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Vance Lands in KC

U.S. Vice President JD Vance touches down in Kansas City today to tout the Trump administration’s economic policies.

According to the White House, Vance will tour Milbank Manufacturing, a nearly 100-year-old electrical parts company in northeast Kansas City, Missouri, before delivering remarks on tariffs, tax cuts and efforts to boost American-made jobs.

Vance is scheduled to speak at 1 p.m. While he’s here, the vice president is also expected to squeeze in at least one political event backing Republican candidates ahead of key midterm races.

The vice president last visited Kansas City during the 2024 campaign, attending a private fundraiser in Mission Hills.

For local commuters, the main takeaway may simply be this: if traffic suddenly grinds to a halt and black SUVs start appearing everywhere, Air Force Two has landed.

Last Week Reviewed

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KC Streetcar Extension Opens

The Kansas City streetcar line gets a little longer this week.

The long-awaited $62 million Riverfront extension opens today. The 0.7-mile expansion line connects riders directly to Berkley Riverfront Park and within a short walk of CPKC Stadium.

KC Streetcar is hosting a big bash to celebrate, and you’re invited. A community picnic with live music and kids’ activities starts at 11 a.m. next to the new Berkley Riverfront stop.

Plaza Revamp Heads to City Hall Vote

A big plan to renovate the Country Club Plaza finally gets a city council vote on Thursday.

The Plaza’s new owners want permission to blow past standing height limits to build high-rise apartments and office towers. They’re also asking to privatize sidewalks inside the shopping district — a move critics fear could be used to push out protesters and street musicians.

In total, the Plaza redevelopment is expected to cost about $1.5 billion. What’s still unclear is how much taxpayers will be asked to cover. Developers are seeking major incentives, including a 30-year property tax break.

New KC Zoo Exhibit Opens

The Kansas City Zoo is now letting you get “nose to nose” with its tallest residents.

The zoo’s new Giraffe Crossing exhibit opens Friday in the revamped Africa section, allowing guests to feed giraffes by hand and get face-to-face with the animals year-round, something the old weather-dependent setup couldn’t offer.

The new habitat features indoor and outdoor roaming space for the giraffes, along with an overlook plaza and feeding stations designed to bring visitors within arm’s reach of the zoo’s long-necked stars.

Monarchs Home Opener

​Tuesday is opening day at Legends Field as the Kansas City Monarchs begin their home season against the Chicago Dogs. Fans are being promised a post-game fireworks show.

The opener marks a new chapter for the Monarchs. The team was sold last month to Florida businessman and philanthropist Quint Studer who’s promising to invest heavily in improving the game day experience and making Legends Field a year-round attraction.

Studer already owns two other minor league franchises — the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Beloit Sky Carp — both affiliated with the Miami Marlins.

Colbert’s Last Goodbye

Stephen Colbert finally signs off Thursday night as the host of The Late Show.

Paramount cited financial reasons when it canceled the show last year, days after Colbert criticized the media conglomerate’s settlement with the Trump administration.

Celebration at the Station

We’re heading into the Memorial Day weekend, and that means one thing around here: it’s all hands-on-deck as Kansas City PBS partners with the Kansas City Symphony for Celebration at the Station.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to spread blankets and lawn chairs across the grassy hill next to Union Station on Sunday for patriotic music, military tributes and one of Kansas City’s biggest fireworks shows.

But construction of the World Cup Fan Fest outside the National WWI Museum is reshaping this year’s finale.

Instead of fireworks soaring over Liberty Memorial, a scaled-back pyrotechnics show will launch from near Union Station.

For those who’d prefer to avoid the crowds, KCPBS broadcasts the festivities live. The concert starts Sunday at 8 p.m. The fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.

Nick Haines tracks the metro’s most impactful, confusing and downright head-scratching local news stories on Week in Review, Friday nights at 7:30 pm on Kansas City PBS.