News

House panel approves measure limiting gubernatorial power

A Kansas House committee passed a bill affecting the governor’s power over the filling of state office positions. Specifically, the bill would end the governor’s authority to fill the positions of state treasurer and insurance commissioner should those roles turn… more

Pharmacies up recruitment to help administer COVID vaccine

Pharmacy chains across the U.S. are on hiring sprees to recruit pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to help with the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign, The New York Times reported Feb. 10.  The U.S. is set to send 1 million vaccine doses to roughly 6,500 retail… more

KCVA reports no inpatient cases for first time in seven months

For the first time in several months -  since June 2020 - the Kansas City VA Medical Center has no COVID-19 patients. Dr. Ahmad Batrash, KCVA chief of staff, said in a news release that this is a “major milestone.”… more

String of KC-area Midwest Health senior living facilities among first to resume in-person visits

Midwest Health, one of the Kansas City area's largest assisted and independent living providers in the region, has opened all five of its local Homestead Senior Living communities in Johnson County, Kan. Topeka-based Midwest Health owns around 65 senior living… more

Requirements expanded for Missouri energy aid program

Missouri residents who meet certain guidelines may be eligible for additional assistance to help pay for home utility costs this winter. Amid several days of bitter winter weather including severely-low temperatures, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced changes to the state’s… more

Kansas to provide $200M in rental assistance statewide 

A program in Kansas is making $200 million available to qualifying residents for rental assistance. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation announced the program on Tuesday, which will be funded through federal CARES Act money. “COVID-19… more

Missouri-based Aegion to go private with $963M sale

Aegion Corp., based in Chesterfield, Mo., announced this week it is selling to New Mountain Capital, a New York investment firm. The infrastructure pipeline rehab company will go the New Mountain in a deal valued at $963 million and will… more

Approval for proposed $36M Northland soccer complex up in the air as council debate continues

Discussion continues on a proposed Northland youth soccer complex located at Missouri Route 152 and North Platte Purchase Drive. Plans emerged last spring and await review from the Kansas City, Mo. Transportation, Infrastructure and Operations Committee. If passed, plans would… more

SBA announces new director for Kansas City district office

Raised in Kansas City, Michael Barrera has been selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration to return to his hometown to serve as district director for the Kansas City District SBA office, effective Feb. 18, 2021. The Kansas City district… more

Coping with COVID: Select Mo., Kan. counties show no new cases for first time since spring

According to a daily updated COVID-19 tracking project by The New York Times, Missouri has five counties with no reported new cases as of Tuesday, Feb. 16. Until this week, every one of the Show-Me state's 114 counties had been… more