economy

People across Missouri and Kansas are losing their starry views to light pollution. But the right lighting decisions can help preserve night skies and benefit animal and human health.

Critical mineral producers in Missouri are exploring extraction methods as international trade policies fluctuate, and the president's tariff regime plays out.

Buying a new band or orchestra instrument could get a lot more expensive. Kansas City business owners who import musical instruments have been hit hard by on-again, off-again tariffs with Europe and China, and the path forward remains unclear.

Haitao Li, chair of the supply chain analytics department at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, says that the Trump administration's rollout of tariffs in recent months appears to neglect the ways modern supply chains operate.

Money once promised to the region for public health, environmental, diversity, food aid and an array of other programs has been axed, and thousands of local jobs are in jeopardy.

A shortage of cocoa beans is driving up the cost to make chocolate — especially for small chocolatiers. That means people buying chocolate for Easter can expect high prices.

Consumers can expect to see an increase in coffee, chocolate, cars, electronics and more due to the sweeping tariffs put in place by President Trump. Experts predict the rise in prices could cost the average family living in America between $1,200 and $4,000 a year.

The drastic service cuts proposed by the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority to fill a budget hole mean remaining routes will run less frequently and likely get more crowded. Riders and drivers hope it won't come to that.

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority plans to cut nearly half its bus routes, drastically reduce weekend service, and lay off 171 workers, according to documents obtained by KCUR. What will this mean for the Kansas Citians who rely on public transit to get around?

According to documents obtained by KCUR, the agency plans to cut nearly half of its routes, drastically reduce weekend service and pare down its operating hours. It will also lay off about 171 workers.

Americans have increasingly been choosing where they spend their money based on social and political values. KU marketing and psychology professor Dr. Jessica Li shares what's behind this trend.

At 2.8%, Missouri had the second-highest job growth percentage of any state in 2024. Idaho had the first.