Business and Government

Another 4.4 Million File for Unemployment

Just over 4.4 million people filed for unemployment insurance for the week ended April 18, putting the insured unemployment rate at 11 percent, though many estimates place that number much higher. The 11 percent is 2.8 percent  higher than the… more

Centene Nabs KS Department of Corrections Contract

Centene Corp. announced that its subsidiary Centurion has been awarded a contract by the Kansas Department of Administration to provide healthcare services in the Department of Corrections facilities.   The two-year contract is expected to start on July 1 and… more

Is Johnson County On Downward COVID-19 Path?

Though it's too early to call it a trend, there is some encouraging news out of Johnson County, Kan. On April 20, the latest date for which data has been provided, there was only one positive COVID-19 test recorded by… more

KS, MO Fared Better Than Most States With PPP

Kansas and Missouri both did relatively well in receiving funds from the $350-billion Payroll Protection Program COVID-19 relief bill, at least compared to most states. Kansas came in nine per capita of all states for funding, while Missouri was ranked… more

Senate Passes New Aid Bill For Small Business

The U.S. Senate has passed a bill that would give another $484 billion to small businesses and hospitals. It's a move that was partially pushed by the Small Business Administration last week running out of $350 billion in funds that… more

Restaurant Industry Seeks Bailout From Congress

The restaurant industry has had widespread strife since stay-at-home orders were put into place in states across the country, and now the National Restaurant Association (NRA) lobbying group is asking Congress for funding. The group is reportedly asking Congress for… more

Oil Trades at Lowest Rates in History

The oil industry is among those feeling pain due to COVID-19, and futures prices have dropped to below zero for the first time ever in history. The West Texas Intermediate fell to negative $37.63 per barrel for May, which means… more

KS, MO Both Facing Major Budget Shortfalls

The State of Kansas is predicting major budget shortfalls due to income taxes not being filed until the next fiscal year, and Gov. Laura Kelly has announced that no new positions will be filled with the state and all discretionary… more

$450B More Might be On the Way for Small Businesses

There might be $450 million more on the way for small-business and hospital relief if the measure is approved by Congress. The Senate is scheduled to meet today, and the House could vote as early as Wednesday, according to an… more

KS Lagging in COVID-19 Tests, MO Catching Up

Kansas has performed less COVID-19 tests than states with similar, or even smaller, populations, according to a recent partnership between the U.S. Census and other organizations, including this heat map, which shows the number of tests per state. As of… more