Memo

Cerner acquisition Cerner Corp. has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Mitch Cooper & Associates, a Virginia-based provider of consulting services related to medical supplies. The acquired company will be renamed Cooper Associates after completion of the deal, which is scheduled to close Monday. Financial details were not disclosed. Cerner, based in North Kansas City, is a developer of software for managing health information. - Julius A. Karash/The Star KMBC news director Television station KMBC has announced the appointment of Michael Sipes as news director. Sipes, who formerly was at WLKY in Louisville, Ky., replaces Brian Bracco, now a group vice president for news at Hearst-Argyle Television, which owns both stations. Sipes was a news director in Jackson, Miss. Before that, he produced newscasts for KCTV in Kansas City, KYTV in Springfield and KMIZ in Columbia. - Aaron Barnhart/The Star Aquila executive A UtiliCorp United Inc. executive has been named senior vice president of finance for Aquila Energy Corp. Dan Streek, who was UtiliCorp's assistant controller, will report to Peter Lowe, UtiliCorp's chief financial officer. Aquila is a UtiliCorp subsidiary. Streek fills a position left vacant when another executive took a position with UtiliCorp when Aquila moved to Kansas City. - Steve Everly/The Star >>>