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Kansas City Business Journal
Development drives Evergy to plan for increased electric generation
An economic development boom in Kansas and Missouri will drive Evergy to more than double its renewable energy generation while also adding more natural gas plants in the next 20 years.<\p> The Kansas City-based utility said its new resource plan includes 1,900 megawatts more in generation capacity than its 2023 plan. The plan, filed Friday with the Kansas Corporation Commission, outlines the company’s intention for serving customers in the next 20 years.<\p>
KC agency floated as financing source for Royals, Chiefs projects
Could the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs turn to the Port Authority of Kansas City as a public financing source for new stadium projects?<\p> Kansas City leaders have suggested Port KC could play different parts in future developments by the Royals and Chiefs, including in financial or ownership capacities, per interviews with local officials and documents obtained through open records requests. Their ideas came both before April 2, when Jackson County voters shot down a 40-year sales tax for the teams, and afterward, as the city has said it would proactively take the lead on future negotiations.<\p>
Asbestos death leads to lawsuit against bowling company
After spending his life working at various bowling alleys throughout the Kansas City area, Fred Werner died in 2022, and his family claims it was due to negligence by companies that put asbestos in their products without warning of the consequences. <\p> Werner worked in maintenance and as pinsetter mechanic for 50 years at various bowling alleys. He was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma on Nov. 30, 2020, and died on April 1, 2022. <\p>
Some employers are weighing a six-day workweek
Editor's Note: Welcome to The Playbook Edition, a look at stories, trends and changes that could affect your business and career. Want more stories like this in your inbox? Sign up for The Playbook newsletter. <\p> Given how some hiring managers view them and the unique pandemic-fueled hurdles they've faced, Generation Z's debut in the workplace has certainly come with some challenges. <\p>
Apartments in historic downtown building will open over the summer
Developer The Cordish Cos. is putting the finishing touches on the Midland Lofts, a restoration of the long-vacant 12-story building at 1221 Baltimore Ave. <\p> The Midland Lofts is intended as affordable for renters earning as much as 80% of the area's median family income. New unit listings reflect monthly rents ranging between $935 for a 300-square-foot studio to $2,399 for a 975-square-foot one-bedroom unit. <\p>
Bank Midwest names new president
Bank Midwest, a division of NBH Bank, named 25-year banker Charlie Koch as president for the Kansas City operation. <\p> Koch succeeds Nicole Van Denabeele, who has been president since 2020. Van Denabeele remains at the bank and will move to Colorado for further career opportunities at NBH Bank. <\p>
Butler National stock takes a step up
A local public company’s stock is getting a promotion, with trading moving up to a higher tier of the Over The Counter market.<\p> OTC Markets Group Inc. announced that Butler National Corp.’s stock had qualified to be traded on its OTCQX Best Market. The OTC operates three markets for publicly traded stocks, with the Pink Sheets at the bottom end and OTCQX Best Market at the top. Previously, Butler National stock traded in the middle-tier OTCQB Venture Market.<\p>
Chase Bank meets, beats goal for KC-area branches
After announcing plans in 2019 to open 20 branches in the Kansas City area, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank has accomplished that goal and plans to continue. <\p> Chase Bank (NYSE: JPM) reached its 20-branch goal after opening three branches in the past six months: <\p>
COO steps into CEO role at area HCA hospital
Lee’s Summit Medical Center’s chief operating officer is moving up into the CEO role after nearly two decades with the hospital. <\p> Gabe Clements, who was COO for the last four years, takes over the role from John McDonald. McDonald was CEO for five years before being named CEO of Centerpoint Medical Center in February. Both hospitals are a part of HCA Midwest Health, the largest health system in the metro area. <\p>
Mahomes' new play is a line of sport coffee
Patrick Mahomes is trying to change the coffee game with his announcement of a new coffee product.<\p> The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is the lead investor in a ready-to-drink iced coffee brand, Throne Sport Coffee. The product combines the appeal and kick of iced coffee with B vitamins, electrolytes and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) that can aid the build-up of muscle.<\p>
Developer seeks construction extension for $2B mixed-use project in OP
A local developer wants to push back the construction timeline for the $2 billion redevelopment for Meridian, a former golf course in Overland Park.<\p> Curtin Property Co. wants to delay deadlines for certain construction milestones within the 212-acre development by about two years. Formerly known as Brookridge, the redevelopment project sits at the corner of Interstate 435 and Antioch Road.<\p>
AI's latest casualty? Entry-level jobs
Welcome to The National Observer, a roundup of top business news and actionable insights from across The Business Journals. We'll take a look today at how artificial intelligence is taking roles that used to act as entry-level positions; Frontier Airline's strategy targeting business travelers; and how you can buy everything in a Red Lobster restaurant. But we'll start with what higher-for-longer rates mean for those in the real estate business.<\p> Get more stories like these every day in your inbox by subscribing to The National Observer newsletter.<\p>
Covid booster fades for health staffing agencies
Favorite Healthcare Staffing joined one of the most elite groups in Kansas City business in 2022: the billion-dollar club.<\p> The Overland Park-based company was one of just 13 on the Private Companies List to earn that distinction, based on revenue of $1.3 billion the previous year. More impressive than the total revenue was the 40-year-old company’s growth from just $145 million in 2019.<\p>
Private preschool franchise proposes new day care in JoCo
A national child care franchise is eyeing a new location in Olathe.<\p> On Monday, the Olathe Planning Commission approved a rezoning request from Spark Properties Group for two commercial lots totaling 3.7 acres at the southwest corner of 158th and Hunter Streets. The Oklahoma developer plans to build a 13,545-square-foot facility called the Primrose School of Olathe. <\p>
Olathe life sciences company adds Australia to its global footprint
Two years after KCAS Bio broke into the global market, the local life sciences company is further expanding its international operations. <\p> The Olathe life sciences contract research company is working with Crux Biolabs in Melbourne, Australia. The partnership will extend KCAS Bio's operations into Australia, giving the two companies’ clients access to a larger geographical reach when conducting clinical trials and attracting new customers. <\p>
KC-area business owner gets prison for failure to pay income taxes
A Platte Woods business owner was sentenced in federal court on Tuesday for failing to pay more than $600,000 in federal income taxes over several years.<\p> Daniel Alan Ryan, 63, was sentenced to one year in federal prison without parole, according to a release. Ryan owns Ryan Roofing Systems Inc. and Ryan Construction Systems Inc.<\p>
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