Claflin pool picked as next BAM mural

21 Friday, April 21

Claflin pool picked as next BAM mural

info2023-04-21T09:58:06-05:00April 21st, 2023|

To add a new splash of color and summer vibes to the City of Claflin’s swimming pool, the mural-promoting group Barton Arts Movement has selected the facility’s entrance as its next project. BAM is still seeking the last of the funds needed to make it a reality. “We’re excited about this next project in Claflin this summer,” said Andrea Bauer, who is spearheading effort for BAM. “We’re planning for early summer installation.” But, she said, “the timeline is still a little fluid at this point.” Great Bend artist Anna Popp will handle the creative endeavors, but she is finishing up the [...]

21 Friday, April 21

Chase County residents recall Wednesday’s storm, assess damage

info2023-04-21T10:28:18-05:00April 21st, 2023|

Chase County residents are assessing the damage left by a storm that rolled through multiple towns Wednesday night. According to a preliminary damage survey, several tornadoes touched down in Chase County. The specific tracks, width, and number of tornadoes are still being assessed at this time, but findings show that at least three locations received EF-2 (111-135 mph winds) damage: One mile east of Elmdale, three miles southwest of Strong City, and 3.5 miles south of Dunlap. Source: KSN-TV

21 Friday, April 21

Chase County Commission approves disaster declaration for Wednesday’s storm

info2023-04-21T09:54:02-05:00April 21st, 2023|

The Chase County Commission has approved a disaster declaration for the storm that hit Cottonwood Falls and Strong City Wednesday night. "Chase County authorities are working alongside the City of Strong City and the City of Cottonwood Falls as well as being in contact with State and Federal authorities as we assess the total extent of damage from the storms on Wednesday April 19, 2023," Chase County Sheriff Jacob Welsh said. Source: KSN-TV

21 Friday, April 21

Jail proposal election set for Tuesday in Marshall County

info2023-04-21T10:27:04-05:00April 21st, 2023|

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday for a special election to determine if Marshall County voters support a funding proposal for a new jail. Voters are asked to decide whether the county should enter a lease-purchase agreement not to exceed $6.5 million in principal to finance a portion of the proposed new jail. Advance voting in person, which is under way now at the Marshall County Courthouse, 1201 Broadway, will close at noon Tuesday. Source: The Marysville Advocate

21 Friday, April 21

Municipal Bond Trends for April 20, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-04-21T09:39:19-05:00April 21st, 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, Beth Warren or Henry Schmidt.

20 Thursday, April 20

Tornado Alley is moving east, new study says. But here’s why Kansans might not notice

info2023-04-20T11:14:51-05:00April 20th, 2023|

A recent study from Northern Illinois University projects that supercells, which are the leading cause of tornadoes, could become less common in the Great Plains and more frequent in eastern regions of the U.S. But Kansans won’t notice much of a difference, according to author and atmospheric scientist Walker Ashley, Ph.D. “I don’t think that the declines are going to be noticeable to the average human walking down the street in Wichita,” he said. “These are things that carry out over decades.” Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

20 Thursday, April 20

Marion council leery of container homes

info2023-04-20T13:51:45-05:00April 20th, 2023|

Two Marion City Council members said Monday that they wouldn’t want to see a shipping container home go up next to their own houses. That was in response to a plan by Elite Container Homes to build a home out of two shipping containers at 201 N. Freeborn St. Felix Ramirez, who owns three shipping container homes in Hillsboro that he rents on Airbnb, is one half of Elite Container. His partner, Dustin Burke, joined him at the council meeting. ... A zoning change would be necessary because current regulations don’t allow people to live in shipping containers in Marion, according [...]

20 Thursday, April 20

Marion hires new city administrator

info2023-04-20T13:48:46-05:00April 20th, 2023|

Marion has hired a new city administrator — Brogan Jones, a Lyons building and code inspector ... City council members voted unanimously Monday to approve a contract that Jones signed ahead of the meeting. His signature was on a copy of the contract included in agenda packets. Jones, who grew up in Sterling, will start May 1. “I’m just excited to get going,” he said after the council meeting. He expects his first week to be filled with meetings — staff, community leaders, business owners, and others. “It’ll be a busy week,” he said. Council member Zach Collett said he and [...]

20 Thursday, April 20

Top Fed Official Signals Support for May Interest-Rate Increase

info2023-04-20T13:56:48-05:00April 20th, 2023|

A top Federal Reserve official said the central bank had more work ahead to bring down inflation, suggesting another interest-rate increase would be warranted at the Fed’s meeting in two weeks. “Inflation is still too high, and we will use our monetary policy tools to restore price stability,” said New York Fed President John Williams in a speech Wednesday night to a group of financial-industry professionals in Manhattan. Investors see a greater than 80% chance that the Fed will raise rates by a quarter point at its May 2-3 meeting, according to CME Group. Mr. Williams, a close ally of Fed [...]

20 Thursday, April 20

Wichita City Council looking at strengthening city code on rental property conditions to fight bad apartment conditions

info2023-04-20T11:08:12-05:00April 20th, 2023|

For almost a week now you’ve seen the conditions inside both vacant and occupied apartments at Emery Gardens in South Wichita. However, Councilman Brandon Johnson says this was just the latest in a string of bad conditions at rental properties across Wichita. "I've seen it in multiple apartment complexes, that's just not acceptable. We need to be able to do more about it.” Johnson says he and other council members like Mike Hoheisel, who toured Emery with him last week, have been working with the MABCD and other city staff on changes to city code to better help inspectors deal with bad apartments. [...]