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COVID-19

Coping with COVID: Missouri governor extends state of emergency through end of August

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed an executive order Friday extending the state of emergency through Aug. 31. The governor's office said the state of emergency extension will allow the state flexibility in providing resources and easing regulatory burdens to help… more

U.S. jobless claims fall to lowest count since onset of COVID-19

First-time claims for unemployment insurance unexpectedly fell sharply last week amid signs that hiring has picked up in the U.S. economy, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Claims totaled 684,000 for the week ended March 20, the first time the number… more

Coping with COVID: Kansas bill continues COVID recovery measures, extends disaster declaration

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed an emergency response bill Wednesday and said she will re-issue executive orders to protect the state's COVID-19 recovery. The governor's office said Senate Bill 40 modifies the procedure for the declaration and extension of a… more

Kansas vaccine access expands

Kansas has announced it soon plans to alter the way it's conducting its COVID-19 vaccination plan. The change could make many people more comfortable with getting a vaccine, according to Secretary for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Lee… more

Missouri establishes Show Me Strong task force for businesses

This week, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed Executive Order 21-06 establishing the Show Me Strong Recovery Task Force.  The purpose of the Show Me Strong Task Force is to study and develop recommendations on ways to support small businesses, including… more

Coping with COVID: Weekly death toll recedes

Data from Worldometer notes that this week on Tuesday, March 23 was the first time since Nov. 5, 2020 that the nation’s seven-day rolling average for new daily deaths fell below 1,000. According to data tracked since mid-March of 2020,… more

Kansas small businesses receive $57M in grants

Roughly $57 million in aid has reached around 3,000 small businesses in Kansas in Small Business Working Capital (SBWC) grants. Funding for the grants was drawn out from the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), which sent monetary aid to businesses… more

Leawood-based AMC opens 98 percent of U.S. locations

About a year ago, COVID-19 forced Leawood-based AMC Theaters to close all its locations nationwide. As COVID-19 vaccines become more widely available, operations began to kick up again and patrons return. On Friday, March 19, 98 percent of AMC locations… more

Coping with COVID: Missouri jobless fund to receive $300M from state’s COVID-19 relief fund

On Monday, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson authorized the transfer of $300 million in federal Coronavirus Relief Funds from the State Treasury into the Missouri’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. The transfer, according to Parson, will help prevent tax increases on Missouri small… more

Coping with COVID: COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to open April 9 to all Missouri residents 16 and up

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s administration said every resident 16 and older will become eligible on April 9. In a similar fashion, neighboring Illinois intends to do the same on April 12. The announcements come as the U.S. dramatically increases the… more