COVID-19 rules for schools are being relaxed and fewer students will have to stay home if they have close contact with infected classmates, Sedgwick County and most of the school districts serving Wichita-area children announced Friday. Dr. Garold Minns, the county health officer, said he’s approved two levels of close contact when it comes to school kids — high-risk and a new category for low-risk contacts. The low-risk category will include students who are exposed in the classroom setting where masks and social distancing are required. Those children will be allowed to stay in school and will no longer have to be quarantined at home, although they may be observed for several days to ensure they don’t develop fever or other symptoms that could indicate COVID-19.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
The City of Winfield announced on its Facebook page Friday that residents are being asked to limit their natural gas usage due to the unprecedented natural gas pricing market conditions resulting from the current extreme weather period. The message stated, “Due to the unprecedented natural gas pricing market conditions resulting from the current extreme weather period, we are requesting all users limit natural gas usage to the greatest extent possible. We will provide a more detailed statement in the coming hours. There is no threat to the elimination of natural gas supply. As your local natural gas provider, we are asking customers to limit usage to mitigate the volatility in pricing.”
Source: KSN-TV
The Kansas Senate has approved a bill to expand the state’s private school tax credit program to apply to all students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. The Senate voted 23-14 on Thursday to expand program, which now applies only to students who also attend one of the state’s lowest-performing public elementary schools. Republican supporters say the new criteria would help more students and give parents of low- and middle-income families more options, WIBW reported. Senate Democratic Leader Dinah Sykes, who opposed the bill, said she is concerned that private schools face little accountability. The bill now goes to the House.
Source: KSN-TV
Wichita Public Schools teachers will begin receiving COVID-19 vaccinations on Saturday, February 13. The district has received its first supply of vaccines and will begin the first round at the Wichita Public Schools’ Alvin Morris Administrative Center. The prioritization plan for employees will follow Phase 2 of Governor Kelly’s vaccination plan. … The distribution plan is as follows: Employees 65 and older with medical conditions. Medical professionals will rank order based on health conditions reported on the staff survey.
Source: KSN-TV
Governor Kelly today declared a State of Disaster Emergency due to the wind chill warnings, which is causing stress on utility and natural gas companies. The declaration authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery efforts in affected counties. Because of the sub-zero temperatures , increased energy and natural gas demand is causing constraints. Utilities are currently experiencing wholesale natural gas prices from 10 to 100 times higher than normal. Those costs will effect consumers, and increase monthly gas and electric bills.
Source: Country 101.3 KFDI
In 2019, northwest Kansas-based Decatur Health was staring into the possibility of shutting its doors. “It got really bad, where we were not sure how we were going to financially be able to make it out through the month,” said Chief Operations Officer Kristopher Mathews. “I think we were down to double digits of cash, like 10 days of cash on hand.” Like many small rural hospitals, it was financially struggling. Recent studies show around 75 rural hospitals in Kansas are operating at a financial loss and in danger of closing.
Source: Garden City Telegram.
The City of Gardner has named Amy Nasta as its new deputy city administrator. Nasta joined the city in 2017 as its city clerk and was promoted to senior management analyst in 2019. … In her new role, Nasta will assist the city administrator on high-level special projects and initiatives and oversee human resources, information technology, and building maintenance functions. She will also provide support and guidance to department directors per the direction of the city administrator. “Amy has been a tremendous asset to the organization since she began nearly four years ago,” said Jim Pruetting, city administrator.
Source: Gardner News
Governor Laura Kelly today announced 32 rural Kansas communities will receive a share of $13,864,149 in federal grants to assist with community development projects. Through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program facilitated by the Kansas Department of Commerce, these federal grants are being awarded for a variety of community improvement projects, including sewer and water projects, housing rehabilitation and community facility improvements. …
Counties, applicant cities and award amounts are as follows:
Allen
Iola
$350,000
Barton
Great Bend
$600,000
Brown
Horton
$190,050
Chase
Cottonwood Falls
$499,125
Cloud
Concordia
$48,975
Cowley
Arkansas City
$455,000
Doniphan
Highland
$600,000
Ellsworth
Wilson
$300,000
Greenwood
Fall River
$360,000
Greenwood
Eureka
$600,000
Jackson
Holton
$600,000
Jefferson
Nortonville
$501,300
Jefferson
Valley Falls
$115,950
Jewell
Mankato
$600,000
Kingman
Kingman
$300,000
Kiowa
Mullinville
$380,000
Labette
Chetopa
$600,000
Lincoln
Lincoln County
$35,763
Lyon
Emporia
$700,000
Lyon
Neosho Rapids
$217,062
Marshall
Vermillion
$250,000
Meade
Fowler
$300,000
Miami
Osawatomie
$600,000
Montgomery
Independence
$700,000
Montgomery
Coffeyville
$574,320
Phillips
Phillips County
$192,514
Russell
Russell
$116,228
Sedgwick
Haysville
$342,000
Sumner
Caldwell
$600,000
Wabaunsee
Alma
$600,000
Wilson
Fredonia
$261,425
Woodson
Toronto
$550,000
The CDBG program administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce provides federal funds to local governments for the development of viable communities by addressing their housing, public facilities and economic development needs. To be awarded funds, local government units must meet at least one of three program objectives:
The grant will benefit low- and moderate-income persons
The grant will prevent or eliminate slums and blight
The grant will resolve an urgent need where local resources are not available to do so
The CDBG funds are one of the Department of Commerce’s primary tools in supporting the state’s small, predominantly rural communities.
Nicodemus is a small town located in the prairies of northwest Kansas. It is the oldest and only remaining Black settlement west of the Mississippi. It was established in 1877 during the Reconstruction Period following the Civil War when pioneers from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi came to seek out homelands. “These folks were ex-slaves, removed from slavery about 13-14 years, had the opportunity to come out here and be landowners and they took that chance,” said Luecreasea Horne, Nicodemus Park Service educational technician and sixth-generation descendant. “The thought of them risking and taking that chance to come out to northwestern Kansas where they knew nothing about it, it just gives me a sense of pride.”
Source: KSN-TV
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.
