Business and Government

Eastern Jackson County Releases Recovery Phase One

Jackson County government has released its phase-one recovery plan for the eastern part of the jurisdiction. Starting on May 11, retail stores will be able to reopen at 25 percent occupancy for store under 10,000 square feet and larger ones… more

Proposed Legislation Would Forgive Healthcare-Worker Student Loans

A new bill in the House of Representatives would forgive student loans for healthcare workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Called the Student Loan Forgiveness for Frontline Health Workers Act, it was introduced to the House by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.)… more

HHS Starts Distributing $10B to Rural Hospitals

The Department of Health and Human Services has started distributing COVID-19-relief funds to hospitals, and a big chunk of that is going to be given to rural hospitals that could soon be hit hard by the pandemic. Those facilities, which… more

Treasury Borrowing $3T As Part of Stimulus

The U.S. Treasury will reportedly borrow $3 trillion this quarter, most of it related to COVID-19-relief stimulus programs, reportedly making the government's debt about $25 trillion. Next quarter, the department also plans to borrow "$677 billion in privately-held net marketable… more

Report: COVID-19 Deaths To Hit 3,000 Per Day

Deaths per day in the United States from COVID-19 could hit 3,000, said a report by the U.S. departments of Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services. The agencies also said that cases could hit 200,000 per day by the… more

MO Cities, Counties Get CARES Funds

Jackson County is getting $122.7 million of Missouri's $2.4 billion in federal CARES Act funding, the second-highest amount of any county in the state. “COVID-19 has had an overwhelming impact on our economy, and many local governments, health care providers,… more

Mnuchin: PPP Funding Has Helped Businesses

The Paycheck Protection Program is working, said  Small Business Administration Administrator Jovita Carranza and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin. Their joint statement reads: “The Paycheck Protection Program is providing critical support to millions of small businesses and tens… more

MU Layoffs, Furloughs Start

Layoffs and furloughs have begun at the University of Missouri System as a result of budget woes presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been 49 employees laid off so far, 32 of them at MU Health Care, reported KSHB.… more

KS, MO Hospital COVID Aid Hits $800 Million

Kansas and Missouri hospitals are reportedly receiving about more than $800 million in combined funding from the federal government to help combat economic financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On the Missouri side, hospitals will be receiving $412.5 million,… more

New-Business Applications Down in KS, MO

Kansas and Missouri both saw double-digit-percentage declines in small-business applications, following suit with much of the rest of the country. Missouri applications were down just under 19 percent from their five-year average so far in 2020, making it the state… more