COVID-19

Concern About a New COVID-19 Strain

A new strain of COVID-19 that is believed to have started in Europe in February and is considered highly contagious is spreading throughout the United States, according to a new study. It shows a similarity to influenza in that it… more

U.S. Trade Deficit Grows Nearly 12%

The U.S. trade deficit increased 11.6 percent in March, bringing it up to $44.4 billion, a $4.6-billion rise from February. Meanwhile, the year-over-year increase in the trade deficit for the period was up 17.8 percent. The March deficit was reportedly… more

Home-Price Downturn Expected

Though the economy is facing several challenges in the faced of the COVID-19 pandemic, home prices might not fall as much as people might expect. Zillow is forecasting a decline in home prices by no more than 1.7 percent year… more

Q&A With … Ray Kowalik, Burns & McDonnell

Ray Kowalik is chairman and CEO of Burns & McDonnell, the largest engineering firm by revenues in the Kansas City region, and second-largest by employee totals. Q. Your firm-wide revenue growth has been up sharply for most of the past… more

About 17% at Triumph Foods’ St. Joe Plant COVID-19 Positive

About 17 percent of the 2,700-strong workforce at Triumph Foods pork plant in St. Joseph have tested positive for COVID-19. Of those that tested positive, about 90 percent of the workers were asymptomatic, said Triumph CEO Mark Campbell.  "Those with… more

Kansas Employment To Decline 10.2%

Kansas employment is expected to decline by 10.2 percent, according to a report by the Center for Economic Development and Business Research, based in Wichita. That decline would mean a contraction of about 140,000 jobs, most of the losses taking… more

Is J.Crew Bankruptcy Just the Beginning?

J.Crew, which has namesake locations on the Country Club Plaza and Leawood, as well as Madewell locations in those areas and a factory store in Legends Outlets Kansas City, has filed for bankruptcy. Industry watchers say that J.Crew won't be… more

Treasury Borrowing $3T As Part of Stimulus

The U.S. Treasury will reportedly borrow $3 trillion this quarter, most of it related to COVID-19-relief stimulus programs, reportedly making the government's debt about $25 trillion. Next quarter, the department also plans to borrow "$677 billion in privately-held net marketable… more

Report: COVID-19 Deaths To Hit 3,000 Per Day

Deaths per day in the United States from COVID-19 could hit 3,000, said a report by the U.S. departments of Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services. The agencies also said that cases could hit 200,000 per day by the… more

MO Cities, Counties Get CARES Funds

Jackson County is getting $122.7 million of Missouri's $2.4 billion in federal CARES Act funding, the second-highest amount of any county in the state. “COVID-19 has had an overwhelming impact on our economy, and many local governments, health care providers,… more