Local News

COVID-19 Presenting New Challenges

Nearly two months into the COVID-19 outbreak in America, with 74,000 deaths recorded by the Centers for Disease Control, the Kansas City region is at an inflection point on multiple levels: With the finances of its health-care delivery system. With… more

KS Ranked a ‘Best Place to Make a Living’

The State of Kansas was ranked seventh in the nation in a study titled the "Best States to Make a Living 2020." MoneyRates has had Kansas in its top 10 for the third time in a decade, due to the… more

NCAA Comes Down on Jayhawks

The NCCA's scrutiny of the University of Kansas men's basketball program continues with a 92-page report its enforcement office submitted to the school.  The report says that the program committed "egregious" and "severe" rules violations, according to ESPN, stemming from… more

Hostess Brands Has Strong Quarter Despite COVID-19

Hostess Brands had a favorable first quarter despite the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, with revenues rising in the double digits. Sales rose 14.4 percent, hitting $243.5 million, mostly due to the $320-million acquisition of Voortman Cookies Limited in December.… more

Unemployment Rate Hits 14.7 Percent

The unemployment rate hit 14.7 percent in April after non-farm payroll fell by 20.5 million throughout the month, reported the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics. Unemployment rose by 10.3 percent, following several months of record-breaking strong employment numbers. The 20.5… more

KCMO’s Reopening Plans Might be Delayed

Kansas City's reopening plan for restaurants and others businesses might be delayed due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the Triumph Foods plant in St. Jospeh, which employees several KC residents, as well as another one at the McCrite Plaza at… more

Most Pools Likely Closed Over Summer

It looks like most public pools in the Kansas City area will be closed this summer. Prairie Village and Roeland Park have both opted to go that route, while Kansas City, Mo., and Overland Park seem to be considering a… more

Q&A With … Stephen Penn of KPMG

Stephen Penn is the office managing partner for KPMG in Kansas City. Q. Six weeks into the carnage, what's the damage assessment report you would deliver on the state of regional business? A. There’s probably a lot more going to… more

Neiman Marcus Joins Other Big Bankruptcies

Upscale department-store chain Neiman Marcus has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, joining a list of companies that have filed for bankruptcy recently, due in part to COVID-19 pain. Neiman's closest store to the Kansas City area is in St. Louis,… more

Credit Card Consumers Well Positioned Before COVID-19

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, consumers were luckily in a good place, generally, in terms of paying their balances and making overall payments, according to the American Bankers Association. During last year's fourth quarter, for example, a record number of… more