Up To Date

How Lapsing Federal Unemployment Benefits Could Affect The Economy In Kansas & Missouri

By Steve Kraske,

Published August 3, 2020 at 4:25 PM CDT

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Some Kansas City businesses have reopened, but many residents are still unemployed and financially stressed, especially now that federal unemployment relief has expired.

Unemployed Kansas Citians are hurting more now that a $600-weekly unemployment supplement from the federal government has ended.

Unemployment in the Kansas City Metro is at 7.8%, down from 11.2% when the pandemic started, but local unemployment offices are still stressed.

Abigail Devereaux, assistant professor of economics and Institute for the Study of Economic Growth research fellow at Wichita State University
Frank Lenk, director of Mid-America Regional Council's Research Services Department

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Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

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Chris Young

Chris Young is an Assistant Producer for KCUR’s Up To Date. Contact him at chrisy@kcur.org.

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Mackenzie Martin

As senior podcast producer for KCUR Studios and a host of A People’s History of Kansas City, I interview everyday people and dig through old newspaper articles to unearth stories of the visionaries and renegades who created this region. I focus on bringing the past to life, so we can all better understand the city we live in today. Email me at mackenzie@kcur.org.

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