COVID-19

Contractor Confidence Hits Record Low

Expectations for sales, profit margins and staffing levels expectations fell below the threshold of 50 for the first time in the history of the  Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Construction Confidence Index. Sales expectations, due to COVID-19, decreased from 68.3… more

Hotel Industry Asks Congress For Aid

The hotel industry, which has been plagued by the impact of COVID-19 and seen its occupancy plunge due to a severe downturn in travel and business meetings, is asking Congress for help. In a letter to Congress, the American Hotel… more

UMKC Planning for Campus Reopening in Fall

The University of Missouri - Kansas City is planning for students to physically return to campus in the fall and also said that layoff notices to staff would start going out on May 1. The move, announced during a virtual… more

Physicans: ‘More Work to Do’ With COVID-19

Heading into the final full week of stay-at-home directives from the state and from local governments in Kansas, physicians at the University of Kansas Hospital said today that public efforts to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic here had… more

KCK Residents See High Stimulus Payment Percentage

Just over 92 percent of Kansas City, Kan., residents will be receiving, or have received, stimulus checks, making it the ninth-highest municipal rate in the country. In addition to the individual residents, just under 97 percent of households in Kansas… more

Q&A With … Kiley Sidman, Chase

Kiley Sidman is the Kansas City market director of Chase Consumer and Community Banking, as the chain expands through the metro area. Q: How has daily business changed at your branches since the COVID-19 outbreak? A: As you can imagine,… more

House Of Representatives Voting Today on Relief Bill

The House of Representatives today is set to vote on a $480-billion bill that would give relief to small businesses and hospitals. The Senate approved the measure earlier in the week, and President Trump is expected to sign the bill,… more

Q&A With . . . Mark Larrabee, Arvest Bank

Mark Larrabee is the president and chief executive officer of the Kansas City market for Arvest Bank. He talks about SBA stimulus loans and their distribution process. Q: Have you heard yet from the SBA about any adjustments to PPP… more

Clay County Amends Stay-At-Home Order to May 3

Clay County has rolled back its stay-at-home order from May 15 to May 3, despite Kansas City, Mo., and surrounding counties sticking with the original date. A county order said: stay-at-home measures "have demonstrated having a measurable impact on reducing… more

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