Kansas bill would stop Wichita from banning plastic bags

Kansas lawmakers are considering a bill that would stop cities from banning single-use plastic bags, a measure that could hamstring a task force recently formed by the Wichita City Council.

The state’s GOP-led House Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development approved a bill Friday that would prohibit local governments from imposing any tax, fee or outright ban on paper or plastic single-use bags and plastic straws. It could go to the full House for debate as early as next week.

Wichita is one of a handful of Kansas communities, including Lawrence, Salina and Prairie Village, that has started considering bans on plastic products. Lobbyists for the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, grocers, restaurants and convenience stores say they’re worried that inconsistent rules across the state would burden businesses.

(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2020-02-23T22:40:39-06:00February 23, 2020|News|

School communities customize building plans

No two schools in the Shawnee Mission School District are alike, but each school’s objective is the same. All Shawnee Mission schools are working to ensure each student has a personalized learning plan that will prepare them for college and careers, with the interpersonal skills they need for life success.

Each unique school community in the Shawnee Mission School District will customize and create its own plan, in line with the district strategic plan and objectives. Each school must have a plan that works specifically for the students they serve.

Recently, individuals representing each Shawnee Mission school community met at each of the five high schools across the district for a District Site Council meeting. Every school in the state of Kansas is required to have a site council, which participates in the school’s accreditation process through the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) model. Parents, students, principals, and staff members gathered to study and plan their school’s customized school building Plan and discuss continuous improvement using the KESA model.

(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-02-24T07:10:23-06:00February 23, 2020|News|

Ark City recycling program in jeopardy

Arkansas City commissioners are taking a hard look at the city’s recycling program as the market for recycled material dries up and costs to the city increase.
Commissioners this week discussed the possibility of following changes recently adopted by the City of Winfield.
Beginning this spring, Winfield will only accept corrugated cardboard for curbside pickup. Other material can be dropped off at the Strother Field recycling center.
(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)

Ranson Financial2020-02-24T07:11:20-06:00February 23, 2020|News|

KCK school leaders celebrate bond refinancing of $30 million while new school construction progresses

You don’t often hear of school districts saving money.

That’s what one metro education system said it’s doing, saving $30
million off a huge bond debt approved by voters.

The sound of power tools from a construction site is welcome in several Wyandotte County neighborhood.

The Kansas City, Kansas, School District is in the process of building five new schools, using a lion’s share of $235 million in bond money. Voters signed off on that loan with a 79% approval in late 2016.

Now Dr. Charles Faust, KCK Schools Superintendent, said his district is building and saving cash, too.

“$30 million is what it cut from the loan,” Foust said.

(Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF)

Ranson Financial2020-02-23T22:26:37-06:00February 23, 2020|News|

Kansas counties’ websites may lack security against hackers

Many Kansas counties’ websites may be at risk for cybersecurity attacks due to lacking basic protocols that make it easier for hackers to impersonate websites.

Out of 105 Kansas counties, only eight of them have websites ending in .gov, a domain extension only government officials can control. Sixty counties’ have URLs starting with “http” rather than the more secure “https.”

Security concerns have become more prominent as local governments have become frequent targets in ransomware, where hackers hold data hostage in exchange for money.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2020-02-24T07:15:27-06:00February 21, 2020|News|

No signs of slowing down municipal bonds as benchmark interest rates again hit record lows

The muni market saw a frantic flurry of deals come in Thursday and the market got technically stronger, the secondary was active and new muni yield lows were reached in both the 10- and 30-year maturities.
“Before COVID-19 munis were already seeing a ton of demand and now we are seeing the extra, safe harbor and flight-to-quality demand with people moving money from equities to munis,” a New York trader said. “[The virus] isn’t going away anytime soon and now it is impacting the supply chain, which can only negatively affect equities.”
…
Meanwhile, a New York trader noted that next week is shaping up to the biggest week all year in terms of issuance.
“We are looking at a huge week next week and there should be something for everybody and with yields at all-time lows, issuers will be kicking themselves if they don’t sell debt at this current levels,” he said.
(Read more: The Bond Buyer)

Ranson Financial2020-02-21T07:42:07-06:00February 21, 2020|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for February 20, 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 Advisors.

Ranson Financial2026-10-22T10:29:42-05:00February 21, 2020|Finance|

Abilene’s tribute to Eisenhower gets a makeover

The story of President Dwight D. Eisenhower began in Kansas. Now, 200,000 people a year visit the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home in the neighborhood where he grew up in Abilene.
Over the years, an entire campus has grown up around the family home. It recently reopened after a renovation project. The makeover includes interactive displays and the flexibility to rotate exhibits.
“It gives us the opportunity to be a little bit more flexible with the artifacts,” said Dawn Hammatt, the director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home. “We can rotate our artifacts more simply and that will give the visitors a different experience when they come.”
(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2020-02-21T07:35:07-06:00February 21, 2020|News|

Grant program could bring internet access to rural communities

Surfing the web, checking in on social media, or watching online videos – these are all things Kansas lawmakers want to make more readily accessible for the entire state of Kansas.

A bill has been proposed that would establish a grant program to help get broadband internet access to Kansas communities. Under the bill, cities and counties can apply for grant funding through the Department of Commerce. Communities would be selected based on need, population, cost and time the project would take.

(Read more: KSN-TV)

Ranson Financial2020-02-21T07:34:04-06:00February 21, 2020|News|

Great Plains Industrial Park receives first loaded train cars in over 40 years.

State leaders were in Southeast Kansas today to celebrate the arrival of the first loaded train cars at the Great Plains Industrial Park in more than 40 years.

Brad Reams, Park Director, said “Great Plains has a great story and we’re adding another chapter.”

Parsons was the place to be Thursday as state leaders visited Great Plains Industrial Park for a ribbon cutting and throwing of the switch.

“This chapter is bringing the rail up to the condition to where it can handle weighted loads and specifically starting with wind components and that will cascade into other economic development opportunities.”

Ranson Financial2020-02-21T07:33:45-06:00February 21, 2020|News|