News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
It Takes A Village to Reach Rural Broadband Fringe
U.S. Ignite broadband experiment finds a host in a tiny Missouri village.
Community Christian’s Iconic ‘Steeple of Light’ Returns Saturday Night
By Kevin Collison Community Christian Church near the Plaza will rekindle its iconic “Steeple of Light” this Saturday night, celebrating a successful repair fundraising effort and the return to live services the following day, Mother’s Day. “We had originally hoped to turn it on Easter, but there were some supply chain issues and we pushed…
Less Pollution, Lower Bills: Kansas, Missouri Move Ahead on Utility Securitization
Legislation in Kansas and Missouri may soon help utilities to retire coal-fired power plants faster as the energy sector accelerates its transition to renewable energy sources.
Canary Opens New Rooftop Cocktail Roost
By Kevin Collison Canary bistro opened its rooftop bar atop the restored 10-story Netherland Hotel building last weekend and the early reports are its new roost overlooking midtown and beyond is a hit. “It was a whirlwind,” said co-owner Keely Edgington. “It’s been a long time since we’ve served so many people and it went…
Evergy Plans Major Coal Shutdowns, But Environmental Groups Say It’s Not Fast Enough
Under mounting pressure to ditch fossil fuels, Evergy plans to close nearly all of its coal-burning plants in the next 20 years.
Nick’s Picks | COVID Cases Rise As We Strive For New Normal
Kansas City area COVID cases are increasing as people try to move toward post-pandemic life in time for Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day.
Downtown Gets New Park Where Dogs Run Free
By Kevin Collison Downtown’s growing canine population–and their owners–will have another place to romp free next month when the Downtown Council opens a one-half acre dog park at the southwest corner of Seventh and Walnut. The new, off-leash dog park will be the second operated by the Council’s Community Improvement District, the other is in…
Lemonade Park Squeezes Great Music and Food in West Bottoms
By Kevin Collison Voltaire owner Wes Gartner and some friends were sharing another lemon of a day during the depth of the Covid-19 quarantine last summer when inspiration hit. “I was sitting with friends enjoying the outdoor weather and said, ‘we ought to enjoy this on a grander scale,’” Gartner recalled. So he reached out…
Former Dairy Plant on Gillham Slated for $12M Apartment Project
By Kevin Collison A former dairy plant near Linwood and Gillham is slated to be redeveloped as 48 lofts and a fresh food market by Exact Partners, the latest investment in a burgeoning redevelopment corridor along 31st street from Main to Troost. Exact, which also is redeveloping several buildings at nearby Martini Corner and recently…
Tax Breaks for Developers Cost Every KCPS Student $1,925 in 2019
A new study shows just how much money Kansas City Public Schools lose when the city offers tax breaks to development projects.