News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
Missouri Supreme Court Rules Voter-Approved Medicaid Expansion is Constitutional
The Missouri Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that voter-approved Medicaid expansion is constitutional, making 275,000 Missourians eligible for health care coverage.
Developers Reviving 150-Year-Old Buildings Near 18th & Vine District
(Updated July 21, 2021: A press release this week announced construction has begun on the project. This article originally appeared in CityScene in August 2018) By Kevin Collison Right now, two of the city’s oldest buildings near the 18th and Vine Jazz District look the part, limestone ruins straight out of Medieval Europe. But Jason…
Parson Announces Missouri Vaccine Incentive Lottery With $10,000 Prizes
In a bid to increase vaccination rates to combat the Delta variant’s growing spread, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced Wednesday an incentive program that will feature chances to win $10,000 for those who get a shot.
Harvesting a Bumper Crop in Agritourism
Agritourism revenue tripled nationwide from 2002 to 2017, and it’s still on the rise in Kansas and Missouri.
Art in the Loop Adds Live Music to Streetcar Stops This Summer
This summer’s Art in the Loop Performance Art & Music series continues Thursday (July 22) with a show by Corey Clark at the KC Streetcar Library Stop Northbound near Commerce Tower. The free concert is part of a series of live performances that are accompanying the Eighth Annual Art in the Loop project, which once…
Seiden’s Furs Envisioned as Artist Studios–If Price is Right
By Kevin Collison Artist Peregrine Honig envisions a new future for the crumbling, historic building that once housed Seiden’s Furs at 10th and Broadway, but she needs the owner to sell it for a reasonable price first. Honig, one of the city’s better known and nationally-exhibited artists, first fell for the brick building completed around…
‘I’m Gonna Lose it All’: Tenants Left in the Dark as KC’s Rental Assistance Program Closes to New Applicants
Tenants who already applied for assistance are still waiting for help, and local nonprofits face challenges in processing applications quickly.
Group Reviving Former Unity Temple Stage for Shows with Social Bent
By Kevin Collison A nonprofit group wants to raise the curtain on the long-forgotten dinner theater space at Unity Temple on the Plaza and offer it as an affordable venue for socially-conscious theatrical productions. The premier of the new musical Broke Open will be the initial fundraiser for the planned Unity Performing Arts Center. The…
Nick’s Picks | COVID-19 Delta Spike Sparks Mask Advisory in Kansas City
Ten Kansas City area health departments have issued a joint public advisory recommending that unvaccinated residents wear face coverings. The move comes amid growing concerns about the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in Kansas City.
City Council Deals in $40M Casino KC Redevelopment
By Kevin Collison A groundbreaking is expected soon on a $40 million redevelopment of the former Isle of Capri casino, now Casino KC, that includes a major facelift of the old ‘riverboat’ and a 40,000 square-foot retail addition. The City Council unanimously approved the rezoning required for the 30-acre riverfront project, which ultimately is expected…