Fed Sets Course for Milder Interest-Rate Rise in February

23 Monday, January 23

Fed Sets Course for Milder Interest-Rate Rise in February

info2023-01-23T07:56:13-06:00January 23rd, 2023|

Federal Reserve officials are preparing to slow interest-rate increases for the second straight meeting and debate how much higher to raise them after gaining more confidence inflation will ease further this year. They could begin deliberating at the Jan. 31-Feb. 1 gathering how much more softening in labor demand, spending and inflation they would need to see before pausing rate rises this spring. In recent public statements and interviews, Fed officials have said slowing the pace of rate increases to a more traditional quarter percentage point would give them more time to assess the impact of their increases so far as [...]

23 Monday, January 23

Elementary and high school students teamed up to send pieces of Silver Lake around the country

info2023-01-23T07:55:14-06:00January 23rd, 2023|

What could Ella Day, Brooklyn Rupp and Colter Beam tell the world about Silver Lake, Kansas? The Silver Lake Jr./Sr. High School juniors had been students in the district since kindergarten, and they understood the small, rural community well. So when elementary school librarian Carrie Podlena asked high school art teacher Michaela Conley for help with a project to tell the story of Silver Lake Grade School, the art teacher knew exactly who could help. Source: CJonline

23 Monday, January 23

Western Kansas farmers are pushing to save the Ogallala Aquifer before it’s too late

info2023-01-23T08:02:37-06:00January 23rd, 2023|

For Rep. Jim Minnix, the state's increasingly acute water problem is not a theoretical matter of public policy. In addition to his duties in the Kansas Legislature, Minnix is a fourth-generation farmer and stockman. And while he and his colleagues in the Statehouse debate what policies to implement to encourage conservation in Kansas, the Scott City Republican said he has taken steps to decrease water use on his own property. While efforts to scale up conservation efforts could impact the pocketbooks of farmers like him and his 27-year-old son, Minnix said the long-term impact on the state of Kansas was paramount. [...]

23 Monday, January 23

Community-wide CPR coming to Winfield

info2023-01-23T00:29:11-06:00January 23rd, 2023|

In conjunction with American Heart Month, a free community-wide CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) certification event will be hosted by William Newton Hospital, USD 465 and Winfield Fire/EMS on Feb. 10 at Baden Square in Winfield. Two sessions will be offered, 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Connecting the recent cardiac arrest suffered by the NFL’s Damar Hamlin, William Newton Hospital’s Community Education & Professional Development Coordinator Melanie Burnett stresses the importance of learning CPR. “This reminds us why CPR skills are so important for everyone — not just medical professionals — to know and be proficient at performing,” [...]

23 Monday, January 23

Higher interest rate prompts Winfield to pay off its state-sponsored City Utility Low-Interest Loan

info2023-01-23T07:41:37-06:00January 23rd, 2023|

The City of Winfield plans to make a lump sum payment of $1.6 million toward its utility loan to keep up with rising interest rates, a move that could save more than $200,000 and will keep the city on track to meet its original repayment schedule. Prior to the increase in interest rates, the city had been on track to pay off the $8.5 million loan within five years. With the rising rates, the repayment timeline would have moved back to six years and added more interest costs. Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

23 Monday, January 23

County approves more medical help for jail

info2023-01-23T07:24:30-06:00January 23rd, 2023|

Cowley County commissioners approved hiring more medical help at the Cowley County Jail to avoid disruption of services. Commissioners approved a contract with Turn Key Health Clinics, LLC after hearing from Sheriff David Falletti and Jail Administrator John Butters. The goal of the contract is to minimize disruption of services in the jail as a whole. This contract is the beginning of that plan. Falletti and Butters spoke of disruption of services when the jail nurse is absent. Turn Key has traveling nurses and will be able to provide coverage when the nurse, who is a county employee, is absent, ensuring [...]

23 Monday, January 23

Fort Scott to resume discussion of brick street policy

info2023-01-23T07:34:28-06:00January 23rd, 2023|

When Fort Scott City Commissioners meet Tuesday, they will be asked to take a second look at a brick street policy. ... Mayor Matthew Wells... campaigned for repairing the city’s historic brick streets and to form a crew dedicated to making those repairs... [local residents] noted that Fort Scott's strong sense of place is identified by these brick streets. Source: Fort Scott Tribune

23 Monday, January 23

Bourbon County changes minimum on Neighborhood Revitalization Program

info2023-01-23T07:35:53-06:00January 23rd, 2023|

Bourbon County Commissioners have made changes to the county’s Neighborhood Revitalization Program, which provides rebates on additional taxes due to improvements, additions or new residential, business or agricultural structures. After a discussion Tuesday, the commission approved Commissioner Clifton Beth’s motion to change the residential portion of the program to $5,000 in added value to the property to qualify, and raise the rebate period from five years to 10 years. Source: Fort Scott Tribune

23 Monday, January 23

Kansas loses population as neighboring states gain

info2023-01-23T07:37:43-06:00January 23rd, 2023|

Kansas is one of 18 states to see a decline in population between July 2021 and July 2022, according to the Census Bureau. The Sunflower State is alone in population loss in the region. The closest Midwestern state on the list is Illinois. Negative domestic migration, or more U.S. residents leaving a state than moving in, is a primary cause of the decline... Nebraska is the only neighboring state that had negative migration, losing 4,270, but still managed a population increase of about 4,000 people. Source: Derby Informer | Area

23 Monday, January 23

Kansas wheat farmers face a tougher future with more dry, hot, windy weather

info2023-01-23T07:38:26-06:00January 23rd, 2023|

It’s been a rough year for the Wheat State’s trademark crop. This resilient plant is a fighter. But even for a grain that’s seemingly built to succeed on these unforgiving plains, the ongoing drought tests its limits. Wheat farmers, like Chris Tanner in northwest Kansas, feel the roller coaster. “It can be very, very bountiful or it can be the complete polar opposite and be a famine,” Tanner said. “You have to learn how to weather those storms in life.” Recently, those storms have been closer to a Dust Bowl than a deluge. After the rain shut off last spring, most [...]