After nearly $700,000 in billing errors discovered in 2017, city report says new system is preventing future mistakes

It has been more than two years since serious errors were discovered in the city’s miscellaneous billing process, and city officials say a recent staff review shows improvements made since have eliminated those errors.
Since then, the city has created a master list of the city’s more than $25 million of annual miscellaneous billings, which include lease payments, inspection fees, building permits, dumpster rentals and other agreements handled outside of the city’s regular billing processes. The city also now has a master list of all miscellaneous billings and conducts a review of those billings annually.
Read more: LJWorld.com.

2020-02-25T07:08:48-06:00February 24, 2020|News|

10-year Treasury yield plunges to lowest since 2016 amid escalating coronavirus fears

Treasury yields tumbled on Monday as investors run for cover amid fears that the coronavirus is spreading globally.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to price, plunged 8 basis points to 1.3856%, its lowest level since July 2016. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond plummeted to a new all time low of 1.8321%.
“The most important number in the US Treasury market has become 1.3180% – the all-time record low yield mark set in the aftermath of Brexit,” Ian Lyngen, BMO’s head of U.S. rates, said in a note Monday. “If that level is breached, look out below.”
Spiking coronavirus cases in Italy, South Korea and the Middle East sparked fears of further spread beyond China. South Korea put the country on its highest alert level on Monday as infections surpassed 760 and deaths rose to seven.
Read more: CNBC.

2020-02-24T08:25:48-06:00February 24, 2020|News|

Municipal bonds are safe haven amid stock market plunge

The municipal market rallied up to 7 basis points on Friday following Treasuries while equities continued to sell-off on COVID-19 fears as it spreads around the globe.
The muni 10-year landed at 1.09% and the 30 at 1.69%. U.S. Treasury yields plummeted as the 10-year hit the lowest since September at 1.47% and the 30-year hit an all-time low of 1.88% then moved up to 1.91% as of press time.
While COVID-19 has had an impact on all markets, including munis, Matt Fabian, partner and Municipal Market Analytics, said that he believes the virus impact is like the “fifth or sixth reason as to why muni yields are dropping like a rock.”

“There just continues to be more money than bonds and that is the fundamental reason for the sinking yields,” he said.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)

2020-02-24T08:26:14-06:00February 24, 2020|News|

New hometown signs recognize Kansas astronaut

NASA astronaut and Kansas native Nick Hague has been honored by his hometown.

Kansas Department of Transportation crews put up some new signs, right outside the northwest Kansas town of Hoxie. The signs read, “Hoxie: Home of Nick Hague.”

Hague went on a seven-month mission in space and was awarded the Russian Order of Courage for his actions during a failed launch.

(Read more: KSNT News)

2020-02-24T07:17:00-06:00February 24, 2020|News|

New bill may make it easier for Kansans to vote

The Ethics, Elections and Local Government Senate committee are considering a bill that would make voting more accessible for Kansans.

SB412 allows all Kansas residents to apply for permanent advanced voting status, instead of just registered voters with disabilities as it currently stands.

“We are trying to make voting as accessible, and frankly as easily accessible, as we can,” Sen. David Haley (D-Kansas City), member of the committee, said.

The hope is that this encourages more Kansans to vote, such as Miguel Colon of Topeka.

(Read more: KSNT News)

2020-02-23T23:30:15-06:00February 23, 2020|News|

Organizations working to bring health care to rural Bourbon County

A community collaboration in Bourbon County is working to bring a health care clinic to a small town.

Lynne O’Harah, District One Commissioner, Bourbon County, said, “It’s been kind of a journey for us.”

A journey to increase access to healthcare in rural Bourbon County–with talks starting nearly a year ago.

Mark Warren, Uniontown Ruritan Club Member, said, “About the possibility of starting a rural health clinic here in Uniontown.”

“It’s somethig that’s been lacking in our area for lots and lots of years, many years.”

(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)

2020-02-23T23:06:09-06:00February 23, 2020|News|

Group’s vague plan for Century II includes $1.5 billion to repurpose building

A plan proposed for the future of Century II comes with more questions than answers for the group that says it’s offering $1.5 billion to repurpose the historic building.
The group of private investors proposing the plan is called Penumbra International, LLC. The group says its proposal won’t take any tax dollars from the public and includes an aerospace museum, an observation Ferris wheel, a 40-story convention hotel, an aquarium, and more.

(Read more: KWCH News)

2020-02-24T07:09:23-06:00February 23, 2020|News|

Officials celebrate industrial park partnership

State Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz and Secretary of Commerce David Toland visited southeast Kansas Thursday for a ribbon cutting and ceremonial throwing of a switch to mark the arrival of the first loaded train cars at the Great Plains Industrial Park in more than 40 years.

“As a southeast Kansan it really is a terrific day to come home and to celebrate this first domino that’s falling at Great Plains Industrial Park,” Toland said. “We’re getting this win and it’s the first of many that are going to come here.”

Toland recalled meeting with some people from Parsons during a trip to Atlanta when he was working in Washington, DC, several years ago.

(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)

2020-02-23T22:58:25-06:00February 23, 2020|News|

Kansas law enforcement wary of legalizing 0.3% THC products

Kansans for Hemp co-founder Kelly Ripple said Friday state statute ought to be brought into compliance with federal law by legalizing products with up to 0.3% of the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.

The 2018 farm bill signed by President Donald Trump authorized development of industrial hemp nationwide. It also exempted hemp from Schedule 1 definitions of marijuana in all 50 states. Essentially, the federal government legalized sale of 0.3% THC products.

Ripple said Kansas law enforcement restricted sale of cannabinoid products online or purchased elsewhere with as little as one hundredth of a percentage point of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.

(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)

2020-02-23T22:54:56-06:00February 23, 2020|News|
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