Missouri

Southern Missouri diagnostic lab ceases operations

A Southern Missouri diagnostic lab has ceased operations after having its lab certifications pulled by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Prior to closing, Gamma Healthcare Inc. in Poplar Bluff, Mo. provided laboratory and radiology services for hundreds… more

Two Kansas City metro hospitals face maximum Medicare payment cut

Most hospitals evaluated for the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program will face a Medicare payment cut in fiscal year 2021. Cuts range from 0.01 percent to 3 percent, the maximum payment slash to affect two hospitals in the metro in both… more

GuideWell signs agreement with Leawood health organization, to acquire all interests from Blue KC

GuideWell, the parent company of Florida Blue, signed an agreement Nov. 2 to become a majority shareholder in New Directions Behavioral Health, a managed mental health organization based in Leawood, Kan. Under the transaction, GuideWell will acquire all interests from Blue Cross… more

Overland Park-based YRC plans rebranding, name change

YRC Worldwide Inc. narrowed its losses during the third quarter, announced plans to change its name to Yellow and expanded its board of directors. The Overland Park, Kan., motor carrier said its Q3 net loss fell 87.5% to $2 million… more

Five Clay County employees to resign by end of this year

Five Clay County employees, including three assistant county administrators, will resign by the end of the year, according to separation agreements announced Tuesday. Brad Garrett, Laurie Portwood and Nicole Brown — all county administrators — will resign effective Dec. 31,… more

Missouri passes Amendment 3 in two-year reversal

Two years after voters overwhelmingly passed “Clean Missouri” reforms, changes related to the state’s process for drawing legislative districts were rolled back Tuesday with the passage of Amendment 3. The newly approved amendment will impact how Missouri’s legislative districts are drawn,… more

Coping with COVID: Seven-day average for new daily infections reaches record high in U.S.

Driven by last Friday’s record surge in new COVID-19 cases nationwide—topping 100,000 for the first time—the rolling seven-day average for new daily infections in the U.S. reached a pandemic high of 88,915 on Tuesday. This, according to the Web site… more

Groundwork begins on commerce center located in Northland business park

In the latest sweep of industrial projects to make home in the Kansas City region, Minneapolis-based developer Opus Group has broke ground on the Heartland Meadows Commerce Center in Liberty, Mo. Constructed within the Heartland Meadows Business Park, the new… more

Pending homes sales index falls, though purchasing activity and buyer demand remain up

The National Association of Realtors Pending Home Sales Index revealed a 2.2 percent decline from August to September. The index is an indicator for existing home sales and displays a seasonally adjusted measure of the number of homes that went… more

Surge in younger voters and early voting this year

The 2020 election season has seen a boost in voters across all age ranges, most notably in younger voters. Attributed largely to the lingering effects of COVID-19, the U.S. has also seen a surge in early voting, estimates showing around… more