Residents urged to take precautions as wildfires ramp up in Reno County

Hutchinson and Reno County residents are urged to take precautions this week as the area is under “Catastrophic” and “Very High” ratings on the Grassland Fire Danger Index through the week. The National Weather Service puts out the Grassland Fire Danger Index, which assigns a risk level for wildland fires based on the amount of dead grass, temperature, wind speed and humidity. Rather than predict how a fire will behave, the ratings correspond to the likelihood that fires will get out of control. Sunday and Monday kept area fire departments busy as several fires started in the county.
Source: Hutch News.

Ranson Financial2021-03-30T07:13:42-05:00March 30, 2021|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for March 29, 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 Financial2021-03-30T07:12:42-05:00March 30, 2021|News|

Latino Leaders In Southwestern Kansas Fight To Overcome Myths And Hesitancy About COVID-19 Vaccine

Even as much of the country thrills at the prospect of getting their COVID-19 shots, sizable pockets need convincing. In the immigrant and refugee communities of southwestern Kansas, cultural barriers and access to the shots could leave those hit hardest by the pandemic in ongoing peril. So town by town, county by county, public health officials find themselves shooting down unfounded fears about the shots that could finally beat back a virus that has killed hundreds of thousands of people in the United States and millions around the world.
Source: KCUR News

Ranson Financial2021-03-30T07:11:28-05:00March 30, 2021|News|

April Fool’s Day in Lucas, Kansas, will be therapeutic — seriously

After our long winter of COVID-19 despair, what could be better than a chance to come together to experience what is possible? That’s what is on offer on April Fool’s Day in Lucas. Many events will take place outdoors, distancing will be observed inside and face coverings will be required. In fact, a prize will be given for the most creative mask. The annual event began six years ago when Wilson artist Alan Vopat was looking for a place to store his accumulated art, and discovered his cousin was selling a building on Main Street. To celebrate the grand opening of the DaDa Muse’Um in 2016, Vopat and Jeannie Stramel put together the first April Fool’s event. “April Fool’s Day seemed like a good fit,” Stramel said. “It’s a funny, quirky day and it seemed like it made sense for Lucas.” Rosslyn Schultz, founder and co-director with Stramel of the Grassroots Art Center is the organizer behind a menu of arts delight from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 1 throughout Lucas, a grassroots art mecca named one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Art.
Source: Kansas Reflector

Ranson Financial2021-03-30T07:10:14-05:00March 30, 2021|News|

New Douglass Activity Center opens to the public

The Douglass Activity Center represents more than just a new community center. “Today, history is preserved in the Black community and for all citizens of Manhattan,” Dave Baker, director of the Douglass Center, said on Thursday at the opening of the activity center. The facility is on Yuma Street, an important part of town for Manhattan’s Black community. The history began with the establishment of the Bethel A.M.E. Church by the Exodusters — Black migrants to Kansas — in 1879 and includes the Douglass School, which served as the local school for Black elementary school students prior to desegregation.
Source: themercury.com

Ranson Financial2021-03-30T07:08:35-05:00March 30, 2021|News|

Riley County commission approves $87,000 payment to Home Depot; discusses local impact

Riley County commissioners discussed the impact on local government entities and taxpayers from recent the Board of Tax Appeals case. County Clerk Rich Vargo presented the impact per the request of other local government entities. Before the BOTA case, Home Depot was being taxed in 2018 over $239,000. That number now is around $150,000, which was the previously reported number the county owed. The county actually owes $87,000 which is the difference between the two values. The costs of the refund will be split three ways: $29,186 from Manhattan, $24,194 from the County, and $33,582 from USD 383, the only school district impacted.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2021-03-30T07:06:22-05:00March 30, 2021|News|

10-year Treasury yield hits 14-month highs, topping 1.77%

The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield topped 1.77% on Tuesday, as coronavirus vaccine rollouts and planned infrastructure spending boosted hopes of a broad economic recovery, but added to inflation fears. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note jumped to 1.772% at 4:40 a.m. ET, a 14-month high. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond rose to 2.456%. … The move comes a day ahead of President Joe Biden revealing details of his infrastructure plan. The recovery package will include up to $3 trillion in spending across a swathe of sectors in an effort to bolster the U.S. economy.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

Ranson Financial2021-03-30T07:04:10-05:00March 30, 2021|News|

Local leaders discuss tax rebate program and future of sales tax

The Atchison County and City Commission met for the first time in three years to discuss a pair of hot button topics and the state of the city and county as a whole last Thursday at the Atchison Event Center. The two talking points of the meeting was the renewal of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program before the end of October and the future of the 1% Sales Tax. The tax rebate program is a five-year deal that is set to expire October 31, 2021 after going into action October, 15 2016. The goal of the program is stated to hope to provide communities with a long-term increase and stabilization in their property tax base by encouraging rehabilitation or new construction which might not otherwise occur.
Source: Atchison Globe Now

Ranson Financial2021-03-30T07:03:11-05:00March 30, 2021|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for March 26, 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 Financial2021-03-29T07:13:19-05:00March 29, 2021|News|

Remote work isn’t going away. Can it bring a new generation of workers to Wichita?

A focus on attracting and retaining workers to Wichita isn’t new. But the pandemic has spurred urgency for those efforts, as some large companies in major cities like Salesforce and Dropbox transitioned to allow employees to work from anywhere. Wichita’s talent experts are asking: What would make those workers want to move to Wichita? Is that even likely to happen? “I think some people really buy into the idea that there’s gonna be this mass change in where people live and work,” said Scot Rigby, director of development services and assistant city manager for the city of Wichita. “There may be some, but I think they previously had that ability.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2021-03-29T07:12:42-05:00March 29, 2021|News|