Business and Government


FDA to potentially authorize Pfizer vaccine today

A panel of outside experts on Thursday recommended the issue an emergency use authorization to the Covid-19 vaccine being developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. The 17-4 vote came after members of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee discussed… more

Missouri to receive $346M for broadband projects from FCC

The Federal Communications Commission on Monday announced $9.2 billion in funding for rural broadband expansion projects, with about $346.3 million going toward projects in Missouri. Funds from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction will be awarded to 180 companies over… more

Kansas lieutenant governor to become state treasurer

Gov. Laura Kelly appointed Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers to the position of Kansas State Treasurer on Thursday. Rogers will have to step down as lieutenant governor to assume his new role. Current State Treasurer Jake LaTurner was elected to the… more

U.S. Department of Commerce grants $1.7M to Missouri town

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.7 million grant to Montgomery City, Mo. to construct a broadband fiber network to serve local businesses. The EDA grant, to be located… more

U.S. House passes federal funding extension

Congressional leaders moved on Wednesday to buy more time to strike an elusive deal on an economic relief measure to address the ruin wrought by the pandemic, but with time running short, it was unclear whether a compromise would pass.… more

Peter Pan peanut butter brand takes flight, lands in Missouri

Post Holdings, Inc. is set to acquire the Peter Pan peanut butter brand from Conagra Brands, Inc., Chicago. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Under the terms of the agreement, Conagra Brands will provide transitional services to facilitate transitioning… more

Federal funding in place for KC streetcar extension

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) have officially recommended that the KC Streetcar Main Street Extension to UMKC receive the full federal funding requested to build the project under the FTA’s New Starts Capital Investment Grants… more

Coping with COVID: New executive order requires COVID-19 testing in Kansas adult care facilities

Governor Laura Kelly held a press conference Wednesday to provide updates regarding COVID-19 in Kansas, joined by KDADS Secretary Laura Howard and KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman. Kelly announced she has signed Executive Order #20-69, requiring COVID-19 testing in certain adult care… more

Kansas, Missouri join Facebook antitrust lawsuit

The federal government and 46 state attorneys general are suing Facebook, accusing the social media giant of using illegal tactics to maintain its dominance. The states' lawsuit, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleges that Facebook squashed potential rivals… more

Clinical Reference Laboratory expands operations out west

Confirm BioSciences out of San Diego, Calif. has been acquired by Lenexa-based Clinical Reference Laboratory (CRL). CRL is one of the largest privately held clinical testing laboratories in the U.S., and now leverages Confirm's massive customer base in Drugs of… more