News

Metro-based MGP Ingredients makes $475M acquisition

MGP Ingredients Inc. out of Atchison, Kan. reached an agreement to acquire St. Louis-based Luxco Inc. in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $475 million. Founded in 1941, MGP is considered a leading supplier of premium distilled spirits, contracting recognizable brands… more

Coping with COVID: Johnson County, Kan. begins Phase 2, Tier 1 vaccinations today for residents

Johnson County, Kan. has moved into Phase 2 of its COVID-19 vaccine distribution process beginning today, Tuesday, Jan. 26. Phase 2 will be rolled out in different tiers, similar to what Missouri is doing. However, as Kansas and Johnson County… more

New bill extends Kansas State of Disaster Emergency Declaration through March

Governor Laura Kelly today signed Senate Bill 14 into law, extending the State of Disaster Emergency Declaration to March 31, 2021, and allowing for the continuation of certain resources, support, and regulations critical to Kansas’ COVID-19 response efforts. “Extending the… more

Jobless rate dips in Kansas December labor report

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8 percent in December. This was a decrease… more

Kansas tourism division to see restructure, department move

Gov. Laura Kelly said Monday that she will restructure the executive branch and attempt to put the state's tourism division under the Department of Commerce. The governor's office cited input from businesses, destination marketing organizations and other key industry partners for… more

Over half of Missouri employers expect reset, return of pre-COVID staffing levels by year-end

Most Missouri employers report workforce fluctuations because of COVID-19 but just over 50 percent expect to be back to pre-COVID staffing levels by the end of 2021, according to a statewide survey by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.… more

Chiefs beat Bills, to take on Bucs in Super Bowl LV

A Chief's win on Sunday will send the team to Tampa, Fla. on Feb. 7, 2021 to play against the Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV. While COVID-19 has put a damper on celebrations and a potential big boost in spending,… more

Missouri, Kansas hold low in cost of living

Not for the first time, Missouri had one of the lowest cost-of-living ratings in the U.S. for the third quarter of 2020. The Show-Me State had the fifth-lowest rating, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center’s cost-of-living index, at… more

Bankruptcy halted for AMC with new equity, debt capital

Bankruptcy appears to be out of the question for AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc., according to CEO Adam Aron in a Monday news release. The release said the theater chain has raised more than $900 million in new capital since mid-December… more

Coping with COVID: Missouri among lowest in nation for rate of distribution of COVID-19 vaccine

According to the data, 4.4 percent of people in Illinois have received the first shot, which ranked 44th of the 50 states. Both Missouri and Illinois are below the percent for the entire country. As of Sunday, 5.6 percent of… more