Shawnee Mission’s Michelle Hubbard named Kansas Superintendent of the Year

18 Wednesday, October 18

Shawnee Mission’s Michelle Hubbard named Kansas Superintendent of the Year

info2023-10-18T09:27:54-05:00October 18th, 2023|

Michelle Hubbard of the Shawnee Mission School District has been named Kansas Superintendent of the year by the Kansas Superintendents’ Association — an honor that also puts her in the running for national superintendent of the year. Hubbard, who has been Shawnee Mission’s superintendent since 2021, was cited by the Kansas association for her leadership and commitment to student success. In particular, the Kansas superintendents’ group mentioned Hubbard’s prioritization of the district’s Market Value Assets program encouraging seniors to develop industry-valued skills that make for a smooth transition from school to the workplace or to higher education. Source: Prairie Village Post

18 Wednesday, October 18

City of Wichita to pave more than 150 dirt roads over next 10 years for $35 million

info2023-10-18T09:22:13-05:00October 18th, 2023|

The City of Wichita plans to spend millions of dollars to pave more than 150 streets in the city. Its first priority is the streets around Wichita schools. One dirt road is about to get a facelift is Lilac Lane between Pike and Morris. Construction on the dirt road is expected to start on October 30th. The 10-year project will cost taxpayers $35 million. And, it's making those who live along Lilac Lane very happy. "It's going to be a lot better for the simple fact that my dog for instance him, he likes to go on roads and he doesn't [...]

18 Wednesday, October 18

Wichita adds CROWN Act to non-discrimination ordinance

info2023-10-18T09:20:03-05:00October 18th, 2023|

The Wichita City Council approved changes to the city's non-discrimination ordinance to include the adoption of the CROWN (Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act. It adds definitions of race and protective hairstyles, prohibiting discrimination based on hair texture or styles like braids, afros, twists, or tightly coiled hair. "If we aren't offending anyone else, personally, financially or with bodily harm, I think that we all should be supportive of allowing people to be themselves," said Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau. A similar ordinance has passed in Lawrence. Sen. Faust-Goudeau is pushing for it to be passed by lawmakers next [...]

18 Wednesday, October 18

Renewed battle over eminent domain in energy sector starts taking shape

info2023-10-18T09:19:00-05:00October 18th, 2023|

The stage is being set for a battle in the Legislature over how eminent domain is used to construct new electric transmission lines across Kansas in the aftermath of a controversial line approved for construction from Kansas into Missouri. The state's leading agricultural groups - the Kansas Farm Bureau and the Kansas Livestock Association - signaled Tuesday that they may very well seek changes next year in how eminent domain is used in Kansas. Left hanging last session, the issue stands to be one of the bigger debates on the energy front when the Legislature convenes in 2024. Source: Sunflower State [...]

18 Wednesday, October 18

Topeka City Council finalizes hotel purchase

info2023-10-18T09:13:31-05:00October 18th, 2023|

City leaders have agreed to pay for Hotel Topeka, in full by the end of October. At Tuesday's meeting, Topeka City council members passed a resolution finalizing the purchase of Hotel Topeka at City Center. Councilmembers approved paying the remaining $6.9 million needed to buy the property seven to two, with council women Christina Valdivia-Alcala and Sylvia Ortiz voting against it. The governing body approved the purchase in May of this year for $7.6 million. Before tonight's meeting, $767,000 has already been deposited for the hotel. The city's ultimate goal is to secure an entity that will purchase, operate, and manage [...]

18 Wednesday, October 18

Topeka ahead of nation’s ‘murder capital’ with per capita homicide count

info2023-10-18T09:12:40-05:00October 18th, 2023|

Topeka police recently marked a grim new milestone for the Capital City with the announcement that the all-time homicide count has been broken. In 2023, the Topeka Police Department is investigating 31 homicide cases with the most recent being reported on Oct. 15. This broke a previously established record set in 2017 for 30 homicides. As Topeka reaches this new record, how does it stack up when compared with other cities in Kansas along with other U.S. cities with traditionally high homicide counts? Earlier this year, Chicago was named the "murder capital" of the U.S. with 697 homicides in 2022. The [...]

18 Wednesday, October 18

Was private info accessed in Kansas courts security breach?

info2023-10-18T09:11:30-05:00October 18th, 2023|

A security breach is prompting a statewide shakeup for Kansas courts. The Kansas Supreme Court issued a new order on Monday, putting all electronic filings and payments on hold. All filings for courts will have to be on paper or by fax, with paper filings to be hand delivered or sent by mail. "Reverting to a paper process, it is going to be a little slower after we've relied on technology for so long," Lisa Taylor, a spokeswoman for Kansas Capitol Bureau said. "Hopefully, this won't last too terribly long, we're hoping to find out what's wrong and fix it." The [...]

17 Tuesday, October 17

Municipal Bond Trends for October 16, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-10-17T09:16:42-05:00October 17th, 2023|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. 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.

16 Monday, October 16

Push to ‘deconsolidate’ Wyandotte County Unified Government threatened

info2023-10-16T14:32:47-05:00October 16th, 2023|

Key political leaders in Wyandotte County threaten a push to deconsolidate the Unified Government if they don't see changes. Kansas City, Kansas Mayor Tyrone Garner gave a laundry list of complaints saying the UG could be on the path to bankruptcy by 2028. The mayor of Edwardsville, Carolyn Caiharr, said starting in November they're forming citizen focus groups to hear from resident on ideas including deconsolidation. "If the Unified Government had been working as promised, I personally don't believe we would have inherited a billion dollars’ worth of debt," Caiharr said. Garner shared a long list of complaints with the current [...]

16 Monday, October 16

Rising rates shouldn’t scare off issuers

info2023-10-16T13:51:18-05:00October 16th, 2023|

Cities and states should "keep calm and issue bonds" despite sticker shock from rising interest rates and a volatile municipal bond market. That was the message from panelists speaking Thursday at the Government Finance Officers Association's annual MiniMuni event, a three-day online event for issuers. The rise in rates "makes our jobs as debt managers that much trickier and that much more painful," said Paul Chatalas, capital markets manager for the state of Illinois. But there's a silver lining, Chatalas said. "Volatility creates opportunity for the investor and opportunity for the investor is not necessarily bad for the issuer," he said. [...]