Category: Business

Express Factory Outlet to move into Hilfiger store space at Legends Outlets

The Tommy Hilfiger outlet store at The Legends Outlets will close on Dec. 28. Moving into the space will be Express Factory Outlets. (Staff photo)
The Tommy Hilfiger outlet store at The Legends Outlets will close on Dec. 28. Moving into the space will be Express Factory Outlets. (Staff photo)

The Tommy Hilfiger Outlet store at The Legends Outlets will close Dec. 28, and moving into the space will be the Express Factory Outlet, which will sell men’s and women’s fashions and accessories.

According to a spokesman for The Legends Outlets, after the Hilfiger store at The Legends closes Dec. 28, preparations will be made for the Express Factory Outlet store to move into the space and open sometime in the spring. Currently, the Hilfiger store is planning some special sales in advance of the closing, according to the spokesman.

It is the only Express Factory Outlet in the metro area, and the nearest one is in Branson, Mo., the spokesman said.

The store’s location is next to the Phoenix Theaters Legend 14 near the Civic Courtyard Fountain at 1837 Village West Parkway B-129. It occupies 7,061 square feet.

Express Factory Outlet will offer everything from work wear to weekend wear to going out wear to casual wear, the spokesman said. It has a modern, cool style with an assortment of apparel and fashion accessories.

The Legends Outlets location will be Express Factory Outlet’s first Kansas store and fifth in the Midwest region. Express Factory Outlet joins other recently opened stores at Legends Outlets including Kansas City’s only area Eddie Bauer Outlet, Haggar Clothing Co. and Coach Factory Store.

Attorney general says T-Mobile customers in Kansas eligible for refunds

T-Mobile customers in Kansas who were charged for third-party services on their mobile phone bills without their consent are eligible to receive refunds as part of a multi-state settlement reached earlier this week, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said today.

The national settlement announced today was reached between T-Mobile, the attorneys general of Kansas and 49 other states and the District of Columbia, the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission. It includes a total payment of $90 million to resolve allegations that T-Mobile placed charges on consumers’ mobile phone bills for third-party services that had not been authorized by the consumer, a practice known as “mobile cramming.” This settlement follows a similar one reached with AT&T Mobility in October.

Under the terms of the settlement, T-Mobile is required to provide at least $67.5 million in refunds to consumers who were victims of cramming.

“Consumers have a right to be clearly informed about the services they are purchasing – and the cost,” Schmidt said. “This settlement returns to consumers charges for programs they didn’t know they were signing up for and were often unable to cancel.”

For more information on how to obtain a refund, Kansas consumers should visit the attorney general’s consumer protection website at www.InYourCornerKansas.org or call 800-432-2310.

Wyandotte County continues to have highest unemployment rate in Kansas

Wyandotte County continues to have the highest unemployment rate of all counties in the state of Kansas, at 5.9 percent for November 2014.

The number was close to October’s 6 percent rate in Wyandotte County, and lower than one year ago, when it was 7.2 percent in Wyandotte County.

Statistics released today by the Kansas Department of Labor also show that Kansas City, Kan., had the highest rate of all large cities in Kansas, at 6 percent in November.

There are 4,119 persons listed as unemployed in Wyandotte County, according to the Kansas Department of Labor.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent for November 2014, as compared to 4.4 percent in October, and 5 percent one year ago, according to the statistics.

Kansas gained 7,200 seasonally adjusted private sector jobs, an increase of 0.6 percent since last year, and 7,500 nonfarm jobs, a 0.5 percent increase. Since last month, Kansas lost 4,400 seasonally adjusted private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent. The state declined by 4,100 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs, a 0.3 percent decline since last month.

“Kansas showed positive economic signs this month including a decrease in the unemployment rate, which marks a full year under 5 percent unemployment,” said Lana Gordon, secretary of labor. “In addition, wages showed significant growth since this time last year, furthering the growth seen in past months.”

“After a strong October, seasonal hiring in retail trade was slightly slower than expected in November, leading to a seasonally adjusted over the month dip in private sector jobs.” said Tyler Tenbrink, senior labor economist. “However, other indicators did improve over the month including increasing hours and earnings, signifying continued demand for labor.”