previous 15-month maximum; Recipients may receive a lump sum of $900 in past-due or future internet assistance — an increase from the previous $750 limit; and Households that have endured financial hardship at any point during the pandemic may now qualify for assistance.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2022-04-07T01:40:45-05:00April 7, 2022|News|

Manhattan overturns Historic Resource Board’s denial of Museum of Art and Light

Manhattan city commissioners on Tuesday approved moving forward with the Museum of Art and Light project despite questions emerging about its impact on historic aspects of downtown. The commission unanimously overturned the Historic Resources Board’s denial of the planned museum. In addition to disagreeing with the board’s view that the nonprofit museum would have a harmful effect on the Downtown Historic District, commissioners also cited that the $44 million museum would generate too much economic benefit to stop it now. During its March 28 meeting, the board voted to deny the project 3-2, finding that the project, set to be built on Third Street between Houston and Pierre streets, would damage or destroy historic resources. Board members said they were concerned about the museum’s height relative to other buildings in the immediate area. Plans call for the museum to be 65 feet tall.
Source: themercury.com

Ranson Financial2022-04-07T07:05:54-05:00April 7, 2022|News|