Local News

Hostess Buying Voortman for $320M

Hostess Brands is purchasing Voortman Cookies Limited for $320 million from a San Francisco-based private-equity firm, boosting its exposure to the cookie category. “Voortman is a leading brand with a well-defined consumer position that complements and extends the growing Hostess… more

Schulte to Join Jackson County Administration

     Troy Schulte's retirement as city manager of Kansas City won't be much of a retirement: A week after he leaves City Hall, he'll mosey across the street to the Jackson County Courthouse, where he'll serve County Executive Frank… more

EPR Divests Charter-School Portfolio

EPR Properties, one of the Kansas City area's largest public companies, has exited the charter-school business to better focus on its core portfolio of experiential-entertainment real estate. The Kansas City-based real estate investment trust sold 47 assets in its charter-school… more

$350M Plan Would Redevelop Freighthouse Area

A $350-million plan made up of multi-story mixed-use buildings, including hundreds of residential units, has been submitted to the city in an ambitious move to transform the Freighthouse area, just to the south of The Crossroads neighborhood. The plan, put… more

Westlake Ace Hardware Buying N.Y. State Chain

Lenexa-based Westlake Ace Hardware continues its national expansion, purchasing a three-store chain in New York State, its first locations in the Northeast. Westlake is buying Haggerty Ace Hardware, founded in 1992, with stores in Cooperstown, Delhi and Walton, all in… more

Creative Planning Purchases D.C.-Area Firm

Creative Planning has made its third acquisition of the year, this time buying OptiFour, an investment adviser with $400 million in assets under management, based in McClean, Va.  In February it bought the Minneapolis-based Johnston Group, which had $500 million… more

Q&A: Chase Exec Outlines KC Expansion Plans

JP Morgan Chase & Co. has started its expansion into the Kansas City area. Last week was the official opening of a retail branch in Leawood, and another location, on the Missouri side in Kansas City, will open at 7701… more

Ferrellgas Lands Lending Agreement in Face of Defaults

Ferrellgas, L.P. has reached a lending agreement with TPG Specialty Lending to address "alleged events of default" that occurred under its current credit facility, the propane distributor said. The $300-million revolving credit facility sub-limit for the issuance of letters of… more

Auditor: Visit KC Needs More Accountability

The City Auditor's Office has released a report saying that Visit KC, the city's economic development agency devoted to promoting tourism, is not reporting its finances in a way that gives a clear picture of how it spends money. Visit… more

Strata Office Tower Proposal Could Face City Council Today

The City Council could today vote on a long-planned Downtown office tower known as Strata, a 250,000-square-foot development at the southwest corner of 13th and Main streets. It is across the street from the world headquarters of H&R Block, which… more