World-renowned pianist performs at Pratt library

Steven Spooner, a Professor of Piano at the Peabody Institute at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, made a stop at the Pratt Public Library on cold February 15 night, warming hearts and souls with his engaging pianistic abilities. “I’ve never been to a piano concert like this before so I didn’t know what to expect, but he was pretty good,” said local piano player and artist Patrice Egging. “I was particularly impressed with how soft he could play, and his expression. I was also impressed with his humility. I told him I felt like he was inspired by the spirit.”
Source: Pratt Tribune

Ranson Financial2023-02-24T00:51:20-06:00February 24, 2023|News|

Grant helps Winfield fire department with equipment

Winfield Fire Department and EMS has received an award of personal protection equipment worth $36,400 from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The award, made Tuesday in Wichita, is for eight sets of new bunker gear and nine pairs of boots, all to help replace outdated gear and provide protection against burns, smoke inhalation and other dangers faced on the job. Winfield Fire Chief Vincent Warren and EMS coordinator Brad Klein accepted the award.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler

Ranson Financial2023-02-24T00:50:15-06:00February 24, 2023|News|

Dog park plans slowed by ADA requirements

Catapla Park in Arkansas City is still going to the dogs, it’s just taking longer than expected. The city announced its plan last October to revamp the small park into a safe place for pet owners to let their pets get some exercise, but so far no progress has been made. Municipal Planner Nick Rizzio said Tuesday that the goal for the project had been to keep the cost minimal and have it completed before the end of the year. The project will be more expensive than he had anticipated due to the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for parking spaces, sidewalks and an entrance and exit for each gate. He said the cost is still being evaluated.
Source: The Arkansas City Traveler

Ranson Financial2023-02-24T00:48:20-06:00February 24, 2023|News|

City of Lawrence may consider adopting version of the CROWN Act

Lawrence’s Human Relations Commission on Thursday voiced support for the city to adopt a version of the CROWN Act, a law that blocks race-based hair discrimination. Michele Watley, founder of Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet, presented to the HRC on why Lawrence should implement the CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.” Watley is the founder of Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet, a Kansas City-based organization dedicated to advocacy for Black women.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2023-02-24T00:45:15-06:00February 24, 2023|News|

Chanute Ks, is celebrating its 150th anniversary

Chanute, Kansas is celebrating its 150-th anniversary. The city was founded in 18-72 as a railroad hub. Chanute is a city located in the southeast part of the state of Kansas. the city was founded in the 1870’s, during the expansion of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railway westward, which played a major role in the city’s growth and development. “So in 2023 is our 150th anniversary. we’re looking at a number of different events. we’ll have a downtown block party on July 1st with a circus that has stilt walkers and aerial acts and different things like that, as well as activities that go on down along our main street.” Said Jane Brophy, the Executive director of Chanute Chamber of Commerce.
Source: KOAM News

Ranson Financial2023-02-24T00:43:19-06:00February 24, 2023|News|

Pittsburg unveils new fast-charging station

As of Wednesday afternoon, Pittsburg has a new fast-charging station that has literally put the city on the map for electric vehicle (EV) drivers. “If you looked at a map of charging stations in Kansas this morning, Pittsburg wasn’t there,” said Colonial Fox Foundation Executive Director Vonnie Corsini, “But this afternoon, we are.” Before Wednesday’s unveiling, the closest fast-charging station was outside of Joplin, at the interchange between I-44 and I-49. Although another charging station is in Pittsburg, near the Kansas Technology Center, it is not a fast-charging station. The new station can fully recharge an EV in two hours or less, according to Kelly Burgess, electrification specialist for Case New Holland (CNH) Industrial in Grand Island, Nebraska.
Source: Morning Sun

Ranson Financial2023-02-23T09:54:52-06:00February 23, 2023|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for February 22, 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 Schmidt2023-02-23T08:53:42-06:00February 23, 2023|News|

Fed minutes show members resolved to keep fighting inflation with rate hikes

Federal Reserve officials at their most recent meeting indicated that there are signs inflation is coming down, but not enough to counter the need for more interest rate increases, meeting minutes released Wednesday showed. While the Jan. 31-Feb. 1 meeting concluded with a smaller rate hike than most of those implemented since early 2022, officials stressed that their concern over inflation is high. Inflation “remained well above” the Fed’s 2% target, the minutes stated. That came with labor markets that “remained very tight, contributing to continuing upward pressures on wages and prices.” Consequently, the Fed approved a 0.25 percentage point rate increase that was the smallest hike since the first March 2022, taking the fed funds rate to a target range of 4.5%-4.75%. But the minutes stated that the reduced pace came with a high level of concern that inflation was still a threat. … The summary repeated that members believe “ongoing” rate hikes will be necessary.
Source: CNBC – Bonds

Ranson Financial2023-02-23T07:20:24-06:00February 23, 2023|News|

Harvey County approves sixth-month moratorium on renewable energy projects

The Board of Harvey County Commissioners adopted a resolution Tuesday morning that placed a six-month moratorium on commercial renewable energy projects on a 2-1 vote in what was at times a tense meeting. Commissioners took action on a separate resolution that would have called for an advisory election.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2023-02-23T07:06:05-06:00February 23, 2023|News|

Bullard still favors hiking rates to 5.375% as fast as possible

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said the U.S. economy is proving more resilient than expected and repeated his call for the central bank to keep raising interest rates. “I think we are going to have to get north of 5%. Right now I’m still at 5.375%,” Bullard told CNBC in an interview Wednesday. “We’ve got a little ways to go here and I’ve argued that ‘hey, let’s get to where we want to go’ and then from there we can see how the data come in. Let’s hope that we get disinflation in 2023.”
Source: The Bond Buyer

Ranson Financial2023-02-23T00:26:58-06:00February 23, 2023|News|