How mail delays in Kansas and Missouri could create problems in the 2024 election

As the Nov. 5 election draws closer, tens of thousands of Kansas and Missouri voters are preparing to cast their absentee ballots through the mail. Whether you’re planning to be out of town on Election Day or have a disability that makes it hard to get to the polls, absentee voting is a convenient way to make sure your voice is heard. But recent U.S. Postal Service delays in both states may throw a wrench in those plans for some voters. Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, the state’s highest-ranking election official, sounded off in a letter to U.S. Postmaster Louis DeJoy about the issue Monday, Sept. 9. “I am extremely concerned there is a troubling pattern that persists in the U.S. Postal Service’s processing and handling of ballots,” Schwab wrote. “Many are either missing postmarks or failing to reach the county election office on time, even when voters have mailed them timely.” He added that nearly one-fifth of Kansas voters cast their ballots by mail, but around 1,000 mail-in ballots were not counted in the Aug. 6 primary election due to missing postmarks or late arrival times. Schwab did not specify where in the state ballots had gone uncounted. TOP VIDEOS The video player is currently playing an ad. “That means that 2 percent of ballots transmitted by mail in Kansas were not counted due to USPS administrative failures,” he wrote. Mail delays in the Kansas City area have been going on for months — and barring some major improvements in the next seven weeks, the issues are likely to persist up to and through Election Day. Here’s what voters can do to ensure their ballot is received and counted.
Source: Kansas City Breaking News & Sports | The Kansas City Star

info2024-09-16T17:27:44-05:00September 16, 2024|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for September 13, 2024

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Henry Schmidt2024-09-16T09:42:57-05:00September 16, 2024|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for September 12, 2024

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Henry Schmidt2024-09-13T10:44:01-05:00September 13, 2024|News|

40 Local Bridge Projects Receive More than $40M

40 local and off-system bridge projects across the state will receive a combined total of $40.25 million as part of two local bridge improvement programs capitalizing on new revenue from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). … Combined with matching funds from the awarded cities and counties, the total project value is over $45.2 million. By reshaping the local bridge programs to take advantage of BIL, the Kansas Department of Transportation more than doubled its annual funding as part of the existing Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE). … For this cycle of the local bridge programs, KDOT received a combined total of 170 applications requesting $162.3 million.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas

info2024-09-13T09:49:43-05:00September 13, 2024|News|

‘A stars-aligned moment’ — JoCo urges Lenexa to approve shelter permit ahead of key vote

With praise for Lenexa’s partnership and a pledge to back the city up if problems arise, Johnson County commissioners have forwarded a letter urging Lenexa officials to approve a proposed homeless services center and shelter. Commissioners voted 4-2 Thursday to send the one-and-a-half page letter to Lenexa Mayor Julie Sayers and city councilmembers. The city’s governing body next week will consider whether to accept the recommendation of their city’s planning commission to deny a permit for the proposed shelter at a repurposed hotel near Interstate 35 and 95th Street. “We respectfully disagree with staff’s rationale for denial and with how staff and the Planning Commission applied the Golden factor criteria in its recommendation,” the letter says, while acknowledging there may be “understandable” concerns. The project should not negatively impact property values and will have a positive effect on public health and safety, the commission’s letter says. (The “Golden criteria” stem from a 1978 court ruling in an Overland Park case that set forth factors that jurisdictions can consider when ruling on local land uses.)
Source: Johnson County Post

info2024-09-13T08:46:38-05:00September 13, 2024|News|

Halstead to hold public hearing on energy storage facility

The City of Halstead will host a public meeting on zoning regulations related to a proposed energy storage facility. In October 2023, Boston-based Concurrent LLC submitted an interconnection application to the Southwest Power Pool, which oversees power transmission in Kansas and several neighboring states. Concurrent wants to build a system that would collect and store renewable energy during times of low demand so that it can be delivered during times of high demand. The proposed Tallgrass Prairie Energy Center has a planned capacity of 200 megawatts and up to 800 megawatt-hours. The company plans to install the facility in Halstead Industrial Park. Once operational, it would store enough power for 200,000 to 800,000 homes. The public meeting will be held Monday, Sept. 16, at 6:30 p.m. at Halstead City Hall. A draft of the proposed zoning regulations is below.
Source: KSN-TV

info2024-09-13T08:45:14-05:00September 13, 2024|News|

Sedgwick County selected for emergency preparedness exercise

Sedgwick County Emergency Management (SCEM) was chosen to participate in a national exercise program conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The program aids government entities in conducting emergency preparedness exercises to gauge the disaster readiness of the organization. The SCEM applied for the program and was chosen for the program over other governmental agencies in Region 7, which includes Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. Going through the program will help Sedgwick County design and conduct a full-scale active shooter simulation to be held March 11, 2025. “These exercises are so important for us to assess our preparedness planning, resources and capabilities to work with community partners in times of crisis,” said SCEM Director Julie Stimson. “Having FEMA support us through this process will fine-tune the training even more, at no cost to our community.” Sedgwick County’s exercise is one of 43 selected across the country that FEMA will support for 38 government entities. A well-designed simulation provides a low-risk environment to familiarize personnel with emergency roles and responsibilities. After the exercise, SCEM can reevaluate its preparedness plans and identify strengths and areas for improvement. “I already know that our Emergency Management team is top-notch because they’ve proven it in the field countless times, but there is always room for improvement in our plans,” Chairman of the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners, Commissioner Ryan Baty said. “A large, complex exercise like this is an objective way to test our policies and procedures and enhance our response, before Sedgwick County has to deal with a real-life disaster.”
Source: Derby Informer | Area

info2024-09-13T08:43:49-05:00September 13, 2024|News|

City and firefighters union are at impasse in negotiations; Lawrence City Commission may have to resolve the conflict

City of Lawrence administrators and the local firefighters union are at an impasse in their negotiations for the coming year, and if they don’t resolve it, the City Commission might have to resolve the conflict next month. The city and the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1596 union, which represents firefighters and other emergency personnel employed by Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical, are working to come up with a new memorandum of understanding. The current one is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2024.
Source: LJWorld

info2024-09-13T08:35:06-05:00September 13, 2024|News|

Arcadia: A small town with a big history

Arcadia will celebrate 162 years on Saturday with Old Settlers’ Days. Festivities begin at 9 a.m. as parade participants gather at the ballpark. … While only a small town of 250 today, Arcadia has a very interesting history and a lot to celebrate. According to Legends of Kansas, the first to settle in the area was a blacksmith named Howell in 1844. Married to a Cherokee woman, he was given permission to live in, at that time, the Neutral Lands.
Source: Morning Sun

info2024-09-13T08:28:33-05:00September 13, 2024|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for September 11, 2024

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Henry Schmidt2024-09-12T10:37:17-05:00September 12, 2024|News|