Banking & Financial Services


House bill to increase stimulus payments blocked in Senate

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday blocked an effort to quickly pass a measure to increase direct stimulus payments from $600 to $2,000, though the legislation could be voted on at a later time or date if McConnell so chooses. Senate… more

Senate to vote on higher stimulus amounts

One day after President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion stimulus bill into law, the House of Representatives voted to increase direct payments to most Americans from $600 to $2,000 per person. The bill had wide Democratic support, but failed… more

Waiting period for Kansas jobless benefits waived

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly issued an executive order extending temporary relief from a weeklong waiting requirement for residents who apply for unemployment benefits. The “waiting week,” according to Kelly’s office, is a required week of nonpayment that needs to be… more

Missouri scholarship program receives $10M boost

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has announced that he will add an additional $10.1 million for the A+ scholarship program. This includes $4.9 million in CARES Act funding and $5.2 million in supplemental funding to be proposed in the governor’s recommended… more

Trump relents, signs $900B relief package

No budge from Congress on its recently-approved COVID-19 relief and spending bill resulted in reluctant final approval from President Trump. The bill was signed last night on Sunday by Trump despite his criticism of the package. Included is $900 billion… more

Jobless benefit applications remain stubbornly high

For the first time this month, the number of applications for unemployment benefits dropped nationwide. Last week, claims decreased slightly to 803,000 from 892,000 the week prior; a 89,000 drop in claims. Despite the promising decline, however small, claims remain… more

CARES Act extensions to take effect in Kansas

The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) is currently reviewing the unemployment extension provisions contained in H.R. 133. These extended provisions will provide additional unemployment compensation to unemployed Kansans impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. They also include new requirements that must… more

Kansas wage assistance program application deadline this week

The application period for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Lost Wages Assistance Program (LWA) is set to expire on Dec. 27, 2020. The program is only available to those claimants who were entitled to a minimum of $100 in unemployment… more

Congress finalizes $900B economic relief package

Top negotiators in Congress have sealed a deal on a nearly $1 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package. Lawmakers announced the agreement Sunday after days of negotiations. The agreement would establish a temporary $300 per week supplemental jobless benefits and $600… more

Report explores insurance climate in post-COVID world

Just two short weeks left in December and the rest of the year still leave questions regarding what the impact of COVID-19 will have on businesses and individuals in a (hopefully) post-COVID 2021. A newly released 2021 Insurance Industry Outlook… more