How the Infrastructure Proposal Would Fund Roads, Bridges and Public Transit

The bipartisan infrastructure package working its way through the Senate will provide nearly $150 billion in new surface transportation and transit funding, part of a broader $1.2 trillion plan the White House has called a “once-in-a-generation investment.” While the investment would rank among the largest in transportation infrastructure in the nation’s history, experts say it will not uniformly close the gap in funding needed to address structural deficiencies. Public transit systems, for example, have a $176 billion backlog in funding, according to a report by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The infrastructure package would provide $39 billion in funding for transit over five years. That’s $10 billion less for public transit than was initially proposed in the initial infrastructure framework.
Source: Route Fifty

Ranson Financial2021-08-03T07:45:08-05:00August 2, 2021|News|

Can we make cheaper bridges? A KU professor thinks so

As you drive over one of the nearly 600 bridges in Sedgwick County, you’ll notice that most of them are concrete bridges. Through a project at the University of Kansas, that might change one day. William Collins, an associate professor in the department of civil, environmental, and architectural engineering at the University of Kansas recently won an award from the American Institute of Steel Construction to study innovative steel bridge designs. Such designs could lead to bridges that cost less across their lifespan than bridges in use today. “Steel is more expensive than concrete but if we can come up with a solution that doesn’t need to be replaced… this option could be more cost effective and save money in the long term, even if it’s more money up front,” Collins said.
Source: Wichita Eagle.

Ranson Financial2021-08-01T07:47:26-05:00August 1, 2021|News|

Governor wants to build on economic momentum in Kansas

With private sector investment in the Kansas economy on another record pace, and the unemployment level among the nation’s lowest, Gov. Laura Kelly brought her “Back in Business Tour” to Western Kansas this week. With stops in Scott City and rural Lane County, this wasn’t just an opportunity to recognize the state’s recovery from the pandemic, but learn what can be done to continue this economic momentum.
Source: Scott County Record.

Ranson Financial2021-08-01T07:45:48-05:00August 1, 2021|News|

In firearms range truce, city and county move to separate but shared locations

After months of sometimes testy negotiation over the future of an aging law enforcement firearms range, the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and Hutchinson Police Department have decided to each go their own way. The split, in the end, should benefit both agencies, city and county leaders learned during a joint meeting of the Hutchinson City Council and Reno County Commission earlier this week. That’s because each agency can build a range that better meets their particular needs, with redesigns that will address training desires beyond just annual qualifying at the shooting range. Under the new arrangement, the city will now control and develop the existing range on several acres at the end of Bonebrake Street, while the county will build a new range on county-owned land next to the landfill.
Source: Hutch News.

Ranson Financial2021-08-01T07:40:06-05:00August 1, 2021|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for July 30, 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 Financial2021-08-01T07:30:07-05:00August 1, 2021|News|

Treasury yields fall after key inflation data line up with expectations

U.S. Treasury yields fell Friday after a key inflation reading came in near economists’ expectations, indicating inflationary pressures may be ebbing slightly. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell 4.2 basis points to 1.227% at 11:30 a.m. ET. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond shed 2.7 basis points to 1.889%. Yields move inversely to prices. One basis point equals 0.01%. The personal consumption expenditures index — the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation — increased 3.5% in June from a year prior. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expected a 3.6% jump.
Source: CNBC

Ranson Financial2021-08-01T07:26:57-05:00August 1, 2021|News|

Electric cars are ready for longer commutes of rural Kansas

Electric cars and trucks might prove a perfect fit for rural Kansas. “They’re better vehicles. They’re more reliable. They’re less costly. They’ll save people money,” said Peter Zalzal, an attorney with the Environmental Defense Fund. “They’ll clean up the air and they’ll help to address climate change.” While the building of charging stations has come mostly in urban areas, Zalzal said rural areas have built-in advantages — along with some hurdles that urban areas don’t. Most people in rural areas live in single-family homes. That gives them easier access to electricity in a garage or carport to charge overnight than someone living in an apartment complex or high-rise.
Source: The Iola Register

Ranson Financial2021-08-01T07:26:21-05:00August 1, 2021|News|

Researchers to share findings from law enforcement contact study

Researchers who have been gathering data to determine whether racial-, ethnic- and other bias-based policing is a problem in Lawrence and Douglas County will present their preliminary findings on Monday, Aug. 9. The study asked law enforcement officers from Baldwin City, Eudora, Lawrence and University of Kansas police departments and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to gather data on the demographics of drivers and pedestrians they contacted, the reasons why, plus the results of the stops — whether someone was let go with a warning, ticketed, searched, arrested and so on.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2021-08-01T07:25:47-05:00August 1, 2021|News|

Committees of turkey vultures have begun to descend upon Kansas in greater numbers.

For the past five years or so, former state Sen. Randall Hardy has watched a few dozen turkey vultures roost in a tree next to his garage. He can tell when the migratory birds return to his central Salina neighborhood each spring as the colors begin to change. “The roof is colored with white,” the District 24 Republican said, “and if you aren’t careful where you park your car in the driveway, it can change colors overnight as well.”
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-08-01T07:25:17-05:00August 1, 2021|News|

DOE says new building codes to cut energy costs by $138B, but EV backers see failure to advance charging

Updated building codes would save U.S. homes and businesses $138 billion in energy costs over the next three decades, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) concluded and shared in an announcement last week. However, electric vehicle advocates see a missed opportunity to advance charging infrastructure with the new rules. The International Code Council (ICC) finalized building codes in 2020 as part of a process that gets repeated every three years. DOE issued its conclusions on the energy cost savings of the most recent codes last week, and states and municipalities can now adopt the codes. The ICC-approved updates to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) would improve energy cost savings in residential buildings by more than 8.6% relative to the previous code, the agency found. Similarly, the updated commercial building codes could result in energy cost savings around 4.3%.
Source: Smart Cities Dive – Latest News

Ranson Financial2021-08-01T07:24:30-05:00August 1, 2021|News|