The bond market is torn over the potential for higher inflation and lower growth

A volatile environment for government bonds is reflecting a highly uncertain future for the U.S. economy, pointing to both slower growth and stubborn inflation. After a burst higher earlier this year that scared markets, Treasury yields have fallen back sharply as investors have switched their focus from worries about price increases to the potential that the rapid burst in post-pandemic activity could start to slow down. In the 1970s, the mix of higher prices and lower growth was called “stagflation,” a pejorative that has garnered little attention since then as inflation has remained tame over the past few decades. However, the word is coming up more and more these days as the growth picture gets cloudier.
Source: CNBC

Ranson Financial2021-07-26T08:11:42-05:00July 25, 2021|News|

Low vaccination rates in surrounding counties concern JoCo public health officials

Mask mandates remain a talking point as health officials continue to recommend federal guidelines regarding masks and social distancing to at-risk groups. However, local leaders are only recommending, not mandating, that unvaccinated people wear face masks. The head of Johnson County’s health department, Dr. Sanmi Areola, also said no mandates or business restrictions are being considered at this time. “JCDHE monitors virus trends closely and will work with partners to make decisions to ensure the health and safety of the community,” Areola said. Because of the surge of the Delta variant, the CDC is concerned with the large demographic of Americans that remain unvaccinated— calling it a ‘pandemic of the unvaccinated’.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2021-07-25T20:12:25-05:00July 25, 2021|News|

City of Lawrence allows AT&T and subcontractors to resume work

Eight days after the city of Lawrence issued a cease and desist order for AT&T to stop all ongoing utility work due to “numerous” safety complaints from citizens and other utility providers, the parties announced Friday the order had been lifted. City officials met with AT&T representatives and other local utility providers on Monday to discuss the concerns laid out in the July 15 order, which included hitting other public utility and competitor’s facilities without utility locates being performed in advance — which is illegal in Kansas. AT&T, the city said in a statement Friday, committed to the following measures to move forward with its projects in Lawrence:
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2021-07-25T19:47:23-05:00July 25, 2021|News|

Wabaunsee County opens largest public-owned building in county history

Wabaunsee County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Wabaunsee County Fair for the opening of its largest publicly owned building in county history. Hundreds of community members were at the fair to see the new Kan-Equip Arena. The county started raising money for the $400 thousand project in 2019. The arena will be used to show off livestock, but fair officials say it will also be used for much more. “Outside of this fair, this can be used for food distribution, pandemic events, any kind of event that happens in the county,” Mary Reed Spenser, Wabaunsee County Fair board president, said. “We’ve already had Shawnee County people ask to reserve this building for a rabbit show this fall and next spring.”
Source: KSNT News

Ranson Financial2021-07-25T19:33:50-05:00July 25, 2021|News|

Crayfish ‘Crayze’ at McPherson Lake: Invasive species make Kansas debut

Researchers have discovered a new species at McPherson Lake. The rusty crayfish is considered an invasive species. Although they have affected the waters of some of our neighboring states, it’s the first time in history we see them in Kansas. “Because this is the first population of rusty crayfish in Kansas, we don’t really know exactly what to expect,” said Chris Steffen, the Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator at Kansas Wildlife and Parks. Steffen was surprised to find the invasive crayfish, but it is the first time they are sampling for them. “It’s a larger aggressive species of crayfish that competes with our native crayfish for space, and food, and just kind of disturbs the ecosystem,” he added.
Source: KSNT News

Ranson Financial2021-07-25T19:31:27-05:00July 25, 2021|News|

Altamont council nixes idea for a planning board

The city of Altamont will not be forming a planning and zoning committee after city council members all stated Thursday they were not in favor of zoning in any capacity. The committee, or commission, which is different only in that it is a group of people entrusted by a government entity (like a city council) with a specific task, would have been used to research matters for the council and bring that information to them to discuss and vote on. City Administrator Audree Aguilera had said such a committee could look at housing, infrastructure and investigate other propositions for improvement…
Source: Parsons Sun

Ranson Financial2021-07-26T08:15:21-05:00July 25, 2021|News|

Miami County sets hearing calendar for proposed City of Golden

The County Commission has set a calendar to hear testimony from experts on a variety of topics related to the proposed city of Golden in northern Miami County. County Administrator Shane Krull presented the schedule to county commissioners Wednesday, July 21. The testimony will take place on Wednesdays through the month of August and into early September. … “The attorney recommended that we ask the city of Edgerton and the corporation NorthPoint to come and present testimony, not for or against – just what’s their plans for the future,” Roberts said. “What have they got going on that seems to have brought all this to a head. And I want the commission to really think about what’s the questions you would want them to answer to help us understand their future plans.”
Source: The Miami County Republic

Ranson Financial2021-07-26T08:19:28-05:00July 25, 2021|News|

Celebration of KS town settled by formerly enslaved in 1877 to include free vaccines

One of the country’s oldest historically-Black communities is holding a free, one-day COVID-19 vaccination clinic that includes a $50 gift card giveaway during it’s annual heritage and history celebration. The 143rd Nicodemus Homecoming will take place Thursday through Sunday in the town, about 230 miles northwest of Wichita in Graham County. … The homecoming event, which commemorates the establishment of Nicodemus in 1877 by formerly enslaved people from Kentucky, is organized by the Nicodemus Historical Society with support from the Kansas African American Affairs Commission. The town, which today has only a few dozen residents, was designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1976 by the National Park Service.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-07-26T08:20:40-05:00July 25, 2021|News|

Salina citizens file petition to limit City Commission

A petition was filed Friday to the Saline County Clerk’s Office in response to several actions taken by the Salina City Commission during the COVID-19 pandemic. The petition was described by Kevin Korb, who filed it in the clerk’s office, as an effort to rein in some of the mandates put in place by the commission that the signers feel violated citizens’ rights. The petition asked if an ordinance should be put in place that will limit “the power of the city commission to impose restrictions on businesses and citizens related to a state of emergency at the county or state level.”
Source: Salina Journal.

Ranson Financial2021-07-25T15:06:50-05:00July 25, 2021|News|

South Hutchinson to ramp up nuisance code enforcement

The South Hutchinson City Council on Monday approved changes to the city’s nuisance codes with the intent of making it easier to enforce violations involving tall grass and junk vehicles. With the changes, the city plans to ramp up enforcement beginning in August, said City Administrator Joseph Turner. “Code enforcement is one of the best investments a community can make to protect property values and improve public safety,” Turner stated in a release. “Blight and other nuisances invite meth heads and other degenerates to steal catalytic converters, commit property crimes and victimize our hardworking taxpayers.”
Source: Hutch News.

Ranson Financial2021-07-25T14:55:09-05:00July 24, 2021|News|