Category: Business

Chamber sponsors forums for Congressional candidates

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., left, faces a challenge from Amanda Adkins, right, Republican nominee. (Candidate photos)

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Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

The two candidates for U.S. Representative, Third District in Kansas, attended separate forums via Zoom sponsored by the Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce.

The challenger, Republican Amanda Adkins appeared Thursday, Oct. 15; the incumbent, Democrat Sharice Davids, appeared Friday, Oct. 16, the usual time for the monthly meeting of the Congressional Forum. The chamber sponsors the Congressional Forum. The chamber had hoped that the two could come together for a debate.

Stephen Duerst, a lobbyist for the chamber, asked questions of the candidates. It was obvious that the candidates have political differences based on the responses to Duerst’s questions and other recent interviews.

Adkins wants the Affordable Care Act repealed, but favors saving the provision that allows keeping the pre-existing condition coverage. Rep. Davids favors Medicaid expansion; she has introduced legislation that would help people avoid large out-of-network costs.

Adkins favors well-funded police departments; Rep. Davids favors a ban on no-knock warrants and choke-holds. Adkins favors making the 2017 tax cuts permanent; Rep. Davids said the tax cuts favored the wealthiest and special interests.

Political ads that support Adkins tie Rep. Davids to the very liberal wing of the Democratic party including U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California, who is the speaker of the House. Political ads favoring Rep. Davids tie Adkins to the “failed administration” of former Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican.

Both candidates said they agree on one thing—they both favor the Kansas City Chiefs winning the 2021 Super Bowl.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.

Legends Outlets to add new Tory Burch, Puma and Sephora stores

The Legends Outlets at I-70 and I-435 in Kansas City, Kansas, will have some new stores this fall and winter, including Tory Burch and Puma.

The Tory Burch store opened on Friday, Oct. 16, and will be the only Tory Burch outlet store in the Kansas City metropolitan area, according to a Legends spokesman. It is a luxury lifestyle brand.

The store offers designer merchandise, featuring ready-to-wear shoes, handbags and accessories. It will hold special, outlet-only events. It is at 1803 Village West Parkway, Suite M-105, across from Polo Ralph Lauren Factory.

“Legends Outlets is thrilled to add Tory Burch to our high-end line up of retailers,” said Stacy Scheelk, senior director of operations and business development at Legends Outlets, in a news release. “As the No. 1 requested luxury handbag and accessory retailer by our shoppers, we worked very closely with Tory Burch to solidify that Legends Outlets traffic, co-tenancy and strong spending power of our demographic created a win-win for a successful partnership.”

A small Tory Burch boutique in New York launched in 2004, eventually growing into a global brand with more than 300 boutiques.

Puma to open in late 2020

The Kansas City area’s only Puma factory outlet store will open in late 2020, according to a Legends spokesman.

It will be the only Puma factory store within a 150-mile radius of Legends Outlets.

Known for stylish, sport-inspired footwear, apparel and accessories, Puma is one of the world’s leading sports brands.

The store will carry popular products for men, women and children and the latest fashion apparel for a variety of sports, according to the spokesman. The 5,488-square-foot store will open this winter at 1803 Village West Parkway, Suite M-123, next to Nike Factory Store.

Sephora store coming in early 2021

A Sephora store also has announced it will be coming to the Legends Outlets in early 2021, according to the Legends spokesman.

The 6,085-square-foot store offers a wide selection of cosmetics, skin care, hair care and fragrance products, and more. It will be located on the west end of the center at 1847 Village West Parkway, Suite K-117, next to Michael Kors.

Sephora has led the omni-retail market since its debut more than 20 years ago in North America. The store is committed to fostering a culture of belonging for all, where everyone is included, according to the spokesman.

Sephora is known for more than 400 brands, an innovate store design and personalized client services with beauty advisers.

Energy consumption is reduced at the store with 100 percent renewable energy.

Other stores that recently announced they are coming to the Legends Outlets include 1 Million Cuts Barber Studio, La Fuente Mexican Street Food and Aldi.

Unemployment rate drops to 7.4 percent in Wyandotte County

The unemployment rate decreased to 7.4 percent for September in Wyandotte County, according to figures announced today by the Kansas Department of Labor.

Unemployment was reported at 9.4 percent in Wyandotte County during August, according to the report. One year ago, in September 2019, unemployment was 3.5 percent in Wyandotte County.

In Kansas City, Kansas, unemployment was 7.5 percent for September and 9.5 percent for August, according to the report. One year ago, in September 2019, unemployment was 3.6 percent in Kansas City, Kansas.

It is the second highest rate of the largest cities in Kansas, according to the report. Wichita had a higher rate at 9.1 percent in September.

During a news conference today in Topeka, Gov. Laura Kelly pointed to new job-creating projects, including the Amazon fulfillment center announced today, which will employ more than 500 people, as well as the new Urban Outfitters warehouse project announced next to the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, expected to create 2,000 new jobs. Wichita also will receive a new Amazon warehouse project. The governor referred to other new projects also, including an expanded bioscience project in Lawrence with 270 jobs that is expected to bring ancillary development of 2,500 jobs, and a Salina plant with 250 new jobs.

Overall, Kansas has an unemployment rate of 5.9 percent in September, a decrease from 6.9 percent in August, according to today’s labor report.

While the decline in unemployment numbers is sometimes considered positive news, the Kansas acting labor secretary stated in a news release that similar to national trends, the number of individuals participating in the labor force also has declined. Total Kansas nonfarm jobs decreased by 7,200 statewide, according to the state Department of Labor

“The widespread job growth seen in Kansas throughout the summer slowed in September, with losses in both the private sector and government jobs,” stated Labor Economist Emilie Doerksen, in the news release. “The majority of the over-the-month decrease in jobs can be attributed to government which added fewer jobs than the typical pattern for September, resulting in a seasonally adjusted decline.”

For more information, visit https://klic.dol.ks.gov/gsipub/index.asp?docid=472.