National Guard working in Johnson County to package 4 million meals for food insecure Kansans

Social distancing requirements have made it difficult for a variety of businesses and programs to operate — including meal packaging efforts for food insecure individuals. As COVID-19 stay-at-home orders progressed volunteer groups began cancelling meal packaging events with The Outreach Program, a national nonprofit aiming to address hunger. This created a supply issue for food banks that still needed access to shelf-stable goods. Then, the Kansas National Guard stepped in. Rick McNary, vice president of strategic partnerships at The Outreach Program, received a call from the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, which was willing to fund production costs. KDEM informed McNary that the National Guard could be used as volunteers, since they were deployed and didn’t have to comply with social distancing guidelines as soldiers. Now, the guardsmen have packaged three million meals — currently working on the fourth million — for food insecure Kansans.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

Ranson Financial2020-06-11T08:15:39-05:00June 11, 2020|News|

10-year Treasury yield drops below 0.7% on fears of a second coronavirus wave

Treasury yields dropped on Thursday as rising fears of a second wave of the virus and a cautious economic outlook from the Federal Reserve drove investors to safe-haven bonds. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note plunged 6 basis points to 0.681%, hitting the lowest level since June 3. The yield on the 30-year bond fell 7 basis points to 1.440%. Yields move inversely to prices. The coronavirus pandemic remains on investors’ radar, with confirmed infections in the U.S. now exceeding 2 million and several areas of the country reporting spikes following the reopening of their economies.
(Read more: CNBC – Bonds)

Ranson Financial2020-06-11T08:13:23-05:00June 11, 2020|News|

Near-zero rates here to stay; “Dot plot” expects no rate changes for 3 years

The Summary of Economic Projections, released Wednesday, shows Federal Open Market Committee members expect the fed funds rate target to remain at zero lower bound through next year, with all but two participants expecting no rates hikes in 2022 as well. One member expects rates to jump a full point in 2022, while the other outlier sees rates climbing 25 basis points in 2022. Over the longer run, most members see rates at 2.5%, with others ranging from 2.0% to 3.0%. And in his post-meeting press conference, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said, “We are not even thinking about thinking about raising rates.”
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)

Ranson Financial2020-06-11T08:12:53-05:00June 11, 2020|News|

Shawnee to consider extending sidewalk for outdoor seating downtown during COVID-19 pandemic

Shawnee will consider allowing restaurants and bars to have temporary outdoor seating along Johnson Drive downtown. To accommodate downtown businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Shawnee city staff on Monday proposed a plan similar to what Leawood now offers for the food and drink service industry: Extended outdoor seating. Shawnee’s plan would include parklets. Parklets are sidewalk extensions — decks built in parallel parking spaces adjacent to restaurants and bars — where guests could sit, dine, wait or recreate. Shawnee proposes allowing parklets in parallel parking spaces on Johnson Drive. The decks must allow stormwater to drain, so they can be elevated to curb level. The parklets must also be accessible.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-06-11T08:04:09-05:00June 11, 2020|News|

Shawnee to provide lease assistance for Drastic Measures, a new cocktail bar coming downtown

The Shawnee City Council on Monday agreed to help pay rent for a new cocktail bar coming to downtown. The owners of Drastic Measures, a spirits and cocktail bar coming to 5817 Nieman Road, requested lease assistance for the first three years of business as they get their feet on the ground….The city’s lease contribution comes from the Shawnee Entrepreneurial and Economic Development program, which supports private efforts to reinvest and redevelop the downtown area and Nieman Road corridor, according to a city memo.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-06-11T08:03:39-05:00June 11, 2020|News|

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. building new COVID-19 sample collection manufacturing facility in Lenexa

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., a biotechnology company with offices in Lenexa, is building a new facility in the city to ramp up manufacturing of products for COVID-19 sample collection and transportation. Planning of the new $40 million manufacturing facility is underway, thanks to a contract the company received from the U.S. government last month to provide highly specialized viral transport media.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-06-11T08:02:48-05:00June 11, 2020|News|

Spirit to furlough hourly employees on 737 Max program in Wichita as Boeing stops work

Most Spirit AeroSystems hourly employees in Wichita directly associated with production work and support functions for the 737 program will be furloughed beginning Monday, according to Spirit. The furloughs are in response to Boeing’s directive to Spirit to stop producing 737 Max ship sets, Spirit officials said. It will affect around 900 people at the company. Spirit will implement the furloughs for the Wichita employees through July 6 for a total of 21 days, said Keturah Austin, senior manager for corporate communications at Spirit.
(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2020-06-11T08:02:17-05:00June 11, 2020|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for June 10, 2020

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 Financial2020-06-11T08:00:06-05:00June 11, 2020|News|

Wyandotte County DA announces plans for new unit to investigate police misconduct

The Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday announced plans to create an independent arm to investigate accusations of excessive force or misconduct by police officers. During a news conference, District Attorney Mark Dupree said his office hopes to add three investigators to probe complaints reported by the public, which residents will be able to submit through email and a hotline in English and Spanish. “If we are to really bring about systematic change, we must change the systems that have allowed the act of a few bad to go unseen and unchanged,” Dupree told reporters.
(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2020-06-11T08:16:09-05:00June 11, 2020|News|

Sedgwick County seeing slow increase in COVID-19 cases since reopening

Sedgwick County continues to see a slow increase in COVID-19 cases since reopening in late May. Health officials warn that those that do choose to go out, shouldn’t let their guards down. Sedgwick County Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns says because of the virus’s two-week incubation period, it’s hard to say for sure why the rise in cases is happening in the county. In Wichita, some continue to follow recommended guidelines from the federal and state levels, wearing masks and social distancing. Others say the feel safe without those precautions as long as they’re not considered high risk.
(Read more: KWCH News)

Ranson Financial2020-06-11T08:18:18-05:00June 11, 2020|News|