Local

Hyperloop CEO Still High on Missouri

If you want to get to St. Louis in 30 minutes, you're going to have to wait a while. Virgin Hyperloop One, the company proposing magnetic high-speed transit systems around the world at speeds of up to 760 miles per… more

K.C. Housing Starts Don’t Match Population Growth

The numbers of residents in the major counties of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area have steadily increased over the past few years, but the same can’t be said for new housing stock where they live, according to two recent U.S.… more

Ottawa Hospital Strengthens Ties to AdventHealth

AdventHealth, which owns AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, announced this morning that it is adding Ransom Memorial Health to its care network. AdventHealth will lease and operate the 44-bed hospital in Ottawa, along with its outpatient entities, the company said in a… more

Kansas City Legend Henry Bloch Dead at 96

Henry Bloch with daughters Liz Uhlmann and Mary Jo Brown, when he was recognized as Ingram's Philanthropist of the Year in December 2017. A Champion of Business and Philanthropic Causes H&R Block announced today that co-founder Henry Bloch had died… more

Soccer Shots Sets KC Franchise Goal

     Soccer Shots, a franchise-based early education program for the sport, has big growth plans for 2019, and the Kansas City area is included. The effort comes at a time when the greater area is riding a soccer wave, with… more

$20 Billion Fed Spend Could Boost Bi-state Rural Broadband

The lack of broadband Internet access in rural areas of Kansas and Missouri is a major hurdle for the economies of both states.  It's estimated by the Missouri Department of Economic Development that 1.2 million residents don't have high-speed Internet,… more

Research Medical Center CEO Taking New Job

Jackie DeSouza-Van Blaricum is stepping down from her role as chief executive officer of HCA Health Midwest's flagship Research Medical Center, a position she has held since 2014. She's moving on to become chief executive at HCA's Riverside (Calif.) Community… more

Central Bank of the Midwest Buying BankLiberty Parent for $104M

Central Bancompany, the parent of Central Bank of the Midwest, is purchasing Liberty Bankcorp, owner of BankLiberty, in a $42-per-share stock deal that totals $103.7 million.  The transaction, expected to close in the third quarter, will bring Central to $2.3… more

Sears Starts a New Chapter in Overland Park

We're so used to hearing about Sears Holdings (and retailers in general) closing stores lately that it came as an unexpected surprise when the company, relatively fresh out of bankruptcy, announced it was testing a new concept. Overland Park--specifically 6327… more

Retail Downturn? Not at Block: Investors Spend $22M on Three Shopping Centers

There's been a lot of talk about a retail real estate downturn and the end of shopping in physical stores as we know it. Apparently, David Block and a group of local investors didn't get the news. His firm, Block… more