News & Issues

Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.

Prospects ‘Bleak’ for Converting Old Buck O’Neil Bridge to Park

By Kevin Collison The prospect of the old Buck O’Neil Bridge being converted to a linear park is “bleak” according to a feasibility study that determined the proposal would cost $100 million, double the original estimate. The report also found that even if funding can be identified, significant parts of the 65 year-old span over…

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Aerial view looking south at the Buck O'Neil Bridge.

Prospects ‘Bleak’ for Converting Old Buck O’Neil Bridge to Park

The prospect of converting the old Buck O’Neil Bridge to a linear park is “bleak,” according to a study that found it would cost twice the original estimate.

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baby feet

Study Finds Many ‘Maternity Deserts’ in Kansas and Missouri 

A new March of Dimes study concludes that both Kansas and Missouri are below the national average when it comes to the presence of “maternity deserts.”

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South Loop Link Backers Seek $60M ‘Mega-Grant’ From Feds

By Kevin Collison Backers of the plan to deck the South Loop freeway with a four-block park are making a big ask from Washington, seeking a “mega-grant” that would greatly assure construction of the project. “We have applied for a $60 million mega-grant from the feds that’s part of the federal infrastructure program, Rebuilding America,”…

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Nick Haines

Nick’s Picks | Election Day 2022, Lunar Eclipse and Veterans Day

The news week ahead in Kansas City is topped by Election Day, a lunar eclipse, Veterans Day and the return of Thundergong!

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Catholic Diocese Serves Controversy with Plan to Move Homeless Breakfast Program

By Kevin Collison A storm is brewing over the Catholic Diocese’s desire to relocate its breakfast ministry for the homeless to its Chancery building in the heart of the Library District, a downtown area with hundreds of apartments and many small businesses. A spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph said the move…

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Developer Pursuing 180-Unit Apartment Project in East Crossroads

By Kevin Collison The city is in preliminary negotiations with a developer who wants to build a 180-unit apartment project on public property in the East Crossroads that would include 36 affordable apartments. Grayson Capital is pursuing the project at 1531 Holmes. The site is currently occupied by a city-owned building. The firm was selected…

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Passenger Kayla Whitney died when this 1996 Mustang slammed into a light pole on Oct. 11, 2021.

Driving While High: Difficult to Measure, Harder to Enforce

Kayla Whitney’s death illustrates the scientific shortcomings in understanding and measuring how cannabis affects the body when it comes to driving while high.

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Nashville-Based ‘The Escape Game’ Plans Spring Opening at Plaza

By Kevin Collison The Escape Game, a Nashville chain specializing in “story-driven missions,” is planning to open a franchise in the Country Club Plaza this spring, the latest immersive-style entertainment venue to liven up the venerable retail district. The new venture is planned for space at 320 Ward Parkway currently occupied by the Ricca Sposa…

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Marijuana in a growing facility.

Credit Laws Could Slow Missouri’s Potential Marijuana Industry Boom

Unless prospective cannabis entrepreneurs have cash in hand, they could struggle to find financing to open new businesses if Missouri voters approve recreational marijuana.

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