Century tradition returns to fairgrounds in Southeast Kansas

8 Monday, August 8

Century tradition returns to fairgrounds in Southeast Kansas

info2022-08-08T00:22:09-05:00August 8th, 2022|

A century-long summer tradition was back in full force in Southeast Kansas. This week the 106th Crawford County fair" returned to Girard. Since Wednesday the fairgrounds have been full of 4-H and community members showing off their livestock and other projects, like photography or clothes they've constructed. Tina Oehme with Crawford County K-State and Extension Office has been helping out at the fair for the past decade, and says it has been a summer staple for the community. Source: KSNF/KODE

4 Thursday, August 4

Lyon County constructing new fitness facility for employees

info2022-08-04T20:53:32-05:00August 4th, 2022|

Initial work is underway to provide Lyon County employees with a new fitness center. Last month county commissioners approved the use of $100,000 in American Rescue Act funds for the creation of the center inside the Lyon County Court Annex. According to Human Resources Director Janice Huffman, the center is one way the county is helping staff both improve work-life balance and overcome stress brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Bids for equipment are to be presented to commissioners during their Aug. 18 action session. Huffman says once those are approved, given the current state of supply chains, the equipment [...]

4 Thursday, August 4

Osawatomie Announces Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

info2022-08-08T23:31:14-05:00August 4th, 2022|

On November 8, 2021, the City of Osawatomie was in a consortium of eight businesses and municipalities, working through the Metropolitan Energy Center, that were awarded $5.2 million through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Low Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Vehicle Technologies, Demonstration and Deployment program for electric vehicle (EV) and charging station projects. These businesses and municipalities operate within environmental justice areas, opportunity zones, and other underserved areas. In addition to sedans, they are replacing small and heavy trucks with electric models. These partners will also be building out EV charging stations in various locations. Source: City of Osawatomie

4 Thursday, August 4

Leawood approves new citywide crosswalk policy after 6-year-old was hit at intersection last year

info2022-08-04T22:04:26-05:00August 4th, 2022|

The Leawood City Council this week unanimously approved the adoption of a new citywide pedestrian crossing policy, following concerns raised by residents in recent months. The council at its Monday meeting also approved the installation of a new crosswalk at the intersection of 93rd Street and Lee Boulevard. Residents began rallying for a crosswalk at that particular intersection after a 6-year-old Leawood resident was hit by a car there last fall. Source: Prairie Village Post

4 Thursday, August 4

Sedgwick County Firefighters Union pushes for higher pay for staff

info2022-08-04T22:05:52-05:00August 4th, 2022|

The Sedgwick County Firefighters Union said if the staff shortage gets worse, they might have to shut down a station. The union president wants staff to get a bump in pay to address the issue. In 2016 previous Sedgwick County Commissioners voted to take away bargaining power from the Sedgwick County Firefighters Union. Now the president of the union is asking for that power back. He said call volume is up, but staffing is not. "Over the last few years, we've had people leave here and there. In the last few months, we've really had people voice their concerns and [...]

4 Thursday, August 4

Muni Bond Costs Remain High: Study Says Researchers find dealers mark up prices when customers are less likely notice

info2022-08-04T09:25:47-05:00August 4th, 2022|

Municipal bond dealers set prices well above what they pay for the securities, reaping windfalls at the expense of individual investors despite recent regulation aimed at curbing so-called markups, according to an academic study of trading data expected to be released Thursday. “Dealers appear to use their pricing discretion to charge higher markups to small customers when investors are less likely to notice,” wrote the study’s authors, John Griffin and Samuel Kruger of the University of Texas at Austin, and Nicholas Hirschey of the Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. Source: Wall Street Journal

4 Thursday, August 4

Douglas County historical societies band together for ARPA request, aiming for increased accessibility

info2022-08-04T09:21:57-05:00August 4th, 2022|

With the help of more than $700,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding, Douglas County’s six historical societies are hoping to make their sites around the county more accessible for visitors. The team of six historical societies — the Clinton Lake, Douglas County, Eudora Area, Lecompton and Santa Fe Trail historical societies and the Black Jack Battlefield Trust — submitted a joint funding request during the county’s ARPA request process and ultimately was awarded $723,539 to cover capital expenses for a variety of projects at sites throughout the county. Source: LJWorld

4 Thursday, August 4

Municipal Bond Trends for August 3, 2022

info2022-08-04T09:20:50-05:00August 4th, 2022|

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 and Beth Warren.

4 Thursday, August 4

Fed’s Bullard sees more interest rate hikes ahead and no U.S. recession

info2022-08-04T09:13:57-05:00August 4th, 2022|

St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard said Wednesday that the central bank will continue raising rates until it sees compelling evidence that inflation is falling. The central bank official said he expects another 1.5 percentage points or so in interest rate increases this year as the Fed continues to battle the highest inflation levels since the early 1980s. "I think we'll probably have to be higher for longer in order to get the evidence that we need to see that inflation is actually turning around on all dimensions and in a convincing way coming lower, not just a tick [...]

4 Thursday, August 4

Bentley Police celebrate National Night Out

info2022-08-04T00:49:55-05:00August 4th, 2022|

Tuesday night was a soggy one for Bentley Police Chief James “Tim” Bryan, but it was all in the name of bringing the community together. Bryan found himself on the hot-seat of a dunk tank at the police department’s National Night Out event at Williams Park. “That’s what this is all about—having good conversations with the community,” Bryan said. The department borrowed the homemade dunk tank Matt Hayden of the Haven Police Department. Bryan noted Fire Chief Jeremy Lee would be taking a turn on the dunk tank later in the evening. Source: Harvey County Now