Qasim Rahimi came to Kansas City as an Afghan refugee in 2021 following the Taliban’s siege of Kabul. He is fleeing persecution as a journalist and former government official.

Afghan Refugees Still Adjusting to Life in Kansas City — and Wondering if They Can Stay

After the Taliban seized Kabul, Kansas City welcomed hundreds of Afghan refugees in 2021. Many still seek stable housing and secure immigration status.

River Bluff Brewing beer in a glass in front of a window.

Tap List | River Bluff Brewing To Run Holiday Toy Drive

River Bluff Brewing, which has locations in Kansas City and St. Joseph, is collecting holiday season toys for Operation Breakthrough.

Local elected and civic officials stood for photos at the conclusion of an update on Israel held in the boardroom of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

KC’s Support for Israel Built on Defining Antisemitism

Strong political support for Israel in Kansas City is the product of years of work in educating the public about antisemitism.

Opinion: Downtown Ballpark Talks Get Foul

Mayor Quinton Lucas was right last week when he said whoever leaked the misleading Jackson County internal memo to The Star about the long-term (40 years) financial implications of the proposed downtown Royals ballpark is trying to sabotage negotiations: “Yesterday, there was a leak which said county estimated new stadium is between $4B and $6B….

Water levels in the Little Caney River are so low that the river isn’t flowing over the dam, leaving the stream dry.

Southeast Kansas Town is Almost Out of Water, and Signs of Crisis are Everywhere

The stubborn drought has brought Caney, a southeast Kansas town of less than 2,000 people, within weeks of reaching the end of its water supply.

Nick Haines

Nick’s Picks | Tricks, Treats and News of the Week

This week’s news preview includes Halloween, daylight savings time and more Kansas City Royals ballpark drama.

Entrance of St. Luke's Hospital.

Finding Faith in Hospital Settings

Hospital chaplains discuss clinical pastoral education, the special training designed to practice faith in various health care and other institutional settings.

Main Street Buildings at Center of Landmark Controversy for Sale

By Kevin Collison A group of buildings at 31st and Main that were declared historic over the owner’s objection last year are back in play, and preservation advocates are hopeful about their prospects to be saved from destruction. “This is the opportunity provided by listing them as a local landmark,” said Lisa Briscoe of Historic…

A scene from Patrick Rea's "They Wait in the Dark" shows a woman's blood-spattered face.

Art House | Horror in the Heartland

Art House visits with local horror auteur Patrick Rea about his latest film, “They Wait in the Dark,” which garnered a strong review in The New York Times.

LuxLiving Drops Two Downtown Apartment Proposals, Still Pursuing Tower Plan

By Kevin Collison LuxLiving, the St. Louis apartment developer building the Katz project, has dropped two downtown residential deals but is still pursuing its big apartment and hotel high-rise proposal at 14th and Wyandotte. Lux scrapped its plan to build at 250-unit apartment development on riverfront property owned by Port KC. The developer also is…

Lux Living has dropped its plan for a 250-unit apartment development at the downtown riverfront.

Lux Living Drops Two Apartment Projects, Still Pursues Tower Plan

LuxLiving, which is building the Katz project, has dropped two downtown residential deals but is still pursuing its big apartment and hotel high-rise proposal at 14th and Wyandotte.

Halloween pumpkin head oozing purple smoke.

Weekend Possibilities | Halloween Haunt, P!NK and Taylor Swift

Do the “Monster Mash.” It’s Halloween weekend. Treat yourself to a costume contest in the Crossroads, Howl-o-Ween at KC Wine Co. or a dose of dark blues in the West Bottoms.  Friday, Oct. 27  4 p.m. – 9 p.m. It’s Howl-o-Ween Weekend at the KC Wine Co. Vineyard & Winery, 13875 Gardner Road. Bring your…

A graphite drawing that is part of artist Bruce McClain's "The Elder Leaf Collection."

KC Artist Finds Eternal Beauty in a Dead Leaf

Artist Bruce McClain strives to merge plants and people in an effort to evoke the elegiac process of aging and dying for all living things.

Three scary Halloween pumpkins.

Tap List | KC Breweries Set to Celebrate Halloween

Kansas City area breweries are leasing into Halloween with nine separate themed events this upcoming weekend.
Here’s the rundown.

East Crossroads Apartment Plan With Affordable Units Moving Forward

By Kevin Collison Design work has begun on a 190-unit apartment project in the East Crossroads that will include affordable housing and a fitness center open to the public. Developer Michael Collins has acquired the 1.2-acre site southeast of Truman Road and Holmes from the city and is anticipates beginning construction on his ‘Mohawk at…