Governor Kelly Announces Integra Technologies to Invest $1.8B, Create Nearly 2,000 Jobs with Wichita Semiconductor Plant

3 Friday, February 3

Governor Kelly Announces Integra Technologies to Invest $1.8B, Create Nearly 2,000 Jobs with Wichita Semiconductor Plant

info2023-02-03T07:27:37-06:00February 3rd, 2023|

Today, Governor Laura Kelly announced Kansas-based Integra Technologies plans to invest $1.8 billion in a large-scale semiconductor facility in Wichita. This is the second-largest private investment in Kansas history. The facility will establish Wichita as integral to a national effort to reshore semiconductor manufacturing capacity and strengthen national security. Employee-owned Integra is a fully integrated provider of semiconductor packaging, testing, qualification, and other services. The 1 million square-foot plant and headquarters facility will create nearly 2,000 high-paying jobs averaging $51,000 in wages. A Wichita State University economic impact study estimates an additional 3,161 jobs will be generated by suppliers, construction labor, [...]

3 Friday, February 3

Dodge City warning of an uptick in cases of canine distemper

info2023-02-03T01:03:04-06:00February 3rd, 2023|

The City of Dodge City is warning the public about an uptick in cases of canine distemper in Ford County. The City says symptoms of canine distemper include: Crusty eyes, Green snotty noses, No appetite, Other respiratory symptoms. "If you notice that your dog has any of these particular symptoms, it is essential to separate them from other canines, contact your veterinarian for guidance, and continue monitoring them," Dodge City says. The best way to combat the virus is to vaccinate your canines against distemper, according to the City. Source: KSN-TV

3 Friday, February 3

Garden City police officers receive lifesaving awards

info2023-02-03T01:00:51-06:00February 3rd, 2023|

Three Garden City police officers have received lifesaving awards after saving the life of a stabbing victim. It happened on Sept. 1, 2022, in the early morning hours when police were called to the 1200 block of E Chestnut St in Garden City for an EMS assist. Inside, they found a 27-year-old woman with multiple stab wounds from a domestic violence incident. Officers Andrew Cavalier, PJ Foster, and Manuel Govea immediately began lifesaving measures by applying pressure, packing her wounds to stop the bleeding, and continually speaking with her. Source: KSN-TV

3 Friday, February 3

LKM announces new executive director

info2023-02-03T07:33:02-06:00February 3rd, 2023|

The League of Kansas Municipalities has hired Nathan Eberline as Executive Director. ... Nathan Eberline worked at the League of Kansas Municipalities from 2007 to 2011 as the Intergovernmental Relations Associate. He then served as the Associate Legislative Director and Legal Counsel for the Kansas Association of Counties from 2011 to 2018. Most recently, Nathan served as the Vice President of Operations at the Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (ACBSP) in Overland Park, Kansas since 2018. ACBSP is a non-profit, specialized accreditor in higher education with members around the globe and a focus on teaching excellence. Source: LKM

3 Friday, February 3

City of Wichita rolls out system for residents to receive boil water advisory alerts

info2023-02-03T00:54:35-06:00February 3rd, 2023|

The City of Wichita is rolling out a better way for residents can find out if there is a boil water advisory in the area. According to the City of Wichita Communications Manager Tyler Schiffelbein, back in October of 2021, Wichita received its first boil water advisory in about 20 years. That's when the City found a "gap" in the system. "We didn't have a good way to reach all of our water customers in an emergency in a timely manner, so after that, we started looking into options that we could notify all of our customers via email, text, voicemail [...]

3 Friday, February 3

Lawmakers presented data showing electric rates gradually declining

info2023-02-03T00:52:00-06:00February 3rd, 2023|

With a battle developing over utility regulation, new data shows Kansas has seen a gradual decline in electric rates over a six-year period. Justin Grady, of the Kansas Corporation Commission's utilities division, briefed the House utilities committee on federal data showing that average Kansas electric rates declined 0.19% from 2016 to 2021. Kansas was only one of two states in the Midwest that saw a decline in average electric rates during the six-year period for which data was collected from the Energy Information Administration. Source: Sunflower State Journal

2 Thursday, February 2

Douglas County approves permits to install devices that gauge the viability of a future wind energy project on southwestern county properties

info2023-02-02T09:32:27-06:00February 2nd, 2023|

Despite protests from a room full of dozens of Douglas County residents, county leaders on Wednesday approved permits for an out-of-state energy firm to install devices on properties scattered around southwestern Douglas County that gauge the viability of a future wind energy project. The decisions — taken in five separate votes by the Douglas County Commission at its meeting Wednesday night — followed more than two hours of cumulative public comment mostly from about 20 people who said they live in the southwestern portion of Douglas County. That’s an area Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources has previously confirmed it’s exploring as a [...]

2 Thursday, February 2

Municipal Bond Trends for February 1, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-02-02T09:26:30-06:00February 2nd, 2023|

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, Beth Warren and Henry Schmidt.

2 Thursday, February 2

Fed Slows Its Tightening With Quarter-Point Interest Rate Rise; signals plans to increase interest rates again in March

info2023-02-02T09:23:08-06:00February 2nd, 2023|

The Federal Reserve nudged up short-term interest rates by a quarter-percentage point and signaled it was on track to do so again at its meeting next month while officials consider whether and when to pause increases late this spring. The decision Wednesday to raise the Fed’s benchmark federal-funds rate followed six larger, consecutive increases to combat inflation, which hit a 40-year high last year. Officials raised rates by a half point in December and by 0.75 point in November. Officials agreed to slow rate rises to gain more time to study the effects of their moves. “We’re talking about a couple [...]

2 Thursday, February 2

Hutchinson shelter expands hours

info2023-02-02T07:36:27-06:00February 2nd, 2023|

NOEL Lodge, a non-profit emergency shelter serving the people without homes, recently expanded their hours to accommodate people needing assistance. The facility, located at 200 W. 6th Street, operates two first-come, first-served sessions. The daytime session runs 7 am-3:30 pm and the nighttime session from 4 pm-7 am. With 25 beds available, NOEL is operating at capacity. President and CEO Shara Gonzales noted several factors are causing an increase in the number of people needing the emergency shelter’s services. “We are looking at new people falling into homelessness. The cost of living, insurance, and property tax has all gone up. People's [...]