Business and Government

More PPP Funding Might Occur

A third round of Paycheck Protection Program funding might from the Small Business Administration might be needed soon, according to the head of the National Economic Council. “We waited a little bit too long, I thought, when the last tranche… more

KS Ranks High on PPP, MO Average

About 10.3 percent of Kansas small businesses have received loans from the Paycheck Protection Plan, which might seem like a small number, but it ranks the state in the top 10 percentile of states that have gotten funding. At 8.7… more

Missouri Casinos Stay Closed Through May 15

The Missouri Gaming Commission has opted to keep casinos in the state through May 15, despite a softening of Mayor Quinton Lucas' stay-at-home order. Casinos closed on March 17 as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. more

Missouri Getting $24M for Housing Relief

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced that the state is receiving $24 million in federal funding, much of which will go toward mortgage and rent-payment relief for residents. The money would be distributed through the state's Community Development Block Grant program… more

Johnson County Stay-At-Home Order Extended

Splitting with Gov. Laura Kelly's reopening plan that starts on Monday, Johnson County commissioners opted to push back their stay-at-home order until May 11. The plan was extended as cases have risen in the county. “We are also keeping a… more

Kansas Reopening Plan Starts Monday

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly last night released her plan to reopen the Kansas economy in the wake of COVID-19, as the state reported 500 new cases in one day. The first phase will look much the same as things are… more

Missouri Pork Association: Millions of Pigs to be Euthanized

Though the Missouri Pork Association (MPA) applauded President Trump's signing of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to extend funding to pork producers, problems apparently lie ahead. "Hog values have plummeted, and hog farmers are facing liquidation of their farms without… more

Unemployment Claims Hit 30 Million in Six Weeks

There were 3.8 million additional filings for unemployment for the week ended April 25, bringing the total to about 30 million in the last six weeks, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.  The four-week moving average for unemployment is… more

Consumer Spending Falls 7.5% in March

Consumer spending fell by 7.5 percent in March, a according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which is a major shift in the small monthly increases seen prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. The decrease was $829.9 billion in spending… more

Feds Keep Interest Rates at Zero

The Federal Reserve Bank is keep interest rates between zero and one-quarter of percent as a result of negative economic impact caused by COVID-19. "The Committee expects to maintain this target range until it is confident that the economy has… more