Kansas

Unemployment Up Slightly in September

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, America’s economy added 156,000 nonfarm jobs in September while the unemployment rate, up to 5 percent from 4.9 percent in August, hovered in the same range it has been in for the… more

Leadership Change at Alterra Bank

The parent company of Alterra Bank, First Business Financial Services, Inc., has announced that Alterra president and CEO, Pam Berneking is no longer with the bank. Chuck Mackey, Alterra Bank Board Chairman, said, “Under Pam’s leadership, Alterra Bank set out… more

Compass Minerals Completes Brazil Acquisition

Compass Minerals has announced its completion of the purchase of all remaining interest in Produquímica Indústria e Comércio S.A., one of Brazil’s leading manufacturers and distributors of specialty plant nutrients. As previously disclosed, the acquisition is expected to add an… more

Creighton University Sees Mid-American Business Conditions Slumping

Creighton University released its monthly Survey on Economic Conditions for Business taken among supply managers in a nine-state region that includes Kansas and Missouri. The overall index came in below the growth neutral ranking of 50 for the third consecutive… more

Kauffman Foundation Investing $79 Million to Encourage Higher Education

The Kauffman Foundation has announced a 10-year, $79 million investment in KC Scholars, a program developed by the Foundation and 70 community partners to, as the KS Scholars website states, “increase postsecondary education attainment in the greater Kansas City area.”… more

Bass Pro to Pay $5.5 Billion for Cabela’s

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Incorporated, two big-names retailers catering to lovers of the outdoors, have announced a definitive agreement in which Bass Pro will acquire Cabela’s for $65.50 per share in cash; the total deal is valued at approximately $5.5 billion. Bass… more

Ferrell Takes the CEO Reins at Ferrellgas

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. has announced that that James E. Ferrell, company founder and board chairman, is now the interim president and CEO of Ferrellgas. Ferrell succeeds Stephen Wambold, who has stepped down from those roles, as well as from his… more

KU Cancer Center Seeks Designation Upgrade

The University of Kansas Cancer Center has filed an application to have its designation changed from “cancer center” to “comprehensive cancer center” by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In an interview with Ingram’s, Roy Jensen M.D., Director of the Cancer… more

Missouri, Kansas Business Tax Rankings

Missouri and Kansas placed at 15th and 22nd respectively on the Tax Foundation’s 2017 State Business Tax Climate Index, which is designed to measure how competitive a state is when it comes to business tax. The index uses a system… more

Epiq Systems Goes Private Upon Acquisition

Epiq Systems, Inc. the Kansas City, Kansas-based provider of integrated technology and services for the legal profession, announced today that shareholders have approved the company’s acquisition by OMERS Private Equity. The transaction—$16.50 in cash for each share of Epiq’s common… more