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.
Johnson County officials will decide Jan. 6 whether to end their school mask mandate as COVID-19 cases continue to rise ahead of the busy holiday travel season and as Kansas confirmed its first case of the contagious omicron variant. The Johnson County Board of Commissioners on Thursday set the date for the much-anticipated vote almost a week after 26 local elected officials signed a letter demanding the board drop its health order in favor of letting school districts determine their masking rules. The current county order, in place since August, requires masks in schools that serve students as old as sixth grade, an effort to stem the virus’s spread while vaccination rates among children remain low. The order is in effect through May 31, unless the commission amends or revokes it.
Source: Joco 913 News
Don’t forget about Elsmore. That was Brenda Boyle’s request to county commissioners, as she asked for help with stormwater projects. Elsmore received $10,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and decided to use the money to replace, repair and clean outdated whistles and ditches. It’s an important project for the city, Boyle said, and they want to maximize this opportunity. Historically, Elsmore hasn’t asked a lot of the county, Boyle said.
Source: The Iola Register
At the December 14th, 2021, Council meeting, the City Council officially accepted the Strategic Plan that they worked with Wichita State University’s Public Policy & Management Center to develop for the City of Andover. The Strategic Plan includes a Mission Statement, Vision Statement, and Values. It also identifies Goals and Objectives along with strategies to help implement them.
Source: Andover – News Flash
Wichita is about to take “a tremendous step forward” with two substantial new developments adjacent to Riverfront Stadium at Maple and McLean, said Assistant City Manager Scot Rigby. The $65 million project includes an eight-story hotel, a six-story office building with an adjoining 200-spot parking structure and riverfront improvements. It’s the Wind Surge baseball team’s first step toward developing four acres around the ballpark — the same four acres the city was heavily criticized for selling for a $1 each to the team.
Source: Wichita Eagle
What is KDOT seeing in terms of widespread damage – Sign damage along many highways in central and western Kansas due to the high winds. Is there a timetable for repairs? – Started working on the emergency repair effort Wednesday. Not an exact timetable; as soon as temporary or new signs are available. Working with other KDOT offices and producers to accomplish this. What’s the danger when this happens – We are wanting to alert the public of this situation, so they use extra caution when driving. Are crews working now? Crews are working extra hours on this.
Source: KAKE – News
Kansas health officials have confirmed the first case of the COVID-19 omicron variant in the state. Janet Stanek, acting secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said laboratory tests confirmed that an adult in Franklin County in northeastern Kansans was infected with the highly contagious variant of the coronavirus. The unidentified individual was fully vaccinated but had not received a booster shot, the agency said Thursday afternoon. “The detection of the variant does not come as a surprise,” Stanek said. “This virus is highly infectious and transmittable.” Though breakthrough infections are on the rise, officials say vaccination remains the best protection against serious illness and hospitalization.
Source: KCUR News
Several Kansas school districts are dealing with damage from Wednesday’s wind event. Great Bend High School suffered roof damage due to the wind and classes were canceled Thursday. Gas service and heat were also disconnected. Further north in Russell, classes were canceled due to wind damage and area wildfires. Russell recorded a 100-mph gust which knocked out power. In Caldwell, the elementary school gymnasium roof was torn off and landed on the secondary building. Caldwell also canceled classes as a result. The district said announcements will be forthcoming.
Source: KSN-TV
The bond rating agency Moody’s has downgraded Overland Park’s credit rating, due to pandemic stresses on the hospitality industry and the city’s convention center hotel. The city’s general obligation unlimited tax rating dropped from Aaa to Aa1 on Dec. 6. Triple A is the highest rating on the Moody’s scale, and Aa1 the second highest. General obligation tax bonds are those a city puts its full faith and credit behind, under the knowledge that the bond can be repaid through taxes. Moody’s also revised Overland Park’s outlook from “stable” to “negative.” An explanation on the Moody’s website notes that the city has $99.6 million in this type of debt.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Moving from New York City to Tulsa, Oklahoma, might seem an unlikely choice for a young African American scientist like Christopher Bland. His new home is known as an old oil boomtown—and as the site of a massacre of Black residents 100 years ago. But life in his sixth-story West Harlem walkup was starting to wear on him, just as remote work in the pandemic freed him to live anywhere and still conduct his pediatric health environmental research for a Manhattan hospital. And Tulsa’s new artistic vibe reminded him of Athens, Georgia, where he studied at the University of Georgia.
Source: Route Fifty – All Content
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