Here’s what the city plans to name Wichita’s newest park

Wichita’s newest park soon could have an official name. The park, across McLean from the Arkansas River in Delano, had temporarily been dubbed Poem Park. The new name, if approved by the Wichita City Council on Tuesday, will be Millwood Park. It will get its name from the street — Millwood Avenue — that dead-ends in the middle of the park, a thin strip of undeveloped city-owned land along McLean from Vine to Fern. “I’m really excited about it because Delano has been really active in the naming of this new park,” Council member Maggie Ballard said. “I asked them for feedback because I thought it was important to include the people actually living in the area.”
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2023-09-06T08:41:36-05:00September 6, 2023|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for September 5, 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.

Henry Schmidt2023-09-06T08:41:00-05:00September 6, 2023|News|

Nearly 1,000 traffic cases dismissed in Douglas County District Court

In hopes of avoiding numerous driver’s license suspensions, Douglas County District Court judges have dismissed about 940 traffic cases. The circumstances of the batch dismissals are also mentioned in a pending disciplinary matter against Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez. The traffic court docket, which generally brings dozens of people into one courtroom on Friday mornings, was placed on hold for the height of the pandemic. The DA’s office also continued cases on the docket during the delta variant wave in winter going into 2022.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2023-09-06T08:35:33-05:00September 6, 2023|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for September 1, 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.

Henry Schmidt2023-09-04T11:31:22-05:00September 4, 2023|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for August 31, 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.

Henry Schmidt2023-09-01T08:57:45-05:00September 1, 2023|News|

Fed’s Bostic says U.S. interest rates are high enough

Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Raphael Bostic laid out a case on Thursday against any further U.S. interest rate hikes, saying monetary policy is already tight enough to bring inflation back down to 2% over a “reasonable” period. “I feel policy is appropriately restrictive,” Bostic said in remarks prepared for delivery to the South African Reserve Bank Biennial Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. “We should be cautious and patient and let the restrictive policy continue to influence the economy, lest we risk tightening too much and inflicting unnecessary economic pain.” However, “that does not mean I am for easing policy any time soon,” he noted. U.S. central bankers are widely expected to leave the Fed’s policy rate in the current range of 5.25%-5.5% when they next meet in a little less than three weeks. But financial markets are pricing in close to even odds that the Fed will ultimately lift that rate another quarter of a percentage point by year’s end, given still too-high inflation, stronger-than-expected economic growth and still-low unemployment, most recently measured at 3.5%.
Source: CNBC

Ranson Financial2023-08-31T09:56:52-05:00August 31, 2023|News|

Stevens County Farm Bureau Initiative focuses on food insecurity

With help from Kansas Farm Bureau’s campaign to End Hunger, Stevens County Farm Bureau is working to address food insecurity issues in Hugoton. This project came about in 2022 when County Coordinator Jamie Gooch contacted Nancy Bansemer with Project Hope to see what FB could do in helping feel any needs in our community for meat and nutritious food. Nancy was again quick to respond that they were always low on meat in their freezers and were currently trying to serve several families in our community. This project being so successful last year, plans were set forth to continue this End Hunger project for the second year. 4-H Leader Stacy Dillinger again helped with co- ordinating information with the four 4-H Clubs in the County.
Source: Hugoton Hermes News

Ranson Financial2023-08-31T09:36:54-05:00August 31, 2023|News|

Presidential council calls for privatization of water systems

President Joe Biden’s infrastructure advisory council is recommending privatization and long-term leases of water systems to help manage what the council warned is a looming crisis facing the nation’s aging water infrastructure. The recommendations come in a 39-page report released Monday from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, comprised of 30 state, local and private sector leaders who advise the president on risks to the nation’s critical infrastructure. The council voted unanimously Monday to approve the report. Among its recommendations, the NIAC called for the creation of a federal water department or an equivalent cabinet-level agency to oversee a national strategy to shore up the nation’s aging water infrastructure.
Source: The Bond Buyer

Ranson Financial2023-08-31T09:48:30-05:00August 31, 2023|News|

Mulvane celebrates 150th Old Settlers

Crowds swarmed the streets of downtown Mulvane through the final weekend of August, “harvesting memories” as the city celebrated the 150th year of the traditional Old Settlers Days festival. Aug. 26 was even officially proclaimed Mulvane Old Settlers Day by the Sedgwick County Commission. Winners were crowned in everything from photography competitions to the rodeo to the annual Little Miss Pioneer contest. In its 150th year, the festival showed no signs of slowing down offering fun for all ages with musical performances, a parade, carnival, car show and much more.
Source: Derby Informer | Area

Ranson Financial2023-08-31T09:29:27-05:00August 31, 2023|News|

Valley Center rejects school bond issue, Clearwater approves sales tax

There were split results in special elections for two Sedgwick County communities. In a mail ballot election that was tabulated Tuesday, Valley Center voters rejected a school bond issue. There were 2,159 no votes to 1,983 in favor of the proposal, giving the no ballots 52 percent of the total. The almost 74 million dollar proposal would have constructed a new elementary school and added 20 classrooms to the high school. Superintendent Greg Lehr said in a statement on social media, “While the bond did not pass, the needs remain. Because several USD 262 schools are at or over capacity with students and our district continues to grow, classroom space will have to be addressed.
Source: 101.3 KFDI

Ranson Financial2023-08-31T09:49:57-05:00August 31, 2023|News|