Regional News

Kansas to increase testing, detect COVID-19 strains

The state of Kansas plans to increase genetic testing of COVID-19 positive patients to identify strains of the virus. Kansas currently tests around 1 percent of COVID-19 patients with genetic testing, according to Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health… more

Blue KC makes investment, takes minority stake in Connecticut performance management company

Nearly a year after announcing their partnership, Blue KC has taken a minority stake in Connecticut health care performance management company, Cedar Gate Technologies. The partnership announcement revealed in January 2020 was made to increase the insurer’s analytical capabilities and its… more

Q&A with Nicole Watson

Don’t leave money on the table – Conduct End of Year Financial Review   Q: What should people be thinking about with their financial picture at this point tin the year? A: Performing an end of year financial review is… more

New Kansas Energy Assistance Program to begin next week

A new energy assistance program in Kansas aimed at keeping low-income households heated this winter will open applications starting next week. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said the new program from the Kansas Department of Children and Families (DCF) will help… more

Missouri childcare providers, facilities receive $46 million

Child care facilities will be able to get more help from the state as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to affect Missouri families. On Wednesday, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced $46 million in childcare funding that’ll help providers support the needs of… more

Coping with COVID: Missouri expects to deliver final rounds of initial vaccine doses by mid-January

In the first few weeks of COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Missouri, more than 66,000 frontline health care workers and long-term care facility residents and staff have received an initial dose, according to Gov. Mike Parson. In December, the state received… more

More energy for KC with Kansas wind farm expansion

The Kansas City area will see a boost in renewable energy due to an expansion of the Cimarron Bend wind farm in Clark County, Kan. Enel Green Power North America began operating the 199-megawatt expansion of Cimarron Bend, bringing power… more

Missouri-based Centene acquires national pharmacy

St. Louis-based Centene Corp. has completed a deal for national specialty pharmacy PANTHERx, which specializes in treating rare diseases and is based in Pittsburgh. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Centene President and CEO Michael Neidorff said the deal will… more

Missouri Chamber releases 2021 economic recovery plan

As lawmakers prepare to return to Jefferson City for the 2021 Legislative Session, the Missouri Chamber is releasing its Legislative Agenda to help guide our state’s economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce released the 2021… more

Coping with COVID: Northeast Kansas counties ease away from mask mandate issued last month

Due in part to claims that they have already weathered a wave of infections as well as saying a mask requirement is technically not enforceable, two northeast Kansas counties have voted to rescind their mask mandates. Brown and Jackson counties… more