Local News

Most Small Businesses Want PPP Loans Forgiven

About 80 percent of small businesses that are members of the National Federation of Independent Businesses have applied for SBA loans, and 54 percent are hoping for them to be forgiven, according to a recent survey. “Small businesses continue to… more

Fed Voices Extreme Economic Uncertainty

Federal Reserve leaders are worried about a continued spike in COVID-19 cases that could impact the economy longer term, even though locales are reopening for business. The Fed, which has cut interest rates near zero, sees potential major economic further than… more

Target Sales Jump in First Quarter

Retailer Target Corp. saw sales rise 10.8 percent year over year during the first quarter as shoppers flocked its stores and website at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. Digital sales skyrocketed 141 percent year over year, while store sales… more

Gov. Parson Wants 7,500 Tested Per Day

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said he would like to see COVID-19 testing increased to 7,500 per day, an increase of 60 percent from last week's average. The push comes as Missouri is reportedly ranked 41st out of 50 states in… more

Mayor Lucas Requests Accelerated Jackson County Funding

A few days after meeting with the Jackson County Legislature requesting $54.5 million in CARES Act funding, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas wants to see about half of those funds expedited. In a letter to the legislature, he asked for… more

Jobless Claims Dip, but Picture Far From Pretty

Just more than 2.4 million filed unemployment claims during the week ended May 16, which was an improvement of 249,000 from the prior week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. However, with that addition there have been about 39… more

CDC Releases Reopening Guidelines

Increased COVID-19 testing is stressed in a new Centers for Disease report on how the country should reopen in the wake of the virus' spread across the a nation. Based on the results of the testing, coupled with the efforts… more

Q&A With … Marc Hahn, Kansas City University

Marc Hahn is president and chief executive officer of Kansas City University. Q. How has health-care instruction changed since COVID-19? A. COVID-19 changed all education in a dramatic way and it did so with a speed no one thought possible.… more

Mortgage Applications Rose Last Week

Mortgage applications rose six percent last week from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, possibly pointing to a home-buying recovery. Meanwhile, purchase volume dropped 1.5 percent year over year, a major recovery from six weeks ago, when… more

‘Panic Shopping’ Boosts Walmart

Walmart reported strong sales and profits during its most recent quarter due to a surge in sales due to consumers wanting to stock up on household goods during the COVID-19 pandemic. Same-store sales rose 10 percent year over year at… more