Bourbon County changes minimum on Neighborhood Revitalization Program

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 [...]

23 Monday, January 23

Osage City Library plans Valentine’s Day surprises for local seniors

info2023-01-23T07:38:59-06:00January 23rd, 2023|

The Osage City Library will be delivering some love to all the senior living centers for Valentine’s Day. Those who would like to participate can purchase or make homemade valentines, write a note, and sign them. The library’s goal is to make sure each resident receives at least five or six valentines each. Between 750 to 900 valentines are needed. Source: Osage County News

23 Monday, January 23

Merriam tweaks downtown plan to address business concerns

info2023-01-23T07:39:41-06:00January 23rd, 2023|

Merriam is tweaking a plan to remake the city’s downtown corridor after some business owners objected to aspects of an initial plan unveiled earlier this month. At a special meeting Thursday, the city council authorized slight adjustments to a conceptual makeover of Merriam Drive between 55th Street and Johnson Drive — a project focused on safety, bikeability and walkability that has been years in the making. Source: Prairie Village Post

22 Sunday, January 22

Wind Farms Deliver Economic Jolt to Rural Middle America

info2023-01-23T07:40:52-06:00January 22nd, 2023|

A wind power boom in the nation’s central corridor has been a financial windfall for some struggling rural areas. Coke County, Texas, which has a population of about 3,300, had the biggest increase in economic output of any county in the country between 2019 and 2021, according to a Stateline analysis of Bureau of Economic Analysis statistics. Coke County’s gross domestic product, or GDP, increased from $128 million to $235 million, or 83%. Including Coke County, seven of the top 10 counties with the largest GDP increases had significant recent wind farm construction, the analysis found. ... Much of the wind farm construction [...]

22 Sunday, January 22

Kansas eyes filmmaking incentives

info2023-01-23T07:41:29-06:00January 22nd, 2023|

As much as Oscar-winning filmmaker Kevin Willmott wants to shoot movies in his home state of Kansas, sometimes he just can't. Take for instance, "The 24th," his 2020 movie about an all-Black regiment of soldiers that rebelled in the face of abuse and violence from the Houston police in 1917. But producers decided that the movie, with a $9 million budget, would be shot in North Carolina because that state offered incentives to filmmakers. Source: Sunflower State Journal

22 Sunday, January 22

Municipal Bond Trends for January 20, 2023

Henry Schmidt2023-01-22T18:44:51-06:00January 22nd, 2023|

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, Beth Warren and Henry Schmidt.

20 Friday, January 20

R9 Ranch water project delays costing Hays millions of dollars

info2023-01-20T10:03:47-06:00January 20th, 2023|

Mayor Mason Ruder likes to point out he was four years old in 1995 when the city of Hays purchased the R9 Ranch in Edwards County as a long-term water supply. Now, 28 years later, the project is finally picking up speed, especially in the past year. "Every day is now an R9 Ranch Day," Ruder declared with a smile during last week's city commission meeting. City Manager Toby Dougherty updated commissioners on the R9 water transfer process. It started in February 2014 when the then-city commission voted to apply to the state to change the water use from agricultural irrigation [...]

20 Friday, January 20

How the Golden Gloves helps the Hutchinson economy

info2023-01-20T10:01:07-06:00January 20th, 2023|

The Kansas State Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament Saturday and Sunday in Hutchinson could bring in some big business to the Salt City, said Richard Gadbury, who will run the tournament.... Gadbury, owner of the Reno County Boxing Academy, said the Golden Gloves state tournament will draw boxers and their families from all over Kansas. “We are hoping to see 300-500 friends, family and fans attend the event,” Gadbury said. “We went the extra mile this year as far as advertising, and we were also able to get some awesome sponsorship opportunities from local businesses. “In our area, the State Golden Gloves [...]