Regional News

Coping with COVID: Fewer voting locations and other changes at the ballot box

An increase in mail-in ballots have helped ease the flow of in-person traffic, though adjustments have been made for those making a visit to a polling station this primary voting season. Polls opened at 6 a.m. in Missouri, 7 a.m.… more

Blackstone Group Inc. and Global Infrastructure Partners consider buying Kansas City Southern

In a continuously changing business landscape, many companies and operations in the U.S. and abroad were hit hard by the coronavirus’ impact on business, including the local, long-standing Kansas City Southern. Reports have spread that two private equity firms, Blackstone… more

Missouri budget cuts show heaviest impact on education

NPR - In Missouri, declining revenues prompted Republican Gov. Mike Parson to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars from the 2021 fiscal year budget — which began on July 1. That included substantial cuts to universities and colleges, as well as reductions… more

School nurses may have to work on behalf of local health departments when in-person learning resumes

For schools reopening in the fall, there is a possibility that school nurses will be assisting local health departments when it comes to detecting the presence of COVID-19 among students. School nurses are likely to be asked to carefully detect… more

Elanco closes acquisition of Bayer Animal Health

GREENFIELD, Ind. (BUSINESS WIRE) - Elanco Animal Health Incorporated announced today it has closed the acquisition of Bayer Animal Health. The transaction, valued at $6.89 billion, expands Elanco’s scale and capabilities, positioning the company for the long term as a… more

Coping with COVID: Missouri case numbers continue to increase, state health officials report no new deaths in Missouri on Sunday

Missouri added around 1,500 cases over the weekend, according to reporting by KMBC 9 News. Over the weekend Missouri saw the addition of 1,517 cases after a week full of large case number gains, which officials attributed to a backlog… more

Mid-America index highest since March 2019, employment losses continue

OMAHA, Neb. – The July Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas, advanced above growth neutral and to its best level since March 2019.          Overall index: After… more

Coping with COVID: Kansas adds 942 new cases, Missouri reports 1,489

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported 1,489 cases of COVID-19 on Friday reports KMBC 9 News, bringing the statewide total to 50,323 since the start of the outbreak. There have now been 1,243 deaths across Missouri from… more

Pandemic wipes out five years of economic growth in three months

AXIOS - The economic decline between April and June caused by the coronavirus pandemic brought the U.S. GDP back to levels last seen in 2015, according to data released Thursday. Why it matters: While we fell into the hole swiftly,… more

Kansas region of the metro out-measures performance on Missouri side

A deeper look into the economic performance of the bi-state region of Kansas City shows that currently, the strength of the city is largely due to the Kansas portion of the metro. The heart of Kansas City sits on the… more