News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
Made in KC Grows Urban Footprint
By Kevin Collison At a time traditional retail is struggling, Made in KC is bucking the trend with an expansion in the works at its Country Club Plaza outlet, a new downtown café and finally, a chance to serve beer and wine at its streetcar location in the River Market. “I think Kansas City understands…
Weekend Possibilities | Jewish Film Fest, Vegan Summer Fest and the Crossroads Pinball Championship
An array of outdoor, at-home and out-on-the-town options make for an awesome weekend to-do list in and around Kansas City.
816 Day to Cap Downtown Scavenger Hunt
This year’s 816 Day scheduled for Monday (Aug. 16) is trying something new, a downtown scavenger hunt paired with Bingo aimed at helping businesses and attractions coping with the Covid pandemic. “We’re encouraging people to get out and visit local restaurants and other establishments,” said Jared Campbell of the Downtown Council. “We’re focusing not only…
Lawmakers Say Special Session Likely Unneeded to Fund Missouri Medicaid Expansion
Legislative leaders of both parties say that a special session is probably not needed to appropriate additional funds following a court order to begin covering Missourians who are eligible under voter-approved Medicaid expansion.
‘Upcycled’ Container Retail Project Proposed for River Market
By Kevin Collison A Denver developer is proposing to ‘upcycle’ shipping containers and build a commercial marketplace at 400 Delaware, partly healing the streetscape wound created by a bombing in what was then the River Quay in 1977. Craig Slawson of Epoch Developments, who owns multiple properties in the River Market, wants to stack about…
COVID-19 Challenged The Business Model At Kansas Universities And Revealed A ‘Tectonic Shift’
Enrollment at Kansas colleges fell by 8.1% last fall — more than the national average. With continued uncertainty over COVID-19 and the highly contagious delta variant, universities could face the biggest money crisis in their history.
Grappling With Dark Agonies Amid Natural Beauty During Missouri’s Bicentennial
As Missouri observes its bicentennial, organizers are grappling with a history defined both by natural beauty and the fight over slavery.
Arts Asylum Relocating from Downtown to East Brookside
By Kevin Collison The Arts Asylum, a downtown Kansas City cultural destination for 10 years, is closing later the year and relocating to new space in the Brookside neighborhood, a move partly prompted by the lingering Covid pandemic. “We thought we were on an upswing and with a new season starting we were ready to…
‘Big and Bold’ Infrastructure Bill Falls Short on Helping States Fight Climate Change
Critics who wanted to see a greater focus on advancing climate action and equity for disadvantaged communities say the infrastructure spending bill comes up short, or even worsens, progress toward those goals.
Citydogs Opening Complete Canine Complex in Crossroads
By Kevin Collison Downtown dog owners will have a new place to board, pamper and play with their pooches when Citydogs opens Aug. 23 at a spacious indoor/outdoor complex at 20th and Walnut streets in the Crossroads. “We decided to open in the Crossroads mostly to meet the needs of all the residents living there,”…