Business Beat

KBIA News brings you a look at business issues important to mid-Missouri, on Business Beat.

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7/01/09 Gov. Jay Nixon signed the state budget last Thursday, but he also used his line-item veto power to cut $105 million out of it. Ellis Fischel's patient tower was one of the local projects to get put on hold. Also, Nixon's meeting with Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signaled their joint effort to get funding for a high-speed rail in mid-Missouri. Plus, Folks in Kirksville have been waiting for a proposed DNA lab to become a reality, and it looks like the city is going to have to keep waiting.

6/24/09 In this week's business beat, KBIA's Allison Clarke looks at the value of used restaurant grease and how people are now stealing this hot commodity. Also, skateboard enthusiasts share their love of the extreme sport when a new Columbia business Parkside Skateshop sponsored Columbia's "Go Skate Day." (Pictured: Skateboarders at Cosmo Park.)

6/17/09 May's unemployment numbers released this week show that the state's unemployment rate climbed nearly a full percentage point after a decline in April. KBIA's Cassandra Clemmens breaks down the numbers, how many jobs were lost and how the state plans to turn things around. Also, KBIA's James Burlison and Courtney Flatt report on a database set up by the Department of Insurance that could make it easier to track insurance companies' records. KBIA's Taylor Reeh takes a look at the recession's effect on the travel industry and when customers should take advantage of special travel deals.

6/10/09 The United States Department of Agriculture is hosting listening sessions across the nation about its Animal Identification System, or NAIS, which the USDA says helps track and prevent disease outbreaks in livestock. KBIA's Maureen McCollum was at a listening session this week in Jefferson City, where about 300 farmers and advocates came from across Missouri and the Midwest – the majority spoke against the system. From Springfield, Jennifer Moore has the story of one Missouri couple who are changing thousands of lives on the other side of the world. (Pictured: Children who attend a school in India, started by a couple in Springfield, Mo.)

6/03/09A new biodiesel production plant opened in Moberly this week. KBIA’s Taylor Reeh has more on area soybean farmers are investing in the unique business model. Also, KBIA’s Sean Powers talks with Columbia’s new Director of Economic Development, Mike Brooks. Hosted by KBIA’s Janet Saidi. (Left: Producer’s Choice board member Larry McDonald leads a tour through the plant as farmer Leroy Taylor, of Palmyra, watches on. Taylor owns a farm in Palmyra and invested some money in the $17.5 million biodiesel production facility.)

5/27/09The Missouri prison system has a multi-million dollar annual budget. Typically, it increases every year, but this year the budget actually decreased. And we also look at what a local volunteer organization is doing to help people stay cool this summer. Hosted by KBIA's Sara Wittmeyer.

5/20/09Chrysler recently decided to cut a quarter of its 3200 dealerships nationwide. KBIA's Joe Garber reports on local dealers sounding off on the automaker's decision. Also, KBIA's Courtney Flatt has the story of Bob Hine, a University of Missouri sorority house chef who was laid off in December. Finally, KBIA's Shane Hoffman comments on the MU Journalism School's controversial decision to "require" incoming freshmen to purchase an iPod Touch or iPhone.

5/13/09 The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture visits southeast Missouri to talk about the nation's agriculture community ... and, the Columbia Farmer's Market does not get federal stimulus fund that would have helped fund a new pavilion. Hosted by KBIA's Sean Powers.

5/6/09President Barack Obama may address immigration reform this month. On the campaign trail, Obama promised comprehensive immigration legislation, including a plan to make it easier for immigrants to obtain US citizenship. KBIA's Eric Durban looks at how Missouri is addressing the immigration issue. Then, KBIA's Carolina Astrain visits Los Cuates Latin Store in Columbia, a business hurting because fewer immigrants are coming to Missouri. Plus, KBIA's Courtney Flatt has the story of a mid-Missouri immigrant who was recently laid off. (Pictured left: Rigotto Perez is the shopkeeper of Los Cuates Latin Market on Paris Road. Before moving to Missouri three years ago, Perez lived in Florida.)

4/29/09This week, the Obama administration said it would expand its housing aid plan by offering mortgage lenders incentives to lower the rates borrowers' pay on second mortgages. Missouri Public Radio's Maria Altman reports on a bill floating through the Missouri General Assembly that could give renters more time to move out of a foreclosed unit. Then, KBIA's Ken Boehlke talks to ReMax Boone Realty agent Greg Harmon who says Missouri renters of foreclosed properties have more than enough time to plenty of time to find a new home. (Pictured: Foreclosed home in Huntsville, MO valued at $9,950)

4/22/09This week, researchers, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs are gathered in Columbia for the Missouri Energy Summit, and all the talk is on the environment. KBIA’s Steve Weinman looks at a repor t released by the Argonne National Laboratory that says Missouri will be using a staggering amount of water for corn-based ethanol production by 2030. And then Ashley Crimaldi talks to Gary Ryan of Ryan Enterprises, who transforms discarded waste into new agricultural products.

4/15/09A law and economics professor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City talks about the Obama administration's decision to release information on the stress tests of the country's banks. He says the decision came only after the administration became the subject of criticism. Hosted by KBIA's Sean Powers.
(Pictured left: William Black, Associate Professor of Economics and Law at UMKC )

4/8/09The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that more than more than 250,000 Missourians were unemployed and looking for work in February. In the first part of a three-part series on unemployment, KBIA’s Courtney Flatt has the story of Wes Winberry who was recently laid off from his job at MBS Textbook Exchange in Columbia. As people, like Winberry, continue to apply for unemployment benefits and look for jobs, the non-profit Missouri Budget Project Missouri Budget Project reports Missouri’s unemployment rate is getting worse. KBIA’s Taylor Reeh talks with the group’s Executive Director Amy Blouin about what this means for mid-Missourians. (Pictured left: Wes Winberry)

4/1/09The economic downturn has hit Newspapers hard in the last year. The Columbia Missourian last month cut its print edition to five days a week from seven. Like many news organizations impacted by the financial crisis, newspapers have to make sacrifices. Columbia Missourian General Manager Dan Potter talks to host Sean Powers about how his newspaper is fairing during the financial crisis. KBIA Steve Sliker talks to Erica Smith who by day designs graphics for the St. Louis Post Dispatch and by night runs the blog, Paper Cuts, a database of newspaper layoffs and buyouts.

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