For decades, this police helicopter was a familiar sight in Topeka skies

For 38 years, a police helicopter was a familiar sight in the skies above Topeka. … Patrol officers liked having the “eye in the sky,” saying its presence made them safer and aided them in finding lost children or people who were in danger. When it appeared in 1982 that a softball tournament at what is now Topeka’s Felker Park would have to be canceled because of wet field conditions, an officer flying the police copter hovered over the infields to blow them dry, enabling the games to go on.
Source: CJonline.com

Ranson Financial2021-09-16T07:09:49-05:00September 16, 2021|News|

Two Kansas counties are coming together to address teen suicides

They’re the two biggest counties in our state, and both are working to find a solution. It’s a campaign called #ZeroReasonsWhy. After seeing a dramatic rise in teen suicides in Johnson County, superintendents of the six school districts came together to work towards a solution and created the campaign. The message is that there are zero reasons why the community can’t empower, educate, and advocate for teen mental wellness. It is peer-led. Student ambassadors work to start the discussions in their high school and normalize mental health.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2021-09-16T07:06:50-05:00September 16, 2021|News|

USDA Launches Resource Guide to Help Rural Communities Seeking Disaster Resiliency and Recovery Assistance

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson today unveiled a resource guide as part of National Preparedness Month to help rural communities seeking disaster resiliency and recovery assistance.

This guide follows the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement of the American Jobs Plan, which targets investments to support infrastructure in communities that are most physically and financially vulnerable to climate-driven disasters….

The resource guide outlines USDA Rural Development (RD) programs and services that can help rural residents, businesses and communities impacted by disasters and support long-term planning and recovery efforts. A resource matrix categorizes RD programs that can support preparedness and recovery through four key assistance types:

housing assistance, and community and economic development planning;
infrastructure and equipment financing;
industry, entrepreneurship and local business development; and
education and training.

The guide also includes information on technical assistance providers and other federal agencies that work with USDA to support rural communities in disaster planning and recovery efforts. It features examples of how customers have used USDA programs to support their recovery efforts.

Additional resources to support rural communities seeking disaster assistance are available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/rural-development-disaster-assistance.

To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, contact the nearest USDA Rural Development state office.

Ranson Financial2021-09-15T14:11:07-05:00September 15, 2021|News|

Lawrence City Commission approves design for public art piece at police headquarters

The Lawrence Police Department headquarters will soon feature a new piece of public art. The commission’s design concept approval Tuesday follows the approval of the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission, which discussed the design for the art piece at a meeting in July. The pavilion will be made of stainless steel, with a circle of several glass pairs of eyes around its top, and it will sit north of the facility, near the trails where officers and residents sometimes run. Joe O’Connell, the city-selected artist for the project, told commissioners the design is inspired by compassion and understanding of others.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2021-09-15T07:14:48-05:00September 15, 2021|News|

Wichita looks to install two dams, remove nearly 500 acres from flood plain

In a move intended to remove 212 homes and nearly 500 acres from a flood plain in west Wichita, the city council unanimously voted Tuesday to seek federal funding to install two dams. The area in question starts at Calfskin Creek west of Maize Road and extends for four to five miles east and three to four miles north and south of Kellogg. When the dams were in place, the homes would no longer be in the flood plain and residents would no longer have to buy flood insurance, said Don Henry, assistant director in public works and utilities.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-09-15T07:14:27-05:00September 15, 2021|News|

Wichita hires consultant to research proposed nondiscrimination ordinance

Stymied by nearly 11 hours of contentious public comment about a proposed nondiscrimination ordinance this summer, city officials have hired a consulting group for almost $18,000 to research the topic more. The ordinance is designed to prevent discrimination within city limits on the basis of “age, color, disability, familial status, gender identity, genetic information, national origin or ancestry, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other factor protected by law.” It bans discrimination in employment, housing and businesses that serve the general public.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-09-15T07:13:09-05:00September 15, 2021|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for September 14, 2021

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 Financial2021-09-15T06:47:09-05:00September 15, 2021|News|

Rent Backlog Tied to Coronavirus Estimated at $9M for Flint Hills Counties

The coronavirus pandemic and the federal foreclosure moratorium have resulted in what one study says is nine million dollars in outstanding rent being built up in Flint Hills counties. The Manhattan Housing Authority is urging those facing issues tied to rental arrears that the Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance program is sending aid to 500 households statewide each week to help ease the backlog. MHA commissioner Brad Claussen tells KMAN the aid availability covers both ends of rental transactions. The Assistant Executive Director of the Manhattan Housing Authority, Mandy Thomas, tells KMAN that applications can be submitted to the agency online. Riley, Geary and Pottawatomie County renters account of 7% of the state’s overall total.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2021-09-14T23:13:19-05:00September 14, 2021|News|

AG: winter gas pricing spikes appear to violate law

The Kansas Attorney General’s Office is seeking outside legal help to investigate huge spikes in natural gas prices this winter, signaling the state could consider suing over the disaster. Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office announced in a news release Monday that it planned to hire a law firm with expertise in the natural gas market to help with the remainder of the investigation and “any potential civil litigation.” The office has been working since February to determine whether the high prices violated Kansas’ anti-profiteering law. “State law prohibits ‘unjustified’ price increases for ‘necessary’ goods and services during a declared state of disaster emergency, and on their face these increases appear to violate Kansas law,” Schmidt said. “Our investigation has reached a point where additional resources and expertise in the complicated natural gas marketplace are required.”
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Ranson Financial2021-09-14T23:11:41-05:00September 14, 2021|News|

Walnut Valley Festival returns in 2021

After having to be canceled a year ago, the Walnut Valley Festival is back in 2021, going from Sept. 15 to 19 at the Winfield Fairgrounds. The five-day festival that has been going on for nearly half a century features more than 30 musical acts and eight contests – including the national flatpicking championships and international fingerstyle championships – that draw participants from all 50 states and several foreign countries.
Source: Derby Informer | Area

Ranson Financial2021-09-14T23:07:33-05:00September 14, 2021|News|