Crown Media Family Networks said it is taking the new name Hallmark Media. The California-based unit of Hallmark Cards Inc. made the announcement at a meeting of the Television Critics Association. In a Wednesday release, unit CEO Wonya Lucas said it only made sense to lead with the “iconic” Hallmark name. The tie between Crown Media and its Kansas City-based parent wasn’t exactly hidden before. The unit operates the Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mystires and Hallmark Drama television…

This is the second defense contract announced in the past several days by the fast-growing Leawood artificial intelligence and machine learning specialist.

The contract follows a pair of acquisitions in the past year that boosted Torch.AI's abilities to compete for defense contracts.

Propio Language Services, already one of the Kansas City-area’s fastest-growing companies, added another acquisition. The Overland Park-based company claims the new deal makes it one of the world’s largest remote interpretation companies. Propio purchased Portland-based Telelanguage, according to a Thursday release. The companies did not disclose terms of the deal. Telelanguage, founded in 1991, provides remote interpretation services for more than 350 languages through thousands of interpreters…

Michael Helmstetter realized that Kansas City would benefit if local investors put their money to work locally. So he founded Tech Acceleration Partners, which also helped those investors be more open about their targets. It's all in the latest installment of Turning Points, which examines key players and moments in KCBJ's now 40-year history.

Michael Helmstetter realized that Kansas City would benefit if local investors put their money to work locally. So he founded Tech Acceleration Partners, which also helped those investors be more open about their targets. It's all in the latest installment of Turning Points, which examines key players and moments in KCBJ's now 40-year history.