The Fed could come under fire for easy policy (low rates) while the economy soars and inflation rises

As the economy booms over the next couple of months, the Fed will have a more difficult time defending its super-easy policies. Economists expect the second quarter to grow by more than 9%, and the monthly jobs reports are likely to show very strong hiring, with job growth averaging more than1 million new payrolls in each of the next several months. … After the data was released Friday, the fed funds futures market began to immediately bring forward expectations for a Fed rate hike to December 2022, from the spring of 2023.
Source: CNBC

Ranson Financial2021-04-06T07:13:41-05:00April 6, 2021|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for April 5, 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 Financial2021-04-06T07:03:53-05:00April 6, 2021|News|

28 Kansas airports receive FAA funding for upgrades, repairs and projects

The Federal Aviation Administration is sharing more than $17 million in funding with 28 Kansas airports such as McPherson, Abilene, and Hays for repairs, upgrades, and other projects. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) made the announcement last week. “Local airports help bring economic opportunities and critical resources to communities across Kansas,” said Moran. “It is vital for Kansans to have efficient ways to reach and connect with the rest of the world, and these grants are an investment into the future of our rural airports.”
Source: Atchison Globe Now

Ranson Financial2021-04-06T06:56:55-05:00April 6, 2021|News|

City, county sweeten the deal

The Great Bend City Council Monday night approved providing a portion of the local matching funds not to exceed $220,000 for a joint Kansas Department of Transportation cost-share project with Barton County. This covers the portion of SW 40 Avenue known as Airport Road. The grant application calls for a 50-50% match with the state for the $800,000 project to mill and overlay the 2.5 mile stretch. The city and the county would split that total, with the city paying more since 60% of the road falls in the city limits. Two previous 75-25 match (with KDOT covering 75%) applications for the work have failed to gain state approval, City Administrator Kendal Francis said. Officials hope by increasing the local match the application will be more attractive.
Source: Great Bend Tribune

Ranson Financial2021-04-06T06:57:33-05:00April 6, 2021|News|

Can Kansas schools require masks? JoCo districts already face challenges under new law

Kansas school districts are bracing for challenges to their requirements that students wear masks, as a new state law empowers parents to quickly sue to overturn local board decisions. In Johnson County alone, Olathe, Blue Valley and De Soto schools have already received complaints as teachers and students navigate the final weeks of the academic year. Educational leaders expect more to arrive under a process they fear could lead districts to abandon such COVID-19 precautions in the face of potentially costly court battles. The pandemic forced district leaders to make agonizing decisions about everything from remote learning and sports participation to quarantine protocols and even whether to hold prom. The new state law means school boards may now have to defend their decisions to judges, not just parents and voters.
Source: KC Star Local News

Ranson Financial2021-04-06T07:00:25-05:00April 6, 2021|News|

Daily Amtrak service will return to Kansas in May

Amtrak plans to resume daily service across Kansas beginning May 31, thanks to renewed federal funding. The Southwest Chief route from Los Angeles to Chicago was reduced to three days a week in October in response to falling use during the coronavirus pandemic. But the company said new federal COVID-19 relief funding will allow it to restore daily service on the Southwest Chief and 11 more long distance routes in coming months. The Southwest Chief makes several stops in Kansas, including Kansas City, Topeka, Garden City and Dodge City. Amtrak also announced last week that it plans to eventually add a new route that would connect the Southwest Chief to Oklahoma and Texas through the station in Newton, Kansas, KCUR reported.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF

Ranson Financial2021-04-06T07:00:58-05:00April 6, 2021|News|

Governor Kelly says there are no plans for “vaccine passports”

Governor Laura Kelly says she has no plans to have Kansas issue vaccine passports, which are designed to help inoculated residents travel, shop and dine out more freely. Vaccine passports, which verify people’s immunization status, have become a political flashpoint in the U.S. as they’ve come into use in Israel and under development in Europe. Some Republicans in the U.S. see them as heavy-handed government intrusion. Kelly said Monday that she’s concentrating on making sure people get tested for and vaccinated against COVID-19. The Democratic governor also signed into law a largely symbolic Republican bill requiring public schools to offer full-time, in-person classes to all students for the rest of the current semester.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2021-04-06T07:01:13-05:00April 6, 2021|News|

Local leaders excited about possible Amtrak expansion into Wichita

Back in 2017, Amtrak ran a test train through the air capital. The goal was to gauge interest in restarting passenger service to Wichita after it had been taken off the map in the 1970’s. Ever since then local political leaders have kept in contact with Amtrak. “We’ve been working on this for quite a while. And it seems to be something that the folks in Wichita really want,” Marc Magliari, an Amtrak spokesperson, told KAKE News. Fast forward to 2021 and that service could be coming back. Part of President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure plan would feature a major expansion of Amtrak, including connecting its station in Newton to Oklahoma City and Dallas via Wichita. The federal funding would help overcome “a big obstacle” according Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Pete Meitzner. He says the cost of getting it started was one of the biggest factors holding it back. While the bill has not been introduced to the House or Senate, the potential addition of this Amtrak line is something city and county leaders believe could bring a lot of new business.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2021-04-06T07:02:18-05:00April 6, 2021|News|

Tiny Kansas town sues oil and gas giant over high prices

This tiny and hard-to-find Kansas town is taking on one of the biggest energy companies on the planet, over February natural gas bills they say would bankrupt the city, the residents, or both. Mulberry, a city of about 500 folks, is suing the mega-corporation BP — formerly British Petroleum — alleging that the company gouged them by raising the price of natural gas to more than 100 times the regular price during an arctic blast that began Feb. 10 and persisted for about the next 10 days. “We feel like it’s a David and Goliath, basically,” said Amy Tucker, the assistant city clerk and one of only two administrative employees at City Hall. “With a big corporation like that, you know, we’re just a blip on their radar.” But the people of Mulberry, in Crawford County, don’t feel like they have any choice but to fight. The city can’t afford BP’s bill and if it passes the cost through to residents, they can’t afford it either, Tucker said.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-04-05T07:20:46-05:00April 4, 2021|News|

Kansas is working to connect dozens of communities with trails

An exciting venture is underway in the Sunflower State: the creation of an inter-connected trail system that will link dozens of communities, generate economic activity and entice Kansans to recreate for health and the enjoyment of the outdoors. Old railroad lines are being repurposed as multiuse trails for walking and biking. Several organizations are working on building rail-trails in Kansas. More than 27 rail-trails are either completed or partially completed, and 13 are undeveloped. In fact, 565 miles are completed and 273 miles are under development or planned. The goal is to link these together into a interconnected system.
Source: Kansas Reflector

Ranson Financial2021-04-05T07:00:53-05:00April 4, 2021|News|