Growth in western Shawnee could push K-7 corridor to its traffic limit

Improvements along Kansas Highway 7 may be necessary down the line to deal with increased traffic on Shawnee’s growing western side, but a new study of that major transportation corridor shows that its capacity is adequate for now. Specific areas to keep an eye on, according to a special presentation to the Shawnee City Council Monday, are around westbound 55th Street, westbound 67th Street, eastbound Shawnee Mission Parkway and stretches of K-7 itself. Those roads will need to be focused on as that part of the city continues to grow and be built out, Kurt Rotering, from Olsson Associates, said.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Ranson Financial2023-05-11T09:52:23-05:00May 11, 2023|News|

Galena artist wrapping up mural — paying homage to local legend

A local artist is hitting the streets of Galena, for her second community project in the last month. “I love Galena,” said Sandra Pemberton, local artist. It’s been a busy month for local artist Sandra Pemberton, as she’s wrapping up her second project in the Galena area, within the past month. Her last job was the train-themed mural inside of the “Galena Mining and History Museum”, which city organizers enjoyed so much, it left them wanting more. “We looked at it, and was like ‘that’s amazing’ and let’s look around here and see if there is somewhere else we can put one. And now, doing this one, there are a few other businesses in town that are going to have her freshen up signs or maybe do some more murals,” said Galena City Councilman Robert Laturner.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2023-05-11T13:11:56-05:00May 11, 2023|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for May 10, 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.

Henry Schmidt2023-05-11T08:56:46-05:00May 11, 2023|News|

Can Inflation Fall Fast Enough for the Fed?

Inflation is still too high. That probably won’t lead Federal Reserve policy makers to raise rates when they meet next month, but unless inflation comes down significantly in the months ahead, Fed policy makers will lace up their boots and start hiking all over again. And maybe inflation will come down. The Labor Department on Wednesday said that the consumer-price index, its measure of consumer prices, rose 0.4% in April from March, putting it 4.9% above its year-earlier level. Core prices, which exclude food and energy items to better reflect inflation’s underlying trend, also rose 0.4%, and were up 5.5% from a year earlier. … There were some aspects of the inflation report that will please the Fed. It has been focusing on what has been termed supercore inflation—the change in services prices excluding energy and housing costs. This is because, first of all, services prices are more closely linked to U.S. wages, as opposed to prices for goods, which are more driven by global demand, and which have been whipsawed by supply-chain problems since the pandemic started.
Source: WSJ.com: Markets

Ranson Financial2023-05-10T12:10:27-05:00May 10, 2023|News|

Reno County facing shortage of teachers

As enrollment dwindles in the Hutchinson School District, the need for buildings decreases. But this year, the largest school district in Reno County is facing a new problem − not enough applicants to fill their 14 open teacher slots. Because of this dilemma, the USD 308 staff met with community members at McCandless, Faris and Lincoln elementary schools on Wednesday and Thursday to try to figure out a solution. They threw out all sorts of possibilities, including closing an elementary school. Hutchinson’s superintendent, Dawn Johnson, Ed.D., wants to keep the community involved in what is happening. She is proposing a special board meeting, where community members can speak, be held next Monday evening to focus on this topic.
Source: Hutch News

Ranson Financial2023-05-10T12:02:57-05:00May 10, 2023|News|

Salina allows more access for fiber internet installation

Providers of fiber internet will now have more options for where cable can be placed near homes in Salina after approval by the City Commission. During its meeting Monday, the commission approved a resolution to allow fiber optic cable to be placed in utility easements within the city in addition to the public right of way, which was already allowed. Assistant City Manager Shawn Henessee said a utility easement in Salina is typically located at the rear or side of a residence, whereas the right of way is typically located in front of a home. “The city has voluntarily allowed utilities, in the past, to access…the easement in the rear,” Henessee said. As more fiber providers are making their way to Salina, Henessee said the city has been looking at the issue of where fiber cable could be placed.
Source: Salina Journal

Ranson Financial2023-05-10T12:02:04-05:00May 10, 2023|News|

Pittsburg Housing Authority awarded vouchers to address housing insecurity

The City of Pittsburg Public Housing Authority (PHA) is one of 62 agencies chosen by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to receive housing vouchers to provide supportive services to those facing homelessness in rural communities. The Pittsburg Housing Authority was awarded five stability vouchers to assist individuals and families who are homeless, at-risk of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or were recently homeless. These vouchers are in addition to 15 Emergency Housing Vouchers issued to the PHA in July 2021.
Source: City of Pittsburg

Ranson Financial2023-05-10T10:00:43-05:00May 10, 2023|News|

Cinco De Mayo celebration brings crowd, culture to downtown Emporia

Commercial Street came alive with food, music, dancing and more for the annual Cinco De Mayo celebration. Hundreds packed into downtown Emporia to try one of the many food, drink and snack options, listen to musical stylings of Erick Sánchez, Jaime Izaguirre, Ladee J and the Orquesta Cambalache and enjoy the dance performances from Raíces Hispanas Grupo Folklórico and the Latin Fit Zumba group. The day was packed with CincoK race in the morning, Los Puentes graduation, Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow scholarship recognition, royalty coronation and more.
Source: Emporia Gazette

Ranson Financial2023-05-10T09:59:44-05:00May 10, 2023|News|

Valley Center Schools name new Superintendent

The Valley Center School District has named a new Superintendent. Greg Lehr will take over the position on July 1. Lehr comes to Valley Center from Sedgwick Schools, where he has been Superintendent since July of last year, overseeing a $13.8 million bond project and creating a strategic plan. It is not his first time at Valley Center schools. Lehr was an assistant principal for Valley Center Middle School and principal of the intermediate school for a combined 12 years. Prior to that, he was a coach and teacher at Garden City and Newton Public Schools.
Source: KSN-TV

Ranson Financial2023-05-10T11:56:37-05:00May 10, 2023|News|

Johnson County’s Negro Creek to keep controversial name, commemorating its grisly past

Despite calls to rename Johnson County’s Negro Creek, a committee has decided to keep the controversial name, worried that removing it would erase a painful piece of history. Many Johnson County residents spent years unaware of the small, unmarked creek that flows through a golf course in Leawood and in southern Overland Park, in one of the most affluent areas of Kansas’ wealthiest county. But a couple of years ago, activists brought attention to the tributary and the mystery behind its troubling name, calling on leaders to remove it. The name, historians have discovered, most likely came from a story passed down for generations, of an enslaved man who ran away from the Missouri farm of a prominent and notoriously violent family. The man was tracked along the Blue River as he fled toward Kansas and made it to a tributary across the state line. The story goes that he chose to die by suicide there rather than be recaptured and return to a life of slavery.
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2023-05-10T12:10:57-05:00May 10, 2023|News|