Briefcase

Owens Flower Shop under new ownership

One of Lawrence’s oldest flower shops is under new ownership.

Owens Flower Shop, 846 Ind., has been purchased by Sharon and Bill Reynolds, Lawrence, above. The Reynoldses purchased the business Oct. 1 from Don and Carol Randel, who had owned the store for the past 28 years. The store has been in operation in Lawrence since 1925.

Sharon Reynolds said she and her husband have been looking to enter the Lawrence market ever since they purchased Broers Flower Shop in Eudora in 1995.

Sharon Reynolds said she doesn’t have any immediate plans to change the shop. She said the company will keep the shop’s seven employees and will continue operating under the Owens name. Reynolds also said she’ll continue operating the Broers Flower Shop in Eudora.

Health Care: Kansas City hospitals plan to end partnership

The Kansas City area’s second-largest health system is dissolving its partnership, saying changes in the health care industry made the merger unnecessary.

Officials with St. Luke’s-Shawnee Mission Health System said Monday that their six-year partnership would be dissolved, effective Nov. 1. The split is not expected to affect patients and should not cause any job cuts, officials with the two hospitals said.

Officials said the two hospital systems were stronger because of the merger, but it was no longer necessary because of changes in the health care industry.

As part of the agreement, the ownership of the 383-bed Shawnee Mission Medical Center will pass from Adventist Health Mid America to Adventist Health System, which is based in Winter Park, Fla.

Wall Street: Investors drive auto stocks lower

The world’s top two automakers saw their share prices spiral downward Tuesday in heavy trading amid concerns about prospects for the auto sector, higher gasoline prices and the overall economic picture.

Ford Motor Co. stock was down nearly 9 percent to $7.75, off 75 cents, on the New York Stock Exchange a low not seen in a decade. Total volume of nearly 30 million shares approached three times the daily average.

Shares of General Motors Corp. also traded at levels not seen since the early 1990s. They closed at $33.60, down $2.28 or 6 percent. About 12.6 million shares traded hands more than twice the daily average.

Publishing: Russell newspaper sold

The publisher and owners of the Lyons Daily News have purchased the Russell County News.

Jack Krier, 62, and his wife, Kathy, of Kimberling City, Mo., who own interests in a dozen weekly and biweekly newspapers in central Missouri, purchased the Russell paper from Jim and Alice Anderson, effective Oct. 1.