Fed approves 0.75-point hike to take rates to highest since 2008 and hints at change in policy ahead

3 Thursday, November 3

Fed approves 0.75-point hike to take rates to highest since 2008 and hints at change in policy ahead

info2022-11-03T01:54:46-05:00November 3rd, 2022|

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday approved a fourth consecutive three-quarter point interest rate increase and signaled a potential change in how it will approach monetary policy to bring down inflation. In a well-telegraphed move that markets had been expecting for weeks, the central bank raised its short-term borrowing rate by 0.75 percentage point to a target range of 3.75%-4%, the highest level since January 2008. The move continued the most aggressive pace of monetary policy tightening since the early 1980s, the last time inflation ran this high. Source: CNBC - Bonds

3 Thursday, November 3

Washington County to receive almost $1.6 million from wind farm over next decade

info2022-11-03T11:14:33-05:00November 3rd, 2022|

Towers will be at least 1,500 feet from non-participating occupied primary residential dwellings and 1.2 times the tower height away from non-participating property lines from the center of the base of the tower. Towers will be setback at least 1.1 times the tower height plus 30 feet from any county, township, state or federal right-of way currently in existence, excluding private roads. No turbines will be installed within a mile of a town. Four agreements with High Banks Wind, LLC, were unanimously signed by the Washington County Commission on Monday for the High Banks Wind Project, including a development agreement, road [...]

3 Thursday, November 3

Panasonic breaks ground on massive De Soto battery plant predicted to transform KC region

info2022-11-03T11:15:13-05:00November 3rd, 2022|

Panasonic officially started construction of a new electric vehicle battery plant in De Soto, Kansas, on Wednesday. It's the largest economic development project in the history of Kansas. The Japanese company said it will begin mass producing batteries in De Soto for the booming electric vehicle market by March 2025. Panasonic said building cylindrical "2170" lithium-ion batteries in De Soto will spur innovation and provide critical production capacity to fuel economic growth and other opportunities for the entire region. Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 - WDAF

3 Thursday, November 3

City of Emporia set to rollout new mass notification system Monday

info2022-11-03T01:41:56-05:00November 3rd, 2022|

The city of Emporia is set to expand communication with local residents with the rollout of a new mass notification system. According to City Communications Manager Christine Johnson during the Emporia City Commission’s regular action/study meeting Wednesday, beginning next week the city will be utilizing the CodeRed mass notification system for non-life threatening emergency situations and general notifications. This includes water line breaks, street closures and the like. Johnson says increased communication with local residents has been a major goal for the city in recent months and this is a great tool to help reach that goal. Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

3 Thursday, November 3

Osawatomie celebrates trail grant

info2022-11-03T11:15:50-05:00November 3rd, 2022|

Representatives of federal, state and local government agencies joined members of the community on Saturday, Oct. 29, to celebrate a $24.8 million federal grant recently awarded to improve and expand the Flint Hills Trail State Park, which begins at the Mile Zero trailhead in Osawatomie. The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant will help make infrastructure improvements on 40.5 miles of the trail and open 27 new miles of the trail, from Council Grove to Herington, according to a news release. Source: republic-online.com

3 Thursday, November 3

Grant will increase high-speed internet in 2 counties

info2022-11-03T01:27:55-05:00November 3rd, 2022|

Blue Valley Technologies has received another major grant to boost high-speed internet in Marshall and Washington counties. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rural development office will provide $3,066,752 for faster web access by deploying fiber inside the city limits of Frankfort, Waterville, Hanover and Washington. About 3,000 people along with 255 business and 14 educational facilities will benefit from this area’s project, according to BVT and USDA news releases. “High-speed internet is essential for success in education, health care and business in the 21st century,” said Christy Davis, Kansas director for USDA rural development. Source: The Marysville Advocate

2 Wednesday, November 2

Municipal Bond Trends for November 1, 2022

Henry Schmidt2022-11-02T08:54:38-05:00November 2nd, 2022|

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 and Beth Warren.

2 Wednesday, November 2

Pottawatomie County approve raises for employees

info2022-11-02T07:04:20-05:00November 2nd, 2022|

Pottawatomie County commissioners approved a second cost of living adjustment for its employees Monday. The move will give county employees an overall 10 percent boost in their COLAs after the commission OK’d a 3.5 percent increase in July. The county deferred any additional increases to see if inflation concerns would diminish. County Administrator Chad Kinsley noted department heads began tightening their belts to ensure they could take on the adjustment for the remainder of the year. The commission already had approved a 6.5 percent COLA for the 2023 budget, amounting to roughly $1 million. Source: 1350 KMAN

2 Wednesday, November 2

Sedgwick celebrates Halloween with downtown activities

info2022-11-02T00:00:07-05:00November 2nd, 2022|

Sedgwick held its third-annual Trunk or Treat on Halloween evening, closing down Commercial Street so trick-or-treaters could safely walk the streets and collect candy from residents and businesses alike. Activities included decorated trunks, candy distribution, a haunted tunnel, and free hot dogs. Source: Harvey County Now

1 Tuesday, November 1

Wichita plans to replace two tennis courts with six pickleball courts at east-side park

info2022-11-01T23:57:49-05:00November 1st, 2022|

Picklers just scored a key victory in the ongoing turf war between Wichita’s pickleball and tennis communities over the use of city parks facilities. The Wichita City Council on Tuesday approved the conversion of two tennis courts at Edgemoor Park into six more pickleball courts. Parks and Recreation Director Troy Houtman said the problem with the six existing pickleball courts at Edgemoor is there are no court lights, limiting their use in the evenings. Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle