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Business and Government


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

Missouri Chamber releases 2021 economic recovery plan

As lawmakers prepare to return to Jefferson City for the 2021 Legislative Session, the Missouri Chamber is releasing its Legislative Agenda to help guide our state’s economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce released the 2021… more

Coping with COVID: Northeast Kansas counties ease away from mask mandate issued last month

Due in part to claims that they have already weathered a wave of infections as well as saying a mask requirement is technically not enforceable, two northeast Kansas counties have voted to rescind their mask mandates. Brown and Jackson counties… 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

U.S. Steel sells site to Kansas City based developer for $160 million

United States Steel Corp. has closed on the $160 million sale of the 1,800-acre Keystone Industrial Port Complex along the Delaware River in Bucks County. The buyer, Kansas City, Missouri-based NorthPoint Development Inc. plans to convert 10 million square feet of the… 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

Large vaccination effort to be carried out by CVS Health, Walgreens at Missouri nursing homes

Starting next week on Dec. 28, Missouri nursing homes and other long-term care facilities will be getting a helping hand in administering the COVID-19 vaccine to residents and staff. CVS Health plans to administer about 100,000 coronavirus vaccinations across Missouri… 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