Wind farms are transforming the Kansas landscape. Here’s an effort to tone down their lights

Wind farms continue to spread across Kansas — but with new features that will tone down the way they interrupt wide open skies with red, blinking lights visible for miles and resented by many rural residents. This year, Kansas will get its first two wind farms designed to produce less light pollution — High Banks north of Concordia and Sunflower Wind Farm about an hour west of Emporia. Meanwhile, state lawmakers are considering a law to make other wind farms follow suit. A few states, such as North Dakota and Colorado, blazed the trail in recent years by adopting similar rules. But Kansas, which ranks fourth in the U.S. for wind power, would be the biggest windenergy-producing state to mandate light mitigation.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2023-03-02T09:27:13-06:00March 2, 2023|News|

Did Wichita settle with its newest $400M riverfront plan for Century II?

Wichitans got their first look Tuesday at a new plan to reimagine Wichita’s downtown riverfront, including what to do with Century II, Bob Brown Expo Hall and the former central library. The new plan, though, has begged the age-old question in this city: Did Wichita settle? The preliminary concept, presented to Wichita’s City Council by international design firm Populous, comes with a $400 million price tag — significantly less than the $1.2 billion Riverfront Legacy Master Plan, which had momentum in early 2020 until it was derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Source: Wichita Business Journal

Ranson Financial2023-03-02T09:24:08-06:00March 2, 2023|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for March 1, 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.

Henry Schmidt2023-03-02T09:22:58-06:00March 2, 2023|News|

Who let the dogs in? Kansas breweries and health officials clash over indoors pet ban

From 2019 to 2022, Transport Brewery was a dog lover’s paradise, with dogs allowed in the taprooms and patios, pet adoption events and even a dog picture calendar. Then came the Kansas Department of Agriculture inspector, who informed the Shawnee brewery that the state no longer allowed dogs inside the taproom. Gone were the days of dogs dressed in holiday sweaters, or miniature sports gear. Signs had to be put up telling customers that dogs were no longer allowed. Brewery owner Mike McVey said the dog ban damaged his business, testifying in support of legislation that would allow dogs in microbreweries during a House Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development hearing.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2023-03-02T09:20:59-06:00March 2, 2023|News|

2-year Treasury yield reaches highs not seen in more than a decade

U.S. Treasurys climbed on Thursday as investors considered the prospect of further interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve and awaited fresh economic data. At 5:46 a.m. ET, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury was up by 2.6 basis points to 4.022%, trading above the 4% mark at levels last seen in early November. The 2-year Treasury yield was last trading at 4.887%. Earlier in the session it had risen as high as 4.937%, a level last seen in mid-2006 according to CNBC calculations based on Refinitiv data. Yields and prices have an inverted relationship and one basis point equals 0.01%.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

Ranson Financial2023-03-02T09:20:04-06:00March 2, 2023|News|

A year later, the Fed still has a long way to go in the fight against inflation

It was a year ago this month that the Federal Reserve launched its first attack against inflation that had been percolating in the U.S. economy for at least the previous year. That first strike, in retrospect, would seem timid: Just a quarter percentage point increase to tackle price surges which in just a few months would peak at their highest annual rate since late 1981. It wouldn’t be long before policymakers knew that initial step wouldn’t be enough. Subsequent months saw much larger hikes, enough to raise the Fed’s benchmark borrowing rate by 4.5 percentage points to its highest since 2007. So after a year of inflation fighting, how are things going? In short, OK, but not a whole lot more. The rate hikes appeared to have quelled some of the inflation surge that inspired the policy tightening. But the notion that the Fed was too late to get started lingers, and questions are increasing over how long it will take the central bank to get back to its 2% inflation standard.
Source: CNBC

Ranson Financial2023-03-01T14:56:15-06:00March 1, 2023|News|

Fed’s Bostic urges 5% to 5.25% rates into 2024 to curb inflation

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic called for continued interest-rate hikes to above 5% ensure that inflation returns to the central bank’s target and doesn’t reaccelerate in a pattern similar to the 1970s. “I think we will need to raise the federal funds rate to between 5% and 5.25% and leave it there until well into 2024,” Bostic said in an online essay. “This will allow tighter policy to filter through the economy and ultimately bring aggregate supply and aggregate demand into better balance and thus lower inflation.” U.S. central bankers are waging their most aggressive action against inflation in a generation. Officials lifted their benchmark lending rate by a quarter of a percentage point at the start of February, bringing the target to a range of 4.5% to 4.75%. That was a step down from the half percentage-point increase at their December meeting, which followed four consecutive jumbo-sized 75 basis-point hikes.
Source: The Bond Buyer

Ranson Financial2023-03-01T14:56:06-06:00March 1, 2023|News|

Arbor Day Foundation Names City of Phillpsburg- Tree City USA

Phillipsburg, KS was named a 2022Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. Phillipsburg achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
Source: Phillipsburg, KS

Ranson Financial2023-03-01T14:50:19-06:00March 1, 2023|News|

Derby bringing back water conservation rebate program

The city of Derby will once again offer a water conservation rebate program in 2023, thanks to funding through the city of Wichita. The purpose of the rebate program is to encourage Derby residents to reduce water consumption. A $25,000 rebate allowance will be shared amongst Wichita’s wholesale customers, including Derby. Rebates will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted. Funds will be credited to the Derby utility customer’s account. Rebates are available to all Derby utility customers, including residential and commercial, owner-occupied, and rentals. Any qualifying device purchased between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023, is eligible for the program while funds are available.
Source: Derby Informer | News

Ranson Financial2023-03-01T14:49:34-06:00March 1, 2023|News|

Mural, Public Art Funding Available from Department of Commerce

The Kansas Department of Commerce today announced multiple opportunities to support the creation of murals and public art in the state through coordinated funding programs from the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC) and the Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP). The programs will provide funding for communities to use public spaces for the purposes of artistic use and creative endeavors. … The programs are designed to utilize artists, creative interventions, and arts organizations to increase community vibrancy and provide space for artistic expression and public engagement. KCAIC’s Mural and Public Art Program applications are open through March 13 to all 501c3 organizations, units of local government, and federally recognized tribes across Kansas. The maximum request is $10,000. A 100% match is required for the award which must be at least 25% cash match and up to 75% in-kind match. Projects must be completed by December 31, 2024. Applications may be found here. ORP’s Rural Mural Program will also be accepting new applications from March 13 to May 1. The maximum grant award will be $7,500. Only applicants from communities with a population fewer than 15,000 are eligible. A 100% match is required for the award which must be at least 25% cash match and up to 75% in-kind match. Projects must be completed by December 31, 2023. ORP will have a Rural Mural Planning Webinar at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 3 (register here). Once the application window is open, applications will be available here.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Ranson Financial2023-03-01T14:48:29-06:00March 1, 2023|News|