Economy
KC Hearing Examines Payday Lending
Federal regulators looking to crack down on abuses in the payday lending industry heard from both sides of the issue at a hearing Thursday in Kansas City. “If a lender can succeed when borrowers are setup to fail, it is a telltale sign of a malfunctioning market,” said Richard Cordray, director of the Consumer Financial…
Consumer Protection Board Coming to KC
A federal agency dedicated to protecting the public from debt traps has scheduled a public hearing in Kansas City next month. Convened by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the hearing is scheduled to include remarks from CFPB Director Richard Cordray along with testimony from consumer groups, industry representatives, and members of the public. The…
KCPT Crime Discussion Yields Many Proposed Solutions
Panelists, audience members say there is no one clear-cut answer; police argue against more cops
Kansas Woman Says Health Reform Law Helped Her Launch Business
A Lawrence businesswoman has become something of a poster child for the Affordable Care Act. Meg Heriford, owner of the Ladybird Diner, didn’t seek the spotlight but has been thrust into the role by former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Sebelius, who also served two terms as Kansas governor, still has a…
What’s in a Trademark? Law. Lots and Lots of Law.
In 2014, while stuck in Kansas City rush hour traffic listening to N.W.A.’s infamous track, “Straight Outta Compton,” Mattie Green had a great idea. Why not replace “Compton” with “Kauffman” – a reference to the Kansas City Royals’ home field? In March 2014, Green had a single T-shirt printed with the phrase and a photo…
Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree
Tina Luckett, Entertainment Marketing Director at Hallmark’s Crown Center, always looks forward to a particular business trip. Every other year, Hallmark sends Luckett to Sweethome, Oregon to spend the day walking through the forest in search of a Christmas tree. Well, two Christmas trees to be exact. For the past ten years, Luckett has traveled to the…
KC’s plan to ‘bank the unbanked’
In the Kansas City metro, about 12 percent of households are “unbanked,” which means they aren’t using traditional financial services like banks or credit unions. About 300 people gathered Wednesday at the Plaza Library to discuss how to solve this problem. The meeting was a gathering of the Alliance for Economic Inclusion, an initiative of…
Kansas City’s cup of tea
There are four cups sitting in front of Tyler Beckett, in a small warehouse just north of the river in Kansas City. Beckett uses a spoon to sip the first sample. “It’s got that nice beautiful smokiness to it.” he says about his first taste. He takes a sip of the second sample. It’s more…
Many Americans are staying away from banks
LaJua Manning works 40 hours a week, and sometimes more than that. She’s a certified nursing assistant, working nights to take care of bedridden patients. Still, she struggles to make ends meet for her and for her two-year-old daughter. When the paychecks do come in, Manning doesn’t deposit them in a bank. In fact, she…
Me, getting by
LaJua Manning is a single mom who is involved with Stand Up KC, a group that protests for higher pay for low wage workers. As a certified nursing assistant, LaJua works overnight to take care of bedridden patients. Yet, she still struggles to get by. Her $12 an hour salary keeps her constantly juggling expenses…