News

Lockton Affinity acquires insurance platform company

Kansas City-based Lockton Companies affiliate, Lockton Affinity, is bringing on an insurance platform company thanks to a recent acquisition. Lockton acquired San Diego, Calif.-based The BluePrint Insurance Services. The company provides technology, training and customer services to help registered investment… more

Coping with COVID: Missouri seven-day average of new cases on downturn, sees six-month low

The COVID-19 case count is holding steady on a downward trend in Missouri. A number of spikes over the holidays have slowed, the state’s seven-day moving average displaying a decline on Jan. 10. Most recently, Missouri’s seven-day moving average bumped… more

$324M Missouri rent assistance bill signed into law

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed a bill Thursday that will provide more than $324 million in funding to help tenants and landlords across the state. House Bill 16 provides more than $324 million in funding for the Emergency Rental Assistance… more

SBA assists 1.4M businesses this week, approves $103B in PPP

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and lenders in junction with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) have been working together to increase equitable access to underserved small businesses and to promote rapid and efficient distribution of funds. This week, the… more

Small businesses unsure of survival without more aid

Around a third of the surviving U.S. small businesses say they won't be able to survive without another round of COVID-19 aid, according to a report published by the Federal Reserve. The report found that sales for 88 percent of… more

In a Nutshell

As a labor economist Janet Yellen is going to have her hands full, especially since the Biden Administration’s new $15 per hour minimum wage is likely going to slow new job creation, especially for many struggling restaurants and service industries.… more

Kansas Senate approves tax cut bill worth over $400M

The Kansas Senate approved a large tax cut bill this week. In the same session, it voted down Gov. Laura Kelly’s proposal for a tax on more digital goods and products that would have offset some of it. With a… more

Jobless claims drop though remain above estimate

In the week ending February 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 793,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 33,000 from 779,000 to 812,000. The… more

Kansas City State of the City address outlines budget cuts

The Kansas City State of the City address on Wednesday night covered topics such as violent crime, a strained budget and COVID-19. Nothing new to the city and others across the U.S., COVID-19 is just one reason for a massive shortfall… more

Preliminary plans surface for redevelopment of former Sprint Corporation headquarters campus

A name change has already taken effect for the grounds that once housed the headquarters of Sprint Corporation.  New property owner, commercial real estate firm Occidental Management Inc., announced the campus' name change in 2020, which was made effective Jan.… more